Welcome to Vayera (And He Appeared) Genesis 18:1–22:24; 2 Kings 4:1–37; Luke 2:1–38.  This week’s Torah / bible study reading. It is called that because Abraham receives in Hebron's plains of Mamre three mysterious guests.  “Yahweh appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.”  (Genesis 18:1).   

In last week’s section “Lech Lecha”, God sealed His Covenant with Abram, which promised the Land to his descendants as an eternal heritage.  Abraham, in obedience to the call of God, left the land of his fathers and journeyed to the Promised Land.  This week’s section contains more angelic activity than any of the other.  Angels appear to 99 year old Abraham as men, bringing messages to him and Sarah of a future child next year despite her 89+ year age.  They also save Lot from a hostile mob, lead Hagar to water for her son, and comfort her with the promise of Ishmael becoming a great nation.  It was only three days after he and his male household were circumcised in obedience to God as a sign of the covenant when he saw three strangers (Genesis 17:11). Household included 318 servants in addition to him and Ishmael. 

Circumcision: The Brit Milah (covenant of circumcision) is Judaism’s oldest ritual.  It is the only mitzvah (instruction) that was carried out communally by the Israelites before entering the Promised Land.  In fact, God commanded Joshua to take flint knives in order to circumcise their sons because this covenant had not been exercised during the desert wanderings.  “Then Joshua circumcised their sons whom He raised up in their place; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.  So it was, when they had finished circumcising all the people, that they stayed in their places in the camp till they were healed.  Then the LORD said to Joshua, ‘This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.’”  (Joshua 5:7–9).

While anyone can be circumcised simply for health reasons, when a Jewish person fulfills this instruction in order to be in covenant with God, it elevates the circumcision as an act of holiness.  The Brit Milah represents believers bond with YHWH.  For this reason, it is considered by some people as something uniquely Jewish; circumcision started with Abraham and is the sign of the covenant between God, Abraham and his descendants forever.  In ancient times, Gentiles were, therefore, referred to as “the uncircumcised ones.”  For instance, when David referred to the giant Goliath, he called him an ”uncircumcised Philistine.”

“For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”  (1 Samuel 17:26) and the New Testament also refers to them as uncircumcised Act 11:3  Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them (see also Rom 4:12).  This is what led to the dispute in Acts 15:1 that unless the uncircumcised be circumcised they cannot enter the covenant and blessings of God.  However, Paul addresses this in Rom 4:11  And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

Rom 4:12  And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

1Co 7:18  Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. 

What difference would it make to David and Israel whether or not Goliath’s foreskin was still intact?

David was not announcing the state of Goliath’s physical condition; rather, he was emphasizing the fact that this giant was not in holy covenant with the God of Israel.  In other words, David was proclaiming a message of faith that God would uphold the covenant and protect Israel.  It might have been challenging not to look on the strength and prowess of his enemy, but David overcame and, instead, looked to the strength and faithfulness of the God of Israel. 

Although the commandment to the Jewish People to circumcise their sons on the 8th day still holds true, the Torah tells us that God will circumcise the Jewish descendants hearts to love and obey Him when we come back into the Land:

“Yahweh your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.”  (Deuteronomy 30:6). 

The ancient Hebrew prophet, Jeremiah, also called the Jewish People to circumcise their hearts:  “Circumcise yourselves to Yahweh; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest My wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds."  (Jeremiah 4:4). 

The issue of circumcision extends far beyond the physical and becomes a crucial matter of the heart.  The circumcision of the heart is not done with human hands but is only accomplished by the faithful working of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) in the lives of those who follow Yahshua (The Messiah).  “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Messiah.”  (Colossians 2:11).  Circumcision of heart has always been a problem with some physically circumcised Act 7:51  Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 

As a man in covenant with God, it seems that Abraham is privy to some insider information.  In this section Abraham learns of God’s intention to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their sin.  Even though Abraham did not know who the visiting strangers were, he welcomed them and gave them his best!  [Heb 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.] 

After learning of the fate of Sodom, Abraham pleads with God for them.  He gets the required number of righteous in the city down from 50 to 10 in order to save the city.  Ten is an important number corresponding to the tenth Hebrew letter, yud (י), which was originally pronounced yad, meaning arm and hand.  So, it can be understood that in Hebrew, the number 10 is a reference to the hand of God or arm of Yahweh, which represents salvation (Psalm 60:5 and Isaiah 53:1), authority (Isaiah 40:10–11), power and strength (Isaiah 28:2), judgment (Exodus 15:11–12), and mercy (Psalm 17:7).  “Surely the arm of Yahweh is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear.”  (Isaiah 59:1). 

While the Hebrew (biblical name for who we wrongly call Jews) initially identifies the guests as anashim (men), we might understand from the rest of the text that Abraham perceives them as men at first. 

