God'sFriend

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Va-yeira, meaning "And he (the LORD) appeared." We read this title in Genesis 18:1: "Then the LORD appeared to him (Abraham) by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day." When Abraham "lifted up his eyes", he saw the LORD as three men standing by him.

     There is a lot of (Hebrew) meaning in this verse above. The timing of this event is directly after Abraham had been obedient to the LORD's command to circumcise (mul - circumcise, be cut off, to destroy, cut down, remove the unclean and impure things from body, mind and heart, to put away all wickedness, to cut off ways of speaking) himself and all the males of his household, including foreigners and his only son at that time, thirteen-year-old Ishmael (see Gen. 17:23-27), because Isaac had not yet been born. Ishmael, the son of the slave woman, was born before the circumcision, and Isaac, the son of prophetic promise who would carry the line of the Messiah/Christ, was conceived of Sarah and born after the circumcision.

     We will see that the obedience of Abraham will put him in a spiritual position that is completely opposite of those who are disobedient. Abraham will be under a spiritual covering that will not be provided to the disobedient in the day of burning fire.

     At this moment in the account, Abraham is in a state of powerful revelation: "Then (ra'a) the LORD appeared (ra'a - see, look, show, behold, appear, consider, seer, perceive, regard, foresee, present oneself to be visible, to be seen, discern, experience, to look upon one another, visions, to see the face of God, to be admitted to behold God) to him...". This powerful Hebrew word ra'a is doubled in this verse. In being mentioned twice, it is emphasized and plays an important role.

     The place in which this appearance happens is by the terebinth trees or plain ('elon/'ayil/'el - great tree, an oak or strong tree/ram of sacrifice, door posts, lintel, projecting pillar, leader of a flock, a projecting architectural structure surrounding a door/God) of Mamre (mamre'/mara' - strength, vigorous, fatness/lift up wings that flap the air, maltreat, whip, lash with a whip). There is an additional meaning to the Hebrew root word mara' above. It also means: "rebellious, stubbornly or willfully disobedient, resist authority, refuse to obey a lawful order, to show contempt of court, persistent attitude of defiance, haughty, to swell with pridefulness, stubbornly perverse, defiant, insubordinate, recalcitrant, intractable." The LORD appeared in this place to deal with something that was perversely, wholly and defiantly disobedient. This, we will find out, is the location of Sodom (burning, to scorch, conflagration) and Gomorrah (submersion, plunge into conflict, "culture", merchandize, treat as a slave, act as a master, to gather and bind, deal tyrannically, to cherish enmity and rancor and malice).

     The LORD will tell Abraham that He has appeared because He has heard the cries (za'aq/se'aqa - outcry, clamor, shriek/crying, bellow, sound as thunder) of the victims of Sodom and Gomorrah's very grave sin. (Gen. 18:20-21). The Hebrew word za'aq that we see used above also means "to call, gathered and joined assembly." The Greek word for "church", ekklesia, also means something similar: "to call, out of, gathering or assembly." This is an interesting connection of meanings. Are we lifting up a clamorous, bellowing and thunderous cry before the LORD on behalf of and with the victims of defiant evil today?

     I would also like to note here that both Sodom and Gomorrah were previously shown as joined to an *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega (see *note below) in the written Hebrew of Genesis 13:10. Is the gross rebellion and contempt (see mara' above) of Sodom and Gomorrah specifically raised up against the lawful authority of the Messiah/Christ, the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega? These types of pre-incarnate appearances and knowledge of Messiah/Christ in "Old Testament" scripture before His physical birth on earth are also called "Christophanies." Jesus told those listening to Him that Abraham knew Him and rejoiced in Him when he saw Him and His day. (see Jn. 8:56-58). Therefore Jesus is pointing to His pre-incarnate presence to Abraham many centuries before His birth on earth. 

     The previous presence earlier in Genesis of the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega in connection to Sodom and Gomorrah cautions us as to how fast and how far it is possible for even the people connected to the *aleph-tav Messiah/Christ can fall.

     While the presence of Sodom and Gomorrah was within the same general physical area as Abraham's dwelling, spiritually, Abraham was in a different place. He was sitting in the door (petah/patah - door, entrance, gate, openings/thrown open, free, to loosen, break forth, unstop, let go free, open the hand, open the mouth) of the tent ('ohel/'ahal - tabernacles, tents, dwelling, covering, sacred tent of God/to be clear, shine, shining and vibrating appearance) in the heat (hom/hamam - heat, hot/enflaming, hot, kindle a fire, burning with lust) of the day (yom - day, time, year, continually, full, whole, to be hot, process of time, times of trouble, to glow with anger). Abraham was in the world and in the proximity of a pending burning destruction of judgment but not of it, as Jesus prayed for us also in John 17:14-16. 

     Jesus also spoke of His believers having the ability to bind and loose in an unlimited fashion in the earth. (see Mt. 18:18, Mt.16:19). Something would be loosed, set free to break forth from Abraham's spiritual position in the door (see petah/patah above) of the tent/tabernacle. From this place of entrance or opening, Abraham would open his hands in hospitality and open his mouth with words of refreshing to his three Visitors (see petah/patah above). What are we opening, freeing, unstopping, allowing to break forth from our positions in the door of the tabernacle? How are we opening our hands and mouths from this position?

     Although Abraham lived in a time when the hot and flaming anger of the LORD was about to break out upon the two cities, he sat in the protective covering of the door of the tabernacle/tent of God. Sitting in that door, Abraham became part of the process (see petah/patah above), as we will see. As we also sit in the door of God's tabernacle, we become, like Abraham, part of the process when the anger of the LORD is about to burn against evil on the earth. Here we see some of "the works of Abraham" of which Jesus spoke. (see Jn. 8:39-40). How are we filling that serious role as those who are called to sit in the door of the tabernacle? Is it by the Spirit of God or by outward appearances and our own understanding?

     Then the LORD in the form of three men asked Abraham about his wife Sarah. Sarah also was positioned in the tent/tabernacle (see 'ohel/'ahal above). Then He, the LORD, said: "I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son. (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.)" (v. 9-10). Although a fiery destruction was coming to Sodom and Gomorrah, the grace and beauty of the LORD were displayed as a new and miraculous life had come to the elderly Abraham and barren Sarah in the form of a prophetic promise. It was a promise that the LORD would keep. (Gen. 21:1-4).

     As "the men" rose and began to depart for Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham still stood before the LORD, and the LORD confided in His friend Abraham what He was about to do: "And Abraham came near and said, 'Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?...Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" As Abraham continued to intercede for the two cities based upon a number of the righteous that would be found within it, the LORD agreed and said: "I will not destroy it for the sake of ten." (v. 16-32, excerpt). Ten righteous were not found in the two cities and the judgment of the LORD was carried out, but not before "the men" or angels forced Abraham's nephew Lot and his family to leave the doomed city of Sodom (see Gen. 19:15-17). The LORD had earlier told Abraham that He had come down to see if the cries of the victims were true regarding the wicked state of Sodom and Gomorrah, and He got a first-hand "eye full". Even when warned to stop, the inhabitants would not relent from their terrible wickedness before the LORD. (Gen. 19:5-11). The day of judgment had arrived.

     Jesus also said that He would call us "friends" as the LORD uniquely did with Abraham above, as He revealed His plans to Abraham regarding Sodom and Gomorrah. Jesus said to His disciples and to us: "Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 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 things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you." (Jn. 15:13-15). How are we walking in Christ's friendship with us - a friendship in which He tells and shows us all that His Father is doing?

     Often I have heard it said that Abraham made a mistake in his intercession for "the righteous" who were dwelling in Sodom and Gomorrah, which would also result in the sparing of those two cities, when he stopped at the number of ten. Many say that Abraham should have kept going in his interceding negotiations with the LORD. However, perhaps he interceded exactly as the Spirit of the LORD was directing him to do. We see a hint of this below in another reading portion from this Va-yeira, "And He appeared" Sabbath. 

