Halftorah Lech Lecha (לֶךְ־לְךָ ) Go out- AudioPodcast October 28, 2023
Notes
Transcript
Isaiah 40:27-41:16
Review
Review
We continue with the new cycle of Halftarah readings
The Halfarah are supplementary scriptures that go alone with the Torah Portions
The third reading from the book of Genesis is named Lech Lecha. It means "go forth."
The first verse says, "Now the LORD said to Abram, 'Go forth (lech lecha, לֶךְ־לְךָ) from your country.'"
1 Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.
The expression Lech Lecha has 35 different meanings in Hebrew.
Picture of Lech Lecha Word
2143 הָלַךְ (hā·lǎḵ): v.; ≡ Str 1980, 3212; TWOT 498—1. go, travel, i.e., make linear motion to another place, with any form of transportation (2Ki 7:14); (piel) travel (Ps 104:26); (hif) take, send, i.e., cause linear motion of an object, collection, or mass (Jer 32:5); (hitp) go about (Zec 1:10) 2. LN 15.224–15.229 (qal) walk, i.e., make linear motion on foot or pod (Lev 11:20); (piel) go about (1Ki 21:27); (hif) cause to walk (Lev 26:13); (hitp) walk about, walk without particular goal (Ex 21:19); 3. follow, i.e., make linear motion behind another object or collection (Ge 32:20[EB 19]); 4. follow, i.e., be an adherent of a person, group, or belief (Lev 26:3); 5.behave, conduct, live, formally, walk, i.e., go about doing certain actions in a regular, more or less consistent manner, so possibly constituting a life or lifestyle, as an extension of the act of walking as regular and patterned (Lev 20:23); (piel) live (Ps 86:11); (hitp) lived for, formally, walked (Ge 5:22); 6.) exist, formally, proceeds, i.e., a state of existence as a figurative extension of a procession of subjects walking (Ps 85:14[EB 13]); 7. (qal) lead, guide, i.e., direct collection of persons often by taking a frontal position in the linear movement (Dt 10:11); 8. lead (Dt 8:2); 9. get rid of, i.e., cause a state to no longer exist as a figurative extension of driving an object out of a space (2Sa 13:13),
Picture of Walk in the path
Lech Lecha introduces Abraham and tells the story of his pilgrimage in pursuit of God.
This is God’s commission to Abraham to go forth from this land of idolatry, the land of Ur, and to go to the promise He has waiting for him in the Land of Israel.
This Land that He has for him and his descendants.
We will see in Isaiah, the Halftarah for today, we will see that God parallels Abraham, and the story of all Abraham went through, in this Haftarah, with the specifics applied to Israel.
Some of the aspects will be obvious, where God mentions Abraham’s name.
Other ones, we are going to have to pick out and find in hidden references.
So, we will be able to see what God is saying to the whole House of Israel through Isaiah, since they are discouraged and leaving the land of Israel.
They think that their ways were not seen by God, but we know that they followed pagan practices and idol worship just like the surrounding nations. Just like Abraham was surrounded by paganism and idolatry, Israel was surrounded but ended up being just like the nations.
But God promises that in the last days Israel would do away with her idol worship and that she’d be restored to the covenant of God and restored to the land and the inheritance that God has for her.
Please check our study on Lech Lecha on Barashit 12:1 through 17:27 of November 12, 2022
Picture of 6 parts
In this Torah Portion we see 6 parts in all the chapters:
Chapter 12 of B’rasheet - Abraham is 75 years old and is called out of idolatry
Chapter 13: He showed faith in God by trusting God’s wisdom by allowing Lot to choose what land Lot would like for himself-
this is a reference to the younger and the older - how God sustains the older when the older is in wisdom with God’s ways
Chapter 14 - war against the 4 kings and how Abraham fought them with his 318 man even when the five kings of Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding areas could not beat them.
Abraham was given power over kings and nations.
We will see this in the halftarah too, regarding God promising Israel that if they were to return to His Torah that they will rule over kings and nations as well.
Chapter 15- We see the promise to Abraham due to his righteousness by faith that works obedience
and in the last part of the halftarah we are going to see the parallel with Israel, as to the importance for Israel, not only to have faith, but to walk in righteousness through obedience to God’s law.
