Parashas Vayeira
Genesis 18:1 – 22:24
Please Pray this Prayer
Before reading
In the name of Yahushua
Our Messiyah,
I pray for the Spirit of
Understanding
The Spirit pf Knowledge and
The Spirit of Wisdom
As I read through this
Parasha
That the Truth of the Torah
may
Come forth. Amen
In he Torah portion of Veyera, we find
that after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the daughters of Lot, lay
with their fathers and conceived children by him. The explanation given by some
of the Hebrew sages, for the apparent violation of the Torah restriction to
incest is that Lot’s daughters believed that they and their father were the
only survivors.
The Torah tells us
that Lot’s daughters said, “We will make
alive, from our father, a continuation, a zerah.” The daughters use the
word zerah, or seeed, rather than the word child. The choice of word indicate their motives for
lying with their father. It was not primary for bearing a child, but for
accomplishing something far greater, it was to plant a seed, that would one day
producer the Messiyah.
This seed would
revealed the Messiyah, the revelation of the Light of bila hamavet lanetzach, of victory over death, and Techiyat haMetim, the Resurrection of
the dead.
In every stage of
our spiritual development our Heavenly Father revealed more of Himself to us.
Let us now investigate the cause by which EL YAHVEH appeared to Abraham.
We have an account
in this chapter of another interview between YAHVEH and Abraham, probably
within a few days after the former, as the reward of his cheerful obedience to
the law of circumcision. Here is,
I. The kind visit
which YAHVEH made to Abraham, and the kind entertainment which he gave to that
visit, verse 1-8.
II. The matters
discoursed of between them.
- The purposes of YAH’s love concerning Sarah verse 9–15.
2.
The purposes of
YAH’s wrath concerning Sodom
(1.) The discovery YAHVEH
made to Abraham of HIS design to destroy Sodom
(2.) The
intercession Abraham made for Sodom
Gen 18:1 And יהוה appeared to Abraham by the terebinth trees of
Mamrĕ, while he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and saw
three men standing over him. And when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to
meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, “יהוה ,
if I have now found favor in Your eyes, please do not pass Your servant by. - After every significant application of
obedience, The Glory of YAHVEH makes an appearance. What significance stage did
Abraham complete? Could it be circumcision? The last part of Parasha Lech
Lecha, we heard of Abraham and his household being circumcised.
My spirit is in agreement with this interpretation; Torah did not give us a
time line between events. Abraham was in is tent resting from the effect of
this Divine impose surgery.
Did the removal of the flesh the separate us from our carnal nature, create
in Abraham the ability to see into the Spiritual realm? We know that the Hebrew’s ability to remove this barrier to his
spiritual growth transcends the natural order of their life.
How did Abraham know whom
the visitors were, to make him run during a time when he would be obvious in
pain? Was it his ability to act enhance by his newly formed spiritual nature?
With maturity comes a
outpouring of the Fruit of the Spirit; one of the fruits of the spirit is
Humility. In humility Abraham bowed himself and asked, if he had found favor in
YAHVEH eyes, do not past me by. The Men had not identified themselves to
Abraham, yet he recognizes them.
Is it possible that
those angels were there all along and Abraham eyes were just open that he could
see them? When spiritual maturity is achieve, it will be like seeing beauty for
the first time, that beauty, that Angel that were there all along.
Another attribute of the
Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) is the ability to discern; discerning friend from
enemy, wolf in sheep clothing from the real sheep. Abraham was able to discern
from a far the Divine nature of the three Men. Have you ever seen someone who
you just feel uncomfortable with; even though that person has never given you a
cause to think so? That is the feeling I am talking about.
“Please let a little water be
brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. “And let me bring a piece of bread and
refresh your hearts, and then go on, for this is why you have come to your
servant.” And they said, “Do as you have said.” Aḇraham ran into the tent to
Sarah and said, “Hurry, make ready three measures of fine flour, knead it and
make cakes.” And Aḇraham ran to the
herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hurried to
prepare it. And he took curds and milk
and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them, and he stood by
them under the tree as they ate.
Even mature believer, such as Yahushua and Abraham offered to wash the feet
of others. Yahushua in John 13:6-7 He wash His disciple’s feet. Our home should
be and must be a place where other can come and have there feet washed. The
spiritual implication of washing a person feet, has to do with our walk. Too
often in our daily journey our feet becomes contaminated by the building block
of the flesh, who is better able to help than a mature believer.
The washing of feet is essential to our spiritual
development, as Yahushua says in John 13: 6Then cometh
he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Yahushua (Jesus) answered and
said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou
shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt
never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, if I wash thee
not, thou hast no part with me.
If our feet, your walk do not get
wash daily, if we do not visit the Laver, or wash ourselves in the Water that
flows from Yahushua’s side, we can have no part of Yahushua.
Abraham was exercising the Altar called the Laver, or the
Blood and Water that flow from our Messiyah side. It is at this Altar, that we
help people on their journey to perfection, become perfect. Whom did we meet
today that we could have help on their spiritual journey? Whom could we have
helped today to overcome the desire of the flesh? Abraham obviously recognizes
the journey of the three men, he offered to wash their feet and feed them with
the Word.
Notice how Abraham offer the three Men milk and meat. I
though that it was not permitted to eat meat and drink milk during a meal: or
is this one of the man made commandments. It is a man made commandment.
In our spiritual journey to perfection, it is essential
for us to stop, have a Sabbath rest to refresh our selves. Abraham offered his
Visitors, Let us recline ourselves under this tree to refresh ourselves then
you may continue on your way.
The Laver is only one of the Altars on the road to perfection, it is only a
temporary rest area; and then, on we go. So is the Sabbath, we take a rest,
then we continue on the journey. Abraham was in his Canaan ,
full maturity; he is now offering help to those who he sees on their journey.
Abraham feed them and encourages them to continue their Journey.
Abraham called his wife, his helpmate to participate in ministering to the
travelers. Abraham was showing the three travelers that he was aware of the
pattern of ministry. When we act according to the Divine Pattern, as Moses did
in building the Tabernacle, the Shechinah Glory will manifest it self.
Gen 18:9 And they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “See, in
the tent.” - Abraham past the test that Adam
failed! Where is your wife? At least He was able to give an accurate account to
the Three Men as to where she was: Adam could not make that same statement. Now
that the Angels were satisfied with his answer, they proceed to make him a
promise.
Men if you do not know where your wife is spiritually and physically, you
will not be able to receive the promise. Notice the Angel reply: And He said, “I shall certainly return to you according
to the time of life, and see, Sarah your wife is to have a son!” And Sarah was
listening in the tent door, which was behind him.
Previously, the prophecy of a son had been given only to Abraham.
Now it would be reveled to Sarah as well. The angel inquiring about her was no
coincident: As Abraham knew where Sarah was physically, he also knew where she
was spiritually; she was in her Tabernacle listening.
Why did the Angel in all His Wisdom not ask Abraham to
bring Sarah by his side to receive the promise? Was Sarah not equal to Abraham
or wasn’t she? Why weren’t there three women angels, or one man and two women,
or even two men and one woman? When there is a strong Torah male leadership,
women play a supporting role. As Yahushua is the head of the Messiyanic
Assembly so is the man the head of the woman. YAHVEH will permit women leaders,
where there are no suitable men. I want to live in YAHVEH Sovereign Will, not
His Permissive will.
In the Church, the head will always receive the promise,
the body will also hear the promise been given and adjust its self to help or
support the head.
Now Aḇraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age,
and Sarah was past the way of women. And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “Each day in a
person’s life carries with it its own challenges. What is supposed to be
achieved today should not be left for tomorrow; because tomorrow carries its
own burdens. In the normal course of events, everyone goes through life with
his or her own spiritual curriculum: However, too often those events are marked
fail or failed again in the lives of majority of humans.
Only great men such as Abraham and great women like Sarah, come through
these experiences with pass, pass, and rewrite. This is the significance of the
expression mymy;b' myaB;, literally,
they came with days: Psalms 39:5 YAHVEH let me know my end, the number of my days that
I may learn how frail I am. 6 You have given my days a very short
span; my life is as nothing before you.
A mature believer
like Abraham and Sarah knew how to maximize every single opportunity, to
squeeze ever ounce of opportunity out of every situation. The incident with the
three Angels, they milk it for all its worth. A mature believer will take the
opportunity to maximize every Parasha to learn the do’s and the don’ts of the
Kingdom.
After I have withered shall I again have delicate skin,
my master being old too?” In the literal sense, this is simply a simile for the
return of the fountain of youth that would enable her to give birth. When a
woman gets pregnant, the cells in her ovaries are in there most youthful stage,
those embryos are linked to the mother by an umbilical cord, the liquid that
the embryos is submerge in, is of the same essence as the mother and the child.
Women who today spend a great deal of money on plastic
surgery could maintain a more youthful appearance by having more children. All
women are born with a set amount of eggs, by having more children they would
extend their productivity by nine month every time they get pregnant.
And יהוה said to Aḇraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I truly have
a child, since I am old?’ “Is any matter
too hard for יהוה ? At the
appointed time I am going to return to you, according to the time of life, and
Sarah is to have a son.” But Sarah
denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but
you did laugh!” The appointed time
or YAHVEH’s day, are found in Leviticus 23. Every significant event about Isaac
like Yahushua is marked by these days. These appointed days are as the time of
life when our Lord requires us to come into His Presence.
Sarah is to have a son according to these appointed time, a true son of the
promise is to live according to the appointed time. Christianity says that
these days are nailed to the Cross, how sad for them when they realize that EL
YAHVEH does not change.
Gen 18:16-21 And the men rose up from there and looked
toward Soḏom, and Aḇraham went with them to
send them away. And יהוה said, “Shall I hide from
Aḇraham what I am doing, since Aḇraham
is certainly going to become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of
the earth shall be blessed in him? “For I have known him, so that he commands
his children and his household after him, to guard the way of יהוה , to do righteousness and
right-ruling, so that יהוה brings to Aḇraham
what He has spoken to him.” And יהוה said, “Because the outcry against Seḏom and
Amorah is great, and because their sin is very heavy, “I am going down now to see whether they have
done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me, and if
not, I know.” - Mature believer will always rise early in the morning to accomplish the
task set before them. This is another Kingdom principle and a character of a
mature believer.
The
three messenger (Angels) was about to depart from Abraham on their way to
destroy Sodom
I
said before, that I believe that Abraham was a prophet; here we see EL YAHVEH
revealing His plans to His servant the prophet Abraham. Since Abraham is
destined to become a great nation, he has to teach his descendant the value of
kindness and justice to all his future generations. It is appropriate that EL
YAHVEH informed Abraham about His plan to deal with the wicked.
YAHVEH
wanted Abraham to learn that the opportunity for repentance should be always
open to sinner, even at the last minute. He also wanted Abraham to know that if
there had been some righteous people in Sodom
The
implication of verse 19, imply that the root of Sodom Sodom
The
sexual perversion for which Sodom
In
Genesis 18:19 “For I have known(love) him,
because he commands his children and his household after him, to guard the way
of יהוה ,
Literally
the word
(wytxdy) refers to knowledge, not love, but the Torah often use love as its
secondary meaning, for one who loves another brings himself close and seeks to
know him or her as well. EL YAHVEH loved or knew Abraham because Abraham would
always convey YAHVEH’s teaching to his offspring.
A
mature believer reveals his or her value by what they teach their children. For
one to preach and not practice the Torah, reveals that the teaching is less
than sincere. In summing up, the maturity of Abraham and the reason he was
entitled to a role in the Kingdom to come is because of what he would teach his
children.
A
mature believer can be distinguish in seven ways: They have love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. They are lead by the Spirit as they
obeyed the commandment. A mature believer must therefore practice the
commandment of love more than any other, because it is the characteristic of
the true descendant of Abraham.
