Vayeira

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 of Knowledge and

The Spirit of Wisdom

As I read through this Parasha

That the Truth of the Torah may

Come forth. Amen

       This Torah portion of Veyeira ‘He saw’, is the 4^th of the cycle, 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 after the destruction of Sodom.

The Torah tells us that Lot’s daughters said, “We will make alive, from our father, a continuation, and a zerah.” The daughters use the Hebrew word zerah, or seed, rather than the word child.  The choice of word indicates their motives for having sex 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 YAHWEH appeared to Abraham.

We have an account in this chapter of another interview between YAHWEH 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 YAHWEH made to Abraham, and the kind entertainment which he gave to that visit, verse 1-8. 

II. The matters discoursed of between them. 

1. The purposes of YAH’s love concerning Sarah verse 9–15. 

2.           The purposes of YAH’s wrath concerning Sodom. 

(1.) The discovery YAHWEH made to Abraham of HIS design to destroy Sodom verse 16–22. 

(2.) The intercession Abraham made for Sodom verse 23, etc.

        

As we listen to the reading of this Parasha boundless blessing will be revealed. These chapters and verses themselves will instill within us the courage to transcend all form of physical discomfort, inspiring us to share and to care unconditionally for other, especially during the time when we are most self-involved.

Because mercy is in such abundance in this Parasha, we can devote our awareness to our self-transformation, which will assist in neutralizing the karmic judgment that hangover us.

Therefore if we transform our selfish nature to a sharing one, this light of Vayeira will elevate us into a blessed realm. But if we are imprisoned by our selfishness, our path to the light will be one of enormous difficulty, torment and suffering.

Each of us possesses the potential for both selfish and sharing traits. The Divine light that emanates from this particular Parasha will gently vanquishes the selfish trait from our lives, ensuring that a final redemption that id free of judgment and overflowing with mercy.

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 YAHWEH 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 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 have been 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 YAHWEH 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 their 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, which 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, Master, dost You wash my feet?  ⁷ Yahushua (Jesus) answered and said unto him, What I do You knowest not now; but You shall know hereafter. ⁸ Peter saith unto him, You shall never wash my feet. Yahushua answered him, if I wash thee not, You 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 offers the three Men milk and meat. I thought 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 itself.

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, socially and emotionally; 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. YAHWEH will permit women leaders, where there are no suitable men. I want to live in YAHWEH 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 YAHWEH  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 YAHWEH’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 YAHWEH 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. They delayed their departure to give Abraham a chance to intercede on their behalf. All mature believers will always intercede on behalf of the lost soul: they understand the importance of every living person who was created in the Image of the Creator.

          I said before, that I believe that Abraham was a prophet; here we see EL YAHWEH 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 YAHWEH informed Abraham about His plan to deal with the wicked.

YAHWEH 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, even if the majority of the population was unsaved, the righteous few would spare the other.

The implication of verse 19, imply that the root of Sodom’s wickedness lay in its failure to abide by the principle that Abraham would instill in his offspring. The cruelties of Sodom had become part of the language as the archetype of selfishness, callousness, insensitivity, and depravity: the root of their evil was greed.

Sodom was a very rich and fertile land, as such; it became a magnet for people seeking their piece of the pie. The citizen of Sodom wanted to maintain their own prosperity on the backs of the new immigrants. However, the wealthy and well-connected Lots of the world were welcome with open arms.

The sexual perversion for which Sodom is notorious was employed to keep visitors away. Such selfish act manifests itself in cruelty and perversion and a civilization that elevates such behavior by using the law, forfeits its right to exist.

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 (ידע   yâda‛ yaw-dah')( A primitive root; to know (properly to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively instruction, designation, punishment, etc.): - acknowledge, acquaintance (-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, [un-] awares, can [-not], certainly, for a certainty, comprehend, consider, X could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be [ig-] norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to, let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have [knowledge], (be, make, make to be, make self) known, + be learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have [understanding], X will be, wist, wit, wot.) 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 YAHWEH loved or knew Abraham because Abraham would always convey YAHWEH’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 YAHWEH said the outcry against the City of Sodom has come to His attention. The cry of the oppress begging for liberation from its sin is a vital tool to incurred EL YAHWEH judgment. EL YAHWEH Himself will come to see if this is true before judgment is made. If the matter warrants destruction then destruction is it. If it was a small matter, maybe some punishment, if not He alone will decide what to do. 

