Lech-Lecha - Day #7

Lech-Lecha לֶךְ-לְךָ Go Forth Yourself!  

Torah Portion: Genesis 12:1-17:27

Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1-55:5

Shabbat: Genesis 17:7–27

17:7 I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a Elohim to you and to your offspring after you. 8 I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession. I will be their Elohim.”

9 Elohim said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you, throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a token of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring. 13 He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.”

15 Elohim said to Abraham, “As for Sarai, your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name shall be Sarah. 16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.”

17 Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?” 18 Abraham said to Elohim, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!”

19 Elohim said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.”

22 When He finished talking with him, Elohim went up from Abraham. 23 Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house, and all who were bought with his money: every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the same day, as Elohim had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 Ishmael, his son, was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 In the same day both Abraham and Ishmael, his son, were circumcised. 27 All the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

Today’s Meditation:

A sign of Hashem’s covenant is circumcision. You may think this is odd, and I do too. But at a recent Torah portion study with friends, someone suggested something exciting. He said the reason for the circumcision is that the seed (sperm) comes from that part of the body. After circumcision, a scar forms, and it is through this scar that the seed travels. In other words, ancestry is traveling through and witnessing the reminder of the scar (covenant) every time someone is created. This makes total sense. The reminder of the covenant is the scar. The seed passes through this covenant agreement. Then creation happens. Isn’t it amazing how incredible our Elohim is in every aspect of our lives?

Today’s Challenge: 

Abraham was 100 years old when Sarah became pregnant. That’s a long time to wait for a promise to be fulfilled. And it’s not just the wait that's long, but also the belief that a miracle could happen at this age. It reminds me that Hashem is outside of all time. 

My challenge to you today is to reflect on how Hashem answered a prayer for you, but in His time, not yours. As you think about this, give Him some mighty praise for His faithfulness. And show your gratefulness for Him today by doing something extraordinary for someone else.

This Week’s Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1-55:5

54 “Sing, barren, you who didn’t give birth;

    break out into singing, and cry aloud, you who didn’t travail with child:

  For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife,” says Hashem.

2 “Enlarge the place of your tent,

    and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations;

    don’t spare: lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.

3 For you will spread out on the right hand and on the left;

    And your offspring will possess the nations

    and settle in desolate cities.

4 “Don’t be afraid, for you will not be ashamed.

    Don’t be confounded, for you will not be disappointed.

For you will forget the shame of your youth.

    You will remember the reproach of your widowhood no more.

5 For your Maker is your husband; Hashem of Armies is His name.

    The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer.

    He will be called the Elohim of the whole earth.

6 For Hashem has called you as a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,

    even a wife of youth, when she is cast off,” says your Elohim.

7 “For a small moment I have forsaken you,

    But I will gather you with great mercies.

8 In overflowing wrath, I hid my face from you for a moment,

    but with everlasting loving kindness I will have mercy on you,” says Hashem your Redeemer.

9 “For this is like the waters of Noah to me;

    for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah will no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.

10 For the mountains may depart,

    and the hills be removed;

but My loving kindness will not depart from you,

    and My covenant of peace will not be removed,”

    says Hashem, who has mercy on you.

11 “You afflicted, tossed with storms, and not comforted,

    behold, I will set your stones in beautiful colors,

    and lay your foundations with sapphires.

12 I will make your pinnacles of rubies,

    your gates of sparkling jewels,

    and all your walls of precious stones.

13 All your children will be taught by Hashem;

    and your children’s peace will be great.

14 You will be established in righteousness.

  

 You will be far from oppression,

    for you will not be afraid,

    and far from terror,

    for it shall not come near you.

15 Behold, they may gather together, but not by me.

    Whoever gathers together against you will fall because of you.

16 “Behold, I have created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame,

    and forges a weapon for his work;

    and I have created the destroyer to destroy.

17 No weapon that is formed against you will prevail;

    and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment.

This is the heritage of Hashem’s servants,

    and their righteousness is of Me,” says Hashem.

55 “Hey! Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters!

    Come, he who has no money, buy, and eat!

    Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2 Why do you spend money for that which is not bread,

    and your labor for that which doesn’t satisfy?

Listen diligently to me, and eat that which is good,

    and let your soul delight itself in richness.

3 Turn your ear, and come to me.

    Hear, and your soul will live.

    I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples,

    a leader and commander to the peoples.

5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you don’t know;

    and a nation that didn’t know you shall run to you,

    because of Hashem your Elohim,

    and for the Holy One of Israel;

    for He has glorified you.”

Today’s Haftarah Meditation:

A beautiful promise in 54:10 “My loving kindness will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be removed.” It is essential to remember this in times of trouble and stress. Things may seem impossible, but He is the G-d of possibilities. Think of it, His kindness will never leave you. And neither will His peace. You have to take the leap and make it a reality.