Amazingly, however, the strangers that Abraham welcomed were not men, but angels.  Only two seem to be angels and the third someone far greater YHVH, God Himself in the form of a man (Gen 18:1, 22 and 19:1).  That one of the strangers was God seems clear: the opening verse of this section states that “the LORD [YHVH] appeared to Abraham.”  (Genesis 18:1).  When the three guests were leaving, Abraham walked with them for a bit “to see them on their way.”  At that point, the Lord spoke to Abraham saying, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?”  (Genesis 18:16–33)  Many believe that the angel who is called the Lord was a pre-incarnate appearance of Yahshua HaMashiach (the Messiah.  Are they not the same, who some class as 3 in one?).  The two guests who continue on from their visit with Abraham to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah are clearly identified as angels in Genesis 19:1 “The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening.”   

Children of Promise.

In entertaining angels, Abraham learned that Sarah, who was 90, would give birth to a son, despite her old age.  In fact, Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.  They called him Yitzchak (Isaac) from the Hebrew word for laugh, tzchok, because Sarah laughed when she overhead what the angel prophesied.  But when Yitzchak was born, that laughter turned from mockery to joy and delight.  “Sarah said, ‘God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.’”  (Genesis 21:6). 

This contrasts the birth of Ishmael, which brought strife and sorrow, although Abraham obviously loved him deeply, and God had promised to make him into a nation.  Things born of the flesh most often bring strife and frustration; but when the Spirit of God gives birth to something in our lives, it brings joy and laughter, not only to us but to others as well.  God clearly tells Abraham and Sarah that although he will bless Ishmael and make him into a great nation, the covenant will pass through the lineage of Isaac.  Isaac will inherit the Promised Land.  To protect Isaac and the covenant, Ishmael, son of the bondwoman Hagar, is sent away with his mother into the wilderness where he will learn to foster a relationship with God by calling out to Him on his own.

"God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, 'What is the matter, Hagar?  Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.  Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.'”  (Genesis 21:17–18). 

Still, Abraham’s faith is tested in a much deeper way.  In Chapter 22, of this study section, God calls him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice.  “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, even Isaac, and go into the land of Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell you of.”  (Genesis 22:3). 

From the beginning, Abraham trusted God, despite the enormity of God’s command. That trust is evident when Isaac asked, "Where is the lamb (seh)?" Abraham told him that God will provide the Lamb.  Yet, for the sake of Isaac, God provided not a lamb, but a ram (ayil) (Genesis 22:13).  Because of Abraham’s faith and trust in God, He provided a substitute sacrifice for Isaac.  Likewise, God Himself provided a substitute sacrifice for the sins of all who share in the faith of Abraham.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His son, His only son (whom He loved) so that whoever would believe on Him would not perish but have eternal life”  (John 3:16).  As another example of the laws of God existing before repeated to Moses, here we have Isaac knowing the requirements for a sacrifice was a lamb not another animal or item.  So the laws did not start with Israel and Moses nor were they only for the Jews. 

Israel the nation was Yahweh God’s first born Exo 4:22  And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:.  One day all the 12 tribes of Israel will be saved  Rom 11:26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:.  Become part of the promise, part of Israel by being grafted in Rom 11:16  For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.  "Israel will be saved by Yahweh with an everlasting salvation; you will never be put to shame or disgraced, to ages everlasting."  (Isaiah 45:17). 

Abraham the Friend of God.

If God had said, take your son, your other son, Ishmael, whom you love, Abraham would have found the trial just as heartbreaking and difficult. The real test was not about Abraham’s affection for Isaac as much as it was a test of his faith in the promises of God. Everything Abraham believed and hoped for rested on Isaac.  By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.” (Hebrews 11:17-18). 

Abraham’s obedience testifies to his great faith in God’s promises and his selfless devotion to Yahweh. The near-sacrifice of Isaac vindicated God’s choice of Abraham in our eyes and the eyes of the world. James the brother of our Master says that Abraham our father was “justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar … and he was called the friend of God” (James 2:21-23).  The Bible calls Abraham “the friend of God” because God and Abraham had a mutual covenant partnership. Abraham was the “friend of God” in the sense that he was God’s “covenant partner.” God “tested” Abraham to test the extant of Abraham’s loyalty to the covenant relationship. Abraham passed the test. He proved his devotion by obeying God and bringing Isaac as a sacrifice. When God saw that Abraham had chosen to keep and honour the covenant, He reconfirmed the covenant, saying, “Because you have done this thing and not withheld your son …” (Genesis 22:16).  In other words, the fulfilment of the covenant promises God made to Abraham were contingent upon Abraham’s obedience in offering his only son. Because Abraham willingly offered up his son, God agreed to keep His obligations to Abraham. 

