Tag Archives: Abraham

Nathan’s Commentary on Parashat Lekh L’kha Genesis 12:1–17:27

Posted on by
Reply

Genesis 12

Genesis 12–41 on the Overcoming Faith of the Patriarchs—An Example to Follow

Scripture records that Abraham was the patriarch (literally meaning “the chief father”) of the Hebrew people, and a pillar of faith because of his trust in and obedience to YHVH Elohim. As such, he is often referred to as the Father of the Faithful. But when Elohim first called this man of faith and father of the Israelite people, was he a giant in his faith? Not at all. Yes he had faith, but his faith was imperfect; it had to grow, and it was a process, which we will discuss below.

Abraham’s faith, like the proverbial mustard seed, started out small, but it was still enormous compared to most other people. After all, on a mere promise from Elohim, he uprooted his entire family and travelled on foot hundreds of miles across the dangerous desert and through various countries and encountering many hardships along the way in hopes of a better life. It was if he were moving from New York City to Jawbone Flats, Oregon, a virtual ghost town in the mountains with a population four people! (Note: after more than 100 years, town of Jawbone Flats has since burned down in a tragic forest fire.)

Abraham’s first steps of faith were measured, cautious, incremental and at times hesitant, yet through it all YHVH was gracious because Abraham’s heart was inclined to do his will. Because of Abraham’s faithfulness, YHVH still credited righteousness to his spiritual account (Gen 15:6). Not only that, but he passed his mountain moving, gravity defying faith on to his children and grandchildren and beyond, and this legacy of faith lives on in many of his physical and spiritual descendants to this day. 

There is much that we, as the children of Abraham through our faith in Yeshua the Messiah, can learn from this pillar of faith that will strengthen our own faith in YHVH Elohim and his promises.

Now let’s explore the life of Abraham.

Abraham (Abram)—The Father of the Faithful

Genesis 12:1, Get thee out of thy country. Did Abram immediately leave his father’s house and go directly to the country that YHVH would show him, or did he rather take incremental steps in that direction? Actually, Abram first settled in Charan before eventually translocating to Canaan. (Compare Genesis 11:31 with Genesis 12:1.) Charan is located in northern Mesopotamia and is nowhere near Canaan. Not only that, YHVH told Abram to leave his family, but instead he took part of his father’s house with him including his father and nephew. When Abram finally made his way to Canaan minus his father, he still had part of his kindred with him, something YHVH instructed him to leave behind (Gen 12:1). As it ended up, his nephew Lot proved to be a hindrance to Abram in fulfilling YHVH’s mission for his life in the new land. What lessons can we learn from this account? 

First, YHVH is gracious to his people even when they fail to obey him completely and immediately. Abram was still taking steps of faith as imperfect as they may have been, and despite this, Scripture still refers to Abraham as the father of the faithful or of faithfulness (Rom 4:12, 16). 

Second, Abram was a man of prominence in Babylon (Chaldea), was recognized as a mighty prince (Gen 23:6), and was 75 years old when YHVH asked him to leave the comforts of life in cosmopolitan Babylon to trek across the desert to the backwoods region of Canaan. No doubt, this was not an easy move for Abram for the reasons for reason of age and comfortability of lifestyle. 

Abraham’s descendents who are disciples of Yeshua have to make similar choices as Abram did. They must decide whether to stay in the spiritual Babylon of this world or to leave it. Yeshua told his disciples that they would have to make great sacrifices including possibly forsaking their family to be his disciples (Matt 10:35–39.) At the same time, Yeshua promised vast eternal rewards to those, who like our father Abraham, would forsake family, homes and material possessions for him as they set out in faith to fulfil their divine destiny ( Matt 19:28–29). What physical obstacles stand in your way of fulfilling YHVH’s spiritual calling, mission and destiny for your life?

Genesis 16:1–16, Abraham takes matters into his own hands. The faith of Abraham, the father of the faithful, was tried greatly. After waiting years for a son through whom YHVH would fulfil is promises to Abraham, he finally gave in to doubt and unbelief. In stead of waiting for YHVH to give him a son, Abraham too matters into his own hands and endeavored to work out YHVH’s plans and purposes in his life through fleshly means. The result was Ishmael, the father of many of the modern Moslem Arabs. This mistake has had far-reaching geopolitical consequences for YHVH’s chosen people to this day!  