     The LORD was about to dismantle Jerusalem and send the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem into captivity in Babylon. He was going to send almost the whole population one thousand miles away into a foreign country under the rule of a great foreign king. The inhabitants of Jerusalem found it difficult to believe that the LORD would do such a thing to His covenant people, and the place of His own glorious temple, although they had broken the covenant with the LORD. They refused to believe the prophet Jeremiah's (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Word of the LORD, as he stood in the gate of the LORD's house, of impending disaster and judgment if they did not "amend their ways." (Jer. 7:1-3). The LORD said that they had made the house of the LORD into a place of abominations and "a den of thieves." (v. 10-11). The LORD also assured the inhabitants that even as He had previously judged Shiloh, the place where His tabernacle had stood, He would also judge Jerusalem and His house there. (v. 12-15). Then the LORD commanded Jeremiah: "Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you...Behold, My anger and My fury will be poured out on this place...it will burn and not be quenched." (v. 16-20, excerpt). The time of judgment had come, even against the LORD's own people, His city where He had placed His name, and the house/temple that was called by His name. Therefore, the LORD moved upon Jeremiah to stop interceding for it. Perhaps the same may have happened with Abraham, the friend of God, and Abraham felt moved to stop interceding at the number ten.

     I would say then that we are to continue interceding before the LORD on behalf of "the righteous" that may dwell within the cruel wickedness of the Sodom and Gomorrahs of today, especially as the judgment of God may soon be approaching, unless and until the LORD moves upon us to stop. Jesus also told His disciples that there was a time to stop, even comparing the situation to Sodom and Gomorrah: "...And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!" (see Mt. 10:11-15, excerpt). Jesus was very serious in His words and warnings here. There is a time to stop interceding, but that time is dictated by the Lord, and not by us or by what we think. I believe that Abraham, the friend of God, interceded as he felt he was directed to do and stopped when he felt that he was directed to stop. What do you think?

     As we can see, "the works of Abraham", of which we have only looked at a few here, are very much reflected in the New Testament also. All scripture is given by inspiration (theopneustos - divinely breathed) of God, as Paul wrote (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Jesus said that not even the smallest detail of God's Word will pass away until all is fulfilled. (see Mt. 5:17-18).

     If you would like to learn more about our role as ones who sit in the door of the tent/tabernacle, you can pray with me: "Dearest Father, Judge of all the earth, let me be guided and moved by You only in these times when the people called by the name of Your Son, Jesus, sit in the doors of Your tent. Help me to learn from our father in faith, Abraham, and from Your Word and Spirit, the obedience, trust and faith that is required to live in these times, and to intercede according to Your will and wisdom. Lead me to circumcise my own heart and mind with Your Word so that I am able to manifest Your Son of Promise, Jesus, in my life and in the earth. I ask these things in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13. 

WorksOfAbraham

 

                                                                                          Abraham

     This week's Sabbath reading portion titled Lech L'cha, meaning "Go! Leave!", begins the account of Abram/Abraham. The title comes from the first verse of the reading portion: "Now the LORD had said to Abram ('abram - "exalted father", "father of elevation"): 'Get out (yalak - go, walk, depart, proceed, move, to die, live, manner of life, carry) of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land ('eres - land, earth, country, world, nations, whole earth as opposed to a part, the earth and its inhabitants) that I will show you." (Gen. 12:1).

     As we can see from the Hebrew meaning of "land" or 'eres above, to limit the meaning as to only referring to a piece of ground is to limit the vision of God that He was imparting to Abram at this time, and the vision of God regarding "a land," which included the whole earth and its inhabitants by definition, proved to be absolutely and miraculously true through the knowledge of Messiah/Christ.

     The generations following would look at Abram/Abraham, not only as a "father" of the Hebrew people, but as a "father" and example of faith to both Jews and Gentiles across the earth, as the LORD had prophesied that Abram would be. Jesus referred to Abraham as such, indicting those who rejected Him, saying: "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this...Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad...Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." (Jn. 8:56-58).

     There are perhaps billions of people throughout history that have considered Abraham ("father of a multitude", which is his *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega-name - see Gen. 17:5-6) to be their (fore)father, either as his physical descendants, or as being a spiritual father to them pertaining to their faith. Jesus, however, was looking for "...the works of Abraham," above, by those who claimed Abraham as father. He didn't find those works of Abraham in the people who were so grievously and murderously offended in Him. What are "the works of Abraham"? One of the primary works of Abraham, as Jesus noted above, was obediently being able to "see", recognize and receive his Messiah/Christ by the Spirit, although Jesus would not be physically born until thousands of years after Abraham.  Abraham was so absolutely sure in his (fore)knowledge of the One who was "the resurrection and the life" that years later he would obediently offer his own miraculous son for sacrifice telling his servants who were with him, "...the lad and I will go...and we will come back to you." (see Gen. 22:4-5). This was a prophetic shadow of the Father in heaven offering His Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for us. I hope that as we continue studying in the weeks to come, we will be able to learn more about the works of Abraham rooted in obedience and faith.

     We view Abraham as an "Old Testament" patriarch, with whom God made a covenant solely regarding the physical (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-land and descendants which would be later known as Israel, which is definitely included in the covenant promise. However, the promise of God extends beyond that physical perimeter. Paul wrote clearly that the extensive blessing promised to Abraham by God had now also been made available to the new covenant believers, including both Jews and now Gentiles, through Messiah/Christ Jesus. Paul wrote of this very thing in Galatians: "...Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness (see also Gen. 15:6). Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed' (see Gen. 12:3). So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham....Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law...that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith....And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Gal. 3:6-9, 13-15, 29).

     We are pointed to Abraham and also his wife, Sarah, as examples to us of faith: "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out (exerchomai - to go or come forth of, arise from, to be born of, to come forth into the world, to flow forth from the body, a point of departure) to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out (see exerchomai above), not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents/tabernacles (skene - tent, tabernacle, movable temple of God, to cover)...for he waited for the city which has foundations (themelios/tithemi - laid down as a foundation, beginnings, system of truth/fix, establish, set forth, lay down, kneel down, appoint, set in place), whose builder and maker is God. By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child...Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead (nekroo/nekros - to make dead, to put to death, impotent old man, deprive of power, to deaden, mortify/lifeless, destitute of life, inactive, inoperative, to disappear, as if already dead), were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude (see Gen. 15:3-5) - innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore (see Gen. 22:16-18)." (Heb. 11:8-12).

     Abraham, an elderly man without children at first, was described above as being "as good as dead." We also saw this idea of dying or being dead last week concerning Noah, although the idea does not always involve a physical death but a spiritual death to self. According to the Greek above, Abraham in his "going out" is described in a manner of which we would identify as being raised up, born again or born anew. Paul wrote of our spiritual dying rather than a physical death: "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death/mortify your members which are on earth...But now you yourselves are put off all these...and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him...but Christ is all and in all." (Col. 3:3-5). Abram was given a new (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-name, Abraham, by which the old man passed away, and a new man was raised up. Those whom God has called to "go out," such as Abraham, must leave the old familiar things behind, counting them as dead, including oneself. Only then can God raise us (see exerchomai above) in His power and inheritance in Jesus Christ. As we will see, an inheritance from God in Jesus Christ includes but also far exceeds a natural inheritance. It is the inheritance that includes the whole earth and its inhabitants (see 'eres above). It is an inheritance of salvation and eternal life. It is an inheritance of God's own holiness, righteousness and glory. It is an inheritance that cannot be earned but is given as a gift from the Giver of all things pertaining to life and godliness, God. It is an inheritance of exceedingly great and precious promises even to becoming partakers of the divine nature. (2 Pet. 1:2-4). Paul wrote that it is well worth counting all other things as loss, if he may gain Christ. (Phil. 3:7-11).