A covenant is a two-way relationship.  Abraham met the test and proved his loyalty to his covenant friend. That left the ball in God’s court, so to speak. It was God’s turn to prove His own loyalty to the covenant.  In so doing, the Almighty could not bring to the table less than Abraham had brought.  Abraham demonstrated his covenant loyalty through willingly sacrificing his only son, and by doing that, he may have obligated the Almighty to reciprocate.  Abraham’s demonstration of covenant loyalty resulted in God’s demonstration of covenant loyalty. The sacrifice of Isaac foreshadowed the sacrifice of Yahshua.  In the Gospel of John, God Himself takes on the role of Abraham and demonstrates His faithfulness before the entire world by sacrificing His Son. In language so reminiscent of the first verses of Genesis 22 that it can hardly be coincidental, the apostle John says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish; but have eternal life” (John 3:16). In another place John said, “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9).  With similar language, Paul said, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us” (Romans 5:8). 

The sacrificial death of God’s Son demonstrates God’s love and faithfulness. Christians take that for granted; but long before the story of Yahshua or the writing of the first gospel, there was Abraham, a father willing to sacrifice his only begotten and beloved son as a demonstration of faithfulness and love.  Are you living in covenant partnership with God?  His covenant terms from Abraham through to Moses is walk in His commandments inclusive of keeping His holy days of Lev 23 and having nothing to do with pagan ways (i.e. forth coming Christmas) AND HE WILL bless you with all you need and possibly desire. 

TEST OF FAITH

Life is full of tests; but tests are easier to pass when you already know the answers. Abraham knew the answers before he took the test.  We are given the answers by God to life’s tests. 

Abraham's life was a life of faith, and the life of faith is a life of testing. At every juncture we are tested. Passing each test requires stubborn optimism, resolute confidence in God and steadfast obedience. Life's problems are opportunities to prove our faith and to improve our faithfulness. We fail life's tests when we give in to despair, lose confidence in God or turn away from obedience. Every difficulty and trial is a test of faith. Will we assess the problem through the eyes of faith or not? Will we respond in faith as in Gen 22:2 or faithlessness? 

When God first called Abraham he said, "Go forth from your country." The Hebrew for "go forth" is lech-lecha (לך לך). That was the first test of Abraham's faith. Near the end of Abraham's life, Yahweh again tells Abraham, "Lech-lecha." He commands him to bring his son Isaac to the land of Moriah. The land of Moriah is the area of Jerusalem. God tells Abraham to bring Isaac to "one of the mountains of which I will tell you." Mount Moriah is the mount on which King Solomon built the holy Temple. Abraham built his altar on the very spot where the Holy Temple would one day be built.  Abraham did not object to God's commandment. Instead he rose early in the morning to carry out the terrible duty. Remember that he also rose early in the morning to send off Hagar and Ishmael. When we have a commandment from God, even if it seems disagreeable, we should not procrastinate.  Abraham passed the test. He demonstrated his confidence in God. 

When Isaac asked about the lamb for the sacrifice, Abraham confidently replied, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son" (Genesis 22:8).  He demonstrated he was willing to sacrifice Isaac, even binding him, placing him on the altar and taking the knife to slaughter him. How could a loving father do this? The writer of the book of Hebrews explains:  By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said [in Genesis 21:12], "In Isaac your descendants shall be called." He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type (Hebrews 11:17-19).   Abraham believed God with such absolute faith that he did not hesitate to obey. He knew God had made promises to bless and multiply his seed through Isaac and He knew God would keep those promises, even if He had to raise Isaac from the dead. 

When you have been harmed or feel mistreated, wrongly spoken to or other disagreement with a brother or sister can you still carry out your covenant duty?  Go and make up with that person, renew the connection, speak nicely etc? Neither do I mean in pretence. I won’t quote the scriptures of both Old and New Testament. 

Some scriptures to show God’s plan is for all His created human children not only His firstborn Israel.  Gen 18:18  Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? Gen 22:18  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.  This is why in Paul’s explanation to the uncircumcised that they did not have to get circumcised to inherit the benefits of the promise he joined them in before Abraham received the circumcision sign Rom 4:11  And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: Rom 4:12  And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. 

Gen 19:7  And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.  Lev 18:22  Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Lev 20:13  If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Gen 19:19  Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life;.  Grace did not start in the New Testament. 

Gen 20:12  And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.  Lev 18:11  The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.  To reconcile this apparent contradiction we have to fully understand the identity of the parents of Abraham and Sarah.  In Lev 18:11 a male cannot marry a sister from his parents i.e. both of them having the same father AND mother.  In Gen 20:12 Abraham’s father married a woman who either technically already had Sarah as a daughter (i.e. her former husband died) OR his father had more than one wife and Abraham and Sarah were the product of different wives i.e. as in 2Sa 13:13  …. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. 