We are going to see the aspect of the nation of Israel being the tree and the branches of the tree that Messiah is the root of and how Abraham, Issac and Jacob the forefathers are the trunk of that tree.
And how the nations have an opportunity to be grafted in to Israel into his tree and the covenant with God
It is always through faith that works, and there is no faith that does not work, because faith w/o works is dead.
Chapter 16- talks about the birth of Ismael
Chapter 17 is focusing on Abraham’s name change.
Wherever a name changes is an indicative of a character change. - just like Jacob’s name was changed to Israel - the upright one of Elohim.
And Ysrael is indicative of all Israel descendants that will be overcomes, upright, righteous.
They will have that works righteousness.
Introduction
Introduction
Isaiah 40:27-41:16
Picture of Walk in the Path
The haftorah for this week discusses Abraham's journey to the land of Canaan at God's request,
and touches upon Abraham's miraculous battle against the four kings,
both of which are described in this week's Torah reading.
The prophet Isaiah addresses Israel's complaint: ""My way [of serving God] has been ignored by the Lord, and from my God, my judgment passes [unrewarded]."
Isaiah reminds Israel of the Creator's greatness.
The time will come when "He will give the tired strength, and to him who has no strength, He will increase strength.
Youths shall become tired and weary, and young men shall stumble, but those who put their hope in the Lord shall renew [their] vigor, they shall raise wings as eagles; they shall run and not weary, they shall walk and not tire."
Nevertheless, "there is no comprehension of His wisdom," and as such, at times we cannot understand why He chooses to delay the reward of the righteous.
The haftorah then turns its attention to the idolatrous nations of the world.
Isaiah reminds them of Abraham's greatness, how after arriving in Canaan he pursued and defeated four mighty kings.
"The islands saw and feared; the ends of the earth quaked."
Nevertheless, the nations who witness these miracles did not abandon their ways.
"The [idol] craftsman strengthened the smith, the one who smoothes [the idol] with the hammer strengthened the one who wields the sledge hammer; the one who glues its coating says, 'It is good,' and he strengthened it with nails that it should not move..."
God promises the Jewish nation to reward them for their loyalty to God.
"Do not fear for I am with you; be not discouraged for I am your God. . .
Behold all those incensed against you shall be ashamed and confounded;
those who quarreled with you shall be as naught (rude/ indecent) and be lost."
A hint to the end times, prophetically, when, in our day, all the enemies of Israel will align with one mind against Israel (Ps 83)
But what does God say?
He will be with us and those who quarrel against you shall be as naught and be lost.
This is giving Israel hope during the Diaspora
Biblical PRESENTATION
Isaiah 40:27-41:16
27 Why do you say, O Jacob, And speak, O Israel: “My way is hidden from the Lord, And my just claim is passed over by my God”?
Why should you say: My people ([K’li Paz, mss.:] the people of) Jacob, and speak in exile.
My way has been hidden from the Lord: He hid from before His eyes all that we served Him, and gave those who did not know Him, dominion over us.
and from my God, my judgment passes?: He ignores the judgment of the good reward He should have paid our forefathers and us.
Sometimes we think that when we are in sin, or we are seemingly not hearing from the Lord,
we wonder why God does not recognize our rights - our legal entitlement .
We have to ask ourselves, the same as the children of Israel, in what ways we have added to our religious spiritual experience that God has not told us to add to His word.
2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
Just like ancient Israel, we may have added or taken away from the word of God.
This is why we read these halftarahs that parallel to our Torah portion to learn how the Torah can applies not only to ancient Israel but to us today.
Israel went on to say my way of serving God has been ignored because God wasn’t interested in the way they were serving Him since He had already told them how to serve Him.
They said, from God my judgment passes unrewarded.
They wonder why they had lost the blessings.
Consider Cain:
5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
23 Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord? Arise! Do not cast us off forever.
24 Why do You hide Your face, And forget our affliction and our oppression?
5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
the Creator of the ends of the earth… there is no fathoming His understanding: And One who has such strength and such wisdom.