Verse
20 and YAHVEH said the outcry against the City of Sodom
Gen 18:22 So the
men turned away from there and went toward Seḏom, but יהוה stood still before Aḇraham. 23 And Aḇraham drew near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the
wrong? - Two of the Angels were on the
way to Sodom Sodom
Abraham
bargain that at least let the righteous believers be saved. As a part of his
intercessor plea, he expressed himself in very strong, apparently questioning
terms, as if EL YAHVEH course of justice was a sacrilege. Abraham feared that
future generation would lose faith in the fairness of EL YAHVEH’s justice if
they felt that YAHVEH would inflict equal punishment on the righteous and the
wicked.
As mature believer we have the right to bargain with EL
YAHVEH, if it is according to His Sovereign Will. One of the reasons why many
of us have not walked in our Divine gifts is because we have not demand or
stand up for our spiritual rights.
In
response to Abraham argument, EL YAHVEH said that He would indeed exercise
mercy on all the righteous soul; however, the only souls that could be save
were Lot and his family. Psalms 91:7-11
A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you. 8 Only
with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you
have made YAHVEH, who is my
refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor
shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge
over you, to keep you in all your ways.
This historical event seems
to indicate that EL YAHVEH uses mature believer to help to develop and
establish Kingdom principle. It was the indwelling of the Ruach HaKodesh (the
Holy Spirit) that helps Abraham to communicate with EL YAHVEH in such a manner
that he was not been offensive.
Abraham like all mature
believers should plead strenuously for believers who lived among people who are
notorious for their wickedness. Immature believers preach kindness, but they
become outraged and hate those who dispute their values. Abraham, the epiphany of a Mature Believer,
on the other hand, cared only for the truth as define in Torah. Abraham felt no
animosity toward evildoers; he like all mature believes wanted only for them to
change and grow spiritually.
Abraham
felt that if there was a nucleus of ten righteous people in any of the five
cities, there was hope that they might influence the community by being an
example. Abraham exemplified in its noblest form his new role as a mature
father of a multitude of people. Even the wicked inhabitants of Sodom
Many
great people throughout history have had angels appear in order to help or
teach them. However, when the angels approached man of us, we refused there
help
Gen 18:24 “ A total of five cities were
slated for destruction as mentioned in Genesis 14:2, Sodom and Gomorrah were
the most prominent. Admah, Zeboiim the two middle cities and Zoar was the
smallest of the five. Abraham mention fifty a quorum of ten righteous souls per
city.
All
mature believers must display their righteousness in public, in the midst of
the city. The true test of a mature believer person is that one is ready at all
time to give an account of the things they believe; even in a spiritually
hostile environment such as Sodom
Gen 18:25-27 “Far
be it from You to act in this way, to slay the righteous with the wrong, so that
the righteous should be as the wrong. Far be it from You! Does the Judge of all
the earth not do right?” And יהוה said, “If I find in Seḏom
fifty righteous within the city, then I shall spare all the place for their
sakes.” And Aḇraham
answered and said, “Look, please, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it
upon myself to speak to יהוה , - In the previous verses, EL YAHVEH had acquiesced to
Abraham’s petition, but now Abraham was begging YAHVEH indulgence to continue
his pleas. Suspecting that his first request would go unveiled, because of the
lack of fifty righteous persons, Abraham asked YAHVEH for permission to grant
him one more petition. Come lets us reason together, these reasoning is and
should all ways be in accordance with Divine principle. It is therefore for us
to learn divine principle and apply them at every opportune moment.
Gen 18:28 “Suppose
there are five less than the fifty righteous, would You destroy all of the city
for lack of five?” And He said, “If I find there forty-five, I do not destroy
it.” - Suppose there were nine righteous persons per city.
Gen 18:29 And he
spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there are found forty?” And He said,
“I would not do it for the sake of forty.” - Suppose there were eight righteous persons per
city.
Gen 18:30 And he
said, “Let not יהוה be displeased, and let me speak: Suppose there
are found thirty?” And He said, “I would not do it if I find thirty there.” - Suppose there were six righteous
persons per city.
Gen 18:31 And he
said, “Look, please, I have taken it upon myself to speak to יהוה :
Suppose there are found twenty?” And He said, “I would not destroy it for the
sake of twenty.” Suppose there were
four righteous people per city.
Gen 18:32 And he said, “Let not יהוה be displeased, and let me speak only this
time: Suppose there are found ten?” And He said, “I would not destroy it for
the sake of ten.” – suppose there were
two righteous people per city; one righteous family per city. I have heard
stories about believers who were late or who called in sick the day of
September 11 in New York
Gen 18:33 Then יהוה went away as soon as He had ended speaking to
Aḇraham. And Aḇraham returned to his place. - When the two messengers arrived at Sodom Lot , on the
other hand, even though He was not as mature as Abraham, showed that his years
with Abraham had not been in vain, was qualified for divine intervention.
However, Lot was not qualified spiritually to
save that city from the impending destruction. If there were two righteous
believers per city, it would be spared destruction.
The story of
Abraham and Lot illuminate that there are
levels of maturity we can achieve in our life. Some will grow fast that other,
depending on the choice we make. The environment of Sodom
Gen 19:1 And the two messengers came to Seḏom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Seḏom. And when Lot saw them, he
rose up to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground - The arrival of the angels of judgment
was at the end of the days, the time when all opportunity to grow in the light
of the Holy Spirit has come to an end. One angel came to save Lot ;
the other came to destroy the cities. While the third Angel who came to speak
to Abraham departed after the conclusion of His business.
One day is
like a year spiritually, as the six days of creation represent a spiritual
milestone in our journey to perfection. The visitors were called men when they
first appear, not they are called Angels (Malichem) (Messengers).
Lot
represents a type of believer that has been called out of the world (Ur Egypt and died in the wilderness, only two made
it to Canaan . Many are called but few are
chosen.
Gen 19:2 and he said, “Look, please my masters, please turn in
to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet, and rise early
and go your way.” And they said, “No, but let us spend the night in the open
square.”- Abraham
washed the visitor feet, while Lot did not. Lot told them to wash their own feet. The immature
believer that Lot was, he did not know the
basic fruit of the Spirit, kindness. Lot
wanted them to come for the night then leave in the morning.
It is during
the night part of our spiritual lives that we need to turn into a mature
believer house for help, where the weary traveler can spend the night in safety
while getting their spiritual feet wash.
Gen 19:3 But he urged them strongly, and they turned in to him
and came into his house. And he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread,
and they ate. - A
mature believer will insist strongly that the weaker traveler turn into their
house of refuge. The messenger came on the 15 Nissan, the first Hebrew month.
The phrases he made a feast and baked unleavened bread indicate that it was
Passover. The mature believer that Abraham was, showed that he was operating
under the appointed time. It was time for Lot
to Passover from his present spiritual existence to a higher spiritual
existence.
I often said
the feast days represent EL YAHVEH divine cycle, in the lives of a mature
believer’s life. The successful completion of this cycle determines the quality
of spiritual fruits.
Gen 19:4 Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of
Seḏom, both old
and young, all the people from every part, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot
and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to
us, and let us ‘know’ them.”-The wicked men of the city heard about the visitors who had just
visited Lot, hordes of Sodomites converged on Lot ’s
dwelling, demanding that the guest be turned over to them.
We learn
earlier that the word “know” also means to be intimate with; they wanted to
sodomize them. The inhabitance of the city was notorious for every kind of
wickedness, but their fate were sealed because of their selfishness.
True evil
will come after a believer refused to separate truth from lies. That is why on
the first day of creation the Mighty One separate light from darkness and He
said it was good. Another divine principle is that the mature believer must
always be a refuge for the traveler or the aspiring believer as they seek their
spiritual Canaan .
Notice
carefully that all of EL YAHVEH work was done during the day, as righteous
persons work during the day and evil persons work in the night. It was at night
the evil men of Sodom
Gen 19:6-8 - So Lot went out to them through the doorway, and shut the
door behind him, and said, “Please, my
brothers, do not do evil! “Look, please,
I have two daughters who have not known a man. Please, let me bring them out to
you, and do to them as you wish, only do no deed to these men, because they
have come under the shadow of my roof.” - Lot was a perplex hero, on one hand he risked his own safety, if not
his life, to defend the Angels. On the other hand, incredibly as it might sound
he offered up his own daughters to a mob. Normally men fight to the death for
the honor of his wife and daughter, yet he place his daughters honor at stake.
Gen 19:9-11
But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This one came in to sojourn,
and should he always judge? Now we are going to treat you worse than them.” So
they pressed hard against the man Lot , and
came near to break down the door. But
the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot
into the house with them, and shut the door.
Then they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with
blindness, both small and great, and they wearied themselves to find the door.
- How degenerate can humanity be! Thought they
are stricken with spiritual blindness, these Sodomites persisted in their vain
plan, still seeking the door and vainly trying to enter in. Today the Anglican
Church is fulfilling this prophecy with the ordination of same sex priest; they
will never be able to enter or bring anyone into the fullness of EL YAHVEH.
Scripture says that EL YAHVEH will send us a lying spirit and we will believe a
lie. II Chronicles 18:21And
he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.
And YAHVEH said, Thou shalt
entice him, and thou shalt also
prevail: go out, and do even
so. 22Now therefore, behold, YAHVEH hath put a lying spirit in the
mouth of these thy prophets, and YAHVEH hath spoken evil against thee.
Gen 19:12-13
And the Messengers said to Lot , “Have you
anyone else here? A son-in-law, and your sons, and your daughters, and whomever
you have in the city – bring them out of this place! “For we are going to destroy this place,
because the cry against them has grown great before the face of יהוה , and יהוה has sent us to destroy it.”- Lot
was been questioned, do you have any disciples? Anyone else who you have been
preaching to, someone who he had taught Torah! As believers we have to give an
account of our stewardship.
EL
YAHVEH was about to make these five cities an example for all of future
Yisrael. Other wicked nations were not punished as severely as Sodom Land of Yisrael
If
the Anglican Church is destroyed soon then we will know that there were in EL
YAHVEH Will. If they are not destroyed then they were never part of the kingdom.
Gen 19:14 And Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had
married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place, for יהוה is going to destroy this city!” But to his
sons-in-law he seemed to be as one joking. - Lot immature sons-in-law said to him with the typical self-assurance of a
Sodomite: Ridiculous! There is no god. Everything is in order, we are at peace
with our enemies, the stock market is growing, and you say we are going to be
destroyed. How many daughters did Lot have?
Anyone
who indulges in mockery makes serious discussion impossible, because any
attempt to prove one’s point is turn aside with contemptuous joke. This is also
another principle; mockery or mocking by anyone is a sign of immaturity.
Gen 19:15-26 And when morning
dawned, the messengers urged Lot to hurry,
saying, “Get up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you
be consumed in the punishment of the city.” And while he loitered, the men took
hold of his hand, and his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two (virgin)
daughters, יהוה having compassion on him,
and they brought him out and set him outside the city. And it came to be, when
they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look
behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be
consumed.” And Lot said to them, “Oh no,יהוה ! “Look, please, your servant has found favor
in your eyes, and you have increased your kindness which you have shown me by
saving my life, but I am unable to escape to the mountains, lest calamity
overtake me and I die. “Look, please, this city is near enough to flee to, and
it is small. Please let me escape there – is it not a small matter – and let my
life be saved?” And He said to him, “Look, I have favored you concerning this
matter also, without overthrowing this city for which you have spoken. “Hurry,
escape there. For I am not able to do any deed until you arrive there.” So the
name of the city was called Tsoʽar. The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Tsoʽar. And יהוה rained sulphur and fire on Seḏom and
Amorah, from יהוה out of the Heavens. So He
overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the
cities, and what grew on the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him,
and she became a post of salt.
Loitering
is another characteristic of immature believer; it is a character trait that
was design to show us who we are inside. A good tree produces good fruit, while
a bad tree generates bad fruit. Lot loitered to the point that the messengers
had to grab his hand and pull him out of Sodom
Because
of their impudence, Lot’s sons-in-law lost their chance to be saved; therefore,
the Angels insisted that Lot hurry and take
his wife and his soon to be single daughters and leave the doom city.