Isaac’s question to Abraham about the lamb is another example of God’s laws existing before repeated to Israel through Moses.  Thus are or the whole human race.  Gen 20:3  But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.  Proof adultery existed before given via Moses.  As did Gen 22:2  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. Isaac also knew the requirements of a burnt offering later given in Ex 29:18 and Lev 1.  Let no demon ation (denomination) deceive you (2 Cor 11:14-15), God’s laws did not start with Moses nor were they only for the “Jews”.  STUDY not only Read from the beginning of the bible to understand the end.  

Luke 2. Note Luk 2:30  For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Luk 2:31  Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; Luk 2:32  A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.   Luk 2:34  And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;  Act 28:22  But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

Prophetic section: Supernatural Conception. 

“About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.”  (2 Kings 4:16) 

Among the themes that connect the Torah portion and the Prophetic portion are appointed times, supernatural conception and hospitality.  In the Torah portion, God promise to Abraham and Sarah that at a set time, a child of promise would be born to them despite their advanced age.  “I will return to you at the appointed time [mo’ed] next year, and Sarah will have a son.”  (Genesis 18:14)  And it was done as God had spoken:  “Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.”  (Genesis 21:2). 

In this week’s prophetic reading, Elisha promises a Shunammite woman who was hospitable to him that God would give her the desire of her heart, a son even though her husband was old.  Just like Yahweh told Abraham, Elisha also prophesied that the child of promise would come at the set time (mo’ed).  (2 Kings 4:16)  “The woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time [mo’ed] she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.”  (2 Kings 4:17). 

Elisha Raises a Child from the Dead:  “When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. . . As he stretched himself out on him, the boy’s body grew warm.”  (2 Kings 4:32–34) 

Years later, the Shunammite’s child developed a headache and died in his mother’s arms.  How devastating, the child that had come by promise was dead!  His mother went directly to the prophet, Elisha, to plead for a miracle.  How was she going to find him 2Ki 4:23  And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. Like the continued custom in the New Testament, persons of God (Jew or Gentile) were to be found in the places of worship on Sabbath days Act 15:21  For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.  Fortunately Elisha saw her from afar off (v25).  Elisha was only too happy to comply.  He came and raised her son from the dead (2 Kings 4:3–35).  Of course, we can see in this healing a picture of the resurrection.  It also parallels the account of God testing Abraham, asking him to sacrifice Isaac, the promised heir.  We can be assured that God sees when we are ill, and He is present to comfort and minister to us.  Furthermore, angels are still active today to protect, save, help, warn and encourage us.  “The angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.”  (Psalm 34:7). 

When Abraham brought Isaac to Mount Moriah to sacrifice him in obedience to God, in his heart he was entirely committed to following through, believing God could raise Isaac from the dead. 

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. … Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death”  (Hebrews 11:17–19).  Instead of killing Isaac, God stopped Abraham and provided a ram as a substitute.  Though Abraham did not withhold giving to God his miraculous promised son, he was returned alive to Abraham. There are similarities of the substitute ram God provided to save Isaac and the lamb of God (Messiah) to save us.  Two being, both sons were about 33 years old, Gen 23:13 “a ram caught in a thicket by his horns” resembles  “Mat 27:29  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head”, 

“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said.  “Do not do anything to him.  Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from Me your son, your only son.”  (Genesis 22:12). 

In the same way that Abraham, who was in covenant with God, did not withhold his son from God when He asked, God did not withhold His Son, the Messiah, who was born by an Israelite maiden, as promised, died on the Roman execution stake, and was resurrected to life in three days.  

Receiving the Promise: 

“He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” (Romans 4:20–21). 

Just as Abraham inherited the promises by faith and patience, we too must also wait with faith and hope for God’s promises to come to pass in our own lives, as well as on this earth.  If God has made a promise to you, it will be done as He has spoken; but only at His appointed or set time (the mo’ed) which God Himself has chosen.  God’s promises do not always come to pass according to our timetable or agenda; nevertheless, He will fulfil them.  Remember, they or most are conditional on obedience.  Gen 17:1  And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, Yahweh appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. Gen 17:2  And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly..  Gen 22:18  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.    Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Act 5:32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him (keep commandments). 

Nothing is too hard or impossible for God, neither raising the dead nor the salvation of the people of Israel. 

The same God who allowed for a temporary blindness upon the eyes of SOME OF the Jewish people (Orthodox ones not Messiah believers) with regards to their Messiah so that the fullness of the Gentiles may come in, will also remove it at the set time (mo’ed).  And then all Israel (by birth or graffed in) will be saved (Romans 11:26).

Shalom