Do you have trouble waiting on YHVH? Remember that YHVH’s primary goal in your life is NOT to bring YOUR dreams to pass or to give you a comfortable and happy life, but to form in you the person and character of Yeshua (Rom 8:28–29). Like anything of value, this only comes through time,  much struggling and overcoming as well as the heat and pressure of spiritual refinement. 

The faith-building refinement to which YHVH subjected Abraham would continue to occur in the lives of his descendants as the patriarch saw in a most amazing prophetic vision (Gen 15:12–14). In the vision of “Between the Pieces,” the birds of the air (a spiritual picture of Satan and his demons) wanted to interrupt the fulfilling of YHVH’s plans for the nation of Israel (verse 11). But through this dark vision, Abraham slept (verse 12). That is to say, he rested in YHVH, thus allowing him to work out his purposes according to a divine time schedule regardless of the occurrence of concomitant and distracting events. Through this process of faith-testing and character-building trials, YHVH refines his people into the spiritual vessels he wants them to be. Psalms chapter 37 describes this process of “not fretting,” “committing your way to YHVH,” “trusting also in him,” “resting in YHVH,” waiting on YHVH, and letting him direct our steps. (See Ps 37, entire chapter, with special focus on verses 4–7, 23–24.) The Bible refers to this process as “sanctification” (or becoming set aside for a holy purpose). It involves coming into a place spiritual maturity—of going from being a spiritual child to a mature adult in YHVH.

Like a lot of us, Abraham found himself struggling with waiting upon YHVH to fulfil his promises. As a result of Abraham’s lack of faith, he chose to “help engineer” the fulfillment of YHVH’s promises in his life. He slept with Hagar and Ishmael was the result. There have been lasting conflicts in the Middle East and beyond ever since due to Abraham’s lack of faith.

Genesis 21:1–7, YHVH visited Sarah.YHVH had promised Abraham a son years before. At age 90 did not YHVH suddenly drop a son into Sarah’s womb. During the intervening 15 years, year after year, Abraham and Sarah had to walk out their faith by attempting repeatedly to become pregnant, each time failing, until finally, at the appointed time it happened. This tell is vivid lesson for all of Abraham’s spiritual descendents about the faith-walk, and about overcoming discouragement and doubt. Obviously, Abraham’s faith was tested. Could he still trust YHVH’s promises of a son after all these years? Often when don’t receive quick answers to our prayers we give up. How is your faith compared to that of Abraham’s?

Abraham learned some hard lessons with Ishmael. After that, he finally began to have complete faith that YHVH would give him a son by Sarah. Faith is dynamic, and is neither passive nor presumptive. As an act of faithful obedience, the elderly Abraham continued to have physical relations with his wife until Isaac was born.

Genesis 22:1, Elohim did tempt Abraham.Trials and temptations show the disposition or character and metal of the human heart, whether it be righteous or unrighteous, pure or impure. When tested do you whine, grumble, accuse and mock others, defend yourself, backbite or become despondent? Or do you submit to the purifying fires of YHVH’s spiritual forge? During his lifetime, YHVH tested Abraham ten times. Being told to sacrifice Isaac was the last and most severe test. Despite the severity of this test, his faith and obedience was steady.When was the last time you faced such a test? What was your response? Did you pass or fail the test?

Note the development or progression of Abraham’s faith from the time he left Ur in Chaldea until the Akeidah or Binding of Isaac. He went from a spotty or mixed faith to a full and mature faith in YHVH. Being willing to give up his only beloved son was the ultimate test of his faith, and he passed with flying colors to become the father of the faithful. YHVH asks some of his children to give up things that are near and dear to them including spouses, children, careers, homes, dreams, material possessions, fame and sometimes our lives in order to follow him, but the eternal rewards are worth the sacrifice! Yeshua promises his followers:

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. (Matt 19:29)

Sarah—A Woman of Great Faith and Co-Heir With Abraham of YHVH’s Promises

Behind every great man, as the saying goes, is a great woman. Although Scripture primarily focuses on Abraham and faith-based relationship with YHVH, it goes without saying that he could not have risen to any notable spiritual heights without a woman of similar faith at his side. So let’s no shine the spotlight on what the Bible has to say about Sarah.