     This was a work of Abraham in his life, as well as his unwavering faith in the promises of God to him, no matter how seemingly impossible those promises might have appeared to his understanding. We will look at some of the repeated promises of God to Abraham later.

      It was so important to the LORD that His people understand the works of Abraham that His Word repeatedly told His people to consider their esteemed patriarch. Some of those examples are included in this week's Lech-L'cha, "Go!", Sabbath reading portion.

     From Isaiah 41: "But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My friend ('ahab - to love, friend, beloved, loving). You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, 'You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away." (v. 8-9).

     From another of this Sabbath's readings, the LORD calls to His people to listen to His Words: "Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you; for I called him alone, and blessed him and increased him...My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth...But My salvation will be forever, and My righteousness will not be abolished...But My righteousness will be forever, and My salvation from generation to generation." (Isa. 51:1-8, excerpt).

     When the LORD commanded Abram to "Go!/Leave!" from out of all that was familiar to him, His vision and purpose for Abram was not limited as we tend to understand it, but it was eternal, global, and involving billions of people throughout centuries from all of the families of the earth, to be filled with the works of their father, Abraham.

To learn more about the works of Abraham in our lives, you can join with my prayer: "Heavenly Father, You called Abraham out and brought him into friendship with you. You have made him to be the father of faith and obedience for us all - both Jew and Gentile, to Israel and to all nations. Jesus was seeking those who did the works of their father Abraham. Lord, let me be one who does these works born of faith. Let me be a blessing in Christ to others, as Abraham was a blessing. By Your Word, Jesus, and by Your Spirit, lead me into the depth of understanding and knowledge of You, as You led and showed Yourself to Abraham. Just as You called Abraham "out", You have also called each of us in Christ. I thank You and I am always amazed at Your great love and provision for each of us. I pray these things in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13. 

SeeingFaith

     This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled, Va-yeira, meaning, "And He appeared." The title is based upon the first verse of the reading portion in Gen. 18:1: "Then the LORD appeared (ra'a - see, look, appear, behold, consider, perceive, seer, foresee, have vision, discern, gaze at, to be visible) to him (Abraham) by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat (hom/hamam - dangerous heat/hot, burning, enflamed) of the day." Abraham saw the LORD in the form of three men who were standing by him, as Abraham "lifted his eyes." (v. 2). Abraham rushed around in the heat to make provision for the three men that they should rest and be refreshed (sa'ad - comfort, strengthen, hold me up, establish, uphold a throne) in their hearts. Do we realize that we can strengthen, uphold, and establish the throne of the LORD? We do so by ministering to Him. We often ask the LORD to minister favor and grace to us in various forms, but do we minister rest and refreshing to Him? Abraham ran to minister rest and comfort to the LORD. (see v. 6-8). It is at this point that the LORD prophesied that He would return to Abraham, and his wife, Sarah would have a son. Sarah, listening in the tent door, laughed to herself when she heard this promise concerning herself and her husband in their old age. That would indeed be a miracle! (v. 9-12). The LORD knew what Sarah thought in her heart and asked her, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?...I will return to you...and Sarah shall have a son." (v. 13-14).

     We have studied ra'a appearing and sight together previously, and, although I try to avoid any repetitious studies and blog entries, I ended up following a path that brought me back to this topic again in a greater depth. Perhaps, in our present times, with many who are suffering and struggling, we need to take a deeper look at this topic. I hope you will agree.

     There is an expression, "blind faith." However, I found here that the LORD provides help for us in our walk of faith by letting us ra'a "see" Him, as Abraham did above. He gives us the appearance of Himself in a form that assures us that He has spoken, and He has promised. If we receive this gracious strengthening of our faith by the LORD, we are helped to overcome circumstances.

     Later on, after Abraham and Sarah's son Isaac (meaning "he laughs") was born, "God tested (nasa - prove, assay, try, test, put to the proof, to try by smell, to try by the touch) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Abraham." (Gen. 22:1).

     This was the test of Abraham that was commanded by God: "Take now (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) your son, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." (v. 2). Let's look at the word, "Moriah" used here. It is translated from the Hebrew as "Chosen by Jehovah", but the Hebrew root words that make up this word are ra'a and yah, which mean "See" (see above) and "the LORD". The Hebrew letters that make up the word "Moriah" are mem, vaw, reysh, yod, heh, which, when joined together could mean: "the water/blood of the Highest's nailed hand/completed work is shown/revealed."

     The trial of Abraham seems very severe indeed, but it was necessary in order to reveal something of earthshaking importance that would be a blessing to the whole earth: the completed work of the Son of God, His only Son, whose bloodied hand was nailed.

     Let us see how Abraham ra'a saw something that strengthened him in faith and trust in the LORD: "So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled (habas - bind up, govern, restrain, to stop, to rule, to bind up a wound, to bind by allegiance, to shut up) his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) donkey, and took (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. (v. 3).

     It is clear from the Hebrew meanings of the words that are used for "donkey" (hamor/hamar) and "young men" (na'ar), that Abraham was "troubled, in turmoil, foaming like a raging sea, reddened, feeling emptiness, shaken, violent in commotion, very angry, growling, yelling, crying and roaring like a lion" as he struggled with the command of the LORD concerning Isaac, but he "saddled" these feelings, or restrained them because of his allegiance to God. Did we think that God's command to offer his son of promise Isaac as a burnt offering did not affect Abraham in a profound way? Did we think that because he is named among the giants of faith (see Heb. 11:8-12), that he calmly led Isaac to the place of sacrifice? He was shaken to his core. Hebrews 11:13 explains that Abraham and other giants of faith, saw the promises from afar off and were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. We are not directed by what we see in the natural, visible world, but by the promises that we see from afar off and embrace with our hearts.

     In this same manner, something happens that will drive Abraham forward. He "sees" something:

     "Then on the third day Abraham lifted his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) eyes and saw (ra'a - see meaning above) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) place afar off (rahoq - long ago, old, space, far from, of distant time, remote and difficult to get to of place or time, great while to come, dear, precious)." (v. 4).     

     What Abraham ra'a saw caused him to say to his "young men", 'Stay here with the "donkey"; the lad and I will go yonder ('ad - as long, how long whether of space or time, until) and worship, and we will come back (sub - return, restore, refresh, recover, come back, be returned, be brought back, to be converted as a sinner) to you." (v. 5).

     We know the rest of the account. Abraham set up the offering of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) his son, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) his only son, Isaac, but was stopped by the Angel of the LORD at the last moment. "Then Abraham lifted his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) eyes, and looked (ra'a - see meaning above) and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, 'The-LORD-Will-See (ra'a)/Provide; as it is said to this day, 'In the Mount of the LORD it shall be seen (ra'a)/provided." (v. 12-14).

     Moriah is also the place that many centuries later, would be referred to as Calvary, or Golgotha, the place of the crucifixion of Christ outside of Jerusalem, as well as the possible place of the temple mount. This encounter of Abraham's, of course, speaks to us of the offering of God's only Son, Jesus, as our replacement burnt offering, just as the ram replaced Isaac. He died in our place, by which we sinners are converted (changed) by belief in Him. Jesus, God's only Son, also rose from the dead as the firstfruits or progenitor of our resurrection. Abraham "saw" this out of time, as Jesus also confirmed (see Jn. 8:56-58). Abraham then moved forward towards the destination in faith. Is our vision coming from this place, Moriah, or from another place?