This
illustrate another Divine principle, one that is often encountered through
history: Someone who is mature spiritually, may be saved by a miracle even when
everything around them is falling apart, a less mature person may be granted an
opportunity to save themselves from an impending doom, but once the destruction
starts, they will be caught up in the carnage.
These
two righteous descendants of Lot would become
the mothers of the Davidic dynasty and the King Messiyah. However, Lot was to be rescued before the upheaval began, but they
were not taken out totally. Like those who will still be on earth during the
tribulation, they too will be protected from the wrath of the Almighty. It is
those who reach maturity that will be taken away, those who are of the same
spiritual nature will be given protection in the cliff of the rock, as Lot did.
Mature
believer like Noah and Abraham was in their
protected place, the Ark Lot
and his family were told not to look back. Lot ’s
wife turned around to see the horrors that her friends were suffering, she too
died. She look back to observe her loses, what was she giving up for her
spiritual security. We are admonish that anyone who put his or her hand to the
task and look back is unworthy.
I
know that Lot’s wife became a pillar of salt, for she look back at what she was
giving up, in comparison to what she was about to receive. Too often I hear
Sunday worshiper says I have been going to Sunday church all my life, I am not
about to change now. Salt is a commodity that stops other thing from changing;
we become what our mind thinks we are. Salt stop flesh from rotten and rots
iron, when we refuse from leaving material things behind, we becomes an agent
that stop our flesh from change.
An
immature believer will always complain that it is too far to travel, and it is
too hard to achieve. One such famous saying is that we can never achieve
perfection in this lifetime. Such belief system will never bring anyone to the
mountaintop. After years of living a life of mediocrity, Lot is now realizing
that our spirit, like our muscle if they are not exercise, will fail us when we
will need it most. If we are not accustom to resist the small stuff, how will
we resist the larger? Lot , like most immature
believer never had much opportunity to flex his spiritual muscle, when the
critical time comes to use them, he was unable to.
At
first, Lot insists that the Angel not require
him to flee to the mountain. In his plea he asks for a compromise. Let him flee
to Zoar the smallest of the five, or could we say the lesser of the five evil. Lot was willing to leave, but he was not willing to leave
the environment. Like children we protest when our parent insist that we eat
our vegetable, Lot protest how hard it is for him to flee to a higher ground,
he still insist in settling for the lower laying plain of immaturity, instead
of the high mountain top of spiritual maturity.
Hurry,
the Angel told him, that EL YAHVEH would not start the destruction until Lot was safe in Zoar. What is preventing our planet from
been destroyed? It is the result of the Lot
among us those who take so long to reach maturity. Remember we talk about the
one third of the Stars (Angels) who fell. Remember I said EL YAHVEH want them
replace by faithful mature souls. The Lot type
believers are the one who are preventing the destruction of the evil world
system.
When
the goal or the quota is meet this world will past away and all things will
become new. My friends do not become a Lot, be a Abraham, establish a covenant
with EL YAHVEH, this is our sole responsibility in life.
Gen 19:27-29 And Aḇraham
arose early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood before יהוה , and he looked toward Seḏom and
Amorah, and toward all the land of the plain. And he looked and saw the smoke
of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace. Thus it came to be, when Elohim destroyed the
cities of the plain, that Elohim remembered Aḇraham,
and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in
which Lot had dwelt. - In genesis 19:20 and again in 27 we hear about early risers,
believers who arose early are usually mature believers, as the Angels and
Abraham practice. Weather it is to rise early to pray or even to read from the
Word, it is the sheep that rise early benefit from the early morning dew. There
is an old Jamaican folk tale: the early bird catches the worm.
What
is the difference between Lot ’s wife looking
back and Abraham observing the destruction? One was in the Permissive Will the
other was in the Sovereign Will. One died the other did not.
Gen 19:30-38 And Lot went up
out of Tsoʽar and dwelt in the mountains, and his two
daughters were with him, for he was afraid to dwell in Tsoʽar. And
he and his two daughters dwelt in a cave.
And the first-born said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is
no man on the earth to come in to us, as is the way of all the earth. “Come,
let us make our father drink wine and lie with him, so that we preserve the
seed of our father.” So they made their
father drink wine that night. And the first-born went in and lay with her
father, and he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she arose. And it
came to be on the next day that the first-born said to the younger, “See, I lay
with my father last night. Let us make him drink wine tonight as well, and you
go in and lie with him, so that we keep the seed of our father.” So they made their father drink wine that
night as well. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he was not aware of
it when she lay down or when she arose. Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father. And the first-born
bore a son and called his name Mo’aḇ, he is the father of the
Mo’aḇites to this day. And the younger,
she also bore a son and called his name Ben-Ammi, he is the father of the
children of Ammon to this day. - Even though Lot
moved to a higher plain of spiritual existence, they were not mature enough to
withstand the temptation to come.
Their
husbands were dead, now they were single again. The only man was their father.
Could it be that their sexual appetite that they were use to in Sodom
It
is sometime difficult to remove the practice of the world from our lives, when
we have dwelt there so long. However, Father YAHVEH, will always take us from
were we are spiritually, and take us to a higher spiritual level.
Torah
never condemned their actions as incestuous, because they sincerely thought
there was no other way to insure the propagation of the species. Because their
intension seems pure to them; they merited that among there descendant would be
Ruth, an ancestress of David, and Naamah, queen of Solomon and mother of
Rehoboam. This is an example of Grace.
Gen 20:1-2 And
Aḇraham set out from there to the land of the South, and dwelt between Qaḏĕsh
and Shur, and stayed in Gerar. And Aḇraham said concerning Sarah his wife,
“She is my sister.” And Aḇimeleḵ
sovereign of Gerar sent and took Sarah. - I am a bit perplexed about this particular story of Abraham; the
account of this chapter seems to be out of place. I am not questioning Torah,
just the sequence of events.
In this chapter Abraham
seem to be displaying a chronic case of coward ness, much like what He did in Egypt
Verse 2 says that
Abimelek King of Gear sent and took Sarah. Wait a minute! You mean to tell me
that Abraham fight to save Lot life and He
could not fight to save his wife life. Where was his well-trained army? If
Abraham fight to save his wife and leave Lot ,
I would agree, but not the other way around. However, I am not saying it never
happened. It certainly did.
Gen 20:3
But Elohim came to Aḇimeleḵ
in a dream by night, and said to him, “See, you are a dead man because of the
woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” - Since Abraham was not strong enough to fight for
His wife, EL YAHVEH had to appear to Abimelek in a dream, and told him do not
touch this woman. The Sovereign Will of YAHVEH cannot be altered by anyone; EL
YAHVEH had to protect His Covenant by keeping Abimelek away from Sarah. The
evil-one will always send an Abimelek to jeopardize our sovereign will,
something we are afraid off. Do you have a weakness in our lives, something the
evil-one will use against us? Abraham certainly had a thorn in the flesh that
could be used against him. This thorn will even get us to violate even the
things we treasured most.
Gen 20:4
However, Aḇimeleḵ
had not come near her, and he said, “יהוה , would You slay a righteous
nation also? - The word approach is a
euphemism for intimacy. To prevent Abimelek from taking Sarah as a wife, EL
YAHVEH made him erectile dysfunction. This king was no fool; he knew that it
was the will of Elohim. He reasoned with YAHVEH’s sense of reasoning, “will You
slay a righteous nation”.
EL
YAHVEH went out of His way to rescues righteous Lot and his family, before the
destruction of Sodom
Gen 20:5-6 “Did he not say to
me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In
the integrity of my heart and in the innocence of my hands I have done
this.” And Elohim said to him in a
dream, “Yea, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart, and so I
kept you from sinning against Me. For this reason I did not let you touch her.
Was Abimelek
reasoning with EL YAHVEH? There seams to be a pattern been developed, if the
agenda is divine or based on divine principles, we can argued with EL YAHVEH. We
are told that if we are a believer even our offspring will be blessed. It is
not wrong to argue for the protection of our love one as stipulated in
Deuteronomy 28:1 “Now
it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of YAHVEH your Elohim, to observe carefully all
His commandments which I command you today, that YAHVEH your Elohim will set you high above all nations of
the earth. 2“And all these blessings shall come upon you and
overtake you, because you obey the voice of the YAHVEH
your Elohim: 3“Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed
shall you be in the country. 4“Blessed shall be the fruit of your
body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase
of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. 5“Blessed shall be
your basket and your kneading bowl. 6“Blessed shall you be when you
come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
Abraham
and Sarah came into his country and said that Sarah was his sister and she
confirmed it. In those days, it was the king’s prerogative to take who he
desires to be his wife.
We
also know that Sarah was about ninety years old. Why would the King take an old
woman for a wife? On the other hand, after EL YAHVEH renewed Abram and Sarai
they must have drop at least 20-30 years off the previous appearance. I can buy
that. What I cannot understand is Abraham actions in this matter.
Gen 20:7 “And now, return the
man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and let him pray for you and you live. But if
you do not return her, know that you shall certainly die, you and all that are
yours.” - The
implication for Abimelek is death to him and his household. Abraham and Sarah
was part of EL YAHVEH Sovereign Will, which cannot be change. Even though the
persons to whom the promise was made was not walking right. EL YAHVEH will
always protect His people with His Rod and His Staff.
Gen 20:8 So Aḇimeleḵ rose early in the morning, and called all his
servants, and spoke all these words in their hearing. And the men were greatly
frightened. And Aḇimeleḵ called
Aḇraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? In what have I sinned
against you, that you have brought on me and on my reign a great sin? You have
done matters to me that should not be done.” - Look at
what Genesis 22:8 says about Abimelek, he raised early in the morning, an
excellent trait of a believer. This is not a question if Abimelek was right or
wrong, he was prevented from acting against EL YAHVEH Sovereign Will. The
evil-one will always try to create situations to get Yah’s chosen people to act
contrary to His Will, even out of ignorance as Eve did.
We
must be very zealous as believers to always ask for the Spirit of Wisdom and
understanding before we undertake any actions. An example: we might send money
to a Christian organization who is doing charity work in some distant land. The
appearance of doing good is in the forefront, yet we know that Christianity
does not
keep the Laws of Elohim; they
have nailed some to the Cross.
However,
many of us have never stop to question the sincerity of Christianity, we just
without thinking assume that because it is a Christian organization sponsored
by some large denomination it must be righteous. Abimelek questioned Abraham “What have you done to us? In what have I sinned
against you, that you have brought on me and on my reign a great sin? You have
done matters to me that should not be done.” This is what scripture calls an
offence. An offence is when anyone, weather knowing or unknowingly, cause
someone to transgress EL YAHVEH Laws.
Gen 20:10-11 And Aḇimeleḵ said
to Aḇraham, “What did you have in view, that you have done this matter?” And Aḇraham
said, “Only because I said to myself, the fear of Elohim is not in this place,
and they shall kill me for the sake of my wife. - Notice what Abraham said; He said to himself, he did
not consult EL YAHVEH. Abraham judged with the seeing of his eyes and the
hearing of his ear. This is a lesson to all believers; do not judge what you do
not know. Even if someone come and informed you, take it back to EL YAHVEH for
His opinion.
Gen 20:12-13 “And yet, she is
truly my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my
mother, and she became my wife. “And it came to be, when Elohim caused me to
wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is your kindness that
you should do for me: in every place, wherever we go, say of me, “He is my
brother.”- A half a
truth is even greater than a down right untruth. Abraham was never punish by EL
YAHVEH for this mishaps. Abraham did not tell a lie, he only made an inaccurate
statement/ A lie is when we make a statement that is against Torah, the Truth.
However,
an inaccurate statement can easly cause us to error in our action. Many
religions today are made up of a little lie and a little truth. That is why
religion is so dangerous.
Abraham
action was actually prophetic in this sense; he was prophesying that there
would be a people who will base their survival on a half-truth. That is exactly
what Christianity is today. This half-truth, have cause countless thousand of
people to transgress the forth commandment. Yet it was not a willful act.