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, while the Third stayed behind. Abraham got into an intercessor discussion pertaining to the destruction of Sodom. Abraham prayer was twofold. He argued that the Attribute of Justice must be tempered by Mercy: the mature believer that Abraham was, he bargains from 50 all the way down to 10, so that if there were 10 truly righteous people, two in each city, it would be spared.

          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 YAHWEH course of justice was a sacrilege. Abraham feared that future generation would lose faith in the fairness of EL YAHWEH’s justice if they felt that YAHWEH would inflict equal punishment on the righteous and the wicked.

          As mature believer we have the right to bargain with EL YAHWEH, 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 YAHWEH 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 YAHWEH, 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 YAHWEH 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 YAHWEH 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 engaged his sympathy, and he overflowed with sorrow over their impending destruction.

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 “What if there are 50 innocent people in the city? Are you really going to sweep them away? Won't you spare that place for the sake of the 50 innocent people who are in it?” “ 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. Furthermore, a mature believer should be involved with his fellow man, trying to influence them to grow spiritually.

When the people of Sodom and Gomorrah anger YAHWEH because of the debased behavior of the people, Abraham argues with YAHWEH on behalf of the cities and their inhabitants. What if there are fifty righteous people will YOU wipe out the city.

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 YAHWEH had acquiesced to Abraham’s petition, but now Abraham was begging YAHWEH indulgence to continue his pleas. Suspecting that his first request would go unveiled, because of the lack of fifty righteous persons, Abraham asked YAHWEH 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.

In this verse we see Abraham seems to be acknowledging his humanness in contrast to YAH’S Divinity, but by using the word Anochi, Abraham is affirming his godself, the god within, and draws strength and fortitude from his internal godness.

Abraham uncertainty seems to vanish; he immediately begins bargaining with YAHWEH to save the cities. Supposed there were forty-five, frothy, thirty, twenty, righteous people. The negotiation stops at ten, for Abraham was certain that there were.

This exchange also is an early question of human existence that is still being asked today: is my god within, grounded enough in YAHWEH that I am strong enough in my inner godness to be in dialogue with or even dispute with the CREATOR?

The answer of Abraham is a clear yes, we can be inspired by him to understand and answering the same manna in our days.

When we as human speak the word Anochi, it is an expression from the high-test level of human existence, the greatness off the god within. It is an utterance, which is the object and the goal of our human journey here on earth, is to be like our CREATOR.

Anochi is a word that we can all strive to be able to speak. Yet, there is a serious and profound caution that is stated clearly and unequivocally. Anochi, god within is not God the CREATOR. We are all gods, but YAHWEH is the God of all gods.

The notion of god within may lead some to believe that human being are gods, Psalms 82:5-7 and John 10:35 says we are gods, but many of us will die like men. It is only in this time of the hiddeness of the real name, that most believers do not realize that we are gods in training.

Instead, we call YAHWEH FATHER, if HE is our FATHER and HE is a god, then he also are gods. I know that YAHWEH dwells within all mankind, when HE blew the breath of life when we were born; but we have not maintain the singularity and the uniqueness of the Divine Entity, we seek knowledge of YAHWEH

                                                                                              

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, the seat of mans ultimate depravity. They discovered that the population had more than justified the need for the Divine judgment. 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 had stifled the growth of Lots life, not to the point where he turn against EL YAHWEH, but to the degree that his association with Sodomite impedes his spiritual development. Another principle that is worthy of our attention chose our friends wisely. Some friends are like a mill stone chained to our feet, while other is wind in our sail, willing us forward spiritually.

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 did recognize them, so he rose to meet them and bowed in their presence. As most people might think, Lot was not a total lost. Lot squanders the opportunity to grow into the Fullness of EL YAHWEH. Like a lot of believers today, who never reach full maturity, because of whom they choose to associate with? When the trumpet sounds heralding in the end of days, there will be a type of Lot believers who will be taken away to a safe area before the tribulation.

Lot represents a type of believer that has been called out of the world (Ur) but never make it into the fullness of what we are called to be. Many was called out of 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.

Lot was ashamed, He did not wanted to be seen in the presence of righteousness. Many believers today, like a Pastor friend of mine keep Pentecost in secret, but refuse to teach his congregation the spiritual benefit. He claims that it is not wise to tell his church that it must be kept. This is a form of the Lot mentality.

