Parsha Lech L’cha – Go for (toward) thyself

Parsha Lech L’cha – Go for (toward) thyself - B’reshit 12:1-17:27

YeshaYahu 40:27-41:16, Romans 4:1-25, ; Galatians 5:1-6

With this Parasha we are going to study Abraham’s life and dig unto his life to see what the reason of this study is. The Torah doesn’t give a lot of details concerning the life of Abraham in his first years before he reach the age of seventy. This brought many Christians scholars to speculation and false teaching.  We have already seen with the first parsha b’reshit that the Torah was given with Adam who came from Elohim. In traditional Judaism it is taught that seven things came with Adam, one of it was the Torah. We get confirmation in the fact that Elohim told Cain about sin and sin cannot exist without the Torah, because sin is the transgression of the Torah (1^st Yochan.3:4) ! Further we have seen also that Hebel (Abel) brought a better sacrifice, here also according to the Torah.

In the Torah Abraham’s story start when יהוה say to Abram to “Go for thyself” or “Go out” “Lech L’cha” in Hebrew. We don’t have any information in the Torah concerning his former life and why Elohim has chosen him.  From the first parasha we learn that sin call for judgment!  Abram life is an important study to understand our own life. We can divide Abram’s life as following:

1. Abram call.
2. Abram promise
3. Abram struggle
4. Abram become Abraham

This call is for all of us who want to follow Messiah! Abram was 75 years old (B’reshit 12:4) when he left Haran as we are going to read, he was raised in the tent of Shem and Eber from his youth and was well acquainted with the knowledge of one Elohim, one creator, pure and impure, and all justice and judgment (B’reshit 18:19) where we learn the premises of D’varim 6:6-7.  Christianity will tell you as they do many times, that יהוה is Omnipresent, Omniscient and this is why he could call Abram: “He knew his heart”! Is it true?

Yes it is true that יהוה knew the heart of Abram the same as he knows our heart because He is the one who search the heart and try the reins of every man to reward them after their deeds (Yrmeyahu 17:10), but there is another reason to have chosen Abram.  If we make research and go in the book of Yasher we will find a lot of information concerning Abram. By the way “Yasher” is no a name, the meaning of the word is “the Just” or “righteous, what is right”. Yasher help us to understand the context of the Torah. There have been written many “book of Yasher” and not all relate the truth. So it is only by studying and prayer that one will be able to discern. With the time, patience and learning the Ruach HaQodesh (Set Apart Spirit) train us to discern and understand the Torah according to יהוה’will. I know that there are some brothers who have problem to study the Torah thinking that it doesn’t help. I have explained in different place that the Torah is life and we must humble ourselves before Elohim in order for the Ruach HaQodesh to teach us. Many times the deeper meaning is hidden behind the letter, called the sod or mystery which is only revealed to those who seek.

יהושע taught this principle: ---

Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: Mat 7:8 for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. ........

For some unknown reason Yasher is not part of the Torah but is mentioned in the Book of Shamu’el (2nd:18) and Yehoshua.(10:13), so that we can refer to it with confidence.  Abram call was not per hazard! In the book of Yasher, we will learn for example that Abram was living during Noach’s life after the flood and was with Shem and Eber Noach’son and grandson, but let us read:  ----

Yasher 7:50. And Terah took a wife and her name was Amthelo, the daughter of Cornebo; and the wife of Terah conceived and bare him a son in those days.  51. Terah was seventy years old when he begat him, and Terah called the name of his son that was born to him Abram, because the king had raised him in those days, and dignified him above all his princes that were with him. 8:1. and it was in the night that Abram was born, that all the servants of Terah, and all the wise men of Nimrod, and his conjurors came and ate and drank in the house of Terah, and they rejoiced with him on that night. .................

The adviser from Nimrod who was the King told him that he should let Abram to be killed because he was to become mighty in the all world.

 8:15. and the king said to Terah, I have been told that a son was yester night born to thee, and after this manner was observed in the heavens at his birth. 16. and now therefore give me the child, that we may slay him before his evil springs up against us, and I will give thee for his value, thy house full of silver and gold. 

Terah was an idolater raised to the position of King under Nimrod’s ruler ship. Terah gave him another child instead of Abram after having hidden Abram in a cave where he sent provision to feed him. 

Abram went to Noach and spent 39 years learning TORAH: 

Yasher 9:4. Haran (Abram’s brother) was forty-two years old when he begat Sarai (she will later be Abram’s wife), which was in the tenth year of the life of Abram; and in those days Abram and his mother and nurse went out from the cave, as the king and his subjects had forgotten the affair of Abram.  5. and when Abram came out from the cave, he went to Noah and his son Shem, and he remained with them to learn the instruction of YHWH and his ways, and no man knew where Abram was, and Abram served Noah and Shem his son for a long time.  6. And Abram was in Noah's house thirty-nine years, and Abram knew YHWH from three years old, and he went in the ways of YHWH until the day of his death, as Noah and his son Shem had taught him; and all the sons of the earth in those days greatly transgressed against YHWH, and they rebelled against him and they served other gods,  and they forgot YHWH who had created them in the earth; and the inhabitants of the earth made unto themselves, at that time, every man his god; gods of wood and stone

which could neither speak, hear, nor deliver, and the sons of men served them and they became their gods.

7. and the king and all his servants, and Terah with all his household were then the first of those that served gods of wood and stone. 8. and Terah had twelve gods of large size, made of wood and stone, after the twelve months of the year, and he served each one monthly, and every month Terah would bring his meat offering and drink offering to his gods; thus did Terah all the days. 9. and all that generation were wicked in the sight of YHWH, and they thus made every man his god, but they forsook YHWH who had created them. 10. And there was not a man found in those days in the whole earth, who knew YHWH (for they served each man his own God) except Noah and his household, and all those who were under his counsel knew YHWH in those days. 11. And Abram the son of Terah was waxing great in those days in the house of .......

Knowing now the context we read the Torah with an open mind. It becomes easy to understand why יהוה chose Abram after having chosen Noach and his household Abram knew יהוה from his youth and walked according to the teaching from Noach and Shem his son. ----- Gen 12:1 and יהוה said to Aḇram, “Go yourself (lech lecha) out of your land, from your relatives and from your father’s house, to a land which I show you. ………

In another midrash I have explained that in order to work in somebody’s life, יהוה will require “separation”, set apartness or to be “Qadosh”, and this is only possible when we remove ourselves form our former way of life and cut every relation to those who were our “friends, family members, even children” if they reject יהוה’s way. Are you ready for the challenge?

Remember that we shall always try to see the “Pardes”, the four ways of interpretation in order to see the “secret” or “mind of Elohim”! For we have the mind of יהושע (1^st Corint.2:16).  The Prophet YeshaYahu says that Elohim speaks the End from the beginning (Isa.chap. 46). The Hebrew word used for “beginning” is “B’reshit”: the first, in place, time, order or rank.  There is no coincidence with יהושע everything take place according to His own will and purpose. This is also truth with our own life. If any person has told you that you’re and “accident” in your parent’s life, I am sorry to say that’s a lie. Everything in life happen because it is יהוה’s will.

2Ti 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a set-apart calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and favour which was given to us in Messiah יהושע before times of old,  The KJV write: “before the world began”.

Gen 12:2 “And I shall make you a great nation, and bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing!

The call is always with a promise, for us it is salvation through Messiah יהושע if we endure to the end...........

Here יהוה make the promise to Abram to make him to become a great nation and that he will become a blessing!  Just read what we can found in the book of Hebrew:

Heb 11:8 by belief*, Aḇraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he was about to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.  Heb 11:9 by belief, he sojourned in the land of promise as a stranger, dwelling in tents with Yitsḥaq and Yaʽaqoḇ, the heirs with him of the same promise,

*The Hebrew word for "belief or faith" is the word "emunah" and means "to rely on", "to trust or stand firm". Faith is an abstract word which always lead to an obscure understanding, while the word "emunah" is directly to Yehowah and his word- To trust or rely in YHWH and His Word is that what the prophet Habakkuk says in:

Hab 2:4  Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith (trsut in YHWH).

Heb 11:10 for he was looking for the city having foundations, whose builder and maker is Elohim.