Abraham did not willfully set out to deceive Abimelek; however, that is exactly
what happen.
Gen 20:14-15 Then
Abimelek took sheep, and cattle, and male and female servants, and gave them to
Abraham. And he returned Sarah his wife to him. And Abimelek said, “See, my
land is before you, dwell wherever it is good in your eyes.”- Abimelek represent the Gentile nations, who even though
they might not be totally obedient to Torah, but they have a sense of
righteousness about them. It is unfair for the Hebrew people to judge them as
unrighteous, until they understand all the fact.
When
we as Messiyanic spend the time to teach our Christian brother the truth about
Torah, like Abimelek they will give us their land as a possession.
Gen 20:16 And to Sarah he
said, “See, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. See, it is
to you a covering of eyes before all who are with you and before all others,
and you are cleared before everyone.” Here we see the gentile church Christianity, begins to
pay tithes to Biblical Judaism. This payment of money is to say that the seed
of Abraham hold the truth. A time will come when Scriptural Judaism will be
cleared before everyone.
Gen 20:17 And Aḇraham
prayed to Elohim, and Elohim healed Aḇimeleḵ, and
his wife, and his female servants, so they bore children, - The seed of Abraham will pray to EL YAHVEH and heal
Abimelek (the Church) and its offspring so they can bore children and bring
them to maturity.
Gen 20:18 for יהוה had closed up all the wombs of the house of Aḇimeleḵ
because of Sarah, Aḇraham’s wife. - Because of
the rejection to the Law, Christianity spiritual wombs have been closed up.
Since 325 when the Roman Emperor Constantine made Christianity the State
religion, it has not brought anyone to maturity. Jeremiah 2:13 For
my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of
living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no
water.
Chapter 21
In this chapter we
have,
I. Isaac, the child of
promise born into Abraham’s family verse 1-8.
II. Ishmael, the son of
the bondwoman, cast out of it verse 9–21.
III. Abraham’s league
with his neighbour Abimelech verse 22–32.
IV. His devotion to his
EL verse 33.
Gen 21:1 And יהוה visited Sarah as He had said, and יהוה did for Sarah as He had spoken. So Sarah conceived and bore Aḇraham a son in his old age, at the appointed time of
which Elohim had spoken to him. And Aḇraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to
him, Yitsḥaq. And Aḇraham circumcised his son Yitsḥaq
when he was eight days old, as Elohim had commanded him. And Aḇraham was one hundred years old when his son Yitsḥaq was
born to him. And Sarah said, “Elohim has made me laugh, and everyone who hears
of it laughs with me.” And she said,
“Who would have said to Aḇraham that Sarah would nurse children?
For I have borne him a son in his old age.”
And the child grew and was weaned, and Aḇraham made a great feast on the day that Yitsḥaq was
weaned. - The prophecies to Abraham and Sarah to be the
vessel of the Promise, the Spirit and the Flesh, was finally coming to
fulfillment with the birth of a son to Sarah. The manner in which it happened,
that a woman who was infertile even in her youth had a child at the age of
ninety, established the miraculous nature of EL YAHVEH’s chosen people.
The Christian church have not been fertile in a long time, like Sarah it
will take the Hand of YAHVEH to revive what was design to be a productive
organ, to fulfilled its original plan.
EL YAHVEH could have easily given a child to Sarah when she was younger,
but that would not have been perceived to demonstrate the Divine intervention.
The birth of Isaac is similar in a lot of ways to that of the future Messiyah.
Who was born to a nation over 2000 years old.
I believe that Isaac was born at the appointed time on the 15th
day of the Seventh month the beginning of the feast of tabernacle and was
circumcised on the 8th day the last day of the feast.
The Feast of Tabernacle is a time of rejoicing in the harvest that was just
brought in. It is fitting that as the farmers were rejoicing in their harvest,
Sarah too was rejoicing in her own harvest, that of a son. This just goes to
prove that even a barren womb can produce life. Nothing is impossible with EL
YAHVEH, when we are in His will.
Abraham made a great feast 12 year later, to the very day, the 15 day of
the Seventh month, the beginning of the Great Feast of Tabernacle. Leviticus
23:33
Gen 21:9 And Sarah
saw the son of Haḡar the Mitsrite, whom she had borne to
Aḇraham, mocking. So she said to Aḇraham, “Drive out this female servant and her son, for
the son of this female servant shall not inherit with my son, with Yitsḥaq.” - This term mocking expresses what Sarah
saw that convinced her that Ishmael (Muslim) could not remain in the same
community. She was convinced that Ishmael’s behavior proved that he had become
thoroughly antisocial towards Isaac. Mocking is usually a sign of a prideful
heart, this behavior if not caught early will always led to antisocial
behavior.
The first sign of trouble between brothers usually start with mocking,
which usually escalate into harsher word, then physical contact such as
pushing, and finally violence. The Spirit of Wisdom was not in Ishmael,
scripture says if we cannot detect this Spirit of Wisdom in a person, separate
your self from them.
Gen 21:11 And the
matter was very evil in the eyes of Abraham because of his son. - It is always a
father’s will to see his sons lived in peace, but where peace is not possible
we as believers should have no problem separating.
Gen 21:12 But
Elohim said to Aḇraham, “Let it not be evil in your
eyes because of the boy and because of your female servant. Whatever Sarah has
said to you, listen to her voice, for in Yitsḥaq your seed is called. - EL YAHVEH comforted Abraham in two
ways, He said that Sarah’s directive was prophetic and in accordance with EL
YAHVEH Sovereign Will. Although Isaac is reckoned as Abraham’s true son,
Ishmael is his offspring, and would become a great nation. There is a
difference between EL YAHVEH Sovereign and His Permissive Will; every believer
should strive to operate under the Sovereign Will of EL YAHVEH.
Gen 21:13 “And of
the son of the female servant I also make a nation, because he is your seed.” –
The
son of the servant woman is indicative of those who are still servant to the Virgin
Mary; Father YAHVEH will also make of them a nation. This was prophesy in the
fifth day of creation. Genesis 1: 27 So Elohim created man in
his own image, in the image of Elohim created he him; male and female created
he them. 28And Elohim blessed them, and Elohim said unto them, Be
fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdeu it: and have
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every
living thing that moveth upon the earth. Even the sons of the servant were
commanded to fulfill this commandment to multiply. The problem I have here, is
this? It is only the unsaved people, the Muslim are the ones who are fulfilling
this commandment. The believers have a very low birthrate compare to the sons
of Ishmael.
Gen 21:14 And Aḇraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a
skin of water, which he gave to Haḡar, putting it on her shoulder, also
the boy, and sent her away. And she left and wandered in the Wilderness of
Be’ĕrsheḇa. – Just as Abraham rose early in the morning to perform the
commandments of circumcision with enthusiasm and without delay, so should all
mature believer. Once we learn what is EL YAHVEH’s Will; like Abraham we must
complied at once.
Gen 21:15-21 And
the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the
shrubs. And she went and sat down about a bowshot away, for she said, “Let me
not see the death of the boy.” And she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice
and wept. And Elohim heard the voice of the boy, and the messenger of Elohim
called to Haḡar from the Heavens, and said to her,
“What is the matter with you, Haḡar? Do not fear, for Elohim has heard
the voice of the boy where he is.
“Arise, lift up the boy and hold him with your hand, for I make a great
nation of him.” And Elohim opened her
eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water,
and gave the boy a drink. And Elohim was with the boy, and he grew and dwelt in
the wilderness, and became an archer.
And he dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for
him from the land of Mitsrayim. - The blessing that Ishmael would be a great nation was placed in jeopardy
when he was near death in the wilderness, but he was saved through a miracle.
As parents we may have more than one child. One might chose to be totally
obedient to the rules of the house while the other chose to disregard them.
Those of us who chose to disregard the rules will never inherit the promise
of the Father, while the obedient one has it all, Full maturity is such a son
as Isaac.
As believers we will loose our water (Torah) if we do not guard it well. We
will become lost in the wilderness of false teaching; only through a miracle
can we be saved.
Notice the actions of Hagar; it was nothing more than disgraceful and
indicative of her flawed teaching. Rather than comfort her son in his dying
moments, she thought only of herself and the discomfort she would feel in the
presence of Ishmael agony. Therefore, EL YAHVEH heard his cry.
The example of Hagar is a prophecy of the Christian church, they cannot
take their sons into the fullness of Torah, and their only interest is the
offering they can receive. The cry of the son for more clean water is
indicative of those in the Church who keep crying out for more from Torah,
there cry, like only EL YAHVEH answered mine. This Ishmael is a story of
myself, as I desire more, it was given to me.
Gen 21:22-34 And it came to be at that time that Aḇimeleḵ and Piḵol, the commander of his army, spoke to Aḇraham, saying, “Elohim is with you in all that you
do. “ And now, swear to me by Elohim,
not to be untrue to me, to my offspring, or to my descendants. Do to me
according to the kindness that I have done to you and to the land in which you
have dwelt.” And Aḇraham said, “I swear.”
And Aḇraham reproved Aḇimeleḵ because of a well of water which Aḇimeleḵ’s servants had seized. And Aḇimeleḵ said, “I do not know who has done
this deed. Neither did you inform me, nor did I hear until today.” So Aḇraham took sheep and cattle and gave them to Aḇimeleḵ, and the two of them made a covenant.
And Aḇraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock
by themselves. And Aḇimeleḵ asked Aḇraham, “What are these seven ewe lambs
which you have set by themselves?” And he said, “Take these seven ewe lambs
from my hand, to be my witness that I have dug this well.” So he called that
place Be’ĕrsheḇa, because the two of them swore an
oath there. - These events
occurred at the time of Isaac’s birth. Knowing of the entire miracle EL YAHVEH
had done for Abraham, Abimelek came to seal a covenant with Abraham. Abimelek
stresses that he sought the treaty of friendship not because of Abraham’s
wealth or power, but because EL YAHVEH is with Abraham.
Does the world seek us out because we are blessed? Deut 28:12 “YAHVEH will open to you His good
treasure, the Heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to
bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall
not borrow. 13“And YAHVEH will make you the head and not the tail;
you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of YAHVEH
your EL, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. - One vital lesson to be learned from this
narrative was that when anyone comes to make peace, we need to settle all past
and present unresolved disputes. Peace is not peace if it is not done according
to Torah. Even though someone might offer us peace; but peace at what cost?
Gen 21:32-34 Thus
they made a covenant at Be’ĕrsheḇa. And Aḇimeleḵ rose with Piḵol, the commander of his army, and they returned to the
land of the Philistines. And he planted a tamarisk tree in Be’ĕrsheḇa, and there called on the Name of יהוה ,
the Everlasting Ěl. And Aḇraham sojourned in the land of the
Philistines many days. - Hospitality was the hallmark of a
mature believer, this include eating, drinking and escorting. These three basic
services, every good host should always provide for their guest.
Is chapter epitomizes the believer’s
resolution to serve EL YAHVEH no matter how difficult the circumstances; this
became the very reason for the believer’s existence. These tests for Abraham as
it is for all subsequent believers, were and will be especially difficult.
Because Abraham like us could not rationalize that Isaac had to die, yet in an
act of absolute obedient he obeyed.
We saw a sign
of the greatness of Isaac, who did not complain when his father was, bound him.
Like Yahushua who did not complain about His role as the Lamb for the
slaughter.
Isaac’s was thirty-seven at the time of the
Sacrifice. Sarah was ninety at his birth and 127 at her death. Since she died
when she heard that her son had been taken to be slaughtered, he was
thirty-seven years old then. The Sacrifice took place on Rosh Hashanah. For
that reason this scripture is the Torah reading for the second day of Rosh
Hashanah. The prayed of that day is pregnant with reference to this supreme act
of devotion to EL YAHVEH.
In return for
Abraham’s superhuman dedication to EL YAHVEH, he is given the promise of the
Hebrew people survival and their trial that sustain them to this day.
