Parashat 4 Portion 15 Vayira – and He appeared – Ber/Gen 18:1-33 Yesh/Is 33:17-34:12 Luke 8:40-56

TRUE FRIENDS
"There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship."~ Saint Thomas Aquinas

OUR FRIENDSHIP
"Friendship without self-interest is one of the rare and beautiful things in life."James Francis Byrnes

"My father always used to say that when you die, if you've got five real friends, then you've had a great life."
-Lee Iacocca

      Isa 41:8  “But you, Yisra’ĕl, are My servant, Ya’aqoḇ, whom I have chosen, the descendants of Aḇraham My friend,

2Ch 20:7  “Are You not our Elohim? You have driven out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Yisra’ĕl, and gave it to the seed of Aḇraham Your friend forever.

Yahshua who came to elevate the Torah and all those who cling to the Torah said:

Joh 15:10  “If you guard My commands, you shall stay in My love,1 even as I have guarded My Father’s commands and stay in His love. Footnote: 1See 14:15.
Joh 15:11  “These words I have spoken to you, so that My joy might be in you, and that your joy might be complete.
Joh 15:12  “This is My command, that you love one another, as I have loved you.1 Footnote: 1See 13:34, 15:17.
Joh 15:13  “No one has greater love than this: that one should lay down his life for his friends.
Joh 15:14  “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
Joh 15:15  “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, for all teachings which I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
Joh 15:16  “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name He might give you.
Joh 15:17  “These words I command you, so that you love one another.1 Footnote: 1See 13:34, 15:12.
Joh 15:18  “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
Joh 15:19  “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, for that reason the world hates you.

You cannot legislate love or friendship. Speaking of love Shaul says there is no Torah.

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustworthiness,
Gal 5:23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no Torah.

The best way to learn about love and friendship is to observe and follow those who appear to have these qualities.

Rom 4:12 says we are to walk in the steps of our father Avraham.

Heb 6:12  ….. but imitate those who through belief and patience inherit the promises.
Heb 6:13  For Elohim, having promised Aḇraham, since He could swear by no one greater, swore by Himself,
Heb 6:14  saying, “Truly, blessing I shall bless you, and increasing I shall increase you.”
Heb 6:15  And so, after being patient, he obtained the promise.

Heb 12:1  We too, then, having so great a cloud of witnesses all around us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us,
Heb 12:2  looking to the Princely Leader and Perfecter of our belief, יהושע, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the stake, having despised the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of Elohim.

Our Torah Portion:

Gen 18:1  And יהוה appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamrĕ, while he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day.

This is the beginning of a  new Torah portion – “Vayira” which means “and he appeared.”

“Va Yerah” is a Niphal verb ie a passive verb, meaning that YHVH  allowed Himself to be seen by Avraham.

Terebinth tree comes from a Hebrew word that can mean strength. It is also known as an oak tree. Terebinth trees were a place where one met with YHVH. Mamre comes from a Hebrew word that can mean fatness or abundance. The Terebinth tree was also a place where YHVH imparted instruction and teaching – see also “Terebinth of Moreh”

Gen 12:6  And Aḇram passed through the land to the place of Sheḵem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. At that time the Kena’anites were in the land.

Gen 12:7  And יהוה appeared to Aḇram and said, “To your seed I give this land.” And he built there an altar to יהוה, who had appeared to him.

Gen 13:18  So Aḇram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamrĕ, which are in Ḥeḇron, and built an altar there to יהוה.

Terebinth trees represent a place where one encountered YHVH.

Have you found your Terebinth tree? -  a place where you feel you belong – where YHVH has met with you – a place that you would not have found if YHVH did not radically change the circumstance of your life – if you had not become a Hebrew and crossed over from man- made religion, you would not have found your Terebinth tree - A place where the Torah begins to make sense – where you become to embrace Torah more and more as if it was your very life.

The wood from these Terebinth trees was used to make yokes.

Matthew 11:28-30The Message (MSG) ^28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Mat 11:29  “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your beings.¹ Footnote: ¹Jer. 6:16.

Mat 11:30  “For My yoke is gentle and My burden is light.”

The “yoke” was rabbinically known as the burden of the Torah.

Gen 18:2  So he lifted his eyes and looked, and saw three men standing opposite him. And when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground,

Gen 18:3  and said, “יהוה, if I have now found favour in Your eyes, please do not pass Your servant by.