Heb 11:11 by belief also, Sarah herself was enabled to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the normal age, because she deemed Him trustworthy who had promised.  Heb 11:12 and so from one, and him as good as dead, were born as numerous as the stars of the heaven, as countless as the sand which is by the seashore. Heb 11:13 In belief all these died, not having received the promises, but seeing them from a distance, welcomed and embraced them, and confessed that they were aliens and strangers on the earth.

What is with the other “fathers of faith”:

Heb 11:39 and having obtained witness through the belief (emunah, trust, relying on), all these did not receive the promise..................

Abraham and the others didn’t receive the promise! This is very amazing to read this in the book of Hebrew. Is Sha’ul or the one writing this book wrong? No!

Hebrew tells us that they saw the promise from a distance but obtained witness through belief.

Now it will be יהוה who will have to complete His promise to Abraham and all who followed him (included Noach and his family). At it seems to be confusing but if we consider that יהושע was the First raise from among the death we will understand: יהוה will have to raise Abram, Itzach, Ya’acov, Noach, Shem, Eber, King David and many others who were born before יהושע in order for them to see the fulfilment of the promise. Can you see? The promise is still valid and will be plain when our forefathers see the Fullness of it.

How it is with us?

Mar 10:29 יהושע said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for the sake of Me and the Good News,

Mar 10:30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come, everlasting life.  ……..

We walk by trust in YHWH not by sight, nothing has changed brothers and sisters, we also have the hope of eternal life and through faith in Messiah יהושע have obtained the promise. We will see the fulfillment of it with our forefathers when יהושע will come to establish יהוה’s Kingdom on earth.  When we hear יהוה’s call we are almost all come from Christianity, the place where יהוה fish us. From this point on, we are like Abram, not knowing where we are going, finish the comfort zone among so call Christian’s family. Now we will be taught to walk by faith alone and to trust יהוה in our everyday life. Finish the flawed teaching of false pastors, the teacher is now the Ruach HaQodesh who will lead us into the truth, the Torah.

Unlike Abram who was raised in the truth from his youth, we will have to renew our mind (Rom. 12:2) to escape the world’s system. Yesterday while the Shabbat food was cooking I read an article concerning the new trap from the beast to keep people captive. They manipulate their mind in a new scale which will be almost impossible to escape. This technique was already tested during the first Iraq war. It is called “s.s.s.s.” (Silent Sound Spray System). Invisible waves are spray through TV and Radio to reach the mind of people. Since few year, in so call modern countries, the Government give free gift for every household to equip them to receive Full HD definition digital TV. So called Plasma TV with extra large flat screen equip with higher herz receptors. The sellers will explain you that it is to get a better image quality. What they don’t tell you is that this new TV models are also instrument to manipulate the mind of people to make them obedient to the doctrines of the beast and unknowingly to surrender to his will. The choice is still ours either to follow the Ruach HaQodesh or to fall into the hands of the Beast! 

Gen 12:3 “And I shall bless those who bless you, and curse him who curses you. and in you all the clans of the earth shall be blessed.” ………

The Hebrew word for “bless” is the word “barak” which mean: to kneel down” or to come closer in order to fulfill the promise. This word has been misused by Christianity which has turned it in a “money machine” used by “G-d” for those who pay “tithe” to their pastors! Do not be blinded Elohim is not a respecter of person and His blessing is not “money”. I don’t say that Elohim will not make money come into your hands, but he is more interested to restore our soul and make us fruitful in good works (i.e. give money to other!).  יהוה is here telling Abram: I will care for you in every way and those who despise you or reject you I will curse.  We should again go to the Hebrew in order to understand. The word “curse” in our understanding has more to do with some kind of evil things done by יהוה. This is what you will see especially in Africa where people go to the “marabou” to put “curses” on somebody. This is not יהוה, but the forces of darkness.  The word for curse is the Hebrew word:”arar” which means: abhor, or hate. In other word יהוה say to Abram, I will kneel down to those who will kneel down to you, who will be favorable to you and I will abhor and hate those who hate you. Those who will help Abraham’s descendant will receive help from יהוה and the other will be hated and abhorred.

The Hebrew word for "curse is Strong's #H779 אָרַר 'arar (aw-rar') v. written alef, resh, resh

1. to execrate

[a primitive root] to despise in the sense to spit

Gen 12:4 So Aḇram left, as יהוה had commanded him, and Lot went with him. And Aḇram was seventy-five* years old when he set out from Ḥaran. ……………

* seventy-five (75) in gemetria equal: 10 x 7 + 5: 10 the sum of all number a perfect number pointing to what mankind can reach to come closer to Elohim e.g. 10 commandments. Once again we will see what יהוה has embedded in the Torah. The gemetria or study of the number will show us that Abram was called at the appointed time. He was 75 years old. Seven plus Five equals twelve. 7 the number for divine perfection on earth, we could also say יהוה’s perfect will on earth; 5 the number for Torah, the five books Moshe and also the number for “grace” (Chesed) as it is taught in the study of the “Tree of Life” in the esoteric or mystical teaching. 75 is also 7 + 5= Twelve יהוה’s number for perfect  government on earth.

Mar 10:29 יהושע said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for the sake of Me and the Good News,  Mar 10:30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come, everlasting life.

This is a place to meditate and build our faith on יהוה and not on our surrounding which is familiar to us.

Have you not receive brothers and sisters and mothers and children since the day you are in Messiah יהושע or do you still make difference between the children you receive from יהוה and those from the brethren! Have we not all received new mothers in our older sisters? We can think about that! 

Gen 12:5 and Aḇram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the beings whom they had acquired in Ḥaran, and they set out for the land of Kenaʽan. And they came to the land of Kenaʽan.

Abram took Sarai the daughter of his older brother Haran who died under Nimrod’s violence. Lot was also Haran’s son and nephew of Abram. In other words, Abram married his cousin Sarai.  Haran; Abram’s brother died burned, when Nimrod had him thrown with Abram in fire where a messenger of יהוה came to deliver him. Haran died because of lack of faith!  They left Haran (read Charan: Karan). The Hebrew word “Haran” means: parched, and comes from the Hebrew word Charan (read Karar), to glow, literally to melt, burn, dry up or figuratively to incite to passion.  This is very significant as we know that יהוה told Abram to leave this place where he couldn’t live his faith and worship Him. How is it with us today? Is it different with our family and our friends who reject יהוה and יהושע to follow their own ways?

Abram took Sarai! The word meaning here comes from the Hebrew word “Sar” which means: “dominative”, a head person. Later she will be called “Sarah” which means: a mistress, a princess, Sarai also will undergo a change in her life in order to become this princess. 1Pe 3:6 as Sarah obeyed Aḇraham, calling him master, of whom you became children, doing good, and not frightened by any fear.  .......

Don’t be chocked we have all one Master; Messiah יהושע and one Elohim יהוה Zebaoth. It is not bad to have a Master.  Another meaning for Sarai according to ISBE (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia):

The former name appears to be derived from the same root as Israel, if, indeed, Gen_32:28 is intended as an etymology of Israel. “She that strives,” a contentious person, is a name that might be given to a child at birth (compare Hos_12:3, Hos_12:4, of Jacob), or later when the child's character developed; in Gen_16:6 and Gen_21:10 a contentious character appears. Yet comparison with the history of her husband's name warns us not to operate solely upon the basis of the Hebrew language. Sarai was the name this woman brought with her from Mesopotamia. On the other hand there can be little doubt that the name Sarah, which she received when her son was promised, means “princess,” for it is the feminine form of the extremely common title sar, used by the Semites to designate a ruler of greater or lesser rank. In the verse following the one where this name is conferred, it is declared of Sarah that “kings of peoples shall be of her” (Gen_17:16).

Today women are taught to live on their own to be emancipated, to have their own way of life. The result of it is depravity and destruction of the family. Modern countries promote liberty for women. Their independency has become an instrument in the hands of those who want to destroy the remaining belief in one “G-d” to enforce humanism which is a mix of Greek stoicism belief defining the law of nature as reason and Epicureans who follow after hedonism (pleasure of life). 

Emancipate: To set free from the power of another, to free from any controlling influence, to set free from bondage, to give freedom (Everest dictionary)  .This movement started in the 60’s.Today many laws encourage this life style for women.  ---- Sha’ul warns the Corinthians against the Wisdom of the Greeks:  ---- 1Co 1:19 for it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 1Co 2:5 that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of YHWH. 1Co 2:6 howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

 ---- Corinth: A celebrated city of the Peloponnesus, capital of Corinthian the land of the Phoenicians, when Athens, Thebes, Sparta and Argos fell away, Corinth came to the front again as the wealthiest and most important city in Greece;(ISB)

Gen 12:6 and Aḇram passed through the land to the place of Sheḵem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. At that time the Kenaʽanites were in the land.  Gen 12:7 and יהוה appeared to Aḇram and said, “To your seed I give this land.” And he built there an altar to יהוה, who had appeared to him.  Abram goes to Kanaan a land given to him by Elohim. Kanaanite were idolaters, descendants from Kanaan the son of Ham, son of Noach. In B’reshit 9:25, Noach put a “curse” on Kanaan. Read/ ----- Zec 14:21 and every pot in Yerushalayim and Yehuḏah shall be set-apart to יהוה of hosts. And all those who slaughter shall come and take them and cook in them. And there shall no longer be a merchant (Kanaanite: trafficker) in the House of יהוה of hosts, in that day……..   I have explained in the parsaha Noach what happened to the descendants of Ham one of Noach’s sons. Nevertheless, curse is removed for all those who are in Messiah יהושע. The world today ignores the truth, and therefore follows its own doctrine.  ----- Yasher:13  1. and Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and Sarai his  daughter-in-law, the wife of his son Abram, and all the souls of his household and went with them from Ur Casdim to go to the land of Canaan. And when they came as far as  the land of Haran they remained there, for it was exceedingly good land for pasture, and

of sufficient extent for those who accompanied them. 2. and the people of the land of Haran saw that Abram was good and upright with God and men, and that YHWH his God was with him, and some of the people of the land of Haran came and joined Abram, and he taught them the instruction of YHWH and his ways; and these men remained with Abram in his house and they adhered to him. ........... We see that Abram’s life influenced other people life that came to join themselves to him. How it is with us, are we also a good image to others, are we bringing people back to the Torah? Discuss this aspect of life! 3. And Abram remained in the land three years, and at the expiration of three years YHWH appeared to Abram and said to him; I am YHWH who brought thee forth from Ur Casdim, and delivered thee from the hands of all thine enemies. 4. and now therefore if thou wilt hearken to my voice and keep my commandments, my statutes and my laws, then will I cause thy enemies to fall before thee, and I will multiply thy seed like the stars of heaven, and I will send my blessing upon all the

works of thy hands, and thou shalt lack nothing. 5. Arise now, take thy wife and all belonging to thee and go to the land of Canaan and remain there, and I will there be unto thee for a Elohim (mighty One), and I will bless thee. And Abram rose and took his wife and all belonging to him, and he went to the land of Canaan as YHWH had told him; and Abram was fifty years old when he went from Haran. 6. and Abram came to the land of Canaan and dwelt in the midst of the city, and he there pitched his tent amongst the children of Canaan, inhabitants of the land. 7. and YHWH appeared to Abram when he came to the land of Canaan, and said to him,

This is the land which I gave unto thee and to thy seed after thee forever, and I will make thy seed like the stars of heaven, and I will give unto thy seed for an inheritance all the lands which thou seest. 8. and Abram built an altar in the place where Elohim had spoken to him, and Abram there called upon the name of YHWH.

9. at that time, at the end of three years of Abram's dwelling in the land of Canaan, in that year Noah died, which was the fifty-eighth year of the life of Abram; and all the days that Noah lived were nine hundred and fifty years and he died. 10. and Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, he, his wife, and all belonging to him, and all those that accompanied him, together with those that joined him from the people of the land; but Nahor, Abram's brother, and Terah his father, and Lot the son of Haran and all belonging to them dwelt in Haran.

We see that the book of Yasher tells us clearly that Abram knew Noach and was with him during fifty-eight years of his life. I don’t know if you realize Noach knew Seth the son of Adam! Yes brothers and sisters, this is how it was, Noach was the tenth generation since Adam was created by Elohim and you can imagine what Noach knew and taught to Abram. Adam came down from heaven, from יהוה’s mind he was not influenced by man’s philosophy he was instructed direct by יהוה. Seth was in the image of his father Adam and walked according to his father’s instruction. The truth was still unflawed, preserved from generation to generation. Adam ‘sons were eye witness of the flood and of those living before the flood. No man on earth knew more then them! Shem and his lineage was Torah keeper, lover of the truth. It was not per accident that Abram was raised in the Torah but by יהוה’ perfect knowledge and purpose. We read in the last parasha how Abram destroyed his father’s idols he was fully convince not by reasoning, but by teaching, this has never changed:  ---- Deu 6:6 and these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

Deu 6:7 and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Moshe taught the Children of Israel, more than 1500 hundred years later the same as it was under Noach’s life: Teach your children Torah in order for them to walk in the truth!  Paganism invaded the Western world with Constantine and spray all around the world through the Roman Catholic Church. Today יהוה is calling back those he wants through Messiah יהושע to teach them the way of life: The Torah.  --- Gen 12:8 and from there he moved to the mountain east of Bĕyth Ěl, and he pitched his tent, with Bĕyth Ěl on the west and Ai on the east. And he built there an altar to יהוה, and called on the Name of יהוה. ……. Beyth’El on the west and Ai on the east: The word “ay” written Ayin,Yod and meaning a heap or ruin coming from the word “avah” to crook, lit., or fig., do amiss, to make crooked, commit iniquity, pervert, do wickedly.

On the west Beyth’El, “House of El”. If we look what later happen to the House of Israel, we will see that they will be scattered to the west:

----- Psa 103:12 As far as east (Ai) is from west (Beth’El), So far has He removed our transgressions from us........This verse tells us that as far those who commit iniquity (transgression, rejection of the Torah) is far from Beyth’El, the House of El, so far as He (Elohim) removes our transgression: 

----- Gal 3:13 Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us – for it has been written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs upon a tree.”¹ – Footnote: ¹Dt. 21:23.

Gal 3:14 in order that the blessing of Aḇraham might come upon the nations in Messiah יהושע, to receive the promise of the Spirit through belief. Gal 3:26 for you are all sons of Elohim through belief in Messiah יהושע.  Gal 3:27 for as many of you as were immersed into Messiah have put on Messiah.

Gal 3:28 There is not Yehuḏite nor Greek, there is not slave nor free, there is not male and female, for you are all one in Messiah יהושע.  Gal 3:29 and if you are of Messiah, then you are seed of Aḇraham, and heirs according to promise…….

The Test:  

--- Gen 12:9 and Aḇram set out, continuing toward the South.

Gen 12:10 and a scarcity of food came to be in the land, and Aḇram went down to Mitsrayim to dwell there, for the scarcity of food was severe in the land………….Something happen to Abram which was not possible to calculate or to plan. Does יהוה felt short? Just read: ----- Luk 4:1 and יהושע, being filled with the Set-apart Spirit, returned from the Yardĕn and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,  Luk 4:2 being tried for forty days by the devil. And in those days He did not eat at all, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. ………….יהוה try his people. If he did with Abram and Sarai, as He did also to יהושע do you think that he will do with us? Of course he will, so don’t be surprised when things happen that do not go as you expect. Pray and wait upon יהוה.   -------- Gen 12:11 and it came to be, when he was close to entering Mitsrayim, that he said to Sarai his wife, “See, I know that you are a fair woman to look at.

Gen 12:12 “and it shall be, when the Mitsrites see you, that they shall say, ‘This is his wife.’ And they shall kill me, but let you live. Gen 12:13 “Please say you are my sister (she was his father’s daughter) so that it shall be well with me for your sake, and my life be spared because of you.”  Gen 12:14 and it came to be, when Aḇram came into Mitsrayim, that the Mitsrites saw the woman, that she was very fair.  Gen 12:15 and Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her before Pharaoh, and the woman was taken to Pharaoh’s house.