Abraham was
tested ten major times in Torah; the following are the list of the test given
to Abraham.
1.
Abraham’s
exile from his family and homeland
2.
The
hunger in Canaan after EL YAHVEH had assured
him that he would become a great nation there.
3.
The
corruption in Egypt
4.
The
war with the four kings.
5.
His
relationship with Hagar.
6.
The
command to circumcision.
7.
Abimelek
taking of Sarah.
8.
Driving
away Hagar the first time
9.
Driving
away Hagar and Ishmael.
10.
The Sacrificing of Isaac.
Gen 22:1
And it came to be after these events that Elohim tried Aḇraham, and said to him, “Aḇraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”- The
same Elohim, who had revealed Himself to Abraham and had given him Isaac as the
culmination of his life’s goal, now tested him to see if he would give up his
treasured son.
This is the
only one of Abraham trial that was called a test. As believer, it is not if we
will be tested, is when and how are going to react. The Torah is the curriculum
of the Heavenly Kingdom
These tests
are tools of elevations, a mode of transportation to the next level of
spiritual revelation. As EL YAHVEH elevates Abraham, trials upon trial,
greatness after greatness until Abraham could achieve nothing higher. After
these events we do not find EL YAHVEH addressing Abraham again, for Abraham had
achieved the peak of his spiritual potential.
Gen 22:2 And He said, “Take your son, now, your only son Yitsḥaq,
whom you love, and go to the land
of Moriyah Canaan , the promise land, and
offer him on one of the mountain. Mountain represents the Apex of our spiritual
development. It is the responsibility of every father to do so with their sons
and their sons take their family there also.
Gen 22:3 And Aḇraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and
took two of his young men with him, and Yitsḥaq his son. And he split the wood
for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place, which Elohim had
commanded him. - Excruciating though it must have been
for him, the mature believer did not delay. He woke up early in the morning and
ignoring his personal dignity, saddled the donkey personally instead of having
someone else do it. This demonstrates that He zealously hasted his resolve to
perform the command of EL YAHVEH.
Gen 22:4-8 And on the third day
Aḇraham lifted
his eyes and saw the place from a distance.
So Aḇraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey
while the boy and I go over there and worship, and come back to you.” And Aḇraham took the wood of the burnt
offering and laid it on Yitsḥaq his son. And he took the fire in his hand, and
a knife, and the two of them went together. And Yitsḥaq spoke to Aḇraham his father and said, “My
father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “See, the fire and the
wood! But where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” And Aḇraham said, “My son, Elohim does provide for Himself the
lamb for a burnt offering.” And the two of them went together. - Up
until then Isaac did not know the true nature of the journey. But has they
walked up ward towards the apex of the mountain the purpose become clearer. As
we move up the mountain of personal sacrifice to the desire of our flesh. We
notice that Isaac was bound in the natural, in the spiritual sense; it was his
physical nature that came under control. Our Heavenly Father is not asking us
to sacrifice our body, just to put it on the table of sacrifice voluntary.
It is this
voluntary sacrifice of our sinful nature that is sort after by EL YAHVEH. The
only one, who is required to sacrifice Himself, is our Lord and Savior El
Yahushua.
Gen 22:9-11 And they came to the place which Elohim had commanded
him, and Aḇraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order.
And he bound Yitsḥaq his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Aḇraham stretched out his hand and
took the knife to slay his son, but the Messenger of יהוה called to him from the Heavens and said, “Aḇraham, Aḇraham!” And he said, “Here I am.- The repetition of
the name expressed EL YAHVEH love for His chosen one. When most of us are asked
to give up something important in our lives, it is easy to convince ourselves
that we have done it. We may cut ack on our everyday spending, for example, to
save money for a worthy cause, but inevitably we will return to our usual ways,
only hoping that in the interim we have done some good.
Abraham, however, had elevated
himself to such a high spiritual level that when he decided, “I am giving up Isaac. I am willing to let
him die; I am willing to let him go”
his thought was so pure that it manifested as a completed action. Therefore,
there was no need for Isaac to die physically. The death of his son, Isaac, had
already occurred in Abraham’s mind, so he gained the benefit of the spiritual
process he had to undergo.
This is an excellent way to hold on to the people we love, but for most of
us, deteching from all selfishness in a relationship is extremely difficult. On
the Shabbat of Vayera, we can pray for the spirit of Abraham to help us in this
task with with the Light that he revealed at the Binding of Isaac, Light that
shines throughout all of history.
When we truly understand this and ask for assistance to accomplish what
Abraham display here, we too can slowely but surely let go off all those people
and things we are attached to in a selfish ad egotistical way. The end result
will be that nothing and no one has to die.
We will have achieved bila hamavet
lanetzach, the removal of death forever. This is our spiritual work the
work Abraham began, and the work we now have to complete.
Gen 22:12-13 And
He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy, nor touch him. For now I know that
you fear Elohim, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from
Me.” And Aḇraham lifted his eyes and
looked and saw behind him a ram caught in a bush by its horns, and Aḇraham
went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his
son. – Abraham like all mature believers wanted to dedicate the lives of his
entire descendant, just as he had been ready to offer the life of his son. The
binding of Isaac represents total submission to EL YAHVEH’s will.
Gen 22:14-17 And
Aḇraham called the name of the place, יהוה Yireh,’ as it is said to this day, “On the
mountain יהוה provides.” And the Messenger of יהוה called to Aḇraham a second time from the Heavens, and said, “By Myself I have sworn, declares יהוה ,
because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17
that I shall certainly bless you, and I shall certainly increase your seed as
the stars of the Heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore, and let your
seed possess the gate of their enemies.
Gen 22:18-24 “And
in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have
obeyed My voice.” Then Aḇraham returned to his young men, and
they rose up and went together to Be’ĕrsheḇa. And Aḇraham dwelt at Be’ĕrsheḇa. And it came to be after these events that it was
reported to Aḇraham, saying, “See, Milkah too has
borne children to your brother Naḥor:
“Uts his first-born, and Buz his brother, and Qemu’ĕl the father of Aram
Haftarah
II Kings 4:1 – 37
In this chapter we learn
about the great service Elisha had done, in the foregoing chapter, for the
three kings: to his prayers and prophecies they owed their lives and triumphs.
One would have expected that the next chapter would tell us what honors and
what dignities were conferred on Elisha for this, that he should immediately be
preferred at court, and made prime-minister of state, that Jehoshaphat should
take him home with him, and advance him in his kingdom. No, the wise man
delivered the army, but no man remembered the wise man, Eccl. 9:15. Or, if he
had preferment offered him, he declined it: he preferred the honor of doing
good in the schools of the prophets before that of being great in the courts of
princes.
YAHVEH magnified him, and
that sufficed him, magnified him indeed, for we have him here employed in
working no fewer than five miracles.
I.
He multiplied
the poor widow’s oil verse 1-7.
II.
He obtained for
the good Shunammite the blessing of a son in her old age verse 8–17.
III.
He raised that
child to life when it was dead verse 18–27.
IV.
He healed the
deadly pottage verse 38–41.
V.
He fed 100 men
with twenty small loaves verse 42–44.
II Kings 4:1A
certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha,
saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared
YAHVEH. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”- Elisha’s
miracles were for use, not for show; this recorded here was an act of real
charity. Such also were the miracles of Messiyah centuries later, not only
great wonders, but great favors to those for whom they were wrought. YAHVEH
magnifies HIS goodness with HIS power.
I. Elisha readily
receives a poor widow’s complaint. She was a prophet’s widow; to whom therefore
should she apply, but to him that was a father to the sons of the prophets, and
concerned himself in the welfare of their families? It seems, the prophets had
wives as well as the priests, though prophecy went not by entail, as the
priesthood did. Marriage is honorable in all, and not inconsistent with the
most sacred professions. Now, by the complaint of this poor woman, we are given
to understand,
1. That her husband, being
one of the sons of the prophets, was well know to Elisha. Ministers of
eminent gifts and stations should make themselves familiar with those that are
every way their inferiors, and know their character and state.
2. That he had the
reputation of a godly man. Elisha knew him to be one that feared YAHVEH, else
he would have been unworthy of the honor and unfit for the work of a prophet.
He was one that kept his integrity in a time of general apostasy, one of the
7000 that had not bowed the knee to Baal.
3. That he was dead,
though a good man, a good minister. The prophets, do they live forever? Those
that were clothed with the Spirit of prophecy were not thereby armed against
the stroke of death.
4. That he died poor, and
in debt more than he was worth. He did not contract his debts by prodigality,
and luxury, and riotous living, for he was one that feared YAHVEH, and
therefore durst not allow himself in such courses: nay, religion obliges men
not to live above what they have, nor to spend more than what YAHVEH gives
them, no, not in expenses otherwise lawful; for thereby, of necessity, they
must disable themselves, at last, to give every one his own, and so prove
guilty of a continued act of injustice all along. Yet it may be the lot of
those that fear YAHVEH to be in debt, and insolvent, through afflictive
providences, losses by sea, or bad debts, or their own imprudence, for the children
of light are not always wise for this world. Perhaps this prophet
was impoverished by persecution: when Jezebel ruled, prophets had much ado to
live, and especially if they had families.
5. That the creditors
were very severe with her two sons she had to be the support of her widowed
state, and their labor is reckoned assets in her hand; that must go
therefore, and they must be bondmen for seven years (Ex. 21:2) to work out this
debt. Those that leave their families under a load of debt disproportionable to
their estates know not what trouble they entail. In this distress the poor
widow goes to Elisha, in dependence upon the promise that the seed of the
righteous shall not be forsaken. The generation of the upright may expect help
from YAH’s providence and countenance from his prophets.
II Kings 4:2 So
Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the
house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of
oil.” - He effectually relieves this poor widow’s
distress, and puts her in a way both to pay her debt and to maintain herself
and her family. He did not say, be warmed, be filled, but gave her real
help. He did not give her some small matter for her present provision, but set
her up in the world to sell oil, and put a stock into her hand to begin with.
This was done by miracle, but it is an indication to us what is the best method
of charity, and the greatest kindness one can do to poor people, which is, if
possible, to help them into a way of improving what little they have by their
own industry and ingenuity.
He directed her what to
do, considered her case: What shall I do for thee? The sons of the
prophets were poor, and it would signify little to make a collection for her
among them: but YAHVEH of the holy prophets is able to supply all her need;
and, if she has a little committed to her management, her need must be supplied
by his blessing and increasing that little. Elisha therefore enquired what she
had to make money of, and found she had nothing to sell but one pot of oil.
If she had had any plate
or furniture, he would have bidden her part with it, to enable her to be just
to her creditors. We cannot reckon any thing really, nor comfortably, our own,
but what is so when all our debts are paid. If she had not had this pot of oil,
the divine power could have supplied her; but, having this, it will work upon
this, and so teach us to make the best of what we have.
II Kings 4:3 Then he said, “Go,
borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not
gather just a few. - The
prophet, knowing her to have credit among her neighbors, bids her borrow of
them empty vessels, for, it seems, she had sold her own, towards the
satisfying of her creditors. He directs her to shut the door upon herself and
her sons, while she filled all those vessels out of that one.
II Kings 4:4“And when you have
come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into
all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.” - She must shut the door, to
prevent interruptions from the creditors, and others while it was in the doing,
that they might not seem proudly to boast of this miraculous supply, and that
they might have opportunity for prayer and praise to YAHVEH upon this
extraordinary occasion.
II Kings 4:5 So
she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the
vessels to her; and she poured it out. - The oil was to be multiplied in the pouring, as the
other widow’s meal in the spending. The way to increase what we have is to use
it; to him that so hath shall be given. It is not hoarding the talents, but
trading with them, that doubles them.
It must be poured out by
herself, not by Elisha nor by any of the sons of the prophets, to intimate that
it is in connection with our own careful and diligent endeavors that we may
expect the blessing of YAHVEH to enrich us both for this world and the other.
What we have will increase best in our own hand.
She did it accordingly.
She did not tell the prophet he designed to make a fool of her; but firmly
believing the divine power and goodness, and in pure obedience to the prophet,
she borrowed vessels large and many of her neighbors, and poured out her oil
into them. One of her sons was employed to bring her empty vessels, and the
other carefully to set aside those that were full, while they were all amazed
to find their pot, like a fountain of living water, always flowing, and yet
always full.
They saw not the spring
that supplied it, but believed it to be in him in whom all our springs are.
Job’s metaphor was now verified in the letter (Job 29:6), The rock poured me
out rivers of oil. Perhaps this was in the tribe of Asher, part of whose
blessing it was that he should dip his foot in oil, Deu. 33:24.
II Kings 4:6 Now
it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring
me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the
oil ceased. - The
oil continued flowing as long as she had any empty vessels to receive it; when
every vessel was full the oil stayed, for it was not fit that this precious
liquor should run over, and be as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be
gathered up again. We are never straitened in YAHVEH, in HIS power and bounty,
and the riches of his grace; all our straightness is in ourselves. It is our
faith that fails, not his promise. He gives above what we ask: were there more
vessels, there is enough in YAHVEH to fill them, enough for all, enough for
each. Was not this pot of oil exhausted as long as there were any vessels to be
filled from it? And shall we fear lest the golden oil, which flows from the
very root and fatness of the good olive, should fail, as long as there are any
lamps to be supplied from it? Zec. 4:12.
II Kings 4:7 Then she
came and told the man of YAHVEH. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your
debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.” - The prophet directed her
what to do with the oil she had. She must not keep it for her own use, to make
her face to shine. Those whom Providence
(1.) She must sell the
oil to those that were rich, and could afford to bestow it on themselves. We
may suppose, being produced by miracle, it was the best of its kind, like the
wine (Jn. 2:10), so that she might have both a good price and a good market for
it. Probably the merchants bought it to export, for oil was one of the
commodities that Israel
(2.) She must pay her
debt with the money she received for her oil. Though her creditors were too
rigorous with her, yet they must not therefore lose their debt. Her first care,
now that she has wherewithal to do so, must be to discharge that, even before
she makes any provision for her children. It is one of the fundamental laws of
our religion that we render to all their due, pay every just debt, give every
one his own, though we leave ever so little for ourselves; and this, not of
constraint but willingly and without grudging; not only for wrath, to avoid
being sued, but also for conscience’ sake. Those that possess an honest mind
cannot with pleasure eat their daily bread, unless it be their own bread.
(3.) The rest must not be
laid up, but she and her children must live upon it, not upon the oil, but upon
the money received from it, with which they must put themselves into a capacity
of getting an honest livelihood. No doubt she did as the man of YAHVEH
directed; and hence,
[1.] Let those that are
poor and in distress be encouraged to trust YAHVEH for supply in the way of
duty. Verily thou shalt be fed, though not feasted. It is true we cannot
now expect miracles, yet we may expect mercies, if we wait on YAHVEH and seek
to him. Let widows particularly, and prophets’ widows in a special manner,
depend upon him to preserve them and their fatherless children alive, for to
them he will be a husband, a father.
[2.] Let those whom YAHVEH
has blessed with plenty use it for the glory of YAHVEH and under the direction
of his word: let them do justly with it, as this widow did, and serve YAHVEH
cheerfully in the use of it, and as Elisha, be ready to do good to those that
need them, be eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.
The giving of a son to
such as were old, and had been long childless, was an ancient instance of the
divine power and favor, in the case of Abraham, and Isaac, and Manoah, and
Elkanah; we find it here among the wonders wrought by Elisha. This was wrought
in recompense for the kind entertainment, which a good woman gave him, as the
promise of a son was given to Abraham when he entertained angels.
II Kings 4:8 Now it happened one
day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she
persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would
turn in there to eat some food.
-
The kindness of the Shunammite woman to Elisha. Things are bad enough in
Yisrael, yet not so bad but that YAH’s prophet finds friends, wherever he goes.
Shunem was a city in the tribe of Issachar that lay in the road between Samaria and Carmel
II Kings 4:9 And she said
to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of
YAHVEH,
who passes by us regularly. - He was modest and loath to be troublesome, humble
and affected not to associate with those of the first rank; so that it was not
without some difficulty that he was first drawn into an acquaintance there; but
afterwards, whenever he went that way in his circuit, he constantly called
there.
II Kings 4:10“Please, let us
make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a
table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he
can turn in there.” - So well pleased was she with her guest, and so
desirous of his company, that she would not only bid him welcome to her table,
but provide a lodging-room for him in her house, that he might make the longer
stay, not doubting but her house would be blessed for his sake, and all under
her roof edified by his pious instructions and example a good design, yet she
would not do it without acquainting her husband, would neither lay out his
money nor invite strangers to his house without his consent asked and obtained.
II Kings 4:11 And it
happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay
down there. - She suggests to him,
1. That the stranger she
would invite was a holy man of YAHVEH, who therefore would do good to
their family, and YAHVEH would recompense the kindness done to him; perhaps she
had heard how well paid the widow of Sarepta was for entertaining Elijah.
2. That the kindness she
intended him would be no great charge to them; she would build him only a
little chamber. Perhaps she had no spare room in the house, or none private and
retired enough for him, who spent much of his time in contemplation, and cared
not for being disturbed with the noise of the family. The furniture shall be
very plain; no costly hangings, no stands, no couches, no looking glasses, but
a bed, and a table, a stool, and a candlestick, all that was needful for his
convenience, not only for his repose, but also for his study, his reading and
writing. Elisha seemed highly pleased with these accommodations, for he turned
in and lay there, and, as it should seem, his man in the same chamber, for he
was far from taking state.
II Kings 4:12 Then he
said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” When he had called
her, she stood before him. - Elisha’s gratitude for this kindness. Being
exceedingly pleased with the quietness of his apartment, and the friendliness
of his entertainment, he began to consider with himself what recompense he
should make her. Those that receive courtesies should study to return them; it
ill becomes men of YAHVEH to be ungrateful, or to sponge upon those that are
generous.
II Kings 4:13
And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Look, you have been concerned for
us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your
behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’ ” She answered, “I dwell
among my own people.” - He offered to use his interest for her in the king’s
court: Thou hast been careful for us with all this care (thus did he
magnify the kindness he received, as those that are humble are accustomed to
do, though in the purse of one so rich, and in the breast of one so free, it
was as nothing); now what shall be done for thee? As the liberal devise
liberal things, so the grateful devise grateful things. "Wouldst thou
be spoken for to the king, or the captain of the host, for an office for
thy husband, civil or military? Hast thou any complaint to make, any petition
to present, any suit at law depending that needs the countenance of the high
powers? Wherein can I serve thee?’’ It seems Elisha had got such an interest by
his late services that, though he chose not to prefer himself by it, yet he was
capable of preferring his friends.
A good man can take as
much pleasure in serving others as in raising himself. But she needs not any
good offices of this kind to be done for her: I dwell (says she) among
my own people, that is, "We are well off as we are, and do not aim at
preferment.’’ It is a happiness to dwell among our own people, that love
and respect us, and to whom we are in a capacity of doing good; and a greater
happiness to be content to do so, to be easy, and to know when we are well off.
Why should those that live comfortably among their own people covet to live
delicately in kings’ palaces? It would be well with many if they did but know
when they were well off. Some years after this we find this Shunammite had
occasion to be spoken for to the king, though now she needed it not, ch. 8:3,
4. Those that dwell among their own people must not think their mountain stands
so strong as that it cannot be moved; they may be driven, as this good woman
was, to sojourn among strangers.
II Kings 4:14 So he
said, “What then is to be done for her?” And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she
has no son, and her husband is old.”
- He did use his interest for her in
the court of heaven, which was far better. Elisha consulted with his servant
what kindness he should do for her, to such a freedom did this great prophet
admit even his servant. Gehazi reminded him that she was childless, had a great
estate, but no son to leave it to, and was past hopes of having any, her
husband being old.
II Kings 4:15 So he said,
“Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. - If Elisha could obtain this favor from YAHVEH for
her, it would be the removal of that which at present was her only grievance.
Those are the welcomest kindnesses, which are most suited to our necessities.
He sent for her immediately. She very humbly and respectfully stood in the
door, according to her accustomed modesty.
II Kings 4:16 Then he
said, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No,
my lord. Man of YAHVEH, do not lie to your maidservant!” - and
then he assured her that within a year she should bring forth a son. She had
received this prophet in the name of a prophet, and now she had not a
courtier’s reward, in being spoken for to the king, but a prophet’s reward, a
signal mercy given by prophets and in answer to prayer: the promise was a
surprise to her, and she begged that she might not be flattered by it: "Nay,
my lord, thou are a man of YAHVEH, and therefore I hope speaks
seriously, and doth not jest with me, nor lie unto thy handmaid. Do not speak
anything that will not happen for your are a man of YAHVEH, therefore you are
speaking in HIS Name.
When one brother of
sister speaks to another of the Children of Yisrael, every word that is spoken
must be of the truth.
II Kings 4:17 But the
woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which
Elisha had told her. - The
event, within the time limited, confirmed the truth of the promise: She bore
a son at the season that Elisha spoke of. YAHVEH built up her house, in
reward to her kindness in building the prophet a chamber. We may well imagine
what joy this brought to the family. Sing, O barren! thou that didst not
bear.
II
Kings 4:18 And the child grew. Now it happened
one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers. - We
may well suppose that, after the birth of this son, the prophet was doubly
welcome to the good Shunammite. He had thought himself indebted to her, but henceforth,
as long as she lives, she will think herself in his debt, and that she can
never do too much for him. We may also suppose that the child was very dear to
the prophet, as the son of his prayers, and very dear to the parents, as the
son of their old age.
II Kings 4:19
And he said to his father, “My head, my head!” So he said to a servant,
“Carry him to his mother.”- The sudden
death of the child, though so much a darling. he was so far past the perils of
infancy that he was able to go to the field to his father, who no doubt was
pleased with his engaging talk, and his joy of his son was greater than the joy
of his harvest; but either the cold or the heat of the open field overcame the
child, who was bred tenderly, and he complained to his father that his head
ached. Whither should we go with our complaints, but to our heavenly Father?
Here the Spirit of adoption brings believers with all their grievances, all
their desires, teaching them to cry, with groaning that cannot be uttered, "My
head, my head; my heart, my heart.’
II Kings 4:20 When he had
taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and
then died. - The father sent him to his mother’s arms, his
mother’s lap, little suspecting any danger in his indisposition, but hoping he
would drop asleep in his mother’s bosom and awake well; but the sickness proved
fatal; he slept the sleep of death, was well in the morning and dead by noon:
all the mother’s care and tenderness could not keep him alive. A child of
promise, a child of prayer, and given in love, yet taken away. Little children
lie open to the arrests of sickness and death. But how admirably does the
prudent pious mother guard her lips under this surprising affliction! Not one
peevish murmuring word comes from her.
II Kings 4:21 And she
went up and laid him on the bed of the man of YAHVEH, shut the door upon him,
and went out. - She has a strong belief that the child will be
raised to life again: like a genuine daughter of Abraham’s faith, as well as
loins, she accounts that YAHVEH is able to raise him from the dead, for thence
at first she received him in a figure, Heb. 11:19. She had heard of the
raising of the widow’s son of Sarepta, and that the spirit of Elijah rested on
Elisha; and such confidence had she of YAH’s goodness that she was very ready
to believe that he who so soon took away what he had given would restore what
he had now taken away. By this faith women received their dead raised to
life, Heb. 11:35. In this faith she makes no preparation for the burial of
her dead child, but for its resurrection; for she lays him on the prophet’s
bed, expecting that he will stand her friend. O woman! great is thy
faith. he that wrought it would not frustrate it.