Today’s Haftarah Challenge: 

I made a decision many years ago to choose “peace” in my home. It is a choice, trust me. You can either encourage strife, worry, and arguments with your spouse/family, or you can choose to walk in peace. What does that look like? It means you close your mouth instead of saying something hurtful. It means you take the time to listen, even when you're not really interested. It means that the person next to you becomes more important than you. 

So, I challenge you today to choose peace. Walk in peace and encourage those around you. Do not succumb to unrest and stress in your relationships. It takes only one person to change a relationship —and that person can be you.

Lech-Lecha - Day #6

Lech-Lecha לֶךְ-לְךָ Go Forth Yourself!  

Torah Portion: Genesis 12:1-17:27

Genesis 15:7–17:6  

15:7 He said to Abram, “I am Hashem who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.”

8 He said, “Hashem Elohim, how will I know that I will inherit it?”

9 He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 He brought him all these, and divided them in the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he didn’t divide the birds. 11 The birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.

12 When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him. 13 He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your offspring will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them for four hundred years. 14 I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward, they will come out with great wealth; 15 but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.” 17 It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 In that day Hashem made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your offspring, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

16 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2 Sarai said to Abram, “See now, Hashem has restrained me from bearing. Please go into my servant. It may be that I will obtain children by her.” Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife. 4 He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. 5 Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault. I gave my servant into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, she despised me. May Hashem judge between me and you.”

6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.

7 Hashem’s angel found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur. 8 He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where did you come from? Where are you going?”

She said, “I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai.”

9 Hashem’s angel said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.” 10 Hashem’s angel said to her, “I will greatly multiply your offspring, that they will not be counted for multitude.” 11 Hashem’s angel said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because Hashem has heard your affliction. 12 He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will live opposed to all of his brothers.”

13 She called the name of Hashem who spoke to her, “You are a Elohim who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi. Behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

15 Hagar bore a son for Abram. Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Hashem appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Elohim Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless. 2 I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”

3 Abram fell on his face. Elohim talked with him, saying, 4 “As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you.

Today’s Meditations:

A lot is happening in this reading, but what is probably the most important is the covenant that Hashem makes with Abram. A covenant that has withstood (and not withstood) the centuries, the giving of the Land, Israel, to the Hebrews. This is a blood covenant and an unconditional covenant. Between Hashem and Abram. Interesting that it is at this time that Hashem changes Abram’s name to Abraham. 

Some see significance in the fact that the name change occurs at the same time as the inheritance changes. That the great nations of the Hebrews will come through the line of Isaac, not Ishmael. Apparently, Hashem wants the ancestry and the promise of the land to flow through Sarah and Abraham, not Abram and Hagar (Genesis 17:21). We once again learn about waiting on the promises of Hashem. Not to jump ahead at our own solutions (like getting Hagar pregnant to have children), but be patient so that Hashem can fulfill His promises (pregnancy through Sarah).

Today’s Challenge: 

Is there something you are asking Hashem for in your life right now? Are you growing impatient for His answer? I challenge you to pray and wait. Through my experience, being patient always pays off. My ways are not His ways. It always seems like when I try to manipulate something in my life, it doesn’t fare well. But when I wait on Him, there is usually a huge blessing in the form of an answer to prayer.

Lech-Lecha - Day #5

Lech-Lecha לֶךְ-לְךָ Go Forth Yourself!  

Torah Portion: Genesis 12:1-17:27

Genesis 14:21–15:6

14:21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and take the goods for yourself.”

22 Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to Hashem, Elohim Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing from you except that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their portion.”

15 After these things, Hashem’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

2 Abram said, “L-rd Hashem, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Abram said, “Behold, you have given no children to me: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.”

4 Behold, Hashem’s word came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come out of your own body will be your heir.” 5 Hashem brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So your offspring will be.” 6 He believed in Hashem, who credited it to him for righteousness.

Today’s Meditation:

This is the most fantastic story. Abram is old and has no children. He has just made an incredible move with his wife and all his earthly belongings. He meets with Hashem, and Hashem tells him, “I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” He will bless Abram with generations of descendants. 

How hard would this be to believe? It sounds like Abram has been married for years without having children. Now he is in the land that Hashem brings him to, and not only is he rewarded with a new life in a new land, but with descendants as numerous as the stars. Abram was righteous, and being so most likely means your faith is tremendous. Abram had no idea how this was all going to happen, but he believed in it. 

How often do we look to Hashem for a huge request in prayer? And how frequently do we believe He will answer? 

Today’s Challenge: 

Think of something that you really believe you need help with. It could be a physical/mental/emotional healing for you or someone you love. It could be to pay off debt, get a new job, buy a new house, or start a new life. Maybe you have an addiction that has been impossible to take care of. My challenge is for you to ask Him for help. Ask big, pray, and wait. In the meantime, worship and be obedient to our faithful Elohim. And believe. Be like Abram and look for the impossible.