Gen 18:4  “Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.

Gen 18:5  “And let me bring a piece of bread and refresh your hearts, and then go on, for this is why you have come to your servant.” And they said, “Do as you have said.”

Gen 18:6  So Aḇraham ran into the tent to Sarah and said, “Hurry, make ready three measures of fine flour, knead it and make cakes.”

Gen 18:7  And Aḇraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hurried to prepare it.

Gen 18:8  And he took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them, and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.

Midrash on what your response would be if YHVH sent His Messenger to you?

Note- Avram was not focusing on his own needs or requests. Yahshua describes this as the essence of increasing our faith.

Luk 17:5  And the emissaries said to the Master, “Give us more belief.”

Luk 17:6  And the Master said, “If you have belief as a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Luk 17:7  “But who of you, having a servant ploughing or shepherding, would say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’?

Luk 17:8  “But would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare somewhat for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you shall eat and drink’?

Luk 17:9  “Would he thank that servant because he did what he was commanded? I think not.

Luk 17:10  “So also you, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants, we have done what was our duty to do.’ ”

Gen 18:9  And they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “See, in the tent.”

ט  וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו, אַיֵּה שָׂרָה אִשְׁתֶּךָ; וַיֹּאמֶר, הִנֵּה בָאֹהֶל.

“and they said to him” “va yomer elaiv eiya sara ishtecha” Over the word “elaiv” are three “yuts’ over the letter “aleph”; “yud” and “vav” these three letters spell “eiyav” meaning “where is he.”

Is this possibly a veiled question as to when would the Messiah be coming?

Gen 18:10  And He said, “I shall certainly return to you according to the time of life, and see, Sarah your wife is to have a son!” And Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.

Gen 18:11  Now Aḇraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age, and Sarah was past the way of women.

Gen 18:12  And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my master being old too?”

Gen 18:13  And יהוה said to Aḇraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I truly have a child, since I am old?’

Gen 18:14  “Is any matter too hard for יהוה? At the appointed time I am going to return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah is to have a son.”

Gen 18:15  But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh!”

Gen 18:16  And the men rose up from there and looked toward Seḏom, and Aḇraham went with them to send them away.

Gen 18:17  And יהוה said, “Shall I hide from Aḇraham what I am doing,

Gen 18:18  since Aḇraham is certainly going to become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

Gen 18:19  “For I have known him, so that he commands his children and his household after him, to guard the way of יהוה, to do righteousness and right-ruling, so that יהוה brings to Aḇraham what He has spoken to him.”

Gen 18:20  And יהוה said, “Because the outcry against Seḏom and Amorah is great, and because their sin is very heavy,

Gen 18:21  “I am going down now to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me, and if not, I know.”

Gen 18:22  So the men turned away from there and went toward Seḏom, but יהוה still stood before Aḇraham.

Gen 18:23  And Aḇraham drew near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wrong?

Gen 18:24  “Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city, would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it?

Gen 18:25  “Far be it from You to act in this way, to slay the righteous with the wrong, so that the righteous should be as the wrong. Far be it from You! Does the Judge of all the earth not do right?”

Gen 18:26  And יהוה said, “If I find in Seḏom fifty righteous within the city, then I shall spare all the place for their sakes.”

Gen 18:27  And Aḇraham answered and said, “Look, please, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to יהוה,

Gen 18:28  “Suppose there are five less than the fifty righteous, would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?” And He said, “If I find there forty-five, I do not destroy it.”

Gen 18:29  And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there are found forty?” And He said, “I would not do it for the sake of forty.”

Gen 18:30  And he said, “Let not יהוה be displeased, and let me speak: Suppose there are found thirty?” And He said, “I would not do it if I find thirty there.”

Gen 18:31  And he said, “Look, please, I have taken it upon myself to speak to יהוה: Suppose there are found twenty?” And He said, “I would not destroy it for the sake of twenty.”

Gen 18:32  And he said, “Let not יהוה be displeased, and let me speak only this time: Suppose there are found ten?” And He said, “I would not destroy it for the sake of ten.”

Gen 18:33  Then יהוה went away as soon as He had ended speaking to Aḇraham. And Aḇraham returned to his place.

Possibly this refers to a very small remnant that will truly exercise faith when Yahshua returns.

Luk 18:8  “ But when the Son of Aḏam comes, shall He find the belief on the earth?”