Gen 12:16 and he treated Aḇram well for her sake, and he had sheep, and cattle, and male donkeys, and male and female servants, and female donkeys, and camels.  Gen 12:17 But יהוה plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Aḇram’s wife. Gen 12:18 and Pharaoh called Aḇram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not inform me that she was your wife?  Gen 12:19 “Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’? And so I was going to take her for my wife. Look, here is your wife, take her and go.”  Gen 12:20 and Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him, and they sent him away, with his wife and all that he had. ……………The book of Yasher gives us more details about this event and in particular about Sarai’s behavior, a good pattern for our sisters coming into a bad situation:  ----- 15:16. And the woman was then brought to Pharaoh's house, and Abram grieved on account of his wife, and he prayed to YHWH to deliver her from the hands of Pharaoh.  17. and Sarai also prayed at that time and said, O YHWH Elohim thou didst tell my Master Abram to go from his land and from his father's house to the land of Canaan, and thou didst promise to do well with him if he would perform thy commands; now behold we have done that which thou didst command us, and we left our land and our families, and we went to a strange land and to a people whom we have not known before. 18. and we came to this land to avoid the famine, and this evil accident has befallen me; now therefore, O YHWH, deliver us and save us from the hand of this oppressor, and do well with me for the sake of thy mercy. 19. and YHWH hearkened to the voice of Sarai, and YHWH sent an angel to deliver Sarai from the power of Pharaoh.

Conclusion: If we are doing right in the sight of Elohim according to His will, in time of distress, He will hear our prayers!

Chapter 13.

-----Gen 13:1 and Aḇram went up from Mitsrayim into the South, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him. ....... Abram journey toward the south: In esoteric thoughts, the south is on the right side the side of mercy (chesed) opposite to the north the side of strength and judgement (gewurah) The tabernacle will be built on the east where the Mercy seat will take place: ---Num 3:38 And those who were to camp before the Dwelling Place on the east, before the Tent of Meeting, were Mosheh and Aharon, and his sons, guarding the duty of the set-apart place, and the duty of the children of Yisra’ĕl. But the stranger who came near was to be put to death. ............ If the tabernacle is on the East, the opposite is the west, the entrance of the Tabernacle through the inner court. With this in mind we can read again:  ----- Psa 103:12 As far as east is from west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us...........Can you see how promises come to us? Abram went to Mitzrayim, Egypt a microcosm the world today. The Torah’s frame is a representation of what happen in the all world today. We know that Egypt is a synonym for oppression it was a shadow of the world today as we understand the scripture in our days. יהוה has chosen a place to make us understand what will be in the “later days”, as Ya’acov will later tells his children and later Moshe.  ---- 49:1 and Yaʽaqoḇ called his sons and said, “Gather together, so that I declare to you what is to befall you in the last days

The world system is the place for the natural food, and also at the same time a place of immorality.

Yasher 15:7. And yet with all these orders Abram did not put confidence in them, but he took Sarai and placed her in a chest and concealed it amongst their vessels, for Abram was greatly concerned about Sarai on account of the wickedness of the Egyptians..................Pharaoh was the name given to the King of Egypt at the time of Rikayon under Anom king of Egypt. 26. and when the king heard the words of Rikayon and his wisdom, Rikayon found grace in his sight, and he met with grace and kindness from all the servants of the king and

from all the inhabitants of Egypt, on account of his wisdom and excellent speeches, and from that time they loved him exceedingly. 27. and the king answered and said to Rikayon, Thy name shall no more be called Rikayon

but Pharaoh shall be thy name, since thou didst exact a tax from the dead; and he called his name Pharaoh.

28. and the king and his subjects loved Rikayon for his wisdom, and they consulted with all the inhabitants of Egypt to make him prefect under the king. 29. and all the inhabitants of Egypt and its wise men did so, and it was made a law in Egypt. 30. and they made Rikayon Pharaoh prefect under Oswiris king of Egypt, and Rikayon

Pharaoh governed over Egypt, daily administering justice to the whole city, but Oswiris the king would judge the people of the land one day in the year, when he went out to make his appearance. 31. and Rikayon Pharaoh cunningly usurped the government of Egypt, and he exacted a tax from all the inhabitants of Egypt.(how is it today in the world?) 32. and all the inhabitants of Egypt greatly loved Rikayon Pharaoh, and they made a decree to call every king that should reign over them and their seed in Egypt, Pharaoh. 33. Therefore all the kings that reigned in Egypt from that time forward were called Pharaoh unto this day. ........Pharaoh is a picture of the ruler of this world today “g-d on earth” as he was called, the ultimate ruler, the lawless one.  If we remember the parsha B’reshit, we saw that the woman is a picture of the “called out” assembly, the House of Ya’acov Luke 1:33 see also Eph.5:31-32 . Whenever the rulers of this world will touch the “called out” (Ekklesias) or “Assembly” Elohim will plague them. -----

Psa 105:14 He allowed no one to oppress them, and He reproved sovereigns for their sakes,  Psa 105:15 Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no evil.”..................In chapter 12:10 it is written: “and Abram went down” it is here written in chapter 13:1 “and Abram went up”. This has a very important meaning as it can be also found before the children of Israel enter the Promise land, they will have to “go down”.  In Hebrew thoughts to go down means: to humble ourselves to יהוה’s will, to go up is to be elevated by יהוה. Read:  ----- 1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves (go down), then, under the mighty hand of Elohim, so that He exalts (to go up) you in due time,.......

I found another explanation given by Nathan Lawrence: The rabbis note the significance of this passage in that one always speaks of “going up” or “making aliyah” (i.e., ascending) to the land of Israel and Jerusalem. Going up from what to what spiritually speaking? Here the country Abram is leaving represents what spiritually? Where does he end up? What does Beth-el mean? Doesn’t this speak of the spiritual journey each of us is on as we leave the spiritual servitude, bondage and slavery of the world, flesh and the devil seeking to “dwell in the house of YHVH forever” as David states in Psalm 23:6? ------

Psa 23:6 surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of YHWH forever. ---------

Gen 13:2 and Aḇram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. Gen 13:3 and he went on his journey from the South as far as Bĕyth Ěl, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bĕyth Ěl and Ai,  Gen 13:4 to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Aḇram called on the Name of יהוה. Gen 13:5 now Lot, who went with Aḇram, also had flocks and herds and tents. Gen 13:6 and the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were great, so that they could not dwell together. Gen 13:7 and there was strife between the herdsmen of Aḇram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. And at that time the Kenaʽanites and the Perizzites dwelt in the land. Gen 13:8 Then Aḇram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers.  Gen 13:9 “Is not all the land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I go to the left.”  Gen 13:10 and Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of the Yardĕn, that it was well watered everywhere – before יהוה destroyed Seḏom and Amorah – like the garden of יהוה, like the land of Mitsrayim as you go toward Tsoʽar.  Gen 13:11 so Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Yardĕn, and Lot moved east. Thus they separated from each other,  Gen 13:12 Aḇram dwelling in the land of Kenaʽan, and Lot dwelling in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent as far as Seḏom.  ……..Lot walked by sight: -----Let us see first the meaning of the name according to:

Strong’s:H3876 לוט lôṭ lote The same as H3875; Lot, Abraham’s nephew: - Lot…..H3875 From H3874; a veil: - covering………

Was Lot blind? Do you remember what Shaul says: ----- 2Co 3:15 but even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. 2Co 3:16 nevertheless when it shall turn to YHWH, the veil shall be taken away.

There was a conflict between Lot and his uncle Abram. Lot followed Abram because he knew that his father’s brother was right, he didn’t had the maturity of Abram. When it came to separate, he chose the easy way, the place he could see prosperity, he journey toward the East. Remember the east and west are opposite. Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom. Sodom is known for immorality. Read B’reshit 19:4-5. Sodomite today is accepted in the Society, even protected by laws against discrimination. 

Lot represents those who live by sight and thus will run into trouble while

Abram is the pardigm of the perfect faith, following יהוה Elohim and His TORAH. Lot knew that Abram was right but He chose the place were he can see the abundance. Not so Abram, he doesn’t care for that knowing that יהוה will provide. We will see that Lot will be saved from destruction because of Abram. We should think about this situation. What will happen with those from among Christianity who will acknowledge being Abraham’s seed in יהושע but still walking their own ways?  

Mat 5:19 “Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens. ............Do not think it is out of context. At this time יהושע came to restore the truth to the Yehudin who were following the tradition of man (Pharisee/rabies). This principle is still valid today, for those who want to teach others.  ----- Gen 13:13 But the men of Seḏom were evil and sinned before יהוה, exceedingly so. Gen 13:14 And after Lot had separated from him, יהוה said to Aḇram, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, …………………..יהוה gives the promise to Abram, only after he has been separated from Lot. How it is with us, are we still among our brethren from Christianity who rebel against יהוה’s Torah asking for material well being, or having let everything in יהוה’s hand trusting him for our best?

Lot will become the father of: Ammon and Moab who later become enemies from the Children of Israel!

