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Parsha Page
Torah, Genesis 17:1-27
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord
appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am El Shaddai. Walk in My ways and be
blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will make you
exceedingly numerous.”
Thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael from
Abram and Hagar, Adonai appears to Abram once more. Now Abram is 99 years old,
and God reveals His Name El-Shaddai, which can be “The Almighty God”, or “His
Sufficiency”. Adonai repeats His covenant, and changes
Abram’s name to Abraham. This change of name signifies Abraham’s new destiny as
the father of many nations. The land of Canaan is to be given to Abraham’s
offspring as an everlasting holding – not a temporary dwelling place based on
political conditions. Adonai gives the command for Abraham and all his
descendants to be circumcised as a sign of the covenant, just at the rainbow is
the sign of Adonai’s covenant with Noah.
This circumcision is for Abrahams descendants, as well as all who come to
join with them, whether a slave or free man.
Sarai’s name is changed to
Sarah and she receives the promise of a son – the son that will fulfill the
promise to Abraham. When he hears this promise, Abraham laughs, and pleads for
favor for Ishmael. Adonai corrects Abraham, but does agree to make Ishmael
fertile and numerous, fathering twelve chieftains and a great nation. But the
covenant with Abraham is to be fulfilled through Isaac, whom Sarah will bear in
one year. And at the age of 99, Abraham is circumcised along with all the males in his
household.
Qeriath, Jeremiah 33:25 - 34:5
In this portion, King Nebuchadnezzar has
conquered the Land. When Jeremiah reminded the leaders that they have forsaken
an ordinance of Adonai, King Zedekiah of Judah belatedly leads all the people in
Jerusalem to repent and obey the ordinance. And the people sent off their slaves
as free people, even sealing this covenant with much ceremony. But very quickly
they changed their minds - just as Pharaoh had done. They forced the newly freed slaves back into servitude.
This breaking of covenant with HaShem results in
a terrible word from Jeremiah- that HaShem will give the Israelites back into
the hands of their enemies, and all the cities of Judah He will make desolate.
But even so, HaShem shows His abundant love for
His people by declaring in Jeremiah 33:25 that He will still remember His
covenant, and that David's dynasty will yet produce the leaders who will rule
and restore Israel to glory. He tells King Zedekiah that Jerusalem will be
captured, and the King will be taken into captivity in Babylon, but he will die
a peaceful death and be lamented by his people. This is due to the King’s
obedience.
Da'ath, Hebrews 1:1-14
Here
the author to the Messianic Jews tells us that Yeshua is the very essence of God
Himself, and He makes purification for our sins. Just as the people have made
offerings to anoint the Mishkan for service to Adonai, so Adonai has anointed
Yeshua to serve Him. Even as the
foundations of the earth vanish, Yeshua will remain the same, His years will
never end. This sounds very much like one of the assurances Adonai gave to
Abraham in our Torah reading.
Igarath, Hebrews 7:11-19
The author continues to compare Yeshua and
Malki-Tzedek, showing that Yeshua has fulfilled the prophecy that another kind
of Cohen would arise. Indeed, Yeshua was from the tribe of Y'hudah, no Cohen had
come from that tribe before. More importantly, Yeshua is a Cohen eternally, not
by lineage from Aharon, but by virtue of His own power of an indestructible
life. Through this new Cohen, hope is introduced, and we draw closer to God.
Conclusion
In Torah, Adonai affirms His
promises to Abraham, and the recipients of that Covenant shall be obedient to
the sign of that Covenant. Qeriath tells that even though destruction and dispersion occur because of the
people’s sin, restoration is provided for as HaShem keeps His Covenant with
Abraham’s descendants. Da’ath explains that Yeshua is our eternal Cohen HaGadol,
just as Adonai’s promises are eternal.
Igarath
shows Yeshua as our reason to
know that all of God’s promises are true.
Barukh HaShem,
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Shalom