Midrash on events and people in scripture who demonstrated great faith:

We need to remind ourselves that these events were unscripted, they were spontaneous responses.

1. Matthew 15:21-28 NASB - The Syrophoenician Woman ...

2. Luke 7:1-10 - The Faith of the Centurion.

3. Ber/Gen 24:11-20 Rivkah and Eliezer at the well.

Parashat 3 Portion 14 Ber/Gen 17:1-27 Yesh/Is 63:10-19 Rom 4:10-25

This week we are challenged with the important issue of circumcision. The Torah teaches us that it is a commandment. This is perhaps one of the most misunderstood commandments of the scriptures. I recommend Tim Hegg’s teaching on this subject. More information can be supplied if requested.

“In his 1891 work History of Circumcision, physician Peter Charles Remondino suggested that it began as a less severe form of emasculating a captured enemy: penectomy or castration would likely have been fatal, while some form of circumcision would permanently mark the defeated yet leave him alive to serve as a slave. ”This is an interesting context given by the historians because as Messianic believers we have come to the firm realization that the one true evidence of being part of YHVH’s covenant is being a bondservant. Bondservants were marked by having their ears pierced with an awl.

Our Torah Portion:

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(become) perfect¹. Footnote: ¹Messiah gives the same command in Mt. 5:48.

The Hebrews may not have celebrated birthdays but is evident that they kept track of how old they were. In the above verse we can assume that certain birthdays may have been occasions of significant encounters with the Almighty.

These encounters with the heavenly messengers  (no one except Messiah has ever seen YHVH and lived-John 1:18, 1John 4:12) commemorated significant events in the lives of those mortals who received them. This remains true even to this day. When the scripture says YHVH appeared, we can safely assume a heavenly being representing YHVH appeared. Some do not believe in pre incarnate appearances of Yahshua because Yahshua is higher than any heavenly messenger.

Heb 1:4  having become so much better than the messengers, as He(Yahshua) has inherited a more excellent Name than them.

Heb 1:5  For to which of the messengers did He ever say, “You are My Son, today I have brought You forth”?¹ And again, “I shall be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son”?² Footnotes: ¹Ps. 2:7. ²2 Sa. 7:14.

Heb 1:6  And when He again brings the first-born into the world, He says, “Let all the messengers of Elohim do reverence to Him.”

Heb 1:7  And of the messengers indeed He says, “... who is making His messengers spirits and His servants a flame of fire.”

Heb 1:8  But to the Son He says, “Your throne, O Elohim, is forever and ever, a sceptre of straightness is the sceptre of Your reign.

Heb 1:9  “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. Because of this, Elohim, Your Elohim, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

El Shaddai is the name of YHVH that is connected with nurturing. “Shad” in Hebrew is “breast”. So here YHVH is referred to as the “Breasted One.”

The name El Shaddai is used 7 times in the Tenach and this is the first time it is used. According to the law of first appearance in the scripture, this is truly significant as it relates to YHVH preserving and nurturing His covenant with us.

The Hebrew word “shad” is also a masculine noun. Caring is also a powerful male quality.

The Hitpael (reflexive) verb is used for “walk” – “hithalech” and means to walk back and forth or to continually walk before YHVH in such a way that we are conformed into the image of Messiah.

Gen 17:2  “And I give My covenant between Me and you, and shall greatly increase you.”

ב  וְאֶתְּנָה בְרִיתִי, בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶךָ; וְאַרְבֶּה אוֹתְךָ, בִּמְאֹד מְאֹד.

Note – “ve etna” means “I have given” The “hey” ending emphasizes the intensity of the verb. The evidence of possessing His covenant is great increase or fruitfulness in our lives. We may safely assume that this blessed life carries over into the “olam ha ba” – the life to come.

Luk 19:17  “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant. Because you were trustworthy in a small matter, have authority over ten cities.’

Luk 19:18  “And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’

Luk 19:19  “And he said to him also, ‘And you – be over five cities.’

Luk 19:20  “And another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept laid up in a handkerchief.

Luk 19:21  ‘For I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.’

Luk 19:22  “And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I shall judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was a hard man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow.

Gen 17:3  And Aḇram fell on his face, and Elohim spoke with him, saying,

Gen 17:4  “As for Me, look, My covenant is with you, and you shall become a father of many nations.

Gen 17:5  “And no longer is your name called Aḇram, but your name shall be Aḇraham, because I shall make you a father of many nations.