Gen 13:15 for all the land which you see I shall give to you and your seed forever. Gen 13:16 “And I shall make your seed as the dust of the earth, so that, if a man could count the dust of the earth, then your seed also could be counted. Gen 13:17 “Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”

This promise 15-17 is still valid today and the descendant have become like the dust of the earth. Unfortunately most of them do not know where they are coming from, and for the majority “they don’t care”, they are to busy with “money making”. Cor 4:4 in whom the mighty one (g-d) of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so that the enlightening of the Good News of the esteem (glory) of Messiah, who is the likeness of Elohim, does not shine on them. Gen 13:18 So Aḇram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamrĕ, which are in Ḥeḇron, and built an altar there to יהוה.  ……….. Abram dwelt in the plain of Mamre. In Hebrew the word “mamre” comes from the word “mara” which means to rebel, through the idea of maltreating, to whip, be filthy, lift us self! Very interesting as we are going to see in the next chapter Abram is on the way to be called “Abraham”. He will change is nature. יהושע says: ”you must be born from above” (Yochanan 3:3,7)………

Chapter 14

Gen 14:1 and it came to be in the days of Amraphel sovereign of Shinʽar, Aryoḵ sovereign of Ellasar, Keḏorlaʽomer sovereign of Ěylam, and Tiḏʽal sovereign of Goyim,  Gen 14:2 that they fought against Bera sovereign of Seḏom, Birsha sovereign of Amorah (Gomohra), Shinaḇ sovereign of Aḏmah, Shem’ĕḇer sovereign of Tseḇoyim, and the sovereign of Bela, that is Tsoʽar. Gen 14:3 all these joined together in the Valley of Siddim, that is the Salt Sea.

Gen 14:4 Twelve years they served Keḏorlaʽomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. ...... Therefore in Hebrew gemetria, the number 13 is the number for rebellion. Gen 14:5 and in the fourteenth year Keḏorlaʽomer and the sovereigns that were with him came and smote the Repha’im in Ashteroth Qarnayim, and the Zuzim in Ḥam, and the Ěmites in Shawĕh Qiryathayim,  Gen 14:6 and the Ḥorites in their mountain of Sĕʽir, as far as Ěl Paran, which is by the wilderness.  Gen 14:7 and they turned back and came to Ěn Mishpat that is Qaḏĕsh, and smote all the country of the Amalĕqites, and also the Amorites who dwelt in Ḥatsetson Tamar.  Gen 14:8 and the sovereign of Seḏom, and the sovereign of Amorah (Gomohra), and the sovereign of Aḏmah, and the sovereign of Tseḇoyim, and the sovereign of Bela, that is Tsoʽar, went out and joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim,  Gen 14:9 against Keḏorlaʽomer sovereign of Ěylam, and Tiḏʽal sovereign of Goyim, and Amraphel sovereign of Shinʽar, and Aryoḵ sovereign of Ellasar – four sovereigns against five.  Gen 14:10 and the Valley of Siddim had many tar pits. and the sovereigns of Seḏom and Amorah (Gomohra) fled and fell there, and the remainder fled to the mountains.  Gen 14:11 and they took all the goods of Seḏom and Amorah (Gomohra), and all their food, and went away.  Gen 14:12 and they took Lot, Aḇram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Seḏom, and his goods, and left. ........

Amraphel (verse 1) was descendant from Noach through Ham, Cush, Nimrod..  They made war with 5 kings:

Zoar= Hebrew Tzoar: to be small, ignoble

Shmeber: name of pinion, illustrious

Sinab: from the Hebrew word “shana” to alter, change.  and Besha and Bera.

These 5 kings from Sodom and Gomorrah rebelled in the thirteen year. These wicked kings joined themselves to back Chedor’laomer a Perser king descendant from Canaan descendant from Cush descendant from Ham son of Noach.  ---- Gen 14:13 and one who had escaped came and informed Aḇram the Heḇrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamrĕ the Amorite, brother of Eshkol and brother of Anĕr, and they had a covenant with Aḇram.

 Gen 14:14 And when Aḇram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. ........

Look how was the proportion in the battle Abram entered:  ------ Yahser 16:2. And these four kings went up with all their camps, about eight hundred thousand men, and they went as they were, and smote every man they found in their road.......Now do you think it is just man against man or does יהוה was with Abram who went to fight with three hundred eighteen of his servants? ------ Yasher 16:6. And they plundered all the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and they also took Lot, Abram's brother's son, and his property, and they seized all the goods of the cities of Sodom, and they went away; and Unic, Abram's servant, who was in the battle, saw this, and told Abram all that the kings had done to the cities of Sodom, and that Lot was taken captive by them. 8. And Abram recovered all the property of Sodom, and he also recovered Lot and his property, his wives and little ones and all belonging to him, so that Lot lacked nothing. .......

In Gametria 318 the number of Abram servants: -- Three hundred = 50 x 6 + 6 x 3.

50 is the number 10x 5 or the sum of all numbers and the number for Torah the 5 books Moshe together. We can say that this number represent a decision taken according to the Torah or divine instruction with men (number 6) submitting not to the natural.  The number 3 relate to what is solid, real, and complete: past, present and future, thought words and deeds. Three denote divine perfection. The number 3 is part of creation that was in three steps: mineral, vegetal and animal. Remember that man without יהוה’s Ruach is like an animal!

Gen 14:15 and he and his servants divided against them by night, and smote them and pursued them as far as Ḥoḇah (hiding), which is on the left of Damascus.  Gen 14:16 So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.

Gen 14:17 and after his return from the defeat of Keḏorlaʽomer and the sovereigns who were with him, the sovereign of Soḏom came out to meet him at the Valley of Shawĕh, that is, the Sovereign’s Valley.

Gen 14:18 and Malkitseḏeq sovereign of Shalĕm brought out bread and wine. Now he was the priest of the Most High Ěl.  Gen 14:19 and he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Aḇram of the Most High Ěl, Possessor of the heavens and earth.  Gen 14:20 “And blessed be the Most High Ěl who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tenth of all.

Yasher 16: 11. and Malkitsedek) king of Jerusalem*, the same was Shem, went out with his men to meet............* Jerusalem doesn’t exist at the time it is the place where Jerusalem will be built.   -------Abram and his people, with bread and wine, and they remained together in the valley of Melech. 12. And Malkitsedek blessed Abram, and Abram gave him a tenth from all that he had brought from the spoil of his enemies, for Malkitsedek was a priest before Elohim.

Christians who read only the plain text refers to him as to be Messiah the pre-incarnate Messiah, because of Hebrew 7:1 “without father, without mother, without descend, having neither beginning nor end, but made like the sons of Elohim.  This is a poor understanding. The book of Yasher tells us that it was Shem. Shem was called “Malkitsedek” or “King of righteousness”. The difficulty to understand is to know if the “without father ….’ Is literal or to see this title given to יהושע is a heavenly on in opposition to the levitical priesthood which came from father and mother, all descendants from Levi son of Ya’acov (i.e Moshe and Aaron)? The meaning of “without beginning and without end is because it is a priesthood from above not earthly. 

Verse 20. Abram paid tithe to Malkitsedek. Some have interpreted that this is the proof we shall pay tithe. Here the Hebrew word is “ma’asrah” the tenth part of the spoil and nothing else. The same word when translated “tithe” is in regards to יהוה’s commands to bring the first fruits of the ground, here the spoil is to be regarded in connection with the word “ma’asrah”, tenth”!  Ten is a divine number used by יהוה’s to represent the sum of all numbers. In this case it has nothing to do with the Levitical priesthood, if not the allegorical meaning has written in Hebrew 7:9-10. This is not to be taken literally as it is mentioned by the writer of Hebrew (verse 9) “that I may say so”: It is an allegory made by Sha’ul because Levi will descend from Abraham though his father Ya’acov!

Gen 14:21 and the sovereign of Seḏom said to Aḇram, “Give me the people, and take the goods for yourself.”

Gen 14:22 But Aḇram said to the sovereign of Seḏom, “I have lifted my hand to יהוה, the Most High Ěl, the Possessor of the heavens and earth,  Gen 14:23 not to take a thread or a sandal strap or whatever is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Aḇram rich,’  Gen 14:24 except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Anĕr, Eshkol, and Mamrĕ. Let them take their portion.”

The chapter 15 recalls the confirmation of the promise, a “brit” as we have the “brit Ha Chadsah” falsely called “new testament”.  Abram complain to יהוה that he has only Eliezer (El will help) as heir, but יהוה tell him that his heir will come out of his own bowel and his descendants will be like the stars of heavens.

Yasher 16: 20. At that time YHWH again appeared to Abram in Hebron, and he said to him, Do not fear, thy reward is very great before me, for I will not leave thee, until I shall have multiplied thee, and blessed thee and made thy seed like the stars in heaven, which cannot be measured nor numbered........

Do you know how many descendants from Abram are under heaven? Look at the stars in the night. Unfortunately most of them, ignore it, or reject it.  ---- Gen 15:1 after these events the word of יהוה came to Aḇram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Aḇram. I am your shield, your reward is exceedingly great.” Psa 3:3 but You, O יהוה, are a shield for me, My esteem, and the One lifting up my head.

Psa 84:11 for יהוה Elohim is a sun and a shield; יהוה gives favour and esteem; He withholds no good matter from those who walk blamelessly.  Psa 91:4 He covers you with His feathers, and under His wings you take refuge; His truth is a shield and armour.  Pro 30:5 Every Word of Eloah is tried¹; He is a shield to those taking refuge in Him.  Psa 119:114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I have waited for Your word.

Gen 15:2 and Aḇram said, “Master יהוה, what would You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliʽezer of Damascus?”   Gen 15:3 and Aḇram said, “See, You have given me no seed, and see, one born in my house is my heir!”  Gen 15:4 and see, the word of יהוה came to him, saying, “This one is not your heir, but he who comes from your own body is your heir.”  Gen 15:5 and He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward the heavens, and count the stars if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So are your seed.”  Gen 15:6 and he believed in יהוה, and He reckoned it to him for righteousness.

Sha’ul speaks of this passage from the Torah when explaining in his epistle the true faith to the believers in Rome

Rom 4:1 what, then, shall we say Abraham our father, to have found, according to the flesh?  Rom 4:2 for if Aḇraham was declared right by works, he has ground for boasting, but not before Elohim. Rom 4:3 for what does the Scripture say? “Aḇraham believed Elohim and it was reckoned to him for righteousness.”

Gal 3:6 Even so Aḇraham “did believe Elohim, and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness.”  The book of Galatians speaks about the justification by faith and not by work. This is the mean topic of this epistle. Christianity has changed it to make it a book against the Torah. Only those who reject the Torah will come to this conclusion. I recommend to read the book on Galatians from Abiv Mordechai.. Gal 3:7 Know, then, that those who are of belief are sons of Aḇraham.........

This is the conclusion of the matter.

Gen 15:7 and He said to him, “I am יהוה, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.” ………………

The meaning of the name Ur gives us a better understanding:

Ur: Strong’s #H218 אוּר 'ûr oor The same as H217; Ur, a place in Chaldea; also an Israelite: - Ur.

H217 From H215; flame, hence (in the plural) the East (as being the region of light): - fire, light. See also H224.

Flame, fire, the place where Nimrod throw Abram and Haran into the fire! (book of Yasher)

Gen 15:8 and he said, “Master יהוה, whereby do I know that I possess it?” ………Elohim is Ruach (Spirit) and Abram now needs a proof that he doesn’t make up something in his own will. Have you already asked יהוה to give you a proof for something? It is also by faith and it works if you haven’t tried you should and it works.

Gen 15:9 and He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, and a three-year-old female goat, and a three-year-old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”  Gen 15:10 and he took all these to Him and cut them in the middle, and placed each half opposite the other, but he did not cut the birds.  Gen 15:11 and the birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Aḇram drove them away.  Gen 15:12 and it came to be, when the sun was going down, and a deep sleep fell upon Aḇram, that see, a frightening great darkness fell upon him.

Gen 15:13 and He said to Aḇram, “Know for certain that your seed are to be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them, and they shall afflict them four hundred years.  Gen 15:14 “But the nation whom they serve I am going to judge, and afterward let them come out with great possessions.

Gen 15:15 “Now as for you, you are to go to your fathers in peace, you are to be buried at a good old age.

Gen 15:16 “Then, in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the crookedness of the Amorites is not yet complete.” Gen 15:17 and it came to be, when the sun went down and it was dark, that see, a smoking oven and a burning torch passing between those pieces.  Gen 15:18 on the same day יהוה made a covenant with Aḇram, saying, “I have given this land to your seed, from the river of Mitsrayim to the great river, the River Euphrates,  Gen 15:19 with the Qĕynite, and the Qenizzite, and the Qaḏmonite,  Gen 15:20 and the Ḥittite, and the Perizzite, and the Repha’im, Gen 15:21 and the Amorite, and the Kenaʽanite, and the Girgashite, and the Yeḇusite.” ………………..This sacrifice is Torah based only clean animals are part of the sacrifice. Later Moshe will put it in written form. Verse 11 the fowls represent the demoniacs forces trying to steal the covenant from Abram.

Read: Eph 6:12 Because we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against authorities, against the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual matters of wickedness in the heavenlies. .................

The battle is in our mind, the place where the forces of darkness try to steal the promise from us by lying. The renewing of our mind (Rom.12:2) by studying the Torah and prayers makes us strong to withstand these powers.  Verse 13 Elohim tells Abram that his seed shall be “stranger in a land (Egypt).

Read : 1Pe 1:1 Kĕpha, an emissary of יהושע Messiah, to the chosen, strangers of the dispersion in Pontos, Galatia, Kappadokia, Asia, and Bithunia,

Kefa write to the strangers. Elohim say that He will judge Egypt (World). The land given to the seed of Abram is from the Nile in Egypt to the Euphrates which is today in Iraq, and ten nations will be eradicated for their wickedness.

Read:  ---- Deu 12:29 “When יהוה your Elohim does cut off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land,  Deu 12:30 guard yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire about their mighty ones (g-ds), saying, ‘How did these nations serve their mighty ones (g-ds)? And let me do so too.’¹ Footnote: ¹See also 18:9, Lev. 18:3, Jer.10:2, Ezek. 11:12 & 20:32, Eph. 4:17, and 1 Peter 4:3

Deu 12:31 “Do not do so to יהוה your Elohim, for every abomination which יהוה hates they have done to their mighty ones, for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their mighty ones(g-ds).

Chapter 16.  --- In this chapter we come to the great change of Abram and his wife Sarai. They have been walking with יהוה many years. For Abram since he was three years old, he has been trained by Noach and his son Shem and Eber in divine way.  As believers our journey brings us to a change also until we become “born from above”. Saraï take initiative and give Abram her maid Hagar to him. It was tradition in this time that when a woman was barren that she took her maid and gave her to her husband in order to insure the descendant. At the birth, the maid sat on the laps of the wife and the child coming from between her legs became the heir if he was a boy. Hagar was an Egyptian woman taught in the way of יהוה by Sarai.  Remember Saraï means “dominative”. It looks like the “church” trying to tell Elohim what he should do. They know about the promise but look at the natural and think: “on this way it’s not possible, let us tell “g-d” what he should do!  Hagar conceived and as she bares a son Ishma’El meaning El shall hear. She though that now Abram will despise his wife because she gave a son to him. This was an error and Abram told Saraï to do whatever she thinks to be right.

The book of Yasher:  29. And when Hagar saw that she had conceived she rejoiced greatly, and her mistress was despised in her eyes, and she said within herself, This can only be that I am better before Elohim than Sarai my mistress, for all the days that my mistress has been with my master, she did not conceive, but me YHWH has caused in so short a time to conceive by him. 30. and when Sarai saw that Hagar had conceived by Abram, Sarai was jealous of her handmaid, and Sarai said within herself, This is surely nothing else but that she must be better than I am. 31. and Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee, for at the time when thou didst pray before YHWH for children why didst thou not pray on my account, that YHWH should give me seed from thee?

32. And when I speak to Hagar in thy presence, she despiseth my words, because she has conceived, and thou wilt say nothing to her; may YHWH judge between me and thee for what thou hast done to me.

33. And Abram said to Sarai, Behold thy handmaid is in thy hand, do unto her as it may seem good in thy eyes; and Sarai afflicted her, and Hagar fled from her to the wilderness…….. It was a great challenge in Sarai’s life to see her maid despise her. Abram put it right showing his wife that she is the one who rules over her maid and that he will not do anything against Sarai’s decision. A good teaching for husband!

