In the Torah portion for this week (Lech Lecha) we begin the story of our father Abraham.
Sidenote: Abram's and Sarai's name was changed after God promised the birth of Isaac. Abram in Hebrew means "High Father" and Sarai in Hebrew means "Noble woman". After the change Abraham in Hebrew means "Father of a multitude" and Sarah in Hebrew means "Princess". I give you this information to reiterate the importance of studying the Hebrew of the Torah. Elohim is conveying His thoughts not only in sentences and books, but in words and even letters to be more specific.
Abraham is the father of all who believe (Romans 4:9-12). What fascinates me is the level of faith He displays. Mind you Abraham does a lot of crummy things later as do most of the featured men of the Scriptures. In verse 1 above God tells Abraham to leave all he has ever known, family, friends, surroundings, and go to a land that Elohim will show him later. How many of us would hesitate? Not Abram, he goes. Why?
He believed YHVH was, is , and ever shall be who He says He is. The Scripture does not give us an account of prior conversations that Abram had with God. It starts their interaction out with "And the Lord said to Abram...". And yet Abram picks up and leaves based on who He believes God is. That is why Paul rights this in Romans 4:
Romans 4:1-5
Justification by Faith Evidenced in Old Testament
1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
Paul quotes Genesis 15:6:
Genesis 15:6
6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him (Abram) as righteousness.
This is how we know we have true faith; that we believe that YHVH is who He says He is in His word. This belief is the wellspring of all other acts of faith. From this primal belief springs forth the willingness to follow the Lord and call upon Him and be saved. You cannot work it the other way. You cannot call on the Lord and then believe He is who He says He is in His word. You will just manufacture faith in YHVH that way and eventually it will fail.
Another sidenote: The same holds true for worship and praise. Praise (eg. shouting out until the Lord, singing, playing music unto the Lord) stems from worship of Elohim. When you truly worship Elohim, praise will naturally follow and spring forth from the new life you have in Yeshua. If you try to reach worship through praise, you will fall in love with praise and eventually run the risk of worshipping emotional moments and praise music.
The ancient sages of Judaism speak of the ten tests of Abraham. I have listed them below. I imagine after passing the very first test, these should have been a piece of cake.
According to Rambam:
1) Abraham’s exile from his family and homeland.
2) The hunger in Canaan after God 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 marriage to Hagar after having despaired that Sarah would ever give birth.
6) The commandment of circumcision.
7) Abimelech’s abduction of Sarah.
8) Driving away Hagar after she had given birth.
9) The very distasteful command to drive away Ishmael.
10) The binding of Isaac on the altar.
Do you believe YHVH is how He says He is? Do you believe at the core of your being that Yeshua is who He says He is an did what Scriptures said He did? Paul says to test and examine yourself to see if you are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5) so do it and see. The days are short for figuring out if you can make it through the Tribulation or time of testing. What is coming is unlike anything the world has seen. Ask the Messiah:
READ THIS PASSAGE CAREFULLY IF YOU BELIEVE THE RAPTURE COMES BEFORE THE TRIBULATION:
Matthew 24:15-34
15 “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. 18 Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be a great tribulation (first thing to happen), such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. 22 Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25 Behold, I have told you in advance. 26 So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. 27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. 29 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days (rapture) THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. 32 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33 so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. (those who persevere will see it all) 34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
15 “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. 18 Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be a great tribulation (first thing to happen), such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. 22 Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25 Behold, I have told you in advance. 26 So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. 27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
29 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days (rapture) THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
32 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33 so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. (those who persevere will see it all) 34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
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