Parsha Page

  Shalom
  to you,

Wellsprings of Torah,  www.TorahWellsprings.org
Rick Wills - Messianic Elder,  Mishareth@TorahWellsprings.org

Parsha 3:  Lech Lecha - Go Out


Torah:  Genesis 12:1-17:27

    12:1 Now Adonai said to Avram, "Get yourself out of your country, away from your kinsmen and away from your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, I will bless you, and I will make your name great; and you are to be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed."

    Parsha Lech Lecha begins with God's call to Avram to leave his homeland and his father, to a place as yet unknown. They were living in Ur, in Chaldea – later known as Babylon, and area known for its manufacture of metals and idols. Tradition has it that Terah was an idol maker.

    This reading portion is one of new beginnings, indeed the beginning of the Jewish Nation. God tells Avram – later called Avraham or Abraham - to sever his connection to a past rooted in convention and idolatry, and seek a new orientation, to go out to a new place. Not just a physical relocation, but an entirely new spiritual outlook.

    At this time, Avram was 75, Sarai was 65. Lot, Avram’s nephew, went with Avram, and together they came to the land of Kena’an. Here, in the place called Sh’kem, at the oak of Moreh Adonai appears to Avram and tells him that this is the land that will become the property of Avram’s descendants. And Avram builds an altar to Adonai, the first of many that we will see.

    Here a famine drives them to Egypt. During this time, Avram tells everyone that Sarai is his sister in order to protect himself. There are many consequences to this, but eventually they leave Egypt and return to Kena’an.

    Chapter 13 relates the separation of Lot and Avram, and Lot chooses to live near S’dom (Sodom). HaShem repeats His promise, and Avram again builds an altar to honor Him.

    In Chapter 14 there is a great war between a coalition of four Kings beyond Kena’an, and another coalition of five Kings within Kena’an. The battle rages for many years.

    In the fourteenth year the northern Kings overwhelm the Kings of Kena’an, and Lot is taken captive among the southern Kings.

    This is when Avram gets involved, and he shows his courage by attacking the northern Kings in the night.

    His efforts are a success. Lot is rescued, the southern Kings embrace Avram, and Malki-tzedik (Melchisedek) honors him with blessings. Afterward, Avram pays a tenth of his gains to Malki-tzedik, and releases the remainder of his gains to the southern Kings.

    Chapter 15 begins with God’s reassurances to Avram, the promise that he will have an heir from his own body, and again the promise of the Land, Eretz Israel. In verse 6 we are told that Avram trusted Adonai, and that trust was credited to him as righteousness.

    In verses 13 through 16 we read the prophecy of the Egyptian exile, and subsequent return to the Land.

    The birth of Ishmael from Avram and Hagar is recounted in chapter 16.

    Chapter 17 brings us to Avram at 99 years old. God repeats His covenant, and changes Avram’s name to Avraham. He gives the command for Avraham and all his descendants to be circumcised as a sign of the covenant.

    Sarai’s name is changed to Sarah and she receives the promise of a son. And at the age of 99, Avraham is circumcised along with all the males in his household.


Haftarah:  Isaiah 40:27 - 41:16

    With God’s covenant with Avraham, Yisrael had been initiated as a possession of God. Now, at a time when they have failed and are in exile, Hashem comforts and encourages Isra’el to maintain an optimistic spirit.

    In a connection with the Torah portion, in Isaiah (41:8-10) the Lord comforts Isra’el, “But you Isra’el, my servant; Ya’akov, whom I have chosen, descendants of Avraham my friend, I have taken you from the ends of the earth, summoned you from its most distant parts and said to you, ‘You are my servant- I have chosen you, not rejected you. Don’t be afraid for I am with you. Don’t be distressed, for I am your God. I give you strength, I give you help, I support you with my victorious right hand.’” This parallels Genesis 15:1 where Adonai told Avram not to fear because Adonai was his protector.

    Something else that we see in this haftarah passage is that God consistently affirms the covenant blessing promised to Isra’el so long ago: possession of the Land of Eretz Isra’el, and blessings and protection from those that oppose her!


Chadasha:  Acts 7:1-8

    Here the Cohen HaGadol is confronting Stephen, demanding an account for his preaching. Stephen has seen Adonai fulfill His promises, including the promise to Avraham that his descendants would bless the all the families of the earth.

    Stephen begins with the account of Avraham, and His faithfulness to Adonai. And in verse 5 Stephen recounts the promise of Adonai to give Eretz Isra’el to Avraham’s descendants. And in verse 8, the line of Yitz’chak, Ya’akov and the Twelve Patriarchs is outlined, showing that Adonai had indeed kept His promise. This seems to be an obvious connection to both the Torah and Haftarah readings.

    But also, In the Parashah, we find the promise, followed by HaShem telling Avraham, "Fear not, for I am your protector.”

    In the Haftarah, we find promises from HaShem, and His telling Isra’el, Fear not, for I am with you.

    And finally in the Khadasha we see that faithfulness of Adonai proven to Stephen. And Stephen, in turn, has claimed Adonai’s promise as he faces the Sanhedrin without fear.

    And today, do we truly believe the promises of HaShem – and claim them for our own, facing the future without fear?

Baruch Hashem,
George Robinson