He knows the thoughts. Why does He delay your benefit, only to terminate the transgression and to expiate the sin through afflictions.
Isaiah reminds them of the Creator’s greatness:
He is not a man to get tired, nor does He get anxious.
Who can have the wisdom of God?
So His promises that He made 2800 ago to Isaiah He hasn’t tired from that - he hasn’t weary from that.
The promises that He made 4500 years ago through Moses at Sinai, or through Abraham, He has not tired or wearied from. He told them who is their creator
26 Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing.
This understanding cannot be fathomed.
Some people say, why has He allowed so much time to take place before He restores all things?
Next verse is the reason why
29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
The time will come when He will give tired strength and to him who has not strength,
He will increase strength.
Youth shall become tired and men shall stumble but those who put their hope in the Lord they shall renew their vigor.
They shall walk and not tire.
Just like Abraham, we’re gonna look at the oral passages that are passed down to us about how strengthened was Abraham even at an old age.
So was Sarah.
Think of Israel having being powerless for the last 2730 years for all intends and purposes, Israel seemed wiped out off the face of the earth. It seemed like dry bones.
But after their punishment was complete which ended in 2008/2009 (unilateral cease fire with Gaza), if you count 2730 years back to 721 BC when Assyria captured them, it seemed like they were dry bones, which have awakened and are being reinvigorated.
But is it time for Israel to respond like the Lion of Judah?
This is the way God is.
It says, He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength
Paul puts this way:
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
This is therefore being fulfilled today in Israel.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
There is a parallel here between Lot being a young man, and Abraham being an old man.
Even the fittest may stumble and fall.
Remember it was through Lot’s own wisdom that he chose the Land of Sodom and Gomorrah.
That ended up in causing him to stumble and loosing his wife, some of his children as well.
Now youths shall become tired: Heb. נְעָרִים (na’arim) = the youth. The might of your enemies who are devoid (מְנֹעָרִים = na’arim - immature) of commandments, shall become faint.
and young men shall stumble: Those who are now mighty and strong, shall stumble, but you, who put your hope in the Lord shall gain new strength and power.
26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, And all the men of war shall be cut off in that day,” says the Lord of hosts.
13 “In that day the fair virgins And strong young men Shall faint from thirst.
11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.
31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
Picture of Walk in the Path
We know that Abraham and Moses walked so closely with God that it was as if they were young men when they died.
They just went to sleep. It wasn’t because they were diseased or wasted that they went to sleep.
The Lord ordered them to.
The promise is that God will be with those who renew their strength with Him.
It is amazing to see that when we walk in God’s ways this scripture gets fulfilled.
Nevertheless, there is no comprehension of God’s wisdom.
And at times, we cannot understand why He chooses to delay the reward of the righteous.
It is said that the wicked has his reward here on earth.
We know that when the wicked applies Biblical principles, they become successful by applying those principles even when they do not give any glory to God.
And they receive their reward in life today. But we have an eternal reward waiting for us.
So we should not worry about if we don’t see the immediate benefit of serving God here and now.
We know this is a practice of self-denial that is developing our character to receive that eternal reward.
Other people receive their reward right now, but we should focus on the kingdom.
31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
Consider this idea:
Look at it. Flying, running, walking.
At first sight this looks like an anticlimax, and the promise reads like a descending promise.
When soaring is needful “we shall mount up on wings as eagles”; when rapid, steady, onward progress is to be made, “we shall run and not be weary”;
but always and all through we shall persevere, “we shall walk and not faint.”
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
We know that old age was portrayed sometimes as a time for youthful activity for Abraham and Sarah throughout the scriptures.
We know that Pharaoh saw Sarah as a very beautiful young woman although she was 90 years old.
And for Abraham is said the same thing.
In a Jewish commentary on Genesis, it describes the expression oldest and contented relating to Abraham later in (Genesis 25:8), as full of years.
This expression is only used in the entire Bible in relation to Abraham only.
old and contented Such a summation of a life is found with no other personality in biblical literature.
The phrase describes not his longevity, which is otherwise mentioned, but the quality of his earthly existence.
Not only did he live a long life, but a life of quality.