     Abraham had *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) 'ayin eyes to ra'a see as we read in the verse above. These types of eyes are not exclusive to Abraham. All of those connected to *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega Messiah/Christ (see *note below), as Abraham was, have been given 'ayin eyes. However, 'ayin eyes are not just to see physical or natural things only, just as ra'a sight is not limited to the physical or natural. The Hebrew word 'ayin means, "sight, before, to flow, eyes of physical, mental and spiritual faculties, a spring or fountain [sources of fresh or new water, living water]." Are we seeing with those eyes that create a "spiritually seeing faith"? Are our 'ayin eyes springs and fountains of spiritual sight through which God supplies, not only for ourselves, but for others as well?

     We also know that 'ayin eyes see more than the physical realm because they can be darkened, not with physical blindness, but with spiritual blindness by God when His people refuse to "see". Those whose 'ayin eyes are darkened in this manner can no longer perceive the LORD or His works, and they become a people of unbelief rather than faith. They become so spiritually blinded that they cannot even perceive that they are spiritually blind!  How terrible it is to lose our 'ayin eyes! The Lord said this to Isaiah the prophet: "And He (the Lord) said, 'Go, and tell this people: Keep on hearing but do not understand; Keep on seeing (ra'a - see above) but do not perceive.' Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes ('ayin - see above); Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed." (Isa. 6:9-10).

     The LORD also said through Isaiah the prophet: "Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind!...For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) your eyes ('ayin - see above)..." (Isa. 29:9-10, excerpt). Even *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega eyes may be closed by God because the eyes of those who are meant to belong to Messiah/Christ refuse to "see".

     Jesus also talked about eyes that have become darkened to spiritual knowledge. (Mt. 6:22-23). In these verses, the eyes are the Greek word and root ophthalmos/optanomai. These Greek words mean: "eyesight, the eyes of the mind and knowing/to look at, behold, to gaze with wide open eyes at something remarkable as opposed to casual vision, watching from a distance, earnest and continual inspection." Jesus also said in another place that the religious leaders who had chosen to be spiritually blind and continued leading others into the same spiritual blindness as their own, were like "the blind leading the blind." Both will fall into the pit that is before them. (see Mt. 15:10-14, Lk. 6:39-42).

     Paul wrote that he prayed for the believers, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, that Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of His glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age which is to come." (Eph. 1:16-21). There is an awesome knowledge of the power and dominion of God in Messiah/Christ waiting to be imparted to the eyes of our understanding. Imagine the faith that is created through the opened and enlightened eyes of our spiritual understanding!

     Are we ra'a seeing afar off with our lifted 'ayin eyes, as Abraham did, and believing? Are we seeing it? Have we asked God to give light to our eyes that we may see in this way? It is the LORD who gave us those eyes, and it is the LORD who gave us that sight, and He did so for a reason. Abraham was almost overcome with horror and anger, but then he lifted up his eyes to the place where the LORD commanded him, and he saw.

     Paul wrote that there is no testing/trying/proving/temptation of faith and character that a man may experience from God of which God has not also prepared, produced, appointed, ordained or shown the way out so that we can bear it, especially for those "upon whom the ends of the ages have come." (see 1 Cor. 10:11-13). Abraham was allowed to "see" what he needed to see in order to be able to bear the test that the LORD had placed upon him for our sakes. In these times of testing and refining that come before the return of Messiah/Christ, it is a blessing and a necessity to know that the Lord shows us even the unseen things so that we may overcome. It is the blessing and lesson of this Va-yeira, "And He appeared," Sabbath. 

     The LORD said to Jeremiah, while Jeremiah was imprisoned: "Thus says the LORD who made it, the LORD who formed it to establish it (the LORD is His name): "Call (qara' - call out, cry out, utter a loud sound, summon, invite, call with the name of God/meet, encounter) to Me, and I will answer you, and show (nagad - declare, show, show forth, make known, be apparent, to be in sight, to be manifest, to bring to the light, to conquer, to overcome, to celebrate with praise) you great (gadol - great, high, greater, mighty, great of magnitude or extent) and mighty things (basar - inaccessible, fortified, secret, mysteries), which you do not know (yada in the negative - not perceived, not known, not seen, not revealed, not observed, not aware)." (Jer. 33:2-3). The LORD then showed Jeremiah the wonderful and miraculous restoration that He had planned for Judah.

     The blessed vision that God has ordained for us that is connected to His overcoming Son, Jesus, is not just for the purpose of seeing the darkness and length of the tunnel, but it is provided to us so that we might be able to see "the light at the end of the tunnel," to coin a familiar and applicable phrase. Now that we know that this sight is available to us, we can ask it of the LORD. Are you struggling or waiting upon the promise of the LORD? He is with us in all circumstances in His supernatural way to help and strengthen us. (see Ps. 124:1-8, Isa. 41:8-10).

     If you would like to know more about faith that "sees", you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father who sees and knows all things, You are not partial nor a respecter of persons. You called Abraham to faith for our benefit, to be a blessing to all the nations and families of the earth, and as our example to follow. Abraham heard Your voice and obeyed. Abraham saw Your appearance, Jesus, and was strengthened by it, and followed the way in which You led him. I pray that I, also, have ears to hear and eyes to see, and a heart to receive what You desire to show me of things that are not yet seen in the natural world, but have already been established and completed in the Spirit. As I am tested, give me eyes to see the way out that You have ordained for me, not just to escape, but in order to strengthen and purify the faith that You have given to me. Show me, Lord, and I will "see." I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13. 

Household

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Lech - L'cha, which means, "Go! Leave!" This reading portion covers several chapters in the Book of Genesis, from Ch. 12 through Ch. 17. These chapters begin the account of Abram/Abraham's journey into the land of Canaan as he was commanded to do by the LORD. The reading begins: "Now the LORD had said to Abram: 'Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families (mispaha - familes, kindred, a circle of relatives, tribe, a genus, a kind) of the earth shall be blessed..' So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot (his nephew) went with him..." (Gen. 12:1-4).

     The phrase "Get out" as spoken by the LORD to Abram is the Hebrew word yalak, yalak (written twice). This places particular emphasis on the meaning, making it "Get out!" The word yalak/halak means, "to go, walk, depart, move, go away, to die/to live or manner of life, to lead, to bring/walk away, to go through or over a place." The LORD wasn't throwing Abram out of his home and away from his family in Haran as a punishment, but, the meaning implies that he is to get out for his own sake or benefit. As we can see in the above verses, the LORD has attached to the command to "Get out!", incredible and miraculous blessings that will come upon Abram, blessings that would never have ordinarily come into the life of a herdsman. The place in Mesopotamia from which Abram was leaving was Haran, which has the root meaning: "kindle, burn, angry, scorched, dried of thirst, to roast, of men destroyed by heat." From the Arabic language, Haran/harar has this very interesting meaning: "born of a noble race, free born, the brightness and purity of a man obscured by no stain." If we combine the two ideas, we may be able to say that the same fiery brightness that shines from an unstained purity in one man, is the same fiery brightness that destroys another (stained) man in scorching heat.

     The chapters covered by this week's Sabbath reading portion deal with Abram's journey in the LORD into the land to which God told him to go and the covenant that the LORD made with Abram/Abraham. God both spoke to and appeared to Abraham on several occasions in order to direct him. It is also here in these chapters that we first see Abram, or anyone, called a Hebrew ('ibri/'eber/'abar - "one from beyond", from beyond the Euphrates or Jordan Rivers/great grandson of Shem, "the region beyond", region on the other side, "across or beyond"/pass over or through, cross over, overflow, emigrate). (Gen. 14:13). The Hebrew letters used to compose the word "Hebrew" are 'ayin, beth, reysh, yod. These letters' individual meanings could be joined together to say: "See and understand the appearance of the fountain, house, family or body within the Highest's completed work." These are amazing works that the LORD was establishing in and through Abram the Hebrew that started with His command to "Go!".