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 YAHWEH 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 darkness. 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 YAHWEH 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 came after the visitor.

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.

Lot made a further appeal that as long as these guests were in his house; they are under his personal protection. Quite often in order to shed light on a situation EL YAHWEH created an environment to bring to light, two opposing forces that had been occupying the same space. This was Lot’s second day of creation; EL YAHWEH was separating the water under the Heavens and the water on the earth. Lot was finally able to see his friends for who they are. It is always difficult for immature believer to discern true from careful disguise lies.

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 YAHWEH. Scripture says that EL YAHWEH 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 YAHWEH said, You shall entice him, and You shall also prevail: go out, and do even so. ²²Now therefore, behold, YAHWEH hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and YAHWEH 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 YAHWEH was about to make these five cities an example for future Yisrael. Other wicked nations were not punished as severely as Sodom. These cities were situated in the Land of Yisrael, which will be EL YAHWEH heritage, He would not tolerate such abominations in its midst.

If the Anglican Church is destroyed soon then we will know that there were in EL YAHWEH 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.

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. Their character traits are telltale sign of our spiritual deficiency. Many believers have never been taught how to interpret our character trait.

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.

Lot was been saved from the judgment, his seed would produce two important Scriptural characters: Ruth the ancestress of David and Naamah the Ammonitess, who would later marry King Solomon.

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, but Noah and Abraham witness the destruction from a distant. 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 she was giving up for her spiritual security. We are admonishing that anyone who put his or her hand to the task and look back is unworthy.

Lot like most immature believer begged for concession, for he was afraid that if he was required to flee to the mountain suggested by the angels, he would not make it. He asks that one of the five towns be spared at least for a short time, so that he could take refuge there. Did Lot become a fat cat in Sodom? Was the strain of leaving Sodom too great for his luxurious life style?

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 difficult 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 accustoming 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 YAHWEH 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 YAHWEH 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 YAHWEH, 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.  The Torah says that Lot and his two daughters sought refuge in a place called Tzo’ar after leaving Sodom. However, they soon vacate that city for fear that it too would become a victim of the onslaught.

The Aramaic word Tzo’ar is connect to the Aramaic word Tsa’ar , which means “agony.”  This is the agony of hell, referring both to hell and death and to hell on earth, which is the pain and torment we suffer in this world as a result of our intolerance desire and materialistic attachments. 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.”  Here we have a marvelous metaphor that tells us a great deal about human nature. THE DAUGHTERS OF Lot represent the Evil inclination and the egocentric behavior it incites. Lots fear is our fear, namely our recognition and admission of our negative traits during the time when we are experiencing distress.

When we are distressed we promise to change. While, we are enmeshed in the consequence of our misdeeds, we vow to alter our lifestyle and amend our behavior. However as soon as our suffering ceases and the good times return, we forget those moments of clarity and truth.

We are again seduced whether knowingly or unknowingly by the trappings of the material world and deceived by the illusionary aspect of physicality.

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.”   While Lot and his two daughters were seeking refuge in Tzo’ar the cities of Sodom and Gomarroh were annihilated by fire and brimstone. Fearing to stay in Tzo’ar, they then left, choosing to dwell in a cave up on a mountain.

While in the cave, Lot’s two daughters develop a fear that the end of civilization was at hand. The two daughters suggested they intoxicate their father with wine and seduce him so that they would bear children and continue the human race. Both daughters had sexual relationship with their father while he was inebriated and virtually uncounscious. Both daughters eventually gave birth to male children, the elder daughter to a boy name Moab, the youngest to a son called Amon. The son born to the oldest became the forefather to the Messiyah, through Ruth and King David.

In an attempt to unravel the mystery of Messiyah from an incestuous relationship, it tells us that the world and the soul of man are like a lump of clay spinning on a potter’s wheel. As long as the wheel is in motion, the craftsman is able to shape the clay into any form he wished.

Every one of us begins life as a shapeless piece of clay. Our world constantly revolves so that our souls may evolve on the wheel of life called the Torah cycle. As we shape and refashion our lives, we attempt to transform our nature completely from extreme negativity and darkness to the supremely positive light of the Creator.

The revolving of the world and the evolution of our soul over many lifetimes occurs so that we can become the craftsmen of Creation. This is how we become co-creator of the light in our lives, the cause of our own spiritual fulfillment.