Because of what he endured
Picture of 10 tests
Every test he had endured (he faced 10 tests - I taught on this last year Torah portion)
Every test he endured with positivity without speaking a negative word and overcame in every way.
Apropos the death of Elisha, the Gemara says:
Until the time of Abraham there was no aging,
and the old and the young looked the same.
Anyone who saw Abraham said: That is Isaac,
and anyone who saw Isaac said: That is Abraham.
Abraham prayed for mercy,
that he would undergo aging,
as it is stated: “And Abraham was old, well stricken in age” (Genesis 24:1).
There is no mention of aging before that verse.
Until the time of Jacob there was no weakness, i.e., illness.
Jacob prayed for mercy and there was weakness,
as it is stated: “And one said to Joseph: Behold, your father is ill” (Genesis 48:1).
Until the time of Elisha, there was no ill person who recovered, and Elisha came and prayed for mercy and recovered,
as it is stated: “And Elisha was fallen ill of his illness from which he was to die”(II Kings 13:14).
That is the first mention of a person who was ill and who did not die from that illness.
He is basically saying, I have been through a lot of tests and trails, and I am still youthful.
Please let me age like everyone else so that I can die in peace.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
The call of God: Lech Lecha - is to step out in faith without having to know
and let God reveal the purpose and length of our life, as we depart from evil.
31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
The key here is “those who trust Him” who hope in the Lord`
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
1 “Keep silence before Me, O coastlands, And let the people renew their strength! Let them come near, then let them speak; Let us come near together for judgment.
Be silent to Me: in order to hear My words.
Coastlands/ islands: Heathens ([mss. Kli Paz:] nations).
shall renew [their] strength: They shall adorn themselves and strengthen themselves with all their might perhaps they will succeed in their judgment by force.
Let them come near - they shall approach: here, and then, when they approach, they shall speak.
to judgment let us draw near: to reprove them to their faces.
How is Israel to approach?
- in silence, by means of the knowledge of His ways and that He has placed His name in Jerusalem.
And then coming to Jerusalem in the millennial kingdom there will be a hierarchy from Jerusalem set up by Messiah’s ruling.
13 Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!”
26 Put Me in remembrance; Let us contend together; State your case, that you may be acquitted.
In seeking wisdom, the first step is silence. Avot 3:17.
Picture of Dividing the Word of God
Under His kingdom, there will be 12 apostles judging Israel.
Remember that judging means: rightly dividing the word of God - giving a proverb, in the context of how Yeshua revealed it.
There will be 12 thrones with Him and then Israel will be judging the nations by the 12 tribes.
A hierarchy going out to the whole world on the bases of rightly dividing the word of God - dominion by giving a proverb.
2 “Who raised up one from the east? Who in righteousness called him to His feet? Who gave the nations before him, And made him rule over kings? Who gave them as the dust to his sword, As driven stubble to his bow?
Who aroused from the East: one whom righteousness accompanied?
Who aroused Abraham to bring him from Aram which is in the East and the righteousness that he would perform that was opposite his feet wherever he went.
He placed nations before him: He, Who aroused him to leave his place to cause him to move,
He placed before him four kings and their hosts.
He made his sword like dust: [Jonathan paraphrases:] He cast slain ones before his sword like dust.
He suffered his sword to take its toll of casualties as [numerous as] grains of dust, and his bow He suffered to take its toll of casualties who would fall like wind blown stubble.
He gave him dominion: Heb. יַרְדְּ, like יַרָדֶּה (redah)
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
DOMINION
Picture of Redah
REDAH = יַרָדֶּה
Not a dominion by force or violence
Once again using rdh and be, Gen. 1:26 names the object of human dominion as
“the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, all ‘the wild animals of’ the earth, and every creeping thing.”
V. 28 lists these as “the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth.”
V. 26 associates the dominion exercised by human beings with their being made in the image of God.
And v. 28 defines God’s blessing upon humankind by speaking first of fertility, increase, and filling the earth and subduing it, then in a second section of human dominion over the animal kingdom.
This blessing thus includes more than does God’s decision to create humankind (v. 26), where the first section does not occur.