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

Gen 16:2 and Sarai said to Aḇram, “See, יהוה has kept me from bearing children. Please, go in to my female servant. It might be that I am built up by her.” And Aḇram listened to the voice of Sarai.  Gen 16:3 and Sarai, Aḇram’s wife, took Haḡar her female servant, the Mitsrite, and gave her to her husband Aḇram to be his wife, after Aḇram had dwelt ten years in the land of Kenaʽan.  Gen 16:4 and he went in to Haḡar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

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

Gen 16:6 And Aḇram said to Sarai, “See, your female servant is in your hand, do to her what is good in your eyes.” And Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence.  Gen 16:7 and the Messenger of יהוה found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur,  Gen 16:8 and He said, “Haḡar, Sarai’s female servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of Sarai, my mistress. Gen 16:9 and the Messenger of יהוה said to her, “Return to your mistress, and humble yourself under her hand.”   Gen 16:10 and the Messenger of יהוה said to her, “I am going to increase your seed greatly, too numerous to be counted.”  Gen 16:11 And the Messenger of יהוה said to her, “See, you are conceiving and bearing a son, and shall call his name Yishmaʽĕl, because יהוה has heard your affliction.  Gen 16:12 “And he is to be a wild man, his hand against every one and every one’s hand against him, and dwell over against all his brothers.”  Gen 16:13 and she called the Name of יהוה who spoke to her, “You are the Ěl who sees,” for she said, “Even here have I seen after Him who sees me?”  Gen 16:14 That is why the well was called Be’ĕr Laḥai Ro’i, see, it is between Qaḏĕsh and Bereḏ.

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

Gen 16:16 And Aḇram was eighty-six years old when Haḡar bore Yishmaʽĕl to Aḇram.  …….Eighty Six in Hebrew gemetria is 8 x 10 + 6 or eight for supernatural plus ten the sum of all sum and six for the action of man. Have you seen today many men making children at the age of 86? Most of them are dead!

Gen 17:1 and it came to be when Aḇram was ninety-nine years old, that יהוה appeared to Aḇram and said to him, “I am Ěl Shaddai – walk before Me and be perfect……….Yehoshua speak the same way:

Mat 5:48 “Therefore, be perfect, as your Father in the heavens is perfect.

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

Gen 17:3 and Aḇram fell on his face, and Elohim spoke with him, saying,   Gen 17:4 “As for Me, look, My covenant is with you, and you shall become a father of many nations.  Gen 17:5 “And no longer is your name called Aḇram, but your name shall be Aḇraham, because I shall make you a father of many nations.

Gen 17:6 “And I shall make you bear fruit exceedingly, and make nations of you, and sovereigns shall come from you.   Gen 17:7 “And I shall establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be Elohim to you and your seed after you.   Gen 17:8 “And I shall give to you and your seed after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Kenaʽan, as an everlasting possession. And I shall be their Elohim.”  Gen 17:9 and Elohim said to Aḇraham, “As for you, guard My covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations.   Gen 17:10 “This is My covenant which you guard between Me and you, and your seed after you: Every male child among you is to be circumcised.

Gen 17:11 “And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall become a sign of the covenant between Me and you.  Gen 17:12 “And a son of eight days is circumcised by you, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with silver from any foreigner who is not of your seed.

Gen 17:13 “He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your silver, has to be circumcised. So shall My covenant be in your flesh, for an everlasting covenant.   Gen 17:14 “And an uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, his life shall be cut off from his people – he has broken My covenant.”  Gen 17:15 and Elohim said to Aḇraham, “As for Sarai your wife, do not call her name Sarai, for Sarah is her name.  Gen 17:16 “And I shall bless her and also give you a son by her. And I shall bless her, and she shall become nations – sovereigns of peoples are to be from her.”  Gen 17:17 and Aḇraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Is a child born to a man who is a hundred years old? Or is Sarah, who is ninety years old, to bear a child?”  Gen 17:18 and Aḇraham said to Elohim, “Oh, let Yishmaʽĕl live before You!”  Gen 17:19 and Elohim said, “No, Sarah your wife is truly bearing a son to you, and you shall call his name Yitsḥaq. And I shall establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.  Gen 17:20 “And as for Yishmaʽĕl, I have heard you. See, I shall bless him, and shall make him bear fruit, and greatly increase him. He is to bring forth twelve princes, and I shall make him a great nation.  Gen 17:21 “But My covenant I establish with Yitsḥaq, whom Sarah is to bear to you at this set time next year.”   Gen 17:22 and when He had ended speaking with him, Elohim went up from Aḇraham.  Gen 17:23 and Aḇraham took Yishmaʽĕl his son, and all those born in his house and all those bought with his silver, every male among the men of Aḇraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that same day, as Elohim told him.  Gen 17:24 and Aḇraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.   Gen 17:25 and Yishmaʽĕl his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. Gen 17:26 Aḇraham and his son Yishmaʽĕl were circumcised that same day. Gen 17:27 and all the men of his house, born in the house or bought with silver from a foreigner, were circumcised with him. ………….יהוה El Shaddai the All Mighty One has changed the name of Abram into Abraham and of Sarai by adding both the letter “he” or “h” in English, to their name. This letter is the second letter from YHWH’s name. The letter “He” is the fifth in the Aleph-Tov and the gametria of this letter point to the Torah which are the five books Moshe.  It is important to understand that it is יהוה who make the promise to Abram to make him the father of many nations, the position of Abram is only to believe what Elohim told him! How is it with us today, do we believe all the promises יהוה has given us in Messiah יהושע?  Both will now come into the position יהוה wanted them to be in order to become the Head of יהוה’s people. It took 25 years for Abram and Sarai to be transformed and be called Abraham and Sarah since the time they left their family. How long will it taken for you and me? Especially Christians who reject the Torah? Read:  ---- Rom 12:1 I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of Elohim, to present your bodies a living offering – set-apart, well-pleasing to Elohim – your reasonable worship. Rom 12:2 and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.   Joh 14:15 “If you love Me, you shall guard My commands.............. Elohim give the covenant of circumcision to Abraham on the eight days. Eight is the number which indicates “behind the natural” for everything in creation was finished in 7 days. Eight represent what is behind man understanding what man cannot grasp in the natural: Eternal life, “Olam aba”. We do not need circumcision in order to be saved as some requires in Acts 15:1, יהושע bring us back to the pure faith of Abraham and the circumcision is a sign of the covenant, a sign of a complete devotion to Elohim. Moshe gave the circumcision to the children of Israel and they rejected it Read:

Jos 5:5 for all the people who came out had been circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness on the way as they came out of Mitsrayim had not been circumcised.......... Ishmael was circumcised has he was already 13, the age of rebellion. All the household of Abraham was also circumcised. Today Arabs are circumcised, bearing the tradition coming from Ishmael bearing also the rebellion of Ishamel.  In Judaism today, boys are circumcised on the eight days after birth, while Arabs circumcise their children between the age of 5 and 13 years.  Abraham was 100 years old when Itzak was born. The Gametria for 100 is 10x10 the perfection of perfection from the sum of all numbers. We could call it the CONCLUSION of יהוה’s promise for Abraham’s life. Are we today like Abraham; ready and willing to let everything behind us, father and mother, family relatives and friends in order to follow the One who has called us in יהושע Messiah?  Let us pray and check our life to become like our forefather Abraham and Sarah.   Abram has become AbraHam, Sarai has become SaraH, and both have gone through the process of sanctification. What is with you and me, are we following יהוה letting him doing what He want? The same process will also be with Ya’acov to become Israel.  Nathan Lawrence quotes the Psalm 37 and calls some verses: process of sanctification and spiritual maturity.

Psa 37:4 and delight yourself in יהוה, and let Him give you the desires of your heart.  Psa 37:5 Commit your way to יהוה, and trust in Him, and He does it.  Psa 37:6 and He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your right-ruling as midday.  Psa 37:7 Rest in יהוה, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man doing wicked devices.  Psa 37:23 the steps of a man are ordered by יהוה, and He delights in his way.  Psa 37:24 though he falls he is not cast down, for יהוה is supporting his hand.

