1/19/2013

Parashat 3 Portion 14 – Beresheet/Gen 17:1-27


 Haftorah: – Yesh/Is 63:10-19 – Second Writings: Rom 4:10-25

         Isa 63:17  O יהוה, why do You make us stray from Your ways, and harden our heart from Your fear? Turn back, for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your inheritance.

Blessing for the Torah:
Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-O’lam, asher bachar banu m’kol ha-amim,
v’natan lanu eht Torah-to. Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”

(Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim , King of the Universe,
you have selected us from among all the peoples, and have given us your Torah.
Blessed are you, YHVH, giver of the Torah. Ameyn.)

Sinai was not the beginning of the covenant relationship with Yisrael, it was a continuation of a covenant already established. If one comes to Sinai without first participating in the faith of Abraham, the Sinai experience inevitably produces slavery.
Only those who have been circumcised in their hearts will understand and embrace the circumcision of the flesh. The true evidence of those who follow in the footsteps of the faith of Abraham is willingly and lovingly taking on the entire yoke of Torah.

The tragic testimony among both Jew and Gentile is that they have created their own Torah’s (ways of following YHVH) according to their own understanding and the traditions and doctrines handed down to them from generation to generation. We do this because deep in our hearts we all struggle to trust YHVH completely to do in us what we cannot do for ourselves.

Gen 17:1  And it came to be when Aḇram was ninety-nine years old, that יהוה appeared to Aḇram and said to him, “I am Ěl Shaddai – walk before Me and be perfect1. Footnote: 1Messiah gives the same command in Mt. 5:48.

Why El Shaddai?

Abram is 99 years old, his wife Sarai is 90 years old. Couples of this age simply do not give birth to children. The birth of a child would be a miraculous event, an event that would no doubt have been recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The name that YHVH chooses to reveal Himself here “El Shaddai” comes from the Hebrew word “shadad” which means “breast” and implies “One who nurses” or “the One who gives the ability to nurse.” This reminds us Who the source of the wonderful miracle of childbirth which is about to take place, was.

This also reminds us of the miraculous conception and virgin birth of Yahshua.

“walk before Me..” the verb “walk” is a “hitpael imperative” (reflexive) verb and implies walking backwards and forwards or a continuous walk of obedience we are to walk here on earth.
“and be” is another imperative (command) verb. These two imperative verbs may be consequential ie if you walk (halacha) according to YHVH’s will, you will be blameless or perfect AND HE WILL COMMAND THE BLESSING OF PERFECTION UPON YOUR LIFE.
We can also understand “be perfect” (vav, hey, yud, hey – vaheye) as a command that YHVH proclaims. In other words YHVH speaks our perfection into being by uttering this command. YHVH will bring about our perfection which is in progress even in the present. He does this by conforming us into the image of His son Yahshua.

This reminds us of the definition of faith found in Hebrews.

Heb 11:1  And belief is the substance of what is expected, the proof of what is not seen. (This is YHVH’s definition of faith or belief because this is how He operates)

LET US TAKE CAREFUL NOTE ABOUT HOW YHVH COMMANDS OUR PERFECTION AND ONLY SPEAKS CREATION INTO EXISTENCE.

If we look at the verb “to be” in the creation account we see that it is a normal “pa al” verb but when the verb “to be” is used in our Parasha concerning our becoming perfect, complete and whole an imperative or command “pa al” verb is used. This is our spiritual foundation, if it is not sound our lives will not be sound.

YHVH commands that we will become perfect.