Gen 17:6  “And I shall make you bear fruit exceedingly, and make nations of you, and sovereigns shall come from you.

Gen 17:7  “And I shall establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be Elohim to you and your seed after you.

Gen 17:8  “And I shall give to you and your seed after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Kenaʽan, as an everlasting possession. And I shall be their Elohim.”

Gen 17:9  And Elohim said to Aḇraham, “As for you, guard My covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations.

Gen 17:10  “This is My covenant which you guard between Me and you, and your seed after you: Every male child among you is to be circumcised.

Gen 17:11  “And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall become a sign of the covenant between Me and you.

Gen 17:12  “And a son of eight days is circumcised by you, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with silver from any foreigner who is not of your seed.

Gen 17:13  “He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your silver, has to be circumcised. So shall My covenant be in your flesh, for an everlasting covenant.

Gen 17:14  “And an uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, his life shall be cut off from his people – he has broken My covenant.”

Gen 17:15  And Elohim said to Aḇraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her name Sarai, for Sarah is her name.

Gen 17:16  “And I shall bless her and also give you a son by her. And I shall bless her, and she shall become nations – sovereigns of peoples are to be from her.”

Gen 17:17  And Aḇraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Is a child born to a man who is a hundred years old? Or is Sarah, who is ninety years old, to bear a child?”

Gen 17:18  And Aḇraham said to Elohim, “Oh, let Yishmaʽĕl live before You!”

Gen 17:19  And Elohim said, “No, Sarah your wife is truly bearing a son to you, and you shall call his name Yitsḥaq. And I shall establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

Gen 17:20  “And as for Yishmaʽĕl, I have heard you. See, I shall bless him, and shall make him bear fruit, and greatly increase him. He is to bring forth twelve princes, and I shall make him a great nation.

Gen 17:21  “But My covenant I establish with Yitsḥaq, whom Sarah is to bear to you at this set time next year.”

Gen 17:22  And when He had ended speaking with him, Elohim went up from Aḇraham.

Gen 17:23  And Aḇraham took Yishmaʽĕl his son, and all those born in his house and all those bought with his silver, every male among the men of Aḇraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that same day, as Elohim told him.

Gen 17:24  And Aḇraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

Gen 17:25  And Yishmaʽĕl his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

Gen 17:26  Aḇraham and his son Yishmaʽĕl were circumcised that same day.

Gen 17:27  And all the men of his house, born in the house or bought with silver from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

Let’s take another look at circumcision.

The male reproductive organ seems to play a very important role in the creation of physical as well as spiritual life.

Scholars seem to be more and more in agreement that woman was made from a bone that came from Adam’s reproductive organ. This has huge spiritual application – man did not come from the woman but woman came from the man.

The following article sheds more light on the physical aspect of Adam’s reproductive organ:

Wikipedia - The baculum (also penis bone, penile bone or os penis) is a bone found in the penis of many placental mammals. It is absent in the human penis, but present in the penises of other primates, such as the gorilla and chimpanzee. The bone is located above the male urethra, and it aids sexual reproduction by maintaining sufficient stiffness during sexual penetration. The female equivalent is the baubellum or os clitoridis – a bone in the clitoris. “Another genetic condition, extending to 100% of human males, is the congenital lack of a baculum. Whereas most mammals (including common species such as dogs and mice) and most other primates (excepting spider monkeys) have a penile bone, human males lack this bone and must rely on fluid hydraulics to maintain erections. This is not an insignificant bone. The baculum of a large dog can be 10 cm long x 1.3 cm wide x 1 cm thick… Human bacula have been reported, usually in association with other congenital diseases or penile abnormalities.

Our opinion is that Adam did not lose a rib in the creation of Eve. Any ancient Israelite (or for that matter, any American child) would be expected to know that there is an equal (and even) number of ribs in both men and women. Moreover, ribs lack any intrinsic generative capacity. We think it is far more probable that it was Adam’s baculum that was removed in order to make Eve. That would explain why human males, of all the primates and most other mammals, did not have one. The Hebrew noun translated as “rib,” tzela (tzade, lamed, ayin), can indeed mean a costal rib. It can also mean the rib of a hill (2 Samuel 16:13), the side chambers (enclosing the temple like ribs, as in 1 Kings 6:5,6), or the supporting columns of trees, like cedars or firs, or the planks in buildings and doors (1 Kings 6:15,16). So the word could be used to indicate a structural support beam. Interestingly, Biblical Hebrew, unlike later rabbinic Hebrew, had no technical term for the penis and referred to it through many circumlocutions. When rendered into Greek, sometime in the second century BCE, the translators used the word pleura, which means “side,” and would connote a body rib (as the medical term pleura still does). This translation, enshrined in the Septuagint, the Greek Bible of the early church, fixed the meaning for most of western civilization, even though the Hebrew was not so specific.