  • Sarah was very beautiful in character and physical appearance, since the two are related (Gen 12:10–20). A person with an ugly, angry, bitter disposition will not have a beautiful, attractive countenance.
  • Amazingly at age 90 Sarah was still youthfully beautiful, or else it is unlikely that King Abimelech would have abducted her and wanted to marry her (Gen 20:2). Often behind a woman of beautiful countenance is a person of beautiful character. This attractiveness drew the attention of a king.
  • Sarah was coequal with Abraham in the covenantal promises. Prior to Gen 17:15–22, the covenant was solely with Abraham. Here Sarah was made an equal party in this covenantal promise. And just as Abraham’s new role was signified by a change of name, so was Sarah’s. The name Sarai, means “my princess,” implying that she owed her greatness to her status as Abraham’s wife. Henceforth she would be called only Sarah, which signifies that she would become a “princess to all the nations of the world.” Prior to the covenant, Sarai’s personal majesty made her the princess of Abraham (and his country Aram). Now, however, all limitations were removed. She was princess “par excellence”—to all mankind (The Stone Edition Chumash, p. 75).
  • In preferring Isaac over Ishmael, Sarah protecting the spiritual atmosphere of her home. She was guarding her righteous son, Isaac, from the profaneness and mockery of the unrighteous Ishmael. She was concerned that Ishmael’s behavior toward Isaac would impede or prevent Isaac from fulfilling his godly mission. Any relationship with wicked people would have been harmful to Isaac and his children as Abraham recognized when he decided that he could not remain together with Lot. This is why Sarah demanded that Abraham drive Ishmael and Hagar away, and why YHVH ratified Sarah’s righteous request (The Stone Edition Chumash, p. 97, Gen 21:10–11). Sarah knew that “evil conduct corrupts good manner” (1 Cor 15:33).
  • Sarah was obedient and respectful to her husband, and Paul used her as an example for righteous women to follow.

Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sarah obeyed [to listen, to hearken to a command, be obedient, to submit to] Abraham, calling him lord [Gr. kurios means “master, sir; a title of honour expressive of respect and reverence”]: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. (1 Pet 3:1–7)

  • Sarah, like Abraham, had faith in Elohim. Behind Abraham, a great man of faith, was Sarah, who was a great woman of faith. 

Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. (Heb 11:11–12)

Eliezer—A Faithful Servant of Abraham

Genesis 24:12, YHVH give me success. Scripture directs us to, “Trust in YHVH with all your heart and lean not unto your own understandings, but in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths” (Prov 3:5–6). Abraham’s example of faith had a profound influence upon Eliezer, his chief servant, whom he commissioned to find a wife for Isaac.

Abraham was a man of faith, and Scripture calls him the father of the faithful (Rom 4:12, 16). Eliezer was likewise a man of faith. Abraham had taught him well. Eliezer evidenced this faith when he blessed Rebecca even before he knew who her identity (Gen 24:22). This action was based simply on his faith that YHVH had answered his prayer. Do we walk in such trusting faith, day-by-day, moment-by-moment? Are we teaching the little ones under our charge these same attributes as Abraham had taught Eliezer? 

Genesis 24:45, Eliezer kept his faith alive through constant contact with Elohim. Obviously, Eliezer was in constant communications with YHVH through prayer. Is this not a character trait of a righteous person? 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says to pray without ceasing. In Luke 18:1–7, Yeshua teaches his disciples and us about the benefits of righteous and prevailing prayer. How often do you pray? Once a day? When you pray, is it merely a morning and/or evening ritual that leaves your soul (mind, will and emotions) untouched and unchanged? Is this the kind of relationship the Father is seeking with you? A mighty man of Elohim once when asked the question, “How long do you pray each day?” he replied, “Seldom do I pray more than one-half hour, but seldom do I go more than a half hour without praying.” Could this be said of you?

Note that people of faith are people of continual prayer communication with YHVH.