II Kings 4:22 Then she
called to her husband, and said, “Please send me one of the young men and one
of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of YAHVEH and come back.” -
The sorrowful mother’s
application to the prophet on this sad occasion; for it happened very
opportunely that he was now at the college upon Mount Carmel, not far off. She
begged leave of her husband to go to the prophet, yet not acquainting him with
her errand, lest he should not have faith enough to let her go.
II Kings 4:23 So he
said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the
Sabbath.” And she said, “It is well.”
– He objected, It is neither new
moon nor Sabbath, which intimates that on those feasts of YAHVEH she used
to go to the assembly in which he presided, with other good people, to hear the
word, and to join with him in prayers and praises. She did not think it enough
to have his help sometimes in her own family, but, though a great woman,
attended on public worship, for which this was none of the times appointed; therefore,
said the husband, "why wilt thou go to day? What is the matter?’’ "No
harm,’’ said she, "It shall be well, so you will say yourself
hereafter.’’ See how this husband and wife vied with each other in showing
mutual regard; she was so dutiful to him that she would not go till she had
acquainted him with her journey, and he so kind to her that he would not oppose
it, though she did not think fit to acquaint him with her business.
II Kings 4:24 - Then she saddled
a donkey, and said to her servant, “Drive, and go forward; do not slacken the pace
for me unless I tell you.” - She made all the haste she could to the prophet,
and he, seeing her at a distance, sent his servant to enquire whether any thing
was amiss.
II Kings 4:25 And so she
departed, and went to the man of YAHWH at Mount Carmel .
So it was, when the man of YAHVEH saw her afar off,
that he said to his servant Gehazi, “Look, the Shunammite woman!. - The
questions were particular: Is it well with thee? Is it well with thy
husband? Is it well with the child?
It well becomes the men of YAHVEH with tenderness and concern, to
enquire about the welfare of their friends and their families. The answer was
general It is well. Gehazi was not the man that she came to complain to,
and therefore she put him off with this; she said little, and little said is
soon amended (Ps. 39:1, 2), but what she did say was very patient: "It is
well with me, with my husband, with the child’’ all well, and yet the child
dead in the house.
II Kings 4:26“Please run now to meet
her, and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it
well with the child?’ ” And she answered, “It is well.” -
When YAHVEH calls away our dearest relations by death it becomes to us quietly
to say, "It is well both with us and them;’’ it is well, for all is well
that YAHVEH does; all is well with those that are gone if they have gone to
heaven, and all well with us that stay behind if by the affliction we are
furthered in our way thither.
II Kings 4:27 Now when she came to the man of YAHVEH at the hill, she caught him
by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of YAHVEH said,
“Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and YAHVEH has hidden it from
me, and has not told me.” - When she came to the prophet she humbly reasoned
with him concerning her present affliction. She threw herself at his feet, as
one troubled and in grief, which she never showed till she came to him who, she
believed, could help her. When her passion would do her service she knew how to
discover it, as well as how to conceal it when it would do her disservice.
Gehazi knew his master would not be pleased to see her lie at his feet, and
therefore would have raised her up; but Elisha waited to hear from her, since
he might not know immediately from YAHVEH, what was the cause of her trouble. YAHVEH
disclosed things to his prophets as he saw fit, not always as they desired; YAHVEH
did not show this to the prophet, because he might know it from the good woman
herself. What she said was very pathetic. She appealed to the prophet,
concerning her indifference to this mercy, which was now taken from her: "Did
I desire a son of my lord? No, thou knowest I did not; it was thy own
proposal, not mine; I did not fret for the want of a son, as Hannah, nor beg,
as Rachel, Give me children or else I die.’’
When any creature comfort
is taken from us, it is well if we can say, through grace, that we did not set
our hearts inordinately upon it; for, if we did, we have reason to fear it was
given in anger and taken away in wrath.
II Kings 4:28 So she
said, “Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me’?” - Concerning
her entire dependence upon the prophet’s word: Did I not say, Do not deceive
me? Yes, she did say so verse 16, and this reflection upon it may be
considered either:
[1.] As quarrelling with
the prophet for deceiving her. She was ready to think herself mocked with the
mercy when it was so soon removed, and that it would have been better she had
never had this child than to be deprived of him when she began to have comfort
in him. The loss of a mercy should not make us undervalue the gift of it. Or,
[2.] As pleading with the
prophet for the raising of the child to life again: "I said, Do not
deceive me, and I know thou wilt not.’’ However the providence of YAHVEH
may disappoint us, we may be sure the promise of YAHVEH never did, nor ever
will, deceive us: hope in that will not make us ashamed.
II Kings 4:29 Then he said to Gehazi, “Get
yourself ready, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet
anyone, do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; but lay
my staff on the face of the child.”
- That Elisha sent Gehazi to go in
all haste to the dead child, gave him his staff, and bade him lay that on the
face of the child. I know not what to make of this. Elisha knew that Elijah
raised the dead child with a very close application, stretching himself upon
the child, and praying again and again, and could he think to raise this child
by so slight a ceremony as this, especially when nothing hindered him from
coming himself? Shall such a power as this be delegated, and to no better man
that Gehazi? Bishop Hall suggests that it was done out of human conceit, and
not by divine instinct, and therefore it failed of the effect; YAHVEH will not
have such great favors made too cheap, nor shall they be too easily come by,
lest they be undervalued.
II Kings 4:30
And the mother of the child said, “As YAHVEH lives, and as your soul
lives, I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her. -
The woman resolved not to go back without the prophet himself: I will not
leave thee. She had no great expectation from the staff, she would have the
hand, and she was in the right place for it. Perhaps YAHVEH intended hereby to
teach us not to put that confidence in creatures, that are servants, which the
power of the Creator, their Master and ours, will alone bear the weight of.
II Kings 4:31 Now
Gehazi went on ahead of them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but
there was neither voice nor hearing. Therefore he went back to meet him, and
told him, saying, “The child has not awakened.” - Gehazi returns without
success, without the tidings of any sign of life in the child: The child
is not awaked, intimating, to the comfort of the mother, that its death was
but a sleep, and that he expected that it would shortly be awaked. In the
raising of dead souls to spiritual life ministers can do no more by their own
power than Gehazi here could; they lay the word, like the prophet’s staff,
before their faces, but there is neither voice nor hearing, till Messiyah, by
his Spirit, comes himself. The letter alone kills; it is the Spirit that gives
life. It is not prophesying upon dry bones that will put life into them, breath
must come from heaven and breathe upon those slain.
II Kings 4:32
When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his
bed. - The prophet, by earnest prayer, obtained from YAHVEH
the restoring of this dead child to life again. He found the child dead upon
his own bed.
II Kings 4:33
He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to
YAHVEH. - shut the door upon them. Even the dead child is spoken of as a person, one
of the two, for it was still in being and not lost. He shut out all company
that he might not seem to glory in the power YAHVEH had given him, or to use it
for ostentation and to be seen of men.
How closely the prophet
applied himself to this great operation, perhaps being sensible that he had
tempted YAHVEH too much in thinking to effect it by the staff in Gehazi’s hand,
for which he thought himself rebuked by the disappointment. He now found it a
harder task than he then thought, and therefore addressed himself to it with
great solemnity.
He prayed unto YAHVEH
El- ELYON, probably as Elijah had done, Let this child’s soul come into
him again. Messiyah raised the dead to life as one having authority, Damsel,
arise, young man, I say unto thee, Arise, Lazarus, come forth (for he was
powerful and faithful as a Son, the Lord of life), but Elijah and Elisha did it
by petition, as servants.
II Kings 4:34And he went up and lay on the child, and
put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands;
and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became
warm. - He lay upon the child, as if he would
communicate to him some of his vital heat or spirits. Thus he expressed the
earnestness of his desire, and gave a sign of that divine power which he
depended upon for the accomplishment of this great work.
He first put his mouth
to the child’s mouth, as if, in YAH’s name, he would breathe into him the
breath of life; then his eyes to the child’s eyes, to open them again to
the light of life; then his hands to the child’s hands, to put strength
into them. He then returned, and walked in the house, as one full of
care and concern, and wholly intent upon what he was about.
How gradually the
operation was performed. At the first application, the flesh of the child
waxed warm, which gave the prophet encouragement to continue instant in
prayer. After a while, the child sneezed seven times, which was an
indication, not only of life, but liveliness. Some have reported it as an
ancient tradition that when YAHVEH breathed into Adam the breath of life the
first evidence of his being alive was sneezing, which gave rise to the usage of
paying respect to those that sneeze. Some observe here that sneezing clears the
head, and there lay the child’s distemper.
II Kings 4:35 He
returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and
stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child
opened his eyes. - Then he went up stairs
again, and the second time, stretched himself upon the child. Those that
would be instrumental in conveying spiritual life to dead souls must thus
affect themselves with their case, and accommodate themselves to it, and labor
fervently in prayer for them.
II Kings 4:36 And he
called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her. And
when she came in to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” - How joyfully the child was
restored alive to his mother, and all parties concerned were not a little
comforted, Acts 20:12. See the power of YAHVEH, who kills and makes alive
again. See the power of prayer; as it has the key of the clouds, so it has the
key of death. See the power of faith; that fixed law of nature (that death is a
way whence there is no returning) shall rather be dispensed with than this
believing Shunammite shall be disappointed.
II Kings 4:37 So she
went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son
and went out. - Gratitude. One of the lessons believers can learn
from this righteous lady is that she did not ask for the blessings, and even
though it was given to her by Divine order, it was taken away from her
suddenly. It was a heartfelt needs, something she had desire for herself, yet
she was resolved to be contended in her position.
Many time as believers we
desire a thing, yet we are not revolved in the position, that we are still ok
with or without it. The world sees their toys as an indicator that defines
their success. With this woman, she was to opposite.
She was mature enough to
realize that she was not the one who ask, it was given to her. She also told
the Prophet not to mock her, when she fell into her predicament she went back
to the source and laid her burden on him. On her way she was ask, and her reply
all is well. This too was for good.
I believe that she did
not know, how or why, but she knew that if a servant of YAHVEH made her a
promise and it was taken away, it was for a reason. How many of us today, sees
our problem as an opportunity for good?
Brit Chadasha
‘Yaakov’James 2:14-24
In this latter part of
the chapter, the apostle shows the error of those who rested in a bare
profession of the Messiyanic Doctrine, as if that would save them, while the
temper of their minds and the tenor of their lives were altogether disagreeable
to that holy religion which they professed. To let them see, therefore, what a
wretched foundation they built their hopes upon; it is here proved at large
that a man is justified, not by faith only, but by works.
James 2:14 What does it profit,
my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith
save him? - Upon this verse arises a very
great question, namely, how to reconcile Paul and James. Paul, in his epistles
to the Romans and Galatians, seems to assert the directly contrary thing to
what James here lays down, saying if often, and with a great deal of emphasis, that we are justified by faith only and not
by the works of the law. There is a very happy agreement between one part of
scripture and another, notwithstanding seeming differences: it were well if the
differences among Christians were as easily reconciled. Religious men’s
misunderstanding the drift and sense of Paul’s epistles, could make so many
take it for a matter of great difficulty to reconcile Paul and James.’’
A general view of those things which are
insisted on by many false teaching: and many ways might be mentioned which have
been invented among learned men to make the apostles agree; but it may be
sufficient only to observe these few things following:
1. When Paul says that a
man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law (Rom. 3:28), he
plainly speaks of another sort of work than James does, but not of another sort
of faith. Paul speaks of works in obedience to the law of Moses, and before
men’s embracing the Messiyanic Doctrine of Torah he had to deal with those who
valued themselves so highly upon those works that they rejected the gospel (as
Rom. 10, at the beginning most expressly declares); but James speaks of works
done in obedience to the gospel, and as the proper and necessary effects and
fruits of sound believing in Messiyah Yahushua.
Both are concerned to
magnify the faith of the gospel, as that which alone could save us and justify
us; but Paul magnifies it by showing the insufficiency of any works of the law
before faith, or in opposition to the doctrine of justification by Messiyah
Yahushua; James magnifies the same faith, by showing what are the genuine and
necessary products and operations of it.