In addition, Genesis 2:21 contains another etiological detail: “YHVH closed up the flesh.” This detail would explain the peculiar visible sign on the penis and scrotum of human males—the raphé . In the human penis and scrotum, the edges of the urogenital folds come together over the urogenital sinus (urethral groove) to form a seam, the raphé. The origin of this seam on the external genitalia was “explained” by the story of the closing of Adam’s flesh. Again, the wound associated with the generation of Eve is connected to Adam’s penis and not his rib.

A rib has no particular potency nor is it associated mythologically or symbolically with any human generative act. Needless to say, the penis has always been associated with generation, in practice, in mythology, and in the popular imagination. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/08/19/ncbi-rofl-what-did-god-do-with-adams-penis-bone/ 

The spiritual application of man’s reproductive organ is revealed in circumcision.

It must be noted that it was man and not woman who were called to be circumcised. Circumcision was a sign of the covenant. Woman did not need such a sign. It is assumed that through a special relationship the man a woman enters into covenant with Yahveh. All Hebrew woman were meant to be accounted for and under the protection of a man. This kind of idea has become very unpopular in our age where the modern feminist movement pervades the thinking of man.

There is an order in Yahveh’s creation that has never changed.

1Co 11:3  And I wish you to know that the head of every man is the Messiah, and the head of woman is the man, and the head of Messiah is Elohim.

The pattern for YHVH’s covenant has never changed. He always seeks a righteous man with whom He may enter into covenant with so that the seed of that man may be blessed. If the man does not exercise spiritual leadership according YHVH’s Word his seed will suffer the consequences, unless YHVH intervenes.

We can be certain that in the last days – YHVH’s righteous patterns will be restored.

Circumcision was done on the eighth day of a male infant. The eighth day refers to the time when there will be a new heaven and a new earth and the New Yerushalayim. The image of YHVH is not only found in a man but also in a woman. The image and life of YHVH is best represented when a man and woman come together as one. This union was also intended to produce the image and life of YHVH. This union will be perfected on “the eighth day” – when our current heaven and earth have passed away. It will be like the garden of Eden again but only more wonderful. It is possible that the new heaven and earth will continually expand and be filled with perfect life produced from perfect unions. How this exactly will happen – no one knows.

1Co 2:9  But as it has been written, “Eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, nor have entered into the heart of man what Elohim has prepared for those who love Him.”¹ Footnote: ¹Isa. 64:4.

1Co 2:10  But Elohim has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all matters, even the depths of Elohim.

1Co 2:11  For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man that is in him? So also, the thoughts of Elohim no one has known, except the Spirit of Elohim.

1Co 2:12  And we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from Elohim, in order to know what Elohim has favourably given us,

1Co 2:13  which we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Set-apart Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual matters with spiritual matters.

1Co 2:14  But the natural man does not receive the matters of the Spirit of Elohim, for they are foolishness to him, and he is unable to know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Parashat 3 Portion 13 Ber/Gen 16:1-16 Yesh/Is 63:19-64:1 Gal 4:21-31

Definition of barrenness – “producing no fruit or seed”

    Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. And these are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you desire to do.

    Gal 5:18  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under Torah.

    Paul uses the term “under the Torah” 11 times. In general we may categorize this phrase under two general headings:

     1. Under the condemnation of the Torah,

     2. Under the errant teaching that a gentile gains righteous status through the ritual of the proselyte ie submitting to the Torah as the rabbi’s defined it.

     Unfortunately vs 18 has often been misunderstood by Christians to mean the YHVH has done away with the Torah. See Galatians Commentary page 61,62 by Tim Hegg.

    The resolution of the conflict described in vs 17 is clearly laid out here: being led by the Ruach (Spirit) is the prime characteristic of those born from above – see Rom 8:4&14

Rom 8:4  so that the righteousness of the Torah should be completed in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

 Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of Elohim, these are sons of Elohim.