Rebekah, the Bride of Isaac—A Humble Woman of Faith From the Beginning

Genesis 24:58, I will go. From her debut in the Genesis narrative, Rebecca demonstrated unusual faith. Like her Uncle Abraham and Aunt Sarah, she was willing to leave the comforts and security of Babylonia and to go with a stranger to a strange place and live there as a virtual nomad roaming the barren wilderness of Canaan. When asked, “Will you go with this man?” She replied quickly and to the point, “I will go” (Gen 24:58). Some Bible teachers view Eliezer whose name means “El is (my) help” as a prophetic symbol of the Holy Spirit (who Yeshua referred to as the Helper (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7) and Rebecca as representing the bride (or saints) of Yeshua.Do you have such unreserved devotion to Yeshua, the Lover of your soul and your Betrothed, that you will go WHEREVER he leads (Rev 14:4) no matter how difficult or uncomfortable the way? Or have you placed restrictions and qualifications on him? Compare your faith on a scale of one to ten with that of Abraham, Eliezer and Rebecca. Regardless of our level of faith, YHVH is patient with his children. If we will follow him, even if our faith is mustard seed-sized, he will lead us slowly as your faith in his Word and promises slowly increases like exercising a muscle.

Abraham in his wisdom sought a woman of faith for his son. He sent Eliezer hundreds of miles to find such a woman, while overlooking numerous Canaanite women in his own backyard. That is how dedicated Abraham was to obeying YHVH!

Isaac—Walking in the Footsteps of His Father

Continue reading →
 

Warning: Guys, keep your pants up!

Posted on by
3

Genesis 25:5, He sent them eastward. Ancient customs and cultures seems strange and foreign to us, even as many of our modern customs would doubtless have seemed strange to the ancients. What was behind Abraham’s banishment of his other sons? 

The Bible paints Abraham as a righteous man who was faithful to YHVH’s word including the Torah. He was also a very loving, hospitable and generous man. From this, we can safely say that whatever he did, it wasn’t evil, but was gracious, generous and was for the benefit of all parties involved. It is true that Abraham made some mistakes along the way such as having a son with Hagar. Romans 12:2 teaches us that there is a good, better and best or perfect will of Elohim for each our lives. 

Scripture reveals that Abraham wasn’t always in the better or perfect will of Elohim, just like all of us. Taking on extra wives and concubines was not the wisest thing that he could have done judging by the fruits thereof. The Bible in numerous places paints in graphic details the numerous family conflicts that arise when a men took on extra wives and concubines. 

Likely to keep peace in his large family, Abraham had to send these concubines and their children away in order to avoid conflict between them. This is what he had to do with Hagar on account of Sarah’s jealously. 

Even then, this verse states that the gracious Abraham blessed his other sons generously. It also appears that he sent them away to protect Isaac—the promised seed through whom all YHVH’s covenantal blessings were to come. This, again, was likely to protect the future Israelites from unnecessary conflicts with potentially jealous family members. 

As it was, the children of Israel still had on-going conflicts with the descendants of Ishmael, Esau or Edom as well as with Moab and Ammon, who were Lot’s children. To wit, the modern day Arab-Israeli conflict can trace much of its origins back to these ancient family feuds.

What can we learn from these lessons on Abraham’s life? Choose your marriage partner carefully. Resist the hormonal urges and social pressure to spread your seed indiscriminately through casual sexual liaisons or by taking on new marriage partners. The affects of doing so can have deleterious, multi-generational effects long after the momentary pleasure of the sex act have passed. If you’re widowed or divorced, move extremely slowly into new marital relationships with great care, if at all, considering the long term consequences it will have on your family and successive generations.

 

Lessons from Abraham’s Seeking a Wife for Isaac

Posted on by
Reply

Genesis 24:4, Take a wife for my son Isaac. Some Bible students see in Abraham’s sending Eliezer his servant an allegory of our Heavenly Father choosing a bride for Yeshua, his Son with the help of the Set-Apart Spirit. The analogy goes like this: When speaking to Abraham, YHVH refers to Isaac as “your only son…whom you love” (Gen 22:2). 

In this statement, it’s hard to miss the similarity with the well-known John 3:16 passage where Yeshua refers to himself as the only begotten Son whom his Father in heaven loves. Isaac is an obvious prophetic picture of Yeshua in that Abraham sacrificed a ram in place of his only son whom he loved on the very spot where, one thousand years later, the Temple of Solomon would be built and where sacrifices were made to atone for men’s sin. 

Moreover, this is the same spot later in biblical history where Yeshua himself was condemned to death and not far from there became the Lamb of Elohim who was sacrificed to atone for men’s sins. 

What even more amazing, the name Eliezer means “my El helps,” which many biblical students see as an allusion to the Set-Apart Spirit who helps or comforts us, and to which Yeshua refers to as the Comforter or Helper (e.g. John 14:16). It is the Set-Apart Spirit that is choosing and preparing a bride from among called and redeemed Israelites for Yeshua the Messiah, the Son of Elohim.

Genesis 24:6, 8, Beware that you bring not my son there again.Why was Abraham insistent that Isaac not be exposed to Babylon? What was there to beware of (shamar/RNA) meaning “to guard against, protect from, keep watch and ward, preserve, keep oneself from”)? The key is verse seven. What does this teach us about protecting our children and loved ones from the corrupting influences of this world? We must be ever vigilant like a soldier on guard duty to preserve and protect our children (or those under our spiritual care) from those things that could lead to their spiritual ruination. 

YHVH had led Abraham out of the spiritual filth of Babylon. In no way did he want Isaac to go back to what he had left behind. If Isaac had seen the prosperity and convenience of a Babylonian lifestyle, he might have been tempted to stay there—especially if he had found a suitable wife there. 

Abraham insisted that any potential mate leave Babylon and come to Isaac and not vice versa. 

Are we investing the necessary time and energy into our children to insure that they do not return to the spiritual Babylon from which we fled prior to our conversion, and that they find spouses who are willing to leave spiritual Babylon behind before marrying our children?

Genesis 24:12, Give me success. Scripture directs us to, “Trust in YHVH with all your heart and lean not unto your own understandings, but in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths” (Prov 3:5–6). Explain how Eliezer, Abraham’s servant, did this in executing his responsibilities in finding Isaac a wife.

Abraham was a man of faith—even the father of the faithful (Rom 4:12, 16). Eliezer was likewise a man of faith. Abraham had taught him well, just like a son. 

How does Eliezer evidence faith? Simply this. He blesses Rebecca even before he knows who she really is (Gen 24:22) all on the basis of an answered prayer. 

Do we walk in such trusting faith, day-by-day, moment-by-moment? Are we teaching the little ones under our charge these same attributes as Abraham taught his dependents?

To read more about Isaac, in the search box on the main page of this blog (in the upper right hand corner) type in the key word “Isaac” to pull up my previous blog articles on this subject.

 

“Hand under my thigh…” Huh?

Posted on by
4

Genesis 24:2, 9, Your hand under my thigh. (Heb. yarek; see also Gen 47:29) Abraham’s servant literally placed his hands on Abraham’s testicles swearing an oath on Abraham’s projected progeny, even as in modern times we place our hands on the Bible.

Interestingly, the word testicle or teste derives from the Latin words testis meaning “testimony, testify and testament.” Yarek is the same word the KJV translates “hollow of his thigh” in Genesis 32:25 and 32, although, in this case, it seems to be referring to the tendon of the hip.

What Abraham had his servant do seems a bit indiscreet if not lewd in our culture, yet this was obviously an accepted custom in this ancient culture.

You see, the Hebrews were a very earthy, simple and basic people in their day-to-day life; there were not a lot of pretenses or veneers. Yet in their understanding of and walk with Elohim, they were deep and had a broad understanding as evidenced through the pages of the Bible. Moreover, because they had the Torah, they were much wiser and at a higher level spiritually than the nations around them who had rejected Elohim and who, instead, worshipped sticks, rocks, trees, idols and demons resulting in all sorts of idolatrous and licentious perversions. Paul talks about this in Romans 1:18–32.

What is the take away here?

The Psalms in a couple of places tells us that the fool has said in his heart that there is no God/Elohim (Pss 14:1; 53:1). As highly developed and advanced intellectually and technologically as our modern society may be, most of the intelligentsia and erudite of our day are a bunch of educated idiots or fools, who deny the existence of Elohim, while they mock the Bible. Instead, most them, being the highly rationalistic and materialistic people that they are, they worship their own minds, their own bodies and other material things all of which, by biblical definition, are idols. Moreover, they believe in unproven theories or mythologies like macro-evolution and they predict the end of the world in a few decades due to global warming or climate change. Like the ancients, many of them worship the same demons and sacrifice their children to the same demon gods (called abortion) as their ancient Baal and Moloch worshiping predecessors.

You know what? I’ll take the “crude,” earthy and basic Hebrews any day, who knew Elohim and obeyed him, had a deep knowledge of spiritual matters, and possessed wisdom and understanding of life issues over the high-minded intellects, who in all of their erudition have totally missed Elohim and in reality still worship sticks, stones, trees and material objects (e.g. homes, money, boats, cars, art objects, political power, education, their bodies) and believe in mythologies rather than the one true YHVH Elohim of the Bible.