Could this mean that dominion is understood as belonging inherently to humankind, distinguished from the blessing of increase because the latter is associated with the whole animal kingdom (v. 22)?
This interpretation is certainly possible,
but v. 28 speaks of “subduing the earth” (weḵiḇšuhā) as an element of God’s blessing alongside dominion over the animal kingdom.
And Westermann is correct in considering the root kbš substantially synonymous with rdh; of course it does not mean subjection by force,
but rather putting the earth to use.
28 It is thus clear that being made in God’s image includes exercising dominion over the earth
and its fauna and that this dominion is understood as a blessing.
If we take this double conclusion as our starting point for further analysis of human dominion,
we first note that the association of our word with royal ideology means only that to human beings alone among living creatures has God granted royal status.
6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,
In this sense Ps. 8:(6) “is saying exactly the same,”
since v. (5) describes human beings as crowned kings.
But we must be careful not to read too much into the similarity of this language to that of the royal court, looking for an association with the violent regimes of the ancient Near East
or even saying that the “dignity of absolute royal rule is granted to the multitude of all men.”
Gen. 1 says nothing at all about the characteristic feature of such kings,
namely their dominion over nations and hence other human beings.
In a discussion of Gen. 1, therefore, it would be hard to speak of dominion “over the world,” not to mention dominion over creation
Similar to the word: יָרַד (yā·rǎḏ)
Picture of Rule over - Yarad
3718 יָרַד (yā·rǎḏ): v.; ≡ Str 3381; TWOT 909—1. descend, come down, go down, i.e., make linear motion from a higher to a lower elevation (Ge 15:12), lower, bring down (Ge 44:11); (hof) lowered, brought down, be taken down (Ge 39:1); 2. ascend, i.e., go up in linear motion (Jdg 11:37); 3. (qal) come/go, i.e., linear motion with no particular elevation change (Ex 11:8); 4.) prostrate, i.e., make a bowing, lowering motion of the body in respect or sadness (Isa 15:3); (hif) bow (La 2:10); 5. go aboard, i.e., get on a boat or ship (Jnh 1:3b); 6. abandon ship, i.e., get out of a ship or boat (Eze 27:29); 7. (qal) be done, be finished, formally, go down, i.e., have the completion of a time unit, as an extension of downward motion of the sun (Jdg 19:11); 8. subjugate, conquer, formally, cause to lower, i.e., gain victory over another a figurative extension of lowering an object to a low or humble position (2Sa 22:48); (hof) be brought down (Zec 10:11)
6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,
Give a proverb: live/rule by the word
28 Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.” ’
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.
2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.
Righteousness was always raised up from the East.
Paradise was east of Eden.
The cherubim were at the east of the garden.
Abraham was called from the East.
Judea, the birthplace of Messiah, was in the East.
7 “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”
1 Who is this who comes from Edom, With dyed garments from Bozrah, This One who is glorious in His apparel, Traveling in the greatness of His strength?— “I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”
Messiah comes from the East, just like the rising sun. There is a dual prophecy between Abraham and Messiah
2 Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like one who treads in the winepress?
To whom is Isaiah referring here? Opinions differ.
Some rabbinic opinions hold that God enlightened the spirit of the kings of the Medes and the Persians, so that Cyrus would allow the Jews to return from exile and establish the Second Jewish Commonwealth (Talmud Yerushalmi 41:11).
This is in accordance with what is written in the Book of Chronicles (31:22), as well as the first verse of the Book of Ezra.
The Malbim offers another interpretation of these verses, as we find in his Torah commentary;
he saw them as a reference to the Messiah.
However, we have other authorities and commentators who linked these verses to the later verses where the prophet speaks specifically about Abraham.
3 Who pursued them, and passed safely By the way that he had not gone with his feet?
He pursued them and passed on safely: He traversed all his crossings safely; he did not stumble when he pursued them.
a path upon which he had not come with his feet: A road upon which he had not come previously with his feet. [The future tense of יָבוֹא ( bo) means that he was not accustomed to come.
4 Who has performed and done it, Calling the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the Lord, am the first; And with the last I am He.’ ”
Who worked and did: for him all this? He Who called the generations from the beginning, to Adam, He did this also for Abraham.