2. Paul not only speaks
of different works from those insisted on by James, but he speaks of a quite
different use that was made of good works from what is here urged and intended.
Paul had to do with those who depended on the merit of their works in the sight
of YAHVEH, and thus he might well make them of no manner of account.
James had to do with
those who cried up faith, but would not allow works to be used even as
evidence; they depended upon a bare profession, as sufficient to justify them;
and with these he might well urge the necessity and vast importance of good
works.
As we must not break one
table of the law, by dashing it against the other, so neither must we break in
pieces the law and the gospel, by making them clash with one another: those who
cry up the gospel so as to set aside the law, and those who cry up the law so
as to set aside the gospel, are both in the wrong; for we must take our work
before us; there must be both faith in Messiyah Yahushua and good works the
fruit of faith.
3. The justification of
which Paul speaks is different from that spoken of by James; the one speaks of
our persons being justified before YAHVEH, the other speaks of our faith being
justified before men: "Show me thy faith by thy works,’’ says
James, "let thy faith be justified in the eyes of those that behold thee
by thy works;’’ but Paul speaks of justification in the sight of YAHVEH, who
justifies those only that believe in Yahushua, and purely on account of the
redemption that is in him. Therefore we see that our persons are justified
before YAHVEH by faith, but our faith is justified before men by works.
This is so plainly the
scope and design of the apostle James that he is but confirming what Paul, in
other places, says of his faith, that it is a laborious faith, and a faith
working by love, Gal. 5:6; 1 Th. 1:3; Titus 3:8; and many other places.
4. Paul may be understood
as speaking of that justification which is inchoate, James of that which is
complete; it is by faith only that we are put into a justified state,
but then good works come as a result of our justification at the last great
day; then, Come you children of my Father for I was hungry, and you gave me
meat, etc.
Having therefore cleared
this part of scripture from every thing of a contradiction to other parts of
it, let us see what is more particularly to be learnt from this excellent
passage of James; we are taught.
,
James 2:15 If a brother or sister is naked
and destitute of daily food, - We are
taught that, as love or charity is an operative principle, so is faith, and
that neither of them would otherwise be good for any thing; and, by trying how
it looks for a person to pretend he is very charitable who yet never does any
works of charity, you may judge what sense there is in pretending to have faith
without the proper and necessary fruits of it: "If a brother or a
sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them,
Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled, notwithstanding you give them not
those things which are needful to the body, what doth it profit?
What will such a charity
accomplish, that consists in bare words, avail either you or the poor? Will you
come before YAHVEH with such empty shows of charity as these? You might as well
pretend that your love and charity will stand the test without acts of mercy as
think that a profession of faith will bear you out before YAHVEH without works
of piety and obedience.
James 2:16 and one of you says to them,
“Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things
which are needed for the body, what does it profit? - That faith without works will not profit, and cannot
save us. What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, and
have not works? Can faith save him?
(1.) That faith which
does not save and mature will not profit us; a bare profession may sometimes
seem to be profitable, to gain the good opinion of those who are truly good,
and it may procure in some cases worldly good things; but what profit will this
be, for any to gain the world and to lose their souls? What doth it profit?
Can faith save him? All things should be accounted profitable or
unprofitable to us as they tend to forward or hinder the maturity of our souls.
And, above all other things, we should take care thus to make account of faith,
as that which does not profit, if it do not save, but will aggravate our
condemnation and destruction at last.
(2.) For a man to have
faith, and to say he has faith, are two different things; the apostle does not
say, If a man have faith without works, for that is not a supposable
case; the drift of this place of scripture is plainly to show that an opinion,
or speculation, or assent, without works, is not faith; but the case is put
thus, If a man say he hath faith, etc. Men may boast of that to others,
and be conceited of that in themselves, of which they are really destitute.
James 2:17
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. - Even so faith, if it hath not works, is
dead, being along,’’ - We are too apt to rest in a bare profession of
faith, and to think that this will save us; it is a cheap and easy religion to
say, "We believe the articles of the Messiyanic Doctrine;’’ but it is a
great delusion to imagine that this is enough to bring us to heaven.
Those who argue therefore
wrong YAHVEH, and put a cheat upon their own souls; a mock-faith is as hateful
as mock-charity, and both show a heart dead to all real godliness. You may as
soon take pleasure in a dead body, void of soul, or sense, or action, as YAHVEH
take pleasure in a dead faith, where there are no works.
James 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me
your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. - We are taught to compare a faith without works and a
faith evidenced by works, by looking on both together, to try how this
comparison will work upon our minds. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith,
and I have works. Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my
faith by my works.
Suppose a true believer therefore pleading
with a boasting hypocrite, "Thou makest a profession, and sayest thou hast
faith; I make no such boasts, but leave my works to speak for me. Now give any
evidence of having the faith thou professest without works if thou canst, and I
will soon let thee see how my works flow from faith and are the undoubted
evidences of its existence.’’ This is the evidence by which the scriptures all
along teach men to judge both of themselves and others. And this is the
evidence according to which Messiyah will proceed at the day of judgment. The
dead were judged according to their works, Rev. 20:12. How will those be
exposed then who boast of that which they cannot evidence, or who go about to
evidence their faith by any thing but works of piety and mercy!
James 2:19
You believe that there is one Elohim. You do well. Even the demons believe—and
tremble! - We are taught
to look upon a faith of bare speculation and knowledge as the faith of devils: Thou
believest that there is one Elohim; thou doest well; the devils also believe,
and tremble. That instance of faith which the apostle here chooses to
mention is the first principle of all religion. "Thou believest that
there is a EL, against the atheists; and that there is but one EL, against
the idolaters; thou doest well: so far all is right.
The word tremble is
commonly looked upon as denoting as fear or reverence; but here it may rather
be taken as a bad effect, when applied to the faith of devils. They tremble,
not out of reverence, but hatred and opposition to that one EL “God” on whom
they believe. To rehearse that article of our creed, therefore, I believe in
YAHVEH the Father Almighty, will not distinguish us from the devils, unless
we now give up ourselves to YAHVEH as the gospel directs, and love HIM, and
delight ourselves in HIM, and serve HIM, which the devils do not, or cannot do.
James 2:20
But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? - We
are taught that he who boasts of faith without works is to be looked upon at
present as a foolish condemned person. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that
faith without works is dead? The words translated vain man are
observed to have the same signification with the word Raca, which must
never be used to critic private persons, or as an effect of anger (Mt. 5:22),
but may be used as here, to denote a just detestation of such a sort of men as
are empty of good works, and yet boasters of their faith.
It plainly declares them
fools and objects in the sight of YAHVEH. Faith without works is said to be dead,
not only as void of all those operations which are the proofs of spiritual
life, but as unavailable to eternal life: such believers as rest in a bare
profession of faith are dead while they live.
If one only wishes to go
to the mountaintop and does not make any effort, it does not make that person
on equal term with the person who diligently, step by step makes it all the way
to the top. A person who sees another person clime Mt.
James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father
justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? - We
are taught that a justifying faith cannot be without works, from two examples,
Abraham and Rahab.
The first instance is
that of Abraham, the father of the faithful, and the prime example of
justification, to whom the Yisraelites had a special regard: Was not Abraham
our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the
altar? Paul, on the other hand, says (in ch. 4 of the epistle to the
Romans) that Abraham believed, and it was counted to him for righteousness.
But these are well
reconciled, by observing what is said in Heb. 11, which shows that the faith
both of Abraham and Rahab was such as to produce those good works of which
James speaks, and which are not to be separated from faith as justifying and saving.
By what Abraham did, it appeared that he truly believed. Upon this footing, the
words of YAHVEH Himself plainly put this matter. Gen. 22:16, 17, Because thou hast done this thing, and
hast not withheld thy son, thine only son; therefore in blessing I will bless
thee.
James 2:22
Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works
faith was made perfect? - Thus the faith
of Abraham was a working faith, it wrought with his works, and by works was
made perfect.
James 2:23
And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed YAHVEH, and
it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of YAHVEH. - And
by this means you come to the true sense of that scripture which saith, Abraham
believed YAHVEH, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness. And
therefore he became the friend of YAHVEH. Faith, producing such works,
endeared him to the divine Being, and advanced him to very peculiar favors and
intimacies with YAHVEH. It is a great honor done to Abraham that he is called
and counted the friend of YAHVEH.
James 2:24
You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. - You
see then how that by works a man is justified (comes into such a state
of favor and friendship with YAHVEH), and not by faith only; not by a
bare opinion, or profession, or believing without obeying, but by having such a
faith as is productive of good works. Now besides the explication of this
passage and example, as thus illustrating and supporting the argument James is
upon, many other useful lessons may be learned by us from what is here said
concerning Abraham.
Those who desire
Abraham’s blessings must be careful to copy after his faith: to boast of being
Abraham’s seed will not avail any, if they do not believe as he did.
Those works which
evidence true faith must be a works of self-denial, and such as YAHVEH commands
(as Abraham’s offering up his son, his only son, was), and not such works as
are pleasing to flesh and blood and may serve our interest, or are the mere
fruits of our own imagination and devising.
What we piously purpose
and sincerely resolve to do for YAHVEH is accepted as if actually performed.
Thus Abraham is regarded as offering up his son, though he did not actually
proceed to make a sacrifice of him. It was a done thing in the mind, and
spirit, and resolution of Abraham, and YAHVEH accepts it as if fully performed
and accomplished.
The actions of faith make
it grow perfect, as the truth of faith makes it act. Such an acting faith will
make others, as well as Abraham, friends of YAHVEH. Therefore Messiyah says to
his disciples, I have called you friends, Jn. 15:15. All transactions
between YAHVEH and the truly believing soul are easy, pleasant, and delightful.
There is one will and one heart, and there is a mutual complacency. YAHVEH
rejoiceth over those who truly believe, to do them good; and they delight
themselves in him.
James 2:25
Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she
received the messengers and sent them out another way? - The second example of faith’s justifying itself and
us with and by works is Rahab: Likewise also was not Rahab the business
woman justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent
them out another way? The former instance was of one renowned for his faith
all his life long, This is of one noted for sin, whose faith was meaner and of
a much lower degree; so that the strongest faith will not do, nor the meanest
be allowed to go without works.
This Rahab believed the report
she had heard of YAH’s powerful presence with Yisrael; but that which proved
her faith sincere was, that, to the hazard of her life, she received the
messengers, and sent them out another way.
[1.] The wonderful power
of faith in transforming and changing sinners.
[2.] The regard which an
operative faith meets with from YAHVEH, to obtain his mercy and favor.
[3.] Where great sins are
pardoned, there must prefer the honor of YAHVEH and the good of his people
before the preservation of her own country.
Her former acquaintance
must be discarded, her former course of life entirely abandoned, and she must
give proof and evidence of this before she could be in a justified state; and
even after she is justified, yet her former character must be remembered; not
so much to her dishonor as to glorify the rich grace and mercy of YAHVEH.
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is
dead, so faith without works is dead also. – Pertaining
to the whole matter, the apostle draws this conclusion, As the body without
the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. These words are
read differently; some reading them, As the body without the breath is dead,
so is faith without works: and then they show that works are the companions
of faith, as breathing is of life. Others read them, As the body without the
soul is dead, so faith without works is dead also: and then they show that
as the body has no action, nor beauty, but becomes a loathsome carcass, when
the soul is gone, so a bare profession without works is useless, yea, loathsome
and offensive.
Let us then take head of
running into extremes in this case. For,
(1.) The best works,
without faith, are dead; they want their root and principle. It is by faith
that any thing we do is really good, as done with an eye to YAHVEH, in
obedience to him, and so as to aim principally at his acceptance.
(2.) The most plausible
profession of faith, without works, is dead: as the root is dead when it
produces nothing green, nothing of fruit. Faith is the root, good works are the
fruits, and we must see to it that we have both. We must not think that either,
without the other, will justify and save us. This is the grace of YAHVEH
wherein we stand, and we should stand to it.
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