I’m reminded of something that Paul the apostle wrote some 2,000 years after the time of Abraham (things hadn’t changed much from Abraham to Paul, and they haven’t changed much from Paul till now either, for human nature remains the same).

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND BRING TO NOTHING THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRUDENT.” Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “HE WHO GLORIES, LET HIM GLORY IN THE LORD.” (1 Cor 1:18–31)

You know what? In light of what the Bible, the Word of Elohim, has to say on this subject, I really don’t mind being being a “fool” for YHVH Elohim-Yeshua!

 

Our (Yes, Yours and Mine!) Father Abraham…An Example of Faithfulness and Obedience

Posted on by
1

What is the relevance to you and me of studying the life of Abraham? Much! To start with, did you realize that when you came to faith in Yeshua the Messiah, you became a literal, spiritual-biological descendant of Abraham? That’s what Paul says in Galatians 3:29,

 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed [Greek: sperma], and heirs according to the promise.

The Greek word sperma means “something sown, that is, seed (including the male “sperm”); by implication offspring; specifically a remnant (figuratively as if kept over for planting): – issue, seed.” Bet you never heard that preached in your church before, but there it has been, right in your Bible all along! The two verse just before that, Paul states,

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek [i.e. Gentile], there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal 3:27–28).

So, according to Paul, the Jew-Gentile paradigm that the mainstream church has been teaching us for about 1,800 years is all wrong.The concept of Jews versus Gentiles shouldn’t even enter into our theological discussions! Paul doesn’t view the saints in the church as two separate people groups, for elsewhere, Paul calls believers who used to be Jews and Gentiles “the one new man” (Eph 2:15).

Moreover, Paul when talking to believers in Rome who were previously of both Jewish and non-Jewish ethnic origins, refers to Abraham as “the father of us all” (Rom 4:16). Paul reiterates this point in Romans 9:8–11.

So if Abraham is our father, and the apostle uses his life as an example of how believers are saved (read Romans chapter four), and of how to walk in faith before Elohim in obedience to his commandments (Heb 11:8–12), and refers to Abraham as our father, then perhaps there is something to be gained by studying his life as an example of how to walk righteously before our Creator.

And now, on to our study of the life of Abraham.

Continue reading →
 

Who appeared to Abraham?

Posted on by
2

Genesis 18:1, Then YHVH appeared to him. 

YHVH Calls Abraham

And YHVH appeared [ra’ah the common Hebrew word meaning “to see, look, behold, show, appear, observe, have vision, present oneself, be seen”] unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there built he an altar unto YHVH, who appeared unto him. (adapted from the KJV)

There God became visible to Abram and said … (as translated in S. R. Hirsch’s Genesis commentary)

How and in what form did YHVH appear to Abraham? This is the question the Jewish sages have been pondering for two thousand years. On the one hand, the language of Scripture is clear and seems literal enough: “YHVH appeared unto Abram … and said …” Yet let’s now note what some of the most notable Jewish sages have to say about this verse.

Rashi, the greatest Jewish Torah commentator of the modern era, has nothing to say about this verse in his commentary. Baal HaTurim, another notable Jewish commentator, in his Torah commentary, does not discuss the nature of the appearance. The Soncino Edition of the Pentateuch has no comments on verse seven. The ArtScroll Bereishis/Genesis Commentary states the following:

And [YHVH] made Himself visible to Abram: The stress is strongly on this visibility. The expression states that, not only was the Voice of God heard, but God Himself, so to speak, appeared, emerging from invisibility to visibility; revealing Himself. This is of far reaching importance because the Torah thereby specifically refutes the view of those who deny actual revelations and consider them products of human imagination and ecstasy. The means by which God spoke to human beings is an eternal mystery. It is enough to recognize that He did indeed speak and reveal Himself to them in some tangible way. (Hirsch, p. 439; emphasis added)

Samson Raphael Hirsch, the great nineteenth orthodox Jewish scholar, in his commentary states,

God made himself visible to Abraham, and said etc. The whole stress lies on this visibility … Far from wishing to give even the very slightest idea of how God spoke to Abraham and to those chosen men to whom He revealed Himself, we still have to note what is actually told us here. The expression used says that not only was the Voice of God heard … but [He was] made visible to Abraham. (Genesis, p. 231)

Here the Jewish sages agree that YHVH literally appeared and spoke to the patriarch Abraham. If he could do this here, then why could he not send a “part” or “extension” of himself” (if you will) in the Person of Yeshua the Messiah?