     We have discussed in earlier blog entries the awesome foundation that the LORD established through Abraham when studying this Lech L'cha Sabbath reading portion in previous years. However, for this entry, I would like to look at events in Genesis 16 and 17.

     In Genesis 16, we see an account of Abram's first-born son when Abram was eighty-six years old. His wife Sarai/Sarah had borne Abram no children, and she told Abram to embrace her Egyptian maid, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Hagar. After Hagar conceived, Sarai/Sarah "dealt harshly ('ana - afflict, force, troubled, weakened, browbeaten, oppress, put down, be depressed, be humiliated, hurt) with her." (v. 6). Hagar fled from Sarai, and the Angel of the LORD found (masa' - find, attain, acquire, meet, encounter, come upon, light upon) her by a fountain ('ayin - eyes, sight, fountain, of mental and spiritual faculties) in the wilderness. The Angel of the LORD told Hagar that she must return to her mistress, Sarai, and then said: "I will multiply your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) seed/descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude. And the Angel said/sang to Hagar about the name of her son to be born, and told her his name would be Ishmael (yisma'el - God will hear, whom God hears). (v. 7-12). Hagar called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You-Are-the- God-Who-Sees; for she said, 'Have I also here seen (ra'a - see, behold, appear, perceive, regard, seer, foresee, have vision, look upon, gaze at, discern) Him who sees me?" In this statement, Hagar didn't say that she saw an angel, but that she saw the LORD (yod-hey-vaw-hey: "Behold the hand, behold the nail"). (v. 13-14). "So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Ishmael. (v. 15). 

     The LORD had previously established a solemn covenant with Abraham, saying: "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates..." (Gen. 15:17-21, excerpt). The LORD repeated that promise to Abram/Abraham, as He promised to make Abraham, then childless, a father of many nations.

     There came a point when a natural and spiritual family or household was to be established through Abraham. This household of Abraham was to be established through God's (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) covenant of circumcision. Every male in Abraham's household, from eight days old, was to be circumcised. However, this circumcision was not only to apply to the natural descendants of Abraham's flesh: "...every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with (your) money from any foreigner who is not your descendant..." (Gen. 17:9-14). The circumcision of the flesh is called here a "sign/token" of the covenant. (v. 11). The word translated as "sign" here is the Hebrew word 'ot, spelled with the Hebrew letters aleph-vaw-tav. which when joined together can mean "the Lord Adonai nailed to the cross, or joined to the covenant. The word 'ot means "miraculous signs, miracles, distinguishing mark, to consent, agree, assent." We can see that the covenant established was to anyone and everyone who lived within Abraham's household, not limited to those who were born of his flesh.

     What kind of household is this? According to the sign (see above meaning) of this household, it is a household of miracles. It is a household of faith, indicated by the consent and agreement necessary by the meaning of the "sign". Finally, it is a household of life, because those who do not receive the "sign" of this household are cut off. This covenant of the sign of circumcision is not limited to an outward or physical sign, but, more importantly, it is an inward or spiritual circumcision. From another reading portion of this Lech - L'cha, or "Go!/Leave!" Sabbath, the prophet Jeremiah wrote of the LORD asking Israel to return to Him and saying: "Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns (see Mt. 13:3-9). Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your hearts, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, lest My fury come forth like fire, and burn so that no one can quench it, because of your evil doings." (Jer. 4:3-4). The apostle Paul, who in the flesh was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin, as well as a Pharisee, wrote of the same truth: "...For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. (see Rom. 2:25-29).

     Jesus also remarked that being of the household of Abraham requires more than being his genetic descendant. It requires a submission of the heart and understanding to God, the Father. (see Jn. 8:37-39). Circumcision was a prophetic sign as well as a natural sign that pointed us to greater things than the sign itself according to the Hebrew meaning of "sign".

     Abraham's household members, joined in identity by the sign of circumcision, was made up of not only his natural descendants, but even foreigners that he had bought. The prophet Isaiah brings this same revelation regarding the Servant of God, the Messiah/Christ as we read in the household of Abraham: "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness; and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles....to raise up (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth." (Isa. 42:6/Isa. 49:6). The Servant/Messiah/Christ is for the salvation and restoration of Israel first, and then also to the Gentiles and the whole earth. (see also Rom. 1:16-17).

     It was then that the LORD prophesied and promised to Abraham that his wife (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Sarah would give him a son, who was to be named Isaac. It is with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) not yet born Isaac that the LORD will establish (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) His covenant, although the LORD promises to bless Ishmael. (Gen. 17:15-22). The very day that Abraham was circumcised, he also circumcised his son, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Ishmael, and all the men of his house (bayit - house, dwelling, temple, household, family, descendants as an organized body). (v. 23-27).

     We can see the identity of the Messiah/Christ upon this natural and spiritual household of Abraham in the repeated presence of the *aleph-tav in the written Hebrew above (see *note below). Jesus also confirmed His personal presence and relationship with Abraham as the eternal Messiah/Christ, and Abraham with Him, that superseded time even though they were forty-two generations apart within flesh and time. (see Jn. 8:56-59, Mt. 1:17).

     The LORD would repeat His covenant promise of the land to Abraham's second son, Isaac, and later, to his son, Jacob. However, the prophecy of Isaac's miraculous birth to a childless and aged Sarah, points to more than the son who will inherit the land. Abraham, before he died, would have several "natural" children, but only Isaac was the son of (prophetic) promise. It was only Isaac out of all of the sons of Abraham who was to carry the seed of the yet-to-be-born Messiah/Christ. (see Mt. 1:1-2, Lk. 3:30-34, Gal. 4:27-29).

     As the LORD Himself established this remarkable and miraculous household of Abraham as a sign, His plan of salvation continued on its set and unchangeable course.

     If you would like to learn more about this remarkable household of miracles, faith and life established not by the will of man, but by the will of God (see Jn. 1:12-13), you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, who is a God like You, establishing the end from the beginning?! Before I knew and loved You, You called me to be accepted and adopted into Your household of salvation, not because of who I was or wasn't in the flesh, but because of Your purpose for me in the Spirit and by faith in Your Son of Promise, Jesus. Let the sign of Your covenant of circumcision be within my heart and my most inward parts as it calls out to others to come and join Your eternal household. Bless the father of our faith, Abraham, and bless His household, both Jew and Gentile. I ask this in the name of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Messiah/Christ. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13. 

Covenant

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Va-yeira, which means "And He appeared", found in the beginning of Gen. 18: "Then the LORD appeared (ra'a - behold, to appear, present oneself, to be seen, look at, perceive, consider, have vision, look intently at, to cause to see, to cause to gaze at, look at each other, to face) to him (Abraham) by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day." (v. 1). In the Hebrew meaning of ra'a "appeared", not only does the LORD appear in order to be seen, but He causes Abraham to be able to see Him and perceive Him. We contrast this with the appearance of the angels of the LORD in Sodom. The corrupt, debauched and abusive men of Sodom could not perceive the men who appeared in their city as angels (Gen. 19:4-5), while Lot, Abraham's nephew perceived immediately that these men were different as soon as he saw them, and he sought to protect them. Lot greeted the men/angels in the same manner as Abraham had greeted them earlier (Gen. 18:2-8). Lot, as Abraham did, also rose to his feet from sitting in the gate of the city to go meet them. He bowed to the ground before them, and offered them the items needed to wash their feet (Gen. 19:1-2). Lot also made them a feast as Abraham did (Gen. 19:3). Abraham was willing to sacrifice his child, his son, whom the LORD gave back to him (Gen. 22:2-14), and Lot was willing to sacrifice his daughters (Gen. 19:8), whom the angels spared in the escape from Sodom before its destruction (Gen. 19:12-13). The population of Sodom, with the exception of Lot were spiritually blinded and could not ra'a see and perceive, so the angels also physically blinded them to prevent them from carrying out their evil ideas (Gen. 19:9-11). It is also interesting that Lot's sons-in-law could not ra'a see and perceive the warning that they were given: "So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, 'Get up, get out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city!' But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking." (Gen. 19:14). 