Gal 5:19  And the works of the flesh are well-known, which are these: adultery,¹ whoring, uncleanness, indecency, Footnote: ¹Only Textus Receptus contains adultery.

Gal 5:20  idolatry, drug sorcery, hatred, quarrels, jealousies, fits of rage, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions,

Gal 5:21  envy, murders, drunkenness, wild parties, and the like – of which I forewarn you, even as I also said before, that those who practise such as these shall not inherit the reign of Elohim.¹ Footnote: ¹1 Cor. 6:10.

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustworthiness,

Gal 5:23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no Torah.

Rabbi’s use this expression “no Torah” to that which cannot be measured by a fixed measure. There is no legislated prescription by which one can measure love joy peace etc. The work of the Ruach is not fixed by a set measure.

Gal 5:24  And those who are of Messiah have impaled the flesh with its passions and the desires.

Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Paul is talking about a life that those who are born from above yearn for. Most people who call themselves believers are often busy scheming and trying to make things happen. This is the essence of human religion – it is very tiring.

Matthew 11:28-30The Message (MSG)  “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Even our suffering is chosen for us in excellent places –

Psa 16:6  Boundary lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, a good inheritance is mine.

The Hebrew word for “boundry lines” is “chevel’ and can also mean – “pain sorrow and travail” BDB – Strongs 2256

Our barrenness and suffering should cause us to come to Yahshua – the living water.

Our Torah Portion:

Gen 16:1  And Sarai, Aḇram’s wife, had borne him no child. And she had a Mitsrite female servant whose name was Haḡar.

This narrative presents different midrashim. We see that there is a great temptation to go to Egypt/Mistzraim when those whom YHVH has chosen go through a season of bareness. In fact they don’t just go to Mitzraim – they run – Hagar means “flight,” it can also mean “the stranger” “ha ger.”

Mitzraim means – “double straits” it is not only restrictive it is doubly restrictive. It’s like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.

But YHVH knows this and we know that all things work together for good to those who love Elohim and are called according to His purpose – Rom 8:28.

The sages refer to Mitzraim as a birth canal. In other words even in the midst of trials and tribulations –new hope, new life, heavenly life can be born.

Rom 8:28  And we know that all matters work together for good to those who love Elohim, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Note this context for the next few verses:

Rom 8:29  Because those whom He knew beforehand, He also ordained beforehand to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, for Him to be the first-born among many brothers.

Rom 8:30  And whom He ordained beforehand, these He also called, and whom He called, these He also declared right. And whom He declared right, these He also esteemed.

Rom 8:31  What then shall we say to this? If Elohim is for us, who is against us?

Yahshua’s brother quoted the following:

Yakov/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.

Maybe we should take another look at barrenness. Every great work and calling of YHVH seems to come from a place of barrenness – Yochanan the immerser, the Nation of Yisrael and even the bride of Messiah in the last days-

Hos 2:14  “Therefore, see, I am alluring her, and shall lead her into the wilderness, and shall speak to her heart,

Gen 16:2  And Sarai said to Aḇram, “See, יהוה has kept me from bearing children. Please, go in to my female servant. It might be that I am built up by her.” And Aḇram listened to the voice of Sarai.

YHVH was the source of her barrenness. This was not an evil barrenness it was a set apart barrenness. This is why it so important to discern what the source of barrenness is in our lives and to trust YHVH to produce His life from our barrenness.

YHVH has given us a priesthood who have been anointed to show us what is from Him and what is not from Him.

י  וּלְהַבְדִּיל, בֵּין הַקֹּדֶשׁ וּבֵין הַחֹל, וּבֵין הַטָּמֵא, וּבֵין הַטָּהוֹר.

Lev 10:10  so as to make a distinction between the set-apart(formed by YHVH) and the profane,(formed by the carnal man) and between the unclean and the clean,

Gen 16:3  And Sarai, Aḇram’s wife, took Haḡar her female servant, the Mitsrite, and gave her to her husband Aḇram to be his wife, after Aḇram had dwelt ten years in the land of Kenaʽan.

10 years speaks of testing and trials. Kena’an comes from a Hebrew word S3665 and can mean to be “humbled.” We could conclude that after being tested, Sarai could no longer bear the humiliation of being barren; she was humbled in her own sight and went about doing something in her own wisdom and strength to remedy her barrenness. This is usually always a bad idea.

Gen 16:4  And he went in to Haḡar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

Hagar could have handled this whole situation with more kindness, but she too responded according to her own wisdom and strength. Her unkind response bought only more heartache and sorrow.