YHVH—Yeshua Appears to Abraham and Sarah and Promises Them a Son

Continue reading →
 

Did the pre-incarnate Yeshua appear to Abraham? Why circumcision as a sign?

Posted on by
6

Genesis 17:1, 22, YHVH appears to Abraham and establishes circumcision as a sign of the covenant. 

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, YHVH appeared [VTR/ra’ah meaning “to see, look, behold, show, appear, observe, have vision, present oneself, be seen”] to Abram, and said unto him, I am El Shaddai; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

YHVH proceeds to lay out to Abraham the terms of the Abrahamic Covenant including circumcision and the fact that Sarah would give birth to a son with whom YHVH would also establish his covenant. When YHVH was done Scripture records the following in verse 22,

And [YHVH] left off talking with him, and Elohim went up [VKG/alah, to go up, ascend, climb, depart] from Abraham. (KJV)

And when He had finished speaking with him, God ascended from upon Abraham. (The ArtScroll Stone Edition Tanach)

And He ceased speaking with him; and the Glory of the Lord ascended from Abraham. (Targum Jonathan)

And when He had ended to speak with him, the Glory of the Lord ascended up from Abraham. (Targum Onkelos)

And be left off speaking with him, and God went up from Abraham. (LXX)

This text does not state how YHVH appeared or spoke to Abraham, just the fact that he did. According to the Hebrew rules of biblical interpretation (and the rules of common logic when reading anything), a scriptural text is to be taken at its literal or plain (peshat) meaning, unless the text itself suggests an allegorical (drash) or mystical (sod) interpretation. The Talmud (the Jewish Oral Law) states this in Talmud b. Shabbath 63a ( … that a verse cannot depart from its plain meaning”) and Talmud b. Yevamoth 24a (“Although throughout the Torah no text loses its ordinary meaning …”). Therefore, it is evident that YHVH appeared to Abraham in some tangible form with which humans are capable of interacting. If he did so once, we have to ask, cannot he do it again in the Person of Yeshua of Nazereth, the Messiah?

Let’s now note some reasons why YHVH chose circumcision to be the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant. Remember, physical circumcision is not passé, but is still a requirement for those desiring to be priests in YHVH’s future (spiritual?) temple (Ezek 44:7, 9):

  • It is a token or sign of spiritual things—a sign which always goes before us. (Gen 17:11)
  • It signifies purification of the heart from all unrighteousness by cutting away a piece of the flesh which would otherwise be a carrier of filth and disease.
  • It is a holy seal of righteousness—the foreskin removed is round like a ring. A ring signifies a bond or union and is worn constantly even as the seal of circumcision is worn constantly.
  • Circumcision occurs at eight days of age. Eight is the number meaning new beginnings. A new heart, a consecration of the person to YHVH; the commencement of a covenant. (Gen 17:12) 
  • The rite of circumcision is painful and humiliating. So is repentance and self denial of which circumcision is a picture.

From the penis flows the seed of life. Circumcision is a sign that the seed should and could be righteous and consecrated to YHVH.

In Romans 4:11, Paul teaches us that circumcision is a sign, mark or token, and a seal (placed on someone) or an impression or stamp made by a signet ring signifying ownership. Circumcision spoke of Abraham’s righteousness and the faith he had in YHVH and YHVH’s “ownership” of Abraham. A modern-day example of this would be the marriage ring. One can be legally married without wearing ring; however, a wedding ring is an outward and visible sign of one marriage covenant. The same is true of circumcision. It’s not a salvational requirement, yet it’s an outward sign of an inward spiritual reality.

The Scriptures make it clear that circumcision is not a requirement for salvation (see Acts 15) or else women couldn’t be saved. Circumcision is, however, an act of obedience that indicates one’s identity with the Abrahamic Covenant model of salvation and with the people of Israel. Additionally, the Torah makes it clear that circumcision is required for all men who desire to take Passover, and those who do not keep the Passover will be cut off from Israel (Exod 12:47–48), although in the New Covenant, circumcision of the heart is now the chief requirement (Rom 2:25–29; Gal 6:15; Col 2:11).