     Paul wrote of the kind of ra'a vision we must have: "...while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Cor. 4:18). How and what are we "seeing"? What are we looking at as being so important to us? It could make the difference between our deliverance and destruction. Sometimes it seems that much of our lives is focused on the things that are passing away rather than the things that endure forever. The very substance of our faith is not in things seen but in things yet to be seen. (Heb. 11:1).

     One reading portion from this Sabbath warned God's people about putting their confidence in the things that can be seen with natural vision rather than seeing with ra'a vision the eternal things of God. The prophet Jeremiah received the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) word of the LORD and, standing in the gate of the LORD's house, warned all who went in and out of that gate that they were facing destruction. God's people had placed their confidence, not in a repentant and restored relationship with God, but in a building - the temple of God in Jerusalem. Jeremiah must be wrong, they said. Surely God would not allow an enemy to enter Jerusalem, the place of the House where He has put His name! Jeremiah told them: "Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Do not trust in these lying words, saying, 'The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD are these." (Jer. 7:1-4). God's people did not obey the voice of God and were committing spiritual abominations and injustices and then saying that the temple of the LORD delivered them to do these things. (v. 8-10, 23-24, 30). God's people found out through great difficulty that Jeremiah's warning had been the true Word of the LORD, and the LORD was willing to allow Jerusalem and His temple to be overrun by a conquering enemy in order to deal with the evil hearts and minds of His own people, called by His name. Do we also define our covenant with God by, and put our confidence in, temporary things which can be destroyed in a moment?

     How we "see" also affects our covenant with God, or lack of one, as we will read.

     The LORD made a covenant with Abraham that would change history and create a new people belonging to Him. The LORD said to Abram/Abraham: "And I will establish (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." (Gen. 17:7-8). The Hebrew word for "covenant" is berit/bara/bara, meaning "covenant, alliance [of friendship, of marriage], pledge, agreement, a compact in the sense of cutting/cause to eat, to select/create, form, shape out, choose, create new conditions and circumstances, create transformation, create birth, create something new, create miracles." Look at the amazing things included in the meaning of "covenant"! A new creation is formed that did not exist before the covenant. Paul wrote of this new creation found in our covenant with God in Christ: "Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh...Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Cor. 5:16-17). The Book of Revelation says: "Then He (Jesus) who sat on the throne said, 'Behold (idou/eido - see/to see, to perceive, to understand, to notice, to discern, to discover, to turn eyes, mind, or attention to anything, to examine, to experience any state or condition), I make all things new.' And He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful. And He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts." (Rev. 21:5-6). Do we truly ra'a see and perceive this or do we look upon things after the flesh or natural appearances? Are we continuing to be part of the old and perishing, or the new and eternal creation in Christ?

     Covenant, as we see above, includes the creation of miracles and births as part of its meaning in Hebrew. The LORD wanted Abraham to believe in something not yet visible and totally impossible by the natural appearances. He wanted Abraham to believe God for a son, although Abraham was very old, and his wife was barren (Gen. 18:10-14). However, God created a miracle, a birth as promised, and Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah (Gen. 21:1-3).

     In another reading portion from this "And He appeared" Sabbath is from 1 Samuel 1. Hannah (hanna/hanan/hana in Hebrew), whose name means "grace, favored, mercy, entreaty, prayer/gracious, supplication, besought, to seek favor, implore favor/encamp, rest in tent/tabernacle, abide in tents/tabernacles) was childless because "the LORD had closed her womb." (1 Sam. 1:6-7). Year by year, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Hannah went up to the house of the LORD in Shiloh with her husband and his second wife to make offerings. Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the LORD and saw Hannah praying. She was so involved in her supplication to the LORD for a son that Eli feared that she was drunk (v. 12-14). Hannah answered that she was not drunk "but have poured out my (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) soul before the LORD." (v. 15). Eli answered Hannah saying: "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) petition which you have asked of Him." (v. 17). Hannah's face was no longer sad after hearing this. The LORD later remembered (zakar - remember, the origin is the idea of piercing, penetrating, infixing) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Hannah and: "So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) name Samuel, saying, 'Because I have asked for him from the LORD." (v. 19-20). Samuel became prophet and judge of Israel and would anoint David to become king after Saul. This began the royal line of the Messiah/Christ Jesus. A new circumstance, the royal title of the Messiah/Christ, was created with the birth of this miracle child.

The creative miracles can also be found in a covenant relationship with a servant of God. In another reading portion from this Sabbath, the prophet Elisha manifested the creative miracles of a covenant relationship with those connected to him. These miracles included the multiplication of costly oil for a widow of one of the sons of the prophets, and her sons, who were in deep debt. As we also saw above, there is mention of a door or doorway. Elisha told the poor widow: “And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it (the continual flow of oil) into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones. So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it (the oil) out…” (2 Kings 4:1-5). The oil continued to flow until all the containers were full.

To me, the various mentions of doors, doorways and gates above represent the anointing and presence of Christ, who said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture (nome - pasturage, fodder, food, feeding, the needful supplies for the true life, growth, increase).” (Jn. 10:9), as well as a spiritual opening between heaven and earth for us to enter. (see Rev. 4:1-2). Other creative miracles found in this chapter occurring from out of a covenant relationship with Elisha, the prophet of God include a miracle birth, and the miraculous transformation of the dead returned to life. When Elisha went into the chamber with the dead child, he "shut the door behind the two of them." The child became alive and was returned to his mother. (2 Kings 4:32-37).

From our Sabbath reading portion also comes an interesting covenant formed between a king and the servant of God, Abraham. Part of God's expressed covenant with Abram/Abraham included the promise "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you..." (Gen. 12:3). So a fruit of this covenant is that its blessings can be received by those who bless Abraham. In this Sabbath portion, Abraham had two recorded encounters with Abimelech (meaning "My father is king/great king/king of kings"), King of Gerar ("a lodging place", the place of the kings of the Philistines, from the root word garar meaning to drag away roughly). Gerar was in south-central Canaan. From their first encounter in Gen. 20, we find out that Abimelech is a king who hears from God (in a dream) and obeys His voice. In order to correct an inadvertent wrong that he had done to God and Abraham by taking (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Sarah into his household, the king tells Abraham to dwell wherever he wishes in the land ruled by Abimelech, King of the Philistines. The king also gives Abraham a thousand pieces of silver, and also sheep, oxen and servants in order to do justice. Abraham prayed to the LORD for Abimelech and his household, and God healed that household so that all in it were able to bear children. The LORD had made the whole household barren because of the inadvertent wrong or sin done by the king. (Gen. 20). Again, we see miracle births related to covenant between Abraham and God.

     Later, in another encounter with King Abimelech of the Philistines and the commander of his army named Pichol ("strong"/mouth, command, to shatter everything into pieces and to scatter into corners or blow away), Abimelech said to Abraham: "God is with you in all that you do. Now therefore, swear (saba- swear, adjure, take an oath, seven oneself by repeating an oath seven times) to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring (nin/nun - offspring, son, progeny/perpetual increase) or with my posterity (neked - posterity, progeny, race, kindred, tribe); but that according to the kindness that I have done you, you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt. And Abraham said, 'I will swear." (Gen. 21:22-24). Then Abraham rebuked (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Abimelech because servants of the king had seized (gazal - tear away, carry off, plunder, take away by force, rob, to flay, strip off skin from the flesh, wounded) water from a well that was dug by Abraham. Abimelech told Abraham that he had not been aware that such a thing had happened. Abraham then took sheep and oxen, setting aside seven ewe (female) lambs, and made a covenant between himself and King Abimelech. Those seven ewe lambs, Abraham explained, were to be a witness that it was Abraham that had dug the well, and he called the place Beersheba because of the seven-fold oath that the two had made. Abraham then planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called on the name of the Everlasting God. Abraham remained in the land of the Philistines many days after that. (Gen. 21:25-34).

