Vayeira - Day #2

Vayeira וַיֵּרָא - And He Appeared  

Torah Portion: Genesis 18:1-22:24

 

Genesis 18:15-33

18:15 Then Sarah denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh,” for she was afraid.

He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

16 The men rose up from there and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way. 17 Hashem said, “Will I hide from Abraham what I do, 18 since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him? 19 For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Hashem, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Hashem may bring on Abraham that which He has spoken of him.” 20 Hashem said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous, 21 I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know.”

22 The men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before Hashem. 23 Abraham came near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?”

26 Hashem said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.” 27 Abraham answered, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to Hashem, although I am dust and ashes. 28 What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?”

He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

29 He spoke to him yet again and said, “What if there are forty found there?”

He said, “I will not do it for the forty’s sake.”

30 He said, “Oh, don’t let Hashem be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?”

He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

31 He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to Hashem. What if there are twenty found there?”

He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.”

32 He said, “Oh, don’t let Hashem be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?”

He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.”

33 Hashem went His way as soon as He had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

Today’s Meditation:

Abraham has an interesting conversation with Hashem. It’s almost as if he doesn’t understand the character of Hashem, which is why he challenges Him. Hashem has told him that the city of Sodom and its inhabitants are going to be destroyed. Abraham immediately asks If fifty righteous were found, would He spare the city? Hashem agrees. They discuss some more numbers, and Hashem goes down to ten. In other words, if ten righteous people are found, He will spare the city? The character of Hashem is fully revealed to Abraham. He is faithful, fair, and full of grace. Then Abraham walks away.

Can you imagine? Our glorious Elohim agrees to spare an entire city of evil people if only ten good people are found. We find out later that ten were not found, and the city was burned down. Makes me think of our world today. How many righteous can we see in our decadent, unfaithful cities? The United States has a history of riots that have resulted in destruction. Hashem didn’t have to burn down the cities; the people did. How ironic. Can people get so bad that they destroy themselves? 

Today’s Challenge:

I challenge you today to think about your own family in comparison to this story. How many righteous people are in your family? How many follow Hashem? Now, look at your extended family. How many believers are there? Of course, we can never honestly know what a person believes, but we can examine their actions. If your numbers are low, I recommend taking action to improve them. Pray harder for them, be kinder to them, be a stronger light for Hashem to them. Let’s start with our families and do something. Our cities are made up of families. It’s a good place to start. 

Vayeira - Day #1

Vayeira וַיֵּרָא - And He Appeared  

Torah Portion: Genesis 18:1-22:24

Genesis 18:1–14    

18 Hashem appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood near him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth, 3 and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant. 4 Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 I will get a piece of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that, you may go your way, now that you have come to your servant.”

They said, “Very well, do as you have said.”

6 Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly prepare three seahs of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.” 7 Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it. 8 He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.

9 They asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?”

He said, “There, in the tent.”

10 He said, “I will certainly return to you at about this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.”

Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12 Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”

13 Hashem said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child when I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for Hashem? At the set time, I will return to you, when the season comes around, and Sarah will have a son.”   

Today’s Meditation:

Sarah laughed at what Hashem had said about her getting pregnant. This was unbelievable to her. Her laugh was all about disbelief and doubt. Nevertheless, what Hashem said came true. As impossible as it seemed. 

Have you ever asked Hashem for the impossible? Maybe you never laughed at Hashem, but perhaps you laughed at yourself for asking Him. Only to find out He answered your prayer. When that happens to me, it builds my faith to heights I never thought possible. What a faithful and wonderful Elohim we serve.

Today’s Challenge:

Today, I challenge you to pray for the impossible prayer. Look at something in your life that only Hashem could change. Now take a moment to ask Him. Don’t laugh at the doubts you have, but look at how Hashem fulfilled Sarah’s request and believe He can do the same for you. Pray now, do not delay.

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.