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,
(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.