It is heartening to realize that the most negative situations invariably hold the greatest promise for positive spiritual growth, for ours is a world of exquisite balance. Therefore, the ultimate darkness is inherently transformable into the brightest of light. That is why you will hear me say that Black people have the greatest capacity to produce the Light of the CREATOR.

We are now living in the Age of Messiyah when we can generate the greatest possible spiritual light in this world. Therefore, the Messiyah must emerge from the lowest, darkest realm, which is signified by the incestuous relationship of Lot and his daughters.

In each of us is the power to transform our nature completely and to achieve a personal state of full maturity, Messiyah within. Instead of experiencing guilt or shame or even worst, apathy, as a consequence of our negative actions, we should be inspired by the opportunity to reshape our soul into the greatest Vessel of Light.

19:33 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. This was a Divine Providence that ensures that the Messiyah would descend from the child of Lot’s eldest daughter.

Gen 19:34  And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yester night with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. Always remember that women in scripture represent the flesh and men the spirit. The flesh can only influence the spirit through trickery.

Gen 19:35  And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. Here is also another spiritual lesson, anytime the flesh or a woman is successful against the spirit the man, she will always share it with another. Notice this verse says Lot did not knew when she lay down and when she got up. Just like Adam who did not realize the motive behind Eve and the forbidden fruit. Nor did Sampson with Delilah.

19:36 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. – The incestuous relationship between Lot and his daughters is also a metaphor for the machinations of our own Evil Inclination and for the wickedness that men do. It is during the lowest level of our sleep, the lowest level of our soul ignites evil desires and negative thoughts. These profane thoughts are then conceived and born into our heart.

This process is the secret meaning behind Lot’s daughters’ act of sleeping with their father, and it refers specifically to the actual moment of conception.

The mention of sleep is a reference to people who are unenlightened and who live a shallow existence, lacking any awareness of their spiritual lives. They lived a life of robotically, routinely, governed by their ego and controlled solely by their materialistic desire. This way of life provides the fertile soil for our evil inclination.

After the lowest level of our soul generates negative desires and thoughts so that they are conceived in the heart, it arouses and stimulates the power of the body until an evil thought in our heart becomes completely attached to it. This is the hidden secret behind the physical birth of Lot’s daughters’ children, as stated in this verse.

Even though Lot moved to a higher plain of spiritual existence, they were not mature enough to withstand the temptation to come.

 Lot’s daughters were modest, righteous women whose actions were nobly motivated. Thinking that they were the only surviving humans from the past destruction, they could have felt that it was their responsibility to save the human race and carrying on their father linage.

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 was raising its ugly head, so they went to their father.

It is sometime difficult to remove the practice of the world from our lives, when we have dwelt there so long. However, Father YAHWEH, will always take us from where 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.

Chapter 20

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. Abraham and Sarah traveled to the City of Gerar, where Abraham tries to prevent himself from getting killed told the people that Sarah was his sister. Sister is a code word that refers to the feminine Divine presence known as the Shechina, while Gerar is a code word for negativity and darkness.

The word Gerar means “to drag away,” and we can take this to mean that Abraham went to a place where he might be dragged or pulled away from his continuing connection with YAHWEH. The inner meaning of this episode is offered in the following explanation.

Before Abraham or us for that matter, goes down to the darkness and negativity, we must first attach ourselves as Abraham did to the CREATOR via the Shechina. The spiritual principle concealed in this story can be revealed by an analogy. If a person lowers themselves into a dark pit filled with poisons snakes in order to retrieve a valuable coin, he should first secure himself to a strong rope to ensure a safe retreat.

The rope becomes his life line as he enters the dangerous environment. Likewise, Abraham attached himself to the force called the Shechinah (Sarah) before entering the pit of negativity “The city of Gerar” so that he could maintain a lifeline to his CREATOR.

There are time when we are lured into negative situation, without any supernal assistance, we fall prey to the traps and temptations set up by the forces of negativity. In addition, we are affected by the negative influence of the stars and planets.

By attaching ourselves to the Shechina, however, we built a secure lifeline to the CREATOR, to assist us during those difficult moments in life when we stumble and walk in darkness. Therefore, we are unable to nullify all negative cosmic forces and become the master of our own destiny.

20:2 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 cowardness, much like what He did in Egypt the first time he hid behind his wife. This is not the behavior of a mature believer as we read it. This is not the same man who a few chapters ago armed his servants and wage war until his nephew was freed. That is why I say this story does not fit the character at this stage of Abraham life. However, when we read the explanation in verse 1, we glean a better understanding.