I, the Lord, am first: to perform wonders and to aid.
and with the last ones I am He: Also with you, the last sons, I will be, and I will aid you
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
4 Who has performed and done it, Calling the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the Lord, am the first; And with the last I am He.’ ”
In this verse, it is different: He says I am the first and I am the same with those who are the last
The love He showed to Israel will also be shown to the descendants of Israel who are the last generation - the generation of the heels of Messiah
He basically says I am He who calls the generations from the beginning - He knew you while you’re in your mother’s womb.
He saw how the finally generation would be able to overcome sin where even our forefathers did not.
Although He is the first, because of His love and character is going to be the same with those who are last.
You can think of the context in this verse,
The Word made flesh. He is brother with Israel and her descendants who are going to be the last.
And He is coming back to save them in their time of trouble.
5 The coastlands saw it and feared, The ends of the earth were afraid; They drew near and came.
The islands shall see: [lit. saw.] The heathens shall see the mighty deeds that I will perform, and they shall fear.
they have approached and come: One to another they will gather to war when they see the redemption.
6 Everyone helped his neighbor, And said to his brother, “Be of good courage!”
Each one… his fellow etc.: He shall say, “Strengthen yourself” for war, perhaps their gods will protect them [lit. stand up for them].
7 So the craftsman encouraged the goldsmith; He who smooths with the hammer inspired him who strikes the anvil, Saying, “It is ready for the soldering”; Then he fastened it with pegs, That it might not totter.
And the craftsman strengthened: [i.e.,] the one who molds the idol.
the smith: who plates it with gold.
the one who smoothes with the hammer: The final stage, when he taps lightly to flatten out the work.
the one who wields (waves) the sledge hammer: He is the one who commences on it when it is a block, and beats it with all his might.
he says of the cement, “It is good,”: Heb. דֶּבֶק. He alludes to those who seek suitable ground upon which to adhere iron plates.
of the cement: דֶּבֶק is weld.
and he strengthened it: The idol.
with nails that it should not move: All of them will strengthen each other.
13 The craftsman stretches out his rule, He marks one out with chalk; He fashions it with a plane, He marks it out with the compass, And makes it like the figure of a man, According to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house.
15 then he makes a suitable niche for it, and sets it in the wall, and fastens it there with iron.
16 He takes thought for it, so that it may not fall, because he knows that it cannot help itself, for it is only an image and has need of help.
We see the parallel with Israel leaving idolatry and Israel our forefathers had gone into idolatry and that’s what caused them to be spewed out of the land.
And now it is time for us to do away with all idolatry in our religious practice.
No matter what religious system we have assimilated into, we have to ask ourselves:
does it fit with Torah? Does it fit with God’s ways of serving Him?
Because we do not want to same statement that Israel was saying, complaining as to why is that my way is hidden from Adonai?
Why is justice and my rights ignored by God?
We want to walk (Lech Lecha) with God and to see all His promises fulfilled in our day that He promised ancient Israel.
8 “But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.
Now we see very clearly Abraham
But you, Israel My servant: and I am obliged to help you. The end of this sentence is (infra 10): “Do not fear.”
This appears to me to be the sequence of the section according to its simple meaning, as alluding to Malchizedek and Abraham.
[5] Islands (Gentiles) saw: the war and feared. Shem [Malchizedek] feared Abraham, lest he say to him,
You begot these wicked men in the world.
And Abraham feared Shem, since he slew his sons, the people of Elam, who was descended from Shem.
islands: Just as the islands of the sea are distinguished and recognized in the sea, so were Abraham and Shem distinguished in the world.
[6] Each one aided his fellow: This one [Shem] aided this one [Abraham] with blessings, “Blessed be Abram” (Gen. 14:19), and this one
[Abraham] aided this one [Shem] with gifts, “And he gave him tithe from everything” (ibid. verse 20).
[7] And the craftsman strengthened: This is Shem, who was a blacksmith, to make nails and bars for the ark.
the smith: This is Abraham, who purified (צוֹרֵף) the people, to bring them near to God [lit. to Heaven].
the sledge hammer: This is Abraