Psa 119:18/19 Please open our eyes YHVH that we might see hidden and wonderful truths in Your Torah. Father we are strangers and sojourners here on earth, please do not hide the council of your Torah from us.
Blessed
are those to whom You have shown mercy to walk in Your Torah of truth in loving
kindness and obedience. Amein.
We
continue this week in Parashat ‘’Vayera’’ or ‘’and He appeared’’ so far we have
seen that YHVH appears to warn of coming judgment, that will come, however we also
see that YHVH appears to save His people from judgment. This week we will see
how YHVH intervenes and saves Abraham and Sarah from making a huge mistake.
This
pattern of YHVH’s ‘’appearing’’ (Vayera) is the story of the journey of our
lives.
וַיִּסַּע
מִשָּׁם ‘’and he journeyed out
from there’’ (‘’va yi as misham’’ in Hebrew)
‘’ nâsa‛ ‘’ A
primitive root; properly to pull up, especially the tent pins, that is, start
on a journey- ‘’misham ‘’ ‘’From there’’
So, the journey continues.
The word misham
("from there") refers literally to Abraham's previous location near
the oaks of Mamre/Hebron (from Genesis 18–19), after the destruction of Sodom
and Gomorrah.
Abraham and Abimelech
Gen 20:1 And Aḇraham
set out from there to the land of the South, and dwelt between Qaḏěsh and Shur, and stayed in
Gerar.
The sages read “בֵּין
קָדֵשׁ וּבֵין שׁוּר וַיֵּשֶׁב בִּגְרָר” (Gen. 20:1) as
highly deliberate geography, not incidental detail. Geography in the Torah
often reflects spiritual positioning.
Some Sages believe that Abraham and Sarah moved away
from a very dangerous place to an even more dangerous place.
Kadesh-Barnea would become the place where Moshe was
disqualified from entering the promised land. Num 20:1
Num
20:11 Then Mosheh lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod.
And much water came out, and the congregation and their livestock drank.
Num
20:12 But יהוה spoke to Mosheh and to
Aharon, “Because you did not believe Me, to set Me apart in the eyes of the
children of Yisra’ěl, therefore you do not bring this assembly into the land
which I have given them.”
This incident at
the rock in Numbers 20 occurred about 38–39 years after the Israelites left
Egypt, just months before entering the Promised Land. (Moses almost
made it into the promised)
By striking the rock again, Moses blurred the
prophetic lesson that the Messiah would be struck only once, not
twice. This action caused YHVH to be enraged with Moshe.
Psa
2:12 Kiss the Chosen,b lest He (YHVH) be enraged, And you perish in the
way, For soon His wrath is to be kindled. Blessed are all those taking refuge
in Him. Footnote: bHebrew, Nashqu ḇar. Ḇar - Chosen in Hebrew but Son in
Aramaic.
1Co
10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that
spiritual Rock that followed, and the Rock was Messiah. 1Co
10:5 However, with most of them Elohim was not well pleased, for they
were laid low in the wilderness. 1Co 10:11 And all these came upon
them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of
the ages have come,
1Co
10:12 so that he who thinks he stands, let him take heed lest he fall.
Heb
6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have
tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Set-apart
Spirit,
Heb
6:5 and have tasted the good Word of Elohim and the powers of the age to
come,
Heb
6:6 and fall away, to renew them again to repentance – having impaled for
themselves the Son of Elohim again, and put Him to open shame.
How do
we understand this? It requires an entire midrash. Let us try and explain
briefly.
Heb
6:1
Therefore, having left the word of the beginning (ἀρχή (archḗ) or ‘’archives’’
or “ancient paths’’) of
the Messiah, let us go on to perfection,a not laying again the foundation of
repentance from dead works, and of belief toward Elohim, Footnote: a Mat_5:48.
Heb
6:2 of the teaching of immersions, and of laying on of hands, and of
resurrection of the dead, and of everlasting judgment.
Heb
6:3 And this we shall do, if Elohim indeed permits.
First
of all the scripture never instructs us to make ‘’converts’’ to Yahshua but
disciples –
“Go and make taught ones of all the nations” Mt 28:19
The church added the trinitarian heresy to this scripture
- Mat 28:19 Therefore go and teach all
nations, (baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit,)
‘’Taught
ones’’ are those who have submitted themselves to the whole counsel of
YHVH’s word.
The
church has misrepresented the Messiah because most believers rely on a
‘’conversion experience’’ sealed by a ‘’baptism’’ into the demonic doctrine of
the trinity – instead of building their faith on the ἀρχή
(archḗ) or “ancient paths’’ described in Heb 6:1-3.
When
the storms come in the last days, it will be too late for many believers to
start over again. (you cant impale Messiah twice)
Mat
7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does them,
shall be like a wise man who built his house on the rock,
Mat
7:25 and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and
beat on that house, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
Mat
7:26 “And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not do them,d
shall be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand, Footnote: dSee Mat_7:15,
and also Mat_13:41-42.
Mat
7:27 and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and
they beat on that house, and it fell, and great was its fall.”
Abraham
and Sarah almost do the same thing as Moses – after waiting so many
years for the promised son, Abraham gives his wife Sarah to become one
Avimelech’s wives. Imagine the consequences if Sarah had become pregnant
through the seed of this Philistine king.
Shur- The Hebrew word Shur (שׁוּר) primarily means
"wall" or "fortress," symbolizing protection, boundary, or
enclosure.
Imagine what would have happened to Sarah if YHVH did not
intervene and protect her?
Imagine what will happen to and time group of believers
who are not protected by YHVH.
Rev
3:10 “Because you have guarded My Word of endurance, I also shall guard
you from the hour of trial which shall come upon all the world, to try those
who dwell on the earth.
“I will guard you from the hour of trial”—reflects
a measure-for-measure (middah k’neged middah) principle common in
rabbinic theology: In the measure you guarded My word, I will guard you or ‘’You
guarded My word now I will guard you.”
In Christian theology, many believe that YHVH is obliged
to guard us.
For
an end time generation this contemplation is about how was it possible that so
many people on earth misunderstood and misrepresented the true Messiah. The
single greatest tragedy of all time.
2Co
11:3 But I am afraid, lest, as the serpent deceived Ḥawwah by his trickery, so your
minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Messiah.
2Co
11:4 For, indeed, if he who is coming proclaims another יהושע,a whom we have not
proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received,
or a different Good News which you have not accepted, you put up with it well
enough!
Gerar = a place of sojourning and subtle deception.
The name itself explains why Abraham is tested there—and why the sages see this
episode as more complex than Sodom - it is a place that pulls the righteous
into compromise if they are not vigilant.
Until we reach the ‘’8th day’’ the righteous
will always live between two extremes – judgment and deliverance - the
already and the not yet – what YHVH has done in our lives and what YHVH still
needs to perfect in our lives. This ‘’transition space’’ is a very dangerous
place.
Only the real Messiah can show us the way – only those
who endure to the end will be saved. This statement of enduring to the end is
repeated by the Messiah 7 times in the book of Revelation. (it appears from
these warnings that many believers did not take Yahshua seriously)
Why is this transition the most dangerous place to be?
Because you might think you are right but in reality
you are dead wrong.
Pro
14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way
of death.
Jer
17:9 “The heart is crooked (עקב) or
deceitful above all, and desperately sick – who shall know it?
This is why we need to thoroughly know and build our
lives on the Heb 6:1-3 foundation.
Paul had a profound insight into this tension between the
‘’already and not yet.’’
a)Rom
8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you
received the Spirit of adoption (past tense) by whom we cry out, “Abba,
Father.”
Rom
8:22 For we know that all the creation groans together, and suffers the
pains of childbirth together until now. Rom 8:23 And not only so,
but even we ourselves who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, we ourselves
also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption,
the redemption of our body.
So, we
have been adopted, but we are still waiting for the future completion and
perfection of that adoption. Adoption is a process, a journey (nasa)
b) Eph 1:7 in whom we have redemption (present tense) through
His blood, the forgiveness of trespasses, according to the riches of His
favour, (redemption -the action of saving or being saved from sin,
error, or evil.)
Eph
4:30 And do not grieve the Set-apart Spirit of Elohim, by whom you were
sealed for the day of redemption. (if you persistently grieve the Set
Apart Spirit you can fail to reach your intended destination – this why we fear
YHVH)
Heb
4:1
Therefore, since a promise remains of entering into His rest, let us fear lest
any of you seem to have come short of it.
c) 1Co 1:2 to the assembly of Elohim which is at Corinth, to those
who are set-apart (Gk hagiazō- past tense) in Messiah יהושע, called set-apart ones, with
all those calling on the Name of יהושע Messiah our Master in every
place, theirs and ours:
1Th
5:23 And the Elohim of peace Himself set you completely apart, and
your entire spirit, and being, and body - be preserved blameless at the coming
of our Master יהושע Messiah!
1Th
5:24 He who calls you is trustworthy, who also shall do it.
d) Eph 2:8 For by favour you have been saved,(past tense)
through belief, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of Elohim,
Rom
5:9 Much more then, having now been declared right by His blood, we shall
be saved(future tense) from wrath through Him.
e) Eph 2:5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive
together with Messiah – by favour you have been saved – (resurrection now)
Eph
2:6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenlies
in Messiah יהושע,
1Co
15:32 .. If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for
tomorrow we die.
We live in a theological tension. By faith in Messiah,
all of these spiritual blessings are ours already, but the full
enjoyment of these blessings is not yet ours. This is the life
of faith: “the assurance of things hoped for” in the future, and “the
conviction of things not seen” in the present (Hebrews 11:1).
This is life between the times.
‘’If we don’t understand this mindset, the theological
tension we live in will become a theological disaster. We will inevitably
misread Scripture. And if we misread Scripture, we will live misled lives.’’
We need to read again and contemplate the seven messages
that Yahshua gives to an end time group of believers in the book of Revelation.
2Co
5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we
might become the righteousness of Elohim.
Some
believers like to claim that they are already the righteousness of YHVH in
Messiah, yet the plain text clearly states that we are becoming the
righteousness of YHVH in Messiah.
This
is the mystery of the Bride of Messiah she is in the state of ‘’niddah’’(unclean)
for seven days. Lev 15:19 - “Unclean” does not mean sinful or
morally wrong – it means we are trusting YHVH to complete the work that He has
begun in us- Jud 1:24
And to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you blameless
before the presence of His esteem with exceeding joy,
Jud
1:25 to the only wise Elohim, our Saviour, be esteem and greatness
and might and authority, both now and forever. Aměn
Literal word order: “to the only Elohim (YHVH) Saviour
of us’’ ‘’through Messiah’’ is added in some translations but it is not in
the original manuscript.
I
believe this the hidden message of this Torah portion and a key for us to be
watchful in the last days and even during the millennial reign of Messiah.
Abraham
and Sarah escaped the judgment of Sedom but faced and even greater danger in
Gerar. They could of destroyed the future Messianic seed.
In our
haftarah portion we are reminded that even during the Millennium people can die before their time.
Isa
65:20 "No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but
a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at
a hundred will be thought a mere youth, and the one who fails to reach a
hundred will be considered accursed."
There is a journey of obedience and reliance that YHVH
requires of us to reach our destiny that is not negotiable.
Gen 20:2 And Aḇraham
said concerning Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Aḇimeleḵ sovereign of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
This was partially true, as she was his niece (daughter
of his brother Haran), but it was deceptive.
Rashi: The daughter of my father — Sarah was indeed
Terah's granddaughter (via Haran), considered like a daughter in some contexts,
but truly his brother's daughter.
Gen 20:3 But Elohim came to Aḇimeleḵ in a dream by night, and said to him, “See, you
are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s
wife.”
Gen 20:4 However, Aḇimeleḵ had not come near her, and he
said, “יהוה,
would You kill a righteous nation also?
Gen 20:5 “Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’?
And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my
heart and in the innocence of my hands I have done this.”
Gen 20:6 And Elohim said to him in a dream, “Yes, I
know that you did this in the integrity of your heart, and so I kept you from
sinning against Me. For this reason I did not let you touch her.
Gen 20:7 “And now, return the man’s wife, for he is
a prophet, and let him pray for you and you live. But if you do not return her,
know that you shall certainly die, you and all that are yours.”
This is the first appearance of the word
"prophet" (navi) in the Torah, applied to Abraham.
‘’ Abraham being the first prophet mentioned underscores
his pivotal role as the bridge from primordial humanity to the covenantal
history of Hebrews—initiating ethical monotheism, prophetic intercession, and
the covenantal relationship between YHVH and the Hebrews.’’
The Difference Between Jews, Hebrews, and Israelites
According to the Bible (24min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHD3sX6vuMk&t=528s
Gen 20:8 So Aḇimeleḵ rose early in the morning,
and called all his servants, and spoke all these words in their hearing. And
the men were greatly frightened.
Gen 20:9 And Aḇimeleḵ called Aḇraham and said to him, “What
have you done to us? In what have I sinned against you, that you have brought
on me and on my reign a great sin? You have done matters to me that should not
be done.”
Gen 20:10 And Aḇimeleḵ said to Aḇraham, “What did you have in
view, that you have done this matter?”
Gen 20:11 And Aḇraham
said, “Only because I said to myself, the fear of Elohim is not in this
place, and they shall kill me for the sake of my wife.
Gen 20:12 “And yet, she is truly my sister. She is
the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother, and she became my
wife.
Gen 20:13 “And it came to be, when Elohim caused me
to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is your
loving-commitment that you should do for me: in every place, wherever we go,
say of me, “He is my brother.”’ ”
“There
is a terrible meaning in this verb wander (Heb ‘’ta ah’’)which Abraham uses. The Hebrew
word occurs exactly fifty times in Scripture and never in a good sense. It is
used of animals going astray, of a drunken man reeling, or staggering, of
sinful seduction, of a prophet’s lies causing the people to err, of the path of
a lying heart. Six other words are translated wander, any one of
which Abraham might have used, but he used the worst word available.”
(Barnhouse)
“Abraham
should have said: ‘Forgive me, Abimelech, for dishonouring both you and
my Elohim. My selfish cowardice overwhelmed
me, and I denied my Elohim by fearing that He who
called me could not take care of me. He is not as your gods of wood and stone.
He is the Elohim of esteem. He is the living El, the Creator, the most High El, possessor of heaven and earth. He told me He
would be my shield and my exceeding great reward, and supplier of all my needs…
In sinning against Him, I sinned against you. Forgive me, Abimelech.’”
(Barnhouse)
Gen 20:14 Then Aḇimeleḵ took sheep, and cattle, and
male and female servants, and gave them to Aḇraham.
And he returned Sarah his wife to him.
Gen 20:15 And Aḇimeleḵ said, “See, my land is before
you, dwell wherever it is good in your eyes.”
Gen 20:16 And to Sarah he said, “See, I have given
your brother a thousand pieces of silver. See, it is to you a covering of eyes
before all who are with you and before all others, and you are cleared before
everyone.”
Gen 20:17 And Aḇraham
prayed to Elohim, and Elohim healed Aḇimeleḵ, and his wife, and his female
servants, so they bore children,
Gen 20:18 for יהוה had closed up all the
wombs of the house of Aḇimeleḵ because of Sarah, Aḇraham’s wife.
The Birth of Isaac
Gen 21:1 And יהוה visited Sarah as He
had said, and יהוה
did for Sarah as He had spoken.
Gen 21:2 So Sarah conceived and bore Aḇraham a son in his old age, at
the appointed time of which Elohim had spoken to him.
Gen 21:3 And Aḇraham
called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Yitsḥaq.
Gen 21:4 And Aḇraham
circumcised his son Yitsḥaq
when he was eight days old, as Elohim had commanded him.
Gen 21:5 And Aḇraham
was one hundred years old when his son Yitsḥaq
was born to him.
Act
14:22 strengthening the beings of the taught ones, encouraging them to
continue in the belief, and that through many pressures(Gk ‘’thlipsis’’) we
have to enter the reign of Elohim.
‘’Thlipsis’’ anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.
Blessed are
you YHVH, our Elohim, King of the Universe, you have given us your Torah of
truth and have planted everlasting life within our midst. Blessed are you, YHVH
giver of the Torah – Amein.
Testing of Your
Faith –
Luk 21:36 “Watch then at all times, and pray
that you be counted worthy to escape all this about to take place, and to stand
before the Son of Aḏam.”
Jas 1:2 My
brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
Jas 1:3
knowing that the proving of your belief works endurance.
Jas 1:4
And let endurance have a perfect work, so that you be perfect and complete,
lacking in naught.
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man who does endure
trial, for when he has been proved, he shall receive the crown of life which
the Master has promised to those who love Him.
1Pe 1:5 who are protected by the power of
Elohim through belief, for a deliverance ready to be revealed in the last time,
1Pe 1:6 in which you exult, even though for a
little while, if need be, you have been grieved by manifold trials,
1Pe 1:7 in order that the proving of your
belief – much more precious than gold that perishes, and proven by fire – might
be found to result in praise and respect and esteem at the revelation of יהושע
Messiah,
1Pe 4:12 Beloved ones, do not be surprised at
the fiery trial that is coming upon you, to try you, as though some unusual
matter has befallen you,
1Pe 4:13 but as you share Messiah’s
sufferings, rejoice, in order that you might rejoice exultingly at the
revelation of His esteem.
1Co 10:13 No trial has overtaken you except
such as is common to man, and Elohim is trustworthy, who shall not allow you to
be tried beyond what you are able, but with the trial shall also make the way
of escape, enabling you to bear it
Rom 5:3 And not only this, but we also exult
in pressures, knowing that pressure works endurance;
Rom 5:4 and endurance, approvedness; and
approvedness, expectation.
Rom 5:5 And expectation does not disappoint,
because the love of Elohim has been poured out in our hearts by the Set-apart
Spirit which was given to us.
Rev 2:10 “Do not be afraid of what you are
about to suffer. See, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, in
order to try you, and you shall have pressure ten days. Be trustworthy until
death, and I shall give you the crown of life.
Num 14:22 for none of these men who have seen
My esteem and the signs which I did in Mitsrayim and in the wilderness, and
have tried (נסה) Me now these ten times, and
have disobeyed My voice,
Num 14:23 shall see the land of which I swore
to their fathers, nor any of those who scorned Me see it. (Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers 5:6 –
gives the list)
Mat 22:14 “For many are called, but few are
chosen
The Golden Rule
Mat 7:12 “Therefore, whatever you wish men to
do to you, do also to them, for this is the Torah and the Prophets.
Mat 7:13 “Enter in through the narrow gate!
Because the gate is wide – and the way is broad – that leads to destruction,
and there are many who enter in through it.
Mat 7:14 “Because the gate is narrow and the
way is hard presseda which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Footnote: aOr the way is afflicted.