Verse 2 says that Abimelech 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 YAHWEH had to appear to Abimelech in a dream, and told him do not touch this woman. The Sovereign Will of YAHWEH cannot be altered by anyone; EL YAHWEH had to protect His Covenant by keeping Abimelech away from Sarah. The evil-one will always send an Abimelech 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 Abimelech from taking Sarah as a wife, EL YAHWEH made him erectile dysfunction. This king was no fool; he knew that it was the will of Elohim. He reasoned with YAHWEH’s sense of reasoning, “will You slay a righteous nation”.

EL YAHWEH went out of His way to rescues righteous Lot and his family, before the destruction of Sodom. EL YAHWEH never said that Abimelek was not a king of a righteous nation.

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. – This is such a problematic text. Is יהוה so demanding and jealous that punishment for disobeying the Principles of the Kingdom stretches four generations. What kind of El “God” holds great-great-grandchildren responsible for the acts of their ancestors?

Was Abimelech reasoning with EL YAHWEH? There seems to be a pattern been developed, if the agenda is divine or based on divine principles, we can argued with EL YAHWEH. 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  YAHWEH your Elohim, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that YAHWEH 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 YAHWEH 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 producer 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 YAHWEH renewed Abram and Sarai they must have drop at least 20-30 years off the previous appearance. I can understand 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 Abimelech is death to him and his household. Abraham and Sarah was part of EL YAHWEH Sovereign Will, which cannot be change. Even Though the persons to whom the promise was made was not walking right. EL YAHWEH will always protect His people with His Rod and His Staff.

Gen 20:8 So Abimelecẖ 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 Abimelech, he raised early in the morning, an excellent trait of a believer. This is not a question if Abimelech was right or wrong, he was prevented from acting against EL YAHWEH 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. Abimelech 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 YAHWEH Laws.

Gen 20:10-11 And Abimelecẖ 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 YAHWEH. 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 YAHWEH 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 downright untruth. Abraham was never punishing by EL YAHWEH for these 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 easily 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 thousands of people to transgress the forth commandment. Yet it was not a willful act. Abraham did not willfully set out to deceive Abimelech; however, that is exactly what happens.

Gen 20:14-15 Then Abimelech took sheep, and cattle, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham. And he returned Sarah his wife to him. And Abimelech said, “See, my land is before you, dwell wherever it is good in your eyes.”- Abimelech 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 Abimelech 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 Abimelecẖ, and his wife, and his female servants, so they bore children, - The seed of Abraham will pray to EL YAHWEH and heal Abimelech (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 Abimelecẖ because of Sarah, Abraham’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 neighbor 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 YAHWEH’s chosen people.

The Christian church have not been fertile in a long time, like Sarah it will take the Hand of YAHWEH to revive what was design to be a productive organ, to fulfilled its original plan.

EL YAHWEH 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 15^th day of the Seventh month the beginning of the feast of tabernacle and was circumcised on the 8^th 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 YAHWEH, 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. 

21:10 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.” – The word Sarah represent the Church in a state of righteousness, when the ego is dead and the body is at rest in this lifetime. The verse where the CREATOR visits Sarah refers to the light of the CREATOR arriving in this world at the end of days to commence the resurrection of the dead.

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 yourself 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, listens to her voice, for in Yitsḥaq your seed is called. - EL YAHWEH comforted Abraham in two ways; He said that Sarah’s directive was prophetic and in accordance with EL YAHWEH 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 YAHWEH Sovereign and His Permissive Will; every believer should strive to operate under the Sovereign Will of EL YAHWEH.

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 YAHWEH will also make of them a nation. This was prophesying 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 YAHWEH’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 lose 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 YAHWEH 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 YAHWEH 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.  – The peace treaty between Abraham and Abimelech is the first treaty to appear in the Torah, and as such, it is the root and source of all peace treaties between nations.

21:23 “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.” 

21:24 And Aḇraham said, “I swear.”

21:25 And Aḇraham reproved Aḇimeleḵ because of a well of water which Aḇimeleḵ’s servants had seized.  Abraham and Abimelech had a disagreement over a well belonging to Abraham that Abimelech’s servants had seized.

The significance of this disagreement is the effort made by Abraham to inject spiritual forces of the healing into the water. Here Abimelech symbolizes the contamination of Earth’s water, while Abraham symbolizes the rehabilitation of our oceans, lakes, and rivers.