Haftorah

The Soncino Edition Pentateuch introduces its commentary to this Haftorah portion as follows:

The Sedrah [Parashah] opens with the call of Abraham and [YHVH] bidding, “Be thou a blessing” unto all the families of the earth. Such, likewise declares the great Prophet of Consolation,is the Divine charge to the Children of Abraham. Israel, suffering in Exile, might well despair of the fulfillment of the Divine promise, nay, even of God’s remembrance of that promise.  The Prophet stills such questionings. In God, Israel has the source of inexhaustible strength. The everlasting God will not fail to carry through His great purposes for mankind through Israel His servant, the child of “Abraham, My friend.” How firmly do you believe this? When the daily rigors and routine of life take their toll, your faith wanes and your upward look dims, the joy of your salvation diminishes, your first love for Yeshua lessens, and your hope in YHVH’s promises for your life is tarnished, what do you do? What is your reaction and response? Do you call to remembrance the ongoing faithfulness of YHVH to his promises and to his Word as Isaiah here encourages us to do?  2 40:27, My way is hid from YHVH. Is YHVH……………..The prophet YeshaYahu remind us that יהוה’s promise is eternal for all of Abraham’s descendants, the House of Ya’acov those who follow the steps of יהושע.  He call יהוה’s people to help his brother to remember יהוה according to His word and that those who will try to change this plan will not exist anymore. The boasting of Ya’acov house will be in יהוה.  The schaliach (messenger) Sha’ul in the book to the Romans says that faith alone was the way for Abraham, not work in order to be recognized by יהוה. This is the pattern for those who are called in Messiah. Unfortunately there are many misconceptions from many sides.   Christians say: No TORAH faith alone we don’t need to follow the Torah: WRONG!  Judaism: They reject the way of “jesus” even יהושע and follow the Torah after the letter: WRONG!  The World view: With the spirit of Humanism, everybody is nice, everybody can believe whatever he want so long that we all can live in “peace”: WRONG!   Sha’ul: Salvation is not work it is by FAVOUR through FAITH in Messiah יהושע. This doesn’t nullify the Torah work and faith work together.  ----- Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.  Isa 40:27 Why do you say, O Yaʽaqoḇ, and speak, O Yisra’ĕl, “My way is hidden from יהוה, and my rights are overlooked by my Elohim”?   Isa 40:28 Did you not know? Have you not heard? The everlasting Elohim, יהוה, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.  Isa 40:29 He gives power to the faint, and to those who have no might He increases strength.  Isa 40:30 even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men stumble and fall,

Isa 40:31 but those who wait on יהוה renew their strength, they raise up the wing like eagles, they run and are not weary, they walk and do not faint.  Isa 41:1 “Be silent before Me, you coastlands, and let peoples renew their power! Let them come near, then let them speak. Let us come together for right-ruling.

Isa 41:2 “Who raised up the righteous one from the east, called him to His foot, gave the nations before him, and made sovereigns submit to him? He gave them as the dust to his sword, as driven stubble to his bow.

Isa 41:3 “He pursued them, passed over in safety, by a path that he had not gone with his feet.

Isa 41:4 “Who has performed and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? ‘I, יהוה, am the first, and with the last I am He.’ ”  Isa 41:5 Coastlands see it and fear, the ends of the earth are afraid – they draw near and come. Isa 41:6 Everyone helps his neighbour, and says to his brother, “Be strong!”

Isa 41:7 and the craftsman encourage the goldsmith. He who smooths with the hammer inspires him who strikes the anvil, saying of the joining, “It is good.” And he fastens it with nails, so it does not totter.

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

Isa 41:9 whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest parts, and said to You, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not rejected you.  Isa 41:10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not look around, for I am your Elohim. I shall strengthen you, I shall also help you, I shall also uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.’  Isa 41:11 “See, all those who raged against you are ashamed and blush, they are as non-existent. And the men who strive with you perish.  Isa 41:12 “You seek them but do not find them, those who struggle with you. Those who fight you are as non-existent, as naught.

Isa 41:13 “For I, יהוה your Elohim, am holding your right hand, saying to you, ‘Do not fear, I shall help you.’

Isa 41:14 “Do not fear, you worm Yaʽaqoḇ, you men of Yisra’ĕl! I shall help you,” declares יהוה and your Redeemer, the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl. Isa 41:15 “See, I shall make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth, let you thresh mountains and beat them small, and make hills like chaff.  Isa 41:16 “You winnow them, the wind lifts them up, and the whirlwind scatters them; but you, you rejoice in יהוה, and boast in the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl.  Rom 4:1 what, then, shall we say Aḇraham our father, to have found, according to the flesh?  Rom 4:2 for if Aḇraham was declared right by works, he has ground for boasting, but not before Elohim. Rom 4:3 for what does the Scripture say? “Aḇraham believed Elohim, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness.”¹ Footnote: ¹Gen. 15:6, Gen. 17:1 and 26:5.  Rom 4:4 and to him who is working, the reward is not reckoned as a favour but as a debt.  Rom 4:5 and to him who is not working but believes on Him who is declaring right the wicked, his belief is reckoned for righteousness,

Rom 4:6 even as Dawiḏ also says of the blessedness of the man to whom Elohim reckons righteousness without works:  Rom 4:7 “Blessed are those whose lawlessnesses are forgiven, and whose sins are covered,

Rom 4:8 blessed is the man to whom יהוה shall by no means reckon sin.”  Rom 4:9 is this blessing then upon the circumcised only, or also upon the uncircumcised? For we affirm: Belief was reckoned unto Aḇraham for righteousness. Rom 4:10 how then was it reckoned? Being in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. Rom 4:11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the belief while in uncircumcision, for him to be a father of all those believing through uncircumcision, for righteousness to be reckoned to them also,  Rom 4:12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the belief which our father Aḇraham had in uncircumcision.  Rom 4:13 for the promise that he should be the heir of the world was not to Aḇraham or to his seed through the Torah, but through a righteousness of belief.  Rom 4:14 for if those who are of the Torah are heirs, belief (faith) has been made useless, and the promise has been nullified, Rom 4:15 for the Torah works out wrath, for where there is no Torah there is no transgression. Rom 4:16 On account of this it is of belief, that it be according to favour, for the promise to be made certain to all the seed, not only to those who are of the Torah, but also to those who are of the belief of Aḇraham, who is father of us all –  Rom 4:17 as it has been written, “I have made you a father of many nations” – in the presence of Him whom he believed, even Elohim, who gives life to the dead and calls that which does not exist as existing,  Rom 4:18 who against all expectation did believe, in expectation, so that he should become father of many nations, according to what was said, “So shall your seed be.”  Rom 4:19 and not having grown weak in belief, he did not consider his own body, already dead, being about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb,   Rom 4:20 he did not hesitate about the promise of Elohim through unbelief, but was strengthened in belief, giving esteem to Elohim,  Rom 4:21 and being completely persuaded that what He had promised He was also able to do.  Rom 4:22 therefore also “it was reckoned to him for righteousness.”  Rom 4:23 and not because of him alone was it written that it was reckoned to him,  Rom 4:24 but also because of us, to whom it shall be reckoned, to us who believe in Him who raised up יהושע our Master from the dead,   Rom 4:25 who was delivered up because of our trespasses, and was raised for us to be declared right.  Gal 5:1 In the freedom with which Messiah has made us free, stand firm, then, and do not again be held with a yoke of slavery.  Gal 5:2 See, I, Sha’ul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Messiah shall be of no use to you. Sha’ul is not encouraging the rejection of the circumcision as many have taught among Christianity, the book of Galatians in its contain is about justification. Sha’ul is explaining to the Galatians believers that justification is by faith in Messiah יהושע and nothing else. This doesn’t nullify the circumcision. We read in the book of Acts that certain Yehudin who believed in Messiah were also requiring circumcision as part of salvation:  ---- Act 15:1 and certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved........... Sha’ul answers to this requirement in this way:  ----- Gal 5:3 and I witness again to every man being circumcised that he is a debtor to do the entire Torah.  Gal 5:4 You who are declared right by law have severed yourselves from Messiah, you have fallen from favour.  Gal 5:5 for we, in Spirit, by belief, eagerly wait for the expectation of righteousness.  Gal 5:6 for in Messiah יהושע neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any strength, but belief working through love.  ………….Once again Sha’ul was not encouraging not to circumcise, but corrected the false view of the believers in Galatia: ”if you search circumcision as perquisite to salvation you are debtor to the entire Torah”. In other words you put yourself in bondage seeking your own righteousness!   May יהוה our Elohim bless you through Messiah יהושע as you walk in the Torah in your daily life