We see her that not trusting YHVH and been guided by “His Ruach” can have all kinds of unintended consequences.

Gen 16:5  And Sarai said to Aḇram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my female servant into your bosom. And when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. Let יהוה judge between you and me.”

Gen 16:6  And Aḇram said to Sarai, “See, your female servant is in your hand, do to her what is good in your eyes.” And Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence.

Gen 16:7  And the Messenger of יהוה found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur,

Gen 16:8  and He said, “Haḡar, Sarai’s female servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of Sarai, my mistress.”

Gen 16:9  And the Messenger of יהוה said to her, “Return to your mistress, and humble yourself under her hand.”

Gen 16:10  And the Messenger of יהוה said to her, “I am going to increase your seed greatly, too numerous to be counted.”

Gen 16:11  And the Messenger of יהוה said to her, “See, you are conceiving and bearing a son, and shall call his name Yishmaʽĕl, because יהוה has heard your affliction.

Gen 16:12  “And he is to be a wild man, his hand against every one and every one’s hand against him, and dwell over against all his brothers.”

Gen 16:13  And she called the Name of יהוה who spoke to her, “You are the Ěl who sees,” for she said, “Even here have I seen after Him who sees me?”

Gen 16:14  That is why the well was called Be’ĕr Laḥai Ro’i, see, it is between Qaḏĕsh and Bereḏ.

S883 - Beer-lahai-roi = “well of the Living One seeing me” or “the well that belongs to one who sees while he is living.”

http://thetorah.com/locating-beer-lahai-roi/

“About 5 Km north of Petra, situated in a short Canyon is one of Petra’s business quarters. Tourists call it “Little Petra,” on maps it appears as Beida, but the locals name the place Siq el-Bared. On a dirt-road about half way between Ein Musa (that is Ein Kadesh) and Siq el-Bared, are the ruins of a small Turkish village. The name of the village is Chai, and its spring is Ein el-Chai. This site matches all the requirements of Beer-lahai-roi: it is situated between Kadesh and Bared, on the road running east-west leading to Egypt and there is a spring at the site. I propose identifying Ein el-Chai as biblical Beer-lahai-roi. – “

Wells prove to be very significant meeting places in the scriptures, perhaps even in the future. Could Petra be a possible meeting place for a future bride of Messiah? See also Ber/Gen 24:62 where Yitzchak meets Rivkah; Ber 29:10 Yakov meets Rachel at a well where he falls in love with her. Avraham sent Eliezer to find a wife for Yitzchak. Eliezer found Rivkah by a well.

Yahshua also had an encounter with a Samaritan woman at a well – Yoh/John 4:6 Yakov’s well. This Samaritan woman was possibly barren as she was put away by five husbands. It was acceptable in those times to put away a wife who was barren.

Note these people found water (life) in barren places.

Yisraelites are called upon to be “well diggers” see Psalm 84.

Gen 16:15  And Haḡar bore Aḇram a son, and Aḇram called the name of his son, whom Haḡar bore, Yishmaʽĕl.

Gen 16:16  And Aḇram was eighty-six years old when Haḡar bore Yishmaʽĕl to Aḇram.

Paul gives us a brilliant midrash on this Torah portion:

Gal 4:21  Say to me, you who wish to be under Torah, do you not hear the Torah?

Gal 4:22  For it has been written that Aḇraham had two sons, one by a female servant, the other by a free woman.

Gal 4:23  But he who was of the female servant was born according to the flesh, and he of the free woman through promise.

Gal 4:24  This is allegorical, for these are the two covenants: one indeed from Mount Sinai which brings forth slavery, which is Haḡar,

Gal 4:25  for this Haḡar is Mount Sinai in Araḇia, and corresponds to Yerushalayim which now is, and is in slavery with her children.

Gal 4:26  But the Yerushalayim above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Gal 4:27  For it has been written, “Rejoice, O barren, you who do not bear! Break forth and shout, you who do not have birth pains! For the deserted one has many more children than she who has a husband.”

Gal 4:28  And we, brothers, as Yitsḥaq was, are children of promise.

Gal 4:29  But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him born according to the Spirit, so also now.

Gal 4:30  But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the female servant and her son, for the son of the female servant shall by no means be heir with the son of the free woman.”

Gal 4:31  Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the female servant but of the free woman.