21:26 And Aḇimeleḵ said, “I do not know who has done this deed. Neither did you inform me, nor did I hear until today.”

21:27 So Aḇraham took sheep and cattle and gave them to Aḇimeleḵ, and the two of them made a covenant.

21:28 And Aḇraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

21:29 And Aḇimeleḵ asked Aḇraham, “What are these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves?”

21:30 And he said, “Take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, to be my witness that I have dug this well.”

21:31 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 YAHWEH had done for Abraham, Abimelech came to seal a covenant with Abraham. Abimelech stresses that he sought the treaty of friendship not because of Abraham’s wealth or power, but because EL YAHWEH is with Abraham.

Does the world seek us out because we are blessed? Deut 28:¹² “YAHWEH 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 YAHWEH will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of YAHWEH 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 YAHWEH 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 YAHWEH.

Chapter 22

In return for Abraham’s superhuman dedication to EL YAHWEH, 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 YAHWEH had assured him that he would become a great nation there.

3.     The corruption in Egypt that resulted in the Abduction of Sarah.

4.     The war with the four kings.

5.     His relationship with Hagar.

6.     The command to circumcision.

7.     Abimelech 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. Every command that we learn, we will be tested accordingly. As there are 10 commandments, there are ten tests to see if we are qualified to be given the power and authority of the Kingdom.

These tests are tools of elevations, a mode of transportation to the next level of spiritual revelation. As EL YAHWEH elevates Abraham, through trials upon trial, greatness after greatness until Abraham could achieve nothing higher. After these events we do not find EL YAHWEH addressing Abraham again, for Abraham had achieved the peak of his spiritual potential.

Abraham experience ten tests in his lifetime to allow him to evolve and strengthen himself spiritually. The ninth of these tests was when he expelled Ishmael, and the tenth was when he offered Isaac as a sacrifice.

The magnitude of these test was unprecedented in human history. Abraham had to wait until the age of 100 to finally had a child, and then the CREATOR asked him to sacrifice him.

This story prompts us to examine how much of what we love we are  willing to sacrifice for our connection to the light of the  CREATOR. Paradoxically, the more we resist sacrifice and the more we avoided the test of life, the more we will lose in the long run. However, the more willingly we give and the more we embrace life’s test with certainty, the more we stand to gain.

Gen 22:2 And He said, “Take your son, now, your only son Yitsḥaq, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriyah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I command you.” – All true fathers goal is to bring up his sons, whom they loved, bringing him to their spiritual 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 YAHWEH.

We are here told that Abraham rose early on that day he was supposed to sacrifice Isaac. Although an unimaginably painful test awaited him, He proactively embrace the challenge.

Our human nature is to engage in negative practice that gratifies the narcissistic aspects of our personality. Too often, we are slow to accept the difficult spiritual tasks that we must perform in order to transform ourselves in a vessel of light. In truth, while such procrastination may provide a tiny measure of comfort and relief in the immediate, we bear increased pain over the long run.

This final test of Abraham, the one that require such unswerving trust and obedience, can be construed as our own final test. Abraham the father of faith, success is bestowed upon all who are on this spiritual journey to our promise land. Along with his fearlessness and unwavering trust in the CREATOR.

As he walked with Isaac to the place of sacrifice, Abraham was granted a crystal clear vision of his future grandson, Jacob, the predestined son of Isaac. Abraham perceives the important role Jacob would play in the world; none the less, despite this compelling vision, he remained true to his commitment to sacrifice his son. Abraham surrenders total control, placing all his trust in the CREATOR’S Words.

                                                                                

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 as 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 YAHWEH. The only one, who is required to sacrifice Himself, is our Lord and Savior El Yahushua.

Gen 22:9 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. – Abraham represents the concept of mercy, as Isaac represent the concept of Judgment. In our own lives, we need to sweeten and tempered our judgment with kindhearted mercy; we must also learn to awaken spiritual judgment with our desire to share. Striking a delicate balance between these attributes of judgment and mercy can be a lifelong spiritual journey. Thankful, the act of listening to this week reading about Abraham will provides us the quality of mercy so that we are transformed into a balanced and loving people.