     What does this encounter mean and why does it matter? The Philistines would have a history of trying to take the covenant inheritance of the Israelites. They even, at one point, grabbed the ark of the covenant in battle! What is that inheritance? The inheritance is not just the natural land, but salvation. Abimelech first took (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Sarah, who had given birth to the son of promise, Isaac. Then Abimelech's servants, without his knowledge, violently seized a well of Abraham's. These wells dug by Abraham represented not just natural water, but also because of God's covenant with Abraham, the wells of the living water of salvation (see Isa. 12:2-3, Rev. 21:6). The line of Messiah/Christ would be established from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and not from any other root. Salvation cannot be taken by force. This new creation, new birth, came out of the covenant (see meaning above) relationship between God and Abraham, and later, between God and David, and then between God, Jesus and us as believers. However, look at what Abimelech did - he placed the well-being of his offspring and posterity into the safekeeping of Abraham, a man who was already very old. Abraham made a sworn oath and then a blood covenant with Abimelech, witnessed by seven ewe lambs. To me, these little ewe-lambs represent the future believers in Christ, the fruit of salvation, and the Holy Spirit within those believers (for detail see Rev. 1:4-5, 11-12, 16, 20). Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree, which not only represents a single tree, but a grove of trees, or multiplication. When I read in Revelation that the heirs of salvation have come out of every nation (race), kindred, tribe and tongue (Rev. 5:9, 7:9-10), I cannot help but think of Abimelech's posterity (see above meaning) being included in that description. The Philistines' origin has recently been traced by DNA analysis of graves from 1200 B.C. to Crete and the northern and western nations surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. They are part of the group called "the Gentiles". It was the timing of God that salvation must first come to Israel and the Jewish people, and then to the Gentiles (see Rom. 1:16-17). Jesus confirmed this as a Canaanite (Gentile) woman sought Him out for a miracle. He reminded her that He was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, but then she did get her miracle because of her faith (see Mt. 15:21-18). Perhaps these Philistine Gentiles tried to take or seize this covenant promise prematurely and incorrectly, out of the ordained spiritual timing and order of God. However, Abraham's sworn oath and blood covenant made with King Abimelech of the Philistines will stand forever and produce a grove of trees bearing much fruit. It is also a reminder to the people of faith, both Jewish and Gentile, that the wells of salvation were dug, guarded and repaired for all of us by Abraham and his descendants.

     If you would like to learn more about the everlasting nature of covenant, you can join me in my prayer: "Heavenly Father of covenant and everlasting promises, Your promises live forever. By Your covenant, You create new things, new conditions and circumstances, transformation from one thing to another, births and miracles. The greatest covenant of all is the covenant that You created through the body and blood of Your Son, Jesus, our salvation. Your covenant does not pass away but is remembered and fulfilled throughout all time. You established a world-changing covenant with Your servant and friend, Abraham. Nothing is impossible with You, LORD, and You are still bringing souls into Your covenant of salvation. You have preserved the wells of salvation for them. You have no partiality but have established Your eternal kingdom from every nation, kindred, tribe and tongue that includes all who will accept the gracious provision of salvation. For Your faithfulness, I praise Your holy name, and the name of the Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN."

     *NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as Α Ω , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.

