Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Parasha #3: Lekh L’kha (Get yourself out) Genesis 12:1-17:27
Halftarah: Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 40: 27-41:16
B’rit Hadashah: Acts 7:1-8; Romans 3:19-5:6; Galatians 3:15-18; 5:1-6; Colossians 2:11-15; Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 7: 1-19; 11: 8-12
And G-d said to Abram; “Go out from your country, form your birthplace, from the home of your father, to the land which I will show you…(Genesis 12:1)
G-d appears to and delivers a Divine directive to Abram (later know as Abraham) and tells him to leave his father’s house, land and everything of any importance to him - to go to a place unknown to him. Avraham is set-apart by G-d. He is called out and chosen and Avraham replies and demonstrates his faith by obeying YHVH Elohim. Aren’t we all called out in similar circumstances? Don’t we all have to leave behind environments, circumstances and even loved ones when we are set-apart (sanctified) by G-d? When we are called and chosen we step out in faith on an unknown journey not knowing what awaits us, but assuredly with the trust in G-d that whatever it is we shall triumph in the end.
Why was Abram singled out from all the humanity on earth? For that matter why were you? The Torah is silent on this question regarding Abram, but Midrashic literature tells us of Abram’s spiritual quest and eventual discovery of the One true G-d.
I want to repeat for you one of those stories. A humorous one at that. It tells us that Abram was born into a polytheistic world. In fact, we learn that Abram’s father, Terach, was a purveyor of idols. When young Abram was tending the store, he engaged various customers in theological debates and the Midrash relates that on one occasion a woman came in with a plateful of flour and requested Abram to give the flour as an offering to the idols. After she left Abram took a stick and broke all the idols, but one in which into its hand he placed the stick.
When his father returned he demanded, “What have you done to the idols?”
Abram answered, “I cannot conceal it from you, a woman came with a plateful of fine meal and requested me to offer it to them.” One claimed, “I must eat first,” while another claimed, “I must eat first.” Then the largest got up, took a stick, and broke the others.
“Why do you make sport of me,” the father cried out; “they don’t know anything!”
“Do you hear what your mouth is saying?” Abram retorted.” (Midrash Rabbah, Genesis 38:13)
In Genesis 12:2 we read:
I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great; and you will be a blessing.”
This incident in the life of Abram describes in Torah a great new force in the world. The force of bracha, or blessedness. How can a person be a blessing? We hardly know how to bless, much less how to be a blessing. We might find part of the answer to this question in the blessings of Jewish liturgy, which all begin with the words: “Blessed are you L-rd, our G-d, King of the Universe.” Obviously, we are not bestowing a blessing on the Almighty when we say these words. That would be presumptuous or absurd since why would he require our blessings?
In Hebrew, the word bracha means a spring, a source that provides water from its own reserves. The Torah refers to spring water as “living water,” because a spring is perceived to be supplying energy that its own life generates. In the same way we refer to Yahshua haMashiach as “living waters” and in the same way we acknowledge that YHVH Elohim is the source of all our blessings. We establish a connection to Him as the inexhaustible living source of all being. YHVH Elohim, the source, provides a pipeline that provides a fresh flow of creative energy from the Divine.
Every blessing acknowledges that G-d is the inexhaustible living source on which we can draw.
A bracha is a reminder of the fact that G-d not only created the world, but that He also takes and active interest in it management. In effect, it says “G-d, You have demonstrated that it is Your desire to be involved in Your creation by instructing us to follow Your wishes as expressed in Your Torah, the Written and the Living.
Unfortunately mankind is devoid of bracha consciousness. We look to economics to prosper and economics does not recognize the power of the bracha. The world of economics limits every person to the possibilities that are provided by one’s land, family, and family’s house because these are the basic resources available to each person.
G-d ordered Abram to step into the world of bracha and break with the world of economics. Abram’s connection to G-d becomes a limitless source of energy on which he is always free to draw. So how can Abram be a blessing? He was a new source of blessing that we can all claim if we but have the faith to do so, and demonstrate the trust Abram demonstrated by stepping into the world of bracha.
Sages Wisdom:
The Midrash explains how Abram came to believe in G-d.
When Abram was three years old, he looked up at the sky one night and saw the stars. He was so overcome by this sight that he assumed the stars were G-d, so he bowed to them. Then, in the morning, the stars disappeared, and the sun rose. Abram than thought that the sun was more powerful than the stars, so he bowed to it.
At night, the sun sank and up came the moon. So, Abram decided that if the moon could make the sun disappear, it must be more powerful than the sun, so he bowed to it.
In the morning, when the sun rose again, Abram realized that the sun, moon, and the stars were part of a cycle. Something greater must be controlling them. It was then that he realized that G-d works “behind the scenes” to make the world function.
“The whole land that you see, I will give you…(13:15)
G-d promised Abraham that all the land, as far as his eyes could see, would one day be his. G-d also told Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the dust on the land. If the prophecy is fulfilled and Abraham’s descendants become as numerous as the sand, how will they fit into the land he is looking at? Just like there is always enough room in a mother’s house for all her children so too is there always enough room in Israel for G-d’s children.
Something to think about:
1. Avraham let Lot choose where he would like to live. Avraham said he would go the opposite way. Had Lot picked Hevron, Abraham would have had no choice but to go to the evil place, Sodom. How could Avraham take a chance and let Lot choose?
2. When Avraham and G-d made the Brit Bain Habetarim, Avraham cut all the animals in two, except for the birds. Why didn’t he cut the birds, too?
3. If b'rit milah (circumcision) is a covenant for Israel, why did Avraham circumcise all his slaves as well?
Halftarah connection: Yeshayahu (40:27)
In this Parasha, G-d explains the path of life that Avraham must take. G-d tells Avraham to leave everything behind and to follow G-d. Avraham has great confidence in G-d; that confidence enables him to defeat the neighboring kings in battle.
In the Halftarah, the prophet Yeshayahu consoles the people who think G-d has deserted them. The prophet explains that what makes the Jewish people successful is their confidence in G-d. As long as the people are confident of their relationship with G-d, they will overcome all obstacles.
Gematria:
When G-d changes Avram’s name to Avraham, He tells Avraham that he will be av hamon, “the father of many.” The gematria for this phrase is 104. This phrase is used twice during the conversation, so together the numeric value is 208.
The gematria of Yitzhak, Avraham’s son, is also 208. From this we see a hint that the chosen nation is going to stem from Yitzhak and not Yishmael.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Davis