          Without the Light of Abraham this objective could not be made. There is something in our nature that repeatedly provokes us to indulge in negative behavior, even though it goes against our very will. Likewise, we seem compelled to forsake positive actions despite our best intensions to follow through. This uniquely human idiosyncrasy demonstrates the ongoing conflict between our body’s desire to receive and our soul desire to share. Our evil inclination is the culprit that influences our choice to succumb to the whims of the flesh.

          Isaac is a code word referring to left Colum energy, our reactive, self-centered desire to receive and our physical body. Abraham on the other hand is a code word for the right Colum our positive desire to share and our soul. This story in Parasha Vayeira is a code, therefore for humanity spiritual work, which is to bind or restrict his selfish, reactive desire and unleash the power of the soul.

          In place of Isaac, a ram was caught in the thicket was a code word for Messiyah Yahushua as a living sacrifice to ABBA YAHWEH. This sacrificial ram is a code for the actual eradication of our wicked and prideful traits, the sacrifice of our evil inclination. Therefore from this Parasha we learn that a man must constantly utilize the power of his soul to bind the ego and they eliminate all his selfish and destructive traits from his nature. This entails sacrificing all short-term material pleasure for eternal spiritual joy.

          One again, though Abraham’s light, which serves as a timeless repository of energy for us to draw from, we are empowered by the light of this Parasha to subjugate our selfish impulses.  As our wicked traits are slaughter through our meditation during the reading of this week Parasha, darkness in this world is slain in equal measure, for each of us is a microcosm of the world. All sinful acts of behavior and wicked deeds depicted throughout the Torah reading are thereby bound and sacrifice forevermore.

Another insight we can gain from the sacrifice of Isaac is this. We often become attached to what we love, but more than that, we become attached to the fruit of our works. We are taught to be goal-oriented, to work towards an outcome that can be visualized. If we meet with a setback, we forget the lessons we learned from the process of the work itself and become obsessed with the result that we hoped for but failed to achieve.

The CREATOR require us to work to reveal light, and yet to let the CREATOR be the arbiter of what comes to fruition and what does not. Therefore, just as Abraham was ask to release his attachment to the fruit of his loins, so we are ask to release our attachment to the fruits of our work.

Our works should always be done with the consciousness of having a spiritual goal, but also with the understanding that our lives journey is to reach the day of creation where the perfect light is revealed.

In other words, the outcome of all our effort will be a result of how much of the sixth color of the rainbow we absorbed during the sixth days of creation.

22:10And Aḇraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son, - To attract and absorbed the light of the CREATOR in our lives and to pass the test and challenges that we are presented with, we must be prepared to take physical actions, indicated here by the raising of Abraham’s arm to slaughter his son, his evil inclination. Good intension is never enough. We must follow through on our commitments to share more with others and to complete our spiritual journey.

          Abraham’s body was so in harmony with the light of the CREATOR that he knew deep in his heart that YAHWEH would provide a way out, yet he was fully prepared to make this sacrifice, if necessary. Great things are possible when we are certain and confident in each action that we take, knowing deep down that a positive outcome is assured.

22:11but 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 YAHWEH 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 back 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, detaching from all selfishness in a relationship is extremely difficult. On the Shabbat of Vayeira, we can pray for the spirit of Abraham to help us in this task 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 slowly 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 YAHWEH’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, and Keseḏ, and Ḥazo, and Pildash, and Yiḏlaph, and Bethu’ĕl.”  And Bethu’ĕl brought forth Riḇqah. These eight Milkah bore to Naḥor, - Aḇraham’s brother.  And his concubine, whose name was Re’uwmah, also bore Teḇaḥ, and Gaḥam, and Taḥash, and Maʽaḵah. - The story of Abraham who is the primary character of this Parasha, a man who through absolute faith, reaches the zenith of his spiritual life, when we was commanded to sacrifice the only son, through whom his divine progeny was to be fulfilled. Yet his faith in EL YAHWEH was so complete that he complied unhesitatingly. The power and the authority of the Kingdom is given to those who are like Abraham, prove their loyalty. What will you be classified as when you reach your mountain top? Did you give up your offspring?

After Abraham return home after the binding of Isaac, Sarah had passed away.  However, there must always be a beacon of light in this world,  so after Sarah died, Rebecca was born to Bethuel. This succession holds spiritual significance for our own life. When we do not seized the opportunity to share and perform positive actions in any given moment, someone else will take our place. Accordingly, we must become enlightened and aware of every opportunity for good deeds and actions, which brings spiritual enlightenment.