Parsha Page

  Shalom
  to you,

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

Parsha 4:  Wayera - He appeared


Torah:  Genesis 18:1 – 22:24

    18:1 Adonai appeared to Avraham by the oaks of Mamre as he sat at the entrance to the tent during the heat of the day. He raised his eyes and looked, and there in front of him stood three men. On seeing them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, prostrated himself on the ground, and said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, please don’t leave your servant…”

    With this, Avraham provides a meal and comfort to three strangers. The type of hospitality and openness to opportunity to serve that is a hallmark of Avraham, and a mitzvot (command) to the nation.

    And now Sarah receives the promise that only Avraham had heard previously, that Sarah would have a son the following year. And we read in 18:12 So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, “I am old, and so is my lord; am I to have pleasure again?”. When confronted with the promise of a miracle, Sarah at first finds it hard to believe. And Adonai asks, is anything too hard for Adonai?

    From there, the remainder of Chapter 18 relates how Avraham learns the fate of S’dom and ‘Amora (Sodom and Gomorrah). He negotiates with God in an effort to spare many lives.

    And we see the difference between Isra’el and S’dom in verse19 when Adonai says, “For I have made myself known to him (Avraham), so that he will give orders to his children and to his household after him to keep the way of Adonai and to do what is right and just, so that Adonai may bring about for Avraham what he has promised him." Isra’el, following the example of Avraham, may not be perfect, but they attempt to follow the commands of Adonai, while S’dom is totally focused on the ways of the world with no consideration of Adonai. Chapter 19 details how the angels went to S’dom, and Lot was faithful to extend hospitality, and protection to them in his household in the face of tremendous brutality from the townspeople. And the angels protect Lot and his family from the destruction to come. But Lot’s wife looked back and was destroyed herself.

    And as they hid in the caves in the hills, Lot’s daughters get him drunk, and they end up having children by Lot, on is the ancestor of Moab, the other the ancestor of Ammon.

    Then in chapter 20 we read of the deceit of Avimelek king of G’rar by Avraham, who once again has claimed that Sarah is his sister, not his wife. This actually ended well, with Avraham being financially and politically blessed, and Avimeleks household was restored to health.

    Chapter 21 covers a number of subjects, the first is the birth of Yitz’chak. So we find one of the trademarks of God – a miraculous birth from a couple who physically could not have children. And all announced in advance by HaShem.

    This is followed by the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael. Then, the alliance of Avraham with Avimelek.

    The final chapter in today’s Parsha recounts the Akeidah, or Binding of Yitz’chak on the Altar. Here, God has told Avraham to sacrifice his “only” son Yitz’chak. And Avraham proceeds, but always with the faith that somehow, God can and will resurrect Yitz’chak in order to fulfill His promise. Indeed, in 22:5 when Avraham and Yitz’chak leave their two servants behind, and go up the mountain by themselves Avraham says “Stay here with the donkey. I and the boy will go there, worship and return to you.”

    In this faith, the confidence that God not only can, but will perform the miracle of resurrection Avraham is securing his place as the father of the Jewish nation.


Haftarah:  2 Kings 4:1-37

    As in the case of Avraham and Lot, we see in this passage the Shulamite woman extend great hospitality toward Elisha, the man of God, based on her faith. Through this she finds favor in Elisha's eyes. This resulted in a proclamation of an impossible reward- the birth of a child even though her husband was well advanced in years.

    At first she was incredulous, telling the prophet not to lie to her! Her husband was too old to bear children, and a resurrection of his dead reproductive system was required.

    As with Yitz’chak, her promised son was delivered at the appointed season, but later taken from her through death – this time a physical death. And, as Avraham had pleaded with God to spare the righteous in S’dom, she pleaded with God through Elisha to return her child. And the Lord, this time working through Elisha, overshadowed the boy (just as He overshadowed the earth during creation, and just as the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) will overshadow Miryam (Mary), Adonai put His spirit back in the boy. Another resurrection.


Chadasha:  Luke 1:1-80

    Here, the Cohen Z’kharyah (Zechariah) and his wife Elisheva (Elizabeth) are advanced in years, and barren. But the angel Gavri’el comes to him, and promises a son. He questions the surety of this promise, and because of his doubt is struck dumb until the baby, Yochanan the Baptizer (John the Baptist), is born.

    And just a few months later, Gavri’el comes again to pronounce that another child will be born miraculously. This time to Elisheva’s cousin, Miryam, who has found favor in the sight of the Lord..

    When Miryam asks how this will be, since she is a virgin, she does it out of shock, not disbelief or disobedience. This is shown in verse 45 when Elisheva declares “Indeed you are blessed, because you have trusted in the promise Adonai has made to you will be fulfilled.”

    Of course, that Son is Yeshua Himself. Another miracle proclaimed, that came true in it’s’ time. And again a child of promise who will die, and be resurrected to new life. The miraculous birth, death and resurrection to a new life. Just as we can be resurrected to new life through faith in Yeshua. The trademark of the power and presence of God alone.

 

Baruch Hashem,
George Robinson