LIFE

This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Va-yeira, meaning "And He appeared". The Hebrew letters used to write Va-yeira are vaw, yod, reysh, aleph. Each of these pictographic letters, when put together, can mean, "The nail in the hand of the Most High Adonai (Lord)". Va-yeira comes from the first verse of Gen. 18: "Then the LORD (YHWY, the Hebrew letters of which mean "Behold the hand, behold the nail") appeared (ra'a, ra'a [2X] - to see, look at, perceive, have vision, foresee, give attention to, discern, to be visible, to be seen, to cause to see, to be exhibited to, to look at each other, face) to him (Abraham) by the terebinth trees (elon/ayil - plain, great tree, oak, strong tree, terebinth/rams, mighty men, posts and lintel) of Mamre, as he was sitting (yasab - sit, inhabit, remain, continue, stay, dwell, have one's abode, to marry, endure, establish, thrones of kings or judges, an army that holds possession of, to lie in wait to spring on a prey) in the tent (ohel/ahal - tabernacle, tent, dwelling, covering, temple/to be clear, shine, to be bright) door (petah/patah - opening, doorway, entrance, gate/to open, appear, engrave, break forth, go free, let loose, be thrown open, unstop, set open, loose bonds) in the heat of the day (yom - day, time, year, lifetime, perpetually, continually, age, season, certain day, now, yesterday-today-tomorrow, all days)." All of these Hebrew words have significant meanings, but we can summarize by saying that Abraham is inhabiting a very special place - the door of his shining tent, or tabernacle/temple, the place of the doorpost and lintel (where later generations would apply the blood of the lamb for Passover), where things are let loose, set free, break forth and appear continually and forever. Abraham was "sitting", dwelling, remaining, married, in the throne of a king or judge in a time of enflaming, kindling heat. It is in this place that the LORD appears (ra'a - see above) to him. What is going to be let loose? Verses 2 and 3 of Chapter 18 tells us: "So he (Abraham) lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw (them), he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, "My Lord, if I have now found favor (hen - favor, grace, acceptance) in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant." (v. 3). As we discovered in last week's Sabbath reading (see previous blog entry "Go!", below), when the expression "lifted up his eyes and looked, or saw" is used, "lifted up" is the Hebrew word nasa (to lift, bear up, carry, suport, sustain, endure, forgive, pardon, exalted, desire, long for, to cause to bring, support, aid, assist), and "looked/saw" in this case is the Hebrew word ra'a, which is defined above. Abraham begins to "see" by revelation, and the meaning also gives us the understanding that what he "sees", he spiritually carries, bears, supports, assists, and causes to bring about by doing so. The first loosing, breaking forth, and setting free that the LORD would engage in during His appearance would be the promise of a child to childless and elderly Abraham and Sarah as the LORD said: "I will certainly return (sub - return, restore, refresh, repair, bring back, deliver, recover) to you according to the time of life (et/ad + hay/haya/hava - time, season + forever, eternity, everlasting, world without end/live, life, alive, revival, renewal/alive, restored to life, revive, save/to breathe, live, declare), and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son...Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time (mo'ed/ya'ad - appointed place and time, sacred season, set feast, solemn assembly/betroth, assemble, engage for marriage), I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." (Gen. 18:10, 14). When the LORD said, "according to the time of life", as translated into English, the Hebrew means "everlasting life" and "restored to life", or "revived life". This is what Abraham ra'a "saw" and "carried" that brought forth the birth of his son, Isaac, as promised, with his wife Sarah. However, during this appearance of the LORD to Abraham, there was also a judgment determined against Sodom (and Gomorrha). The appointed time, is the same word used for the feasts of the LORD, as the LORD would command Moses to establish in a future generation. In this case, the appointed time was an appointment with everlasting life, and revival of life, through which a new life, a son to Abraham and Sarah, would be born. This is what can happen when we "lift up our eyes and see". The LORD has also appeared before Abraham for another ministry pertaining to life. It will be the judgment against, and obliteration of Sodom and Gomorrah. How could this possibly be viewed as "pertaining to life"? We will see: And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing...since...all nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?'...And the LORD said, 'Because the outcry (za'aq - cry, outcry, distress, shriek from anguish, crying, clamor, summon, company) against Sodom (meaning "burning, to scorch") and Gomorrah (amora/amar - submersion, ruined heap/treat as a slave, to manipulate, deal tyrannically with, bind sheaves of grain, make merchandise of, plunge into conflict, rancor, or malice) is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry (se-aqa/sa'aq - cry of distress as heard by God, a shriek/cry for help) against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know." (Gen. 18:16-21, excerpt). As we read the disturbing account of the angels of the LORD visiting Sodom to view the conditions there, we know that the sin of Sodom included perversion, molestation and sexual violence against those who could not defend themselves (see Gen. 19:4-11). The anguish of their victims was so great, that their cries came up as clamorous shrieks before the LORD. In the case of Gomorrah, there is a binding together of sheaves in an evil false harvest, rather than the harvest unto salvation of the LORD. There is a merchandising and enslavement of human beings that is called trafficking. We can see this evil revealed earlier in scripture, when Abraham saved the captives of Sodom from an invading king for the sake of his nephew Lot who lived in Sodom. The king of Sodom wanted to reward Abraham for his victory: "Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.' But Abram said...'I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich..." (Gen. 14:21-23). The king of Sodom coveted the "persons", but the Hebrew word used is nepes/napas, meaning "soul, life, mind, heart, body, living being, seat of the appetites, activity of the will, breath/to take breath, refresh oneself, to be breathed upon". They used sexual predation and molestation to harvest and harm the souls of the living. However, the souls of men do not belong to them. God created that living soul of man by breathing into him (Gen. 2:7). Man may try to justify and excuse their ways of slavery, death, and darkness, but God hears the cries of the souls that He has created with His own breath of life, and He will answer those cries. For those who have suffered the manipulation, the trafficking, the enslavement: if you have been the victim of this kind of attack upon your soul, know that God is the healer and restorer of souls, and cry to Him. He IS life. King David wrote of the LORD as his (Good) Shepherd, saying, "He restoreth (sub - see above) my soul (nepes - see above)." (Ps. 23:3). Scripture describes the LORD as the Shepherd, Bishop, Savior, and Preserver (samar - keep, guard, observe, have charge of, to watch for, to wait for, to treasure up, to celebrate, protect, save, take care) of our (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega: See Rev. 1:8, 21:6, 22:13) souls (see 1 Pet. 2:25, Ps. 121:7, 1 Pet. 1:6-9). In this Sabbath reading portion of Va-yeira, there are two other miraculous births, and a raising of the dead. In 2 Kings 4, a woman from Shunem (meaning double resting place; quiet) in northern Israel, wanted to establish an upper room for the prophet Elisha in her home, for when he travels through their area. She says to her husband: "Look (hinna/hen - behold, see having a demonstrable power) now, I know (yada - perceive and see, discern, be revealed, cause to know, discover, know by experience, see with the eyes) that this Elisha is a holy man of God who passes by us regularly..." (v. 9). Because of her works based upon this sight and knowledge, the addition of a chamber for him in her home, Elisha prophesied that the Shunammite woman would have a son: "...according to the time of life (see above), you shall embrace a son." (v. 16). Again, as with Abraham, a child is prophesied out of eternal life, according to the Hebrew meanings of the words used. This son was indeed born, but as he grew, he suffered a sharp pain in his head, and died. The Shunammite woman rode a number of miles to Mt. Carmel, to bring back Elisha to her son, all the while declaring "It is well." (v. 23, 26). With prayer, Elisha was able to bring her son back to life as the son laid in the upper chamber that had been built for the prophet (v. 32-35). Elisha did this by being stretched out on top of the child. As this scene is described specifically in v. 34, the formation of their bodies would be in the shape of a cross. In English, Elisha is described as "walking the house to and fro", but in Hebrew it is yalak (to walk, follow, carry, flow, bear, vanish), and ehad,ehad (one, united, alike, together). This reminds me of what Jesus said: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." (Mt. 16:24-25, Mk. 8:34, Lk. 9:23). Do we want to find the kind of life that is everlasting? We are being given the key by Jesus here, and in the account of Elisha and the Shunammite woman. This is indeed our "double resting place", or Shunem. In 1 Sam. 1, from the Va-yeira reading, Hannah, whose name means "grace", was childless. As she brought her feast offering to the tabernacle at Shiloh, she was overcome by sadness, and launched into deep prayer before the door of the house of the LORD. The high priest, Eli, who was sitting by the doorpost of the tabernacle, observes her and finally says, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him...So it came to pass in the process of time (haya/hava +tequpa,tequpa 2X/naqap - arise, appear, to be established, to exist/to breathe + in the complete circuit of time [to strike with violence, to cut down, detroy, join together by nails, to cut], time continually and ever) that Hannah, or "Grace", conceived and bore a son, and called his (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) name Samuel (meaning "name of God" or "Heard of God"), saying, 'Because I have asked for him from the LORD." (v. 17, 20). So again, we have a reference to a life coming from the completed circuit of time. It is interesting that with the use of the Hebrew root word naqap in this verse, the image of the crucifixion is connected to the completed or compassing circuit of time. Scripture tells us that the Lamb of God, Jesus, was sacrificed before the foundation of the world, before time began (Rev. 13:8, 1 Pet. 1:19-20, Jn. 1:29, 32-36). Before closing Va-yeira, we go back to Abraham, who "saw" into eternity to the sacrificial death, and resurrection to life of the Son. This is how it happened. Abraham was commanded by God to take his miracle (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) son, (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Isaac, whom the LORD called "your only son whom you love, and offer him as a burnt offering on the mountains of Moriah, which the LORD would "show" him. (Gen. 22:1-2). So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took his son with him. "Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) place afar off." (v. 4). We know the story of the offering of Isaac, of how Isaac asked, "...where is the lamb for a burnt offering?", and of how Abraham answered, "God will provide for Himself the lamb." (v. 7-8). At the last moment, the Angel of the LORD stopped Abraham. Then Abraham lifted (nasa) his eyes and looked (ra'a), and behind him was a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. It was the ram of offering provided by God (v. 11-13). The mountains of Moriah are the mountains that Jerusalem, established long after Abraham's time, sits on. We see the phrase saying that Abraham "lifted up his eyes and saw". From our previous Sabbath reading, we know that this means that Abraham was seeing by the Spirit, by revelation. Abraham saw "the place". This is the Hebrew word maqom, meaning "place", but the root word qum means "arise, raise, proven, valid, fulfilled, become powerful, be established, ordain, perform, accomplish, confirmed, ratify, to raise oneself, raise up, set up, be raised up"! Abraham saw this "place" afar off, the Hebrew words rahoq/rahaq, which not only mean far in physical distance, but far in distance of time, also precious, dear, long ago, of old, great while to come (future) arduous, difficult. I think that when Abraham lifted his eyes and saw in revelation, he saw the cross, and, considering his complete faith, perhaps he also saw the resurrection, as Jesus seems to say: "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." (Jn. 8:56). We can see Abraham's intimate knowledge of Christ here in these verses. God is the God of the living, not the dead. He is the God of LIFE forever more. The LORD felt that His people had no excuse for their continual failure to "see" and "understand" who He is. They had no excuse, the LORD told Jeremiah, for relying upon themselves and their meaningless and useless idols, which they honored instead of Him (see Jer. 7). How can we not ra'a see this awesome God who has appeared to us? There are many other lessons to learn from Va-yeira, "And He appeared", but we have enough here to think about! If you would like to know more about our LORD of life and appearing, you can pray with me: "Father in heaven, anoint my eyes to see You and all of Your glory, and the glory of Your resurrected Son, who died for me. You are life, and You hold eternity in Your hand. You know the end from the beginning, and You reveal Yourself to us. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and open my heart to understand how You guard my soul, Your breath of life in me. My soul, spirit, and body belong to you, and are entrusted into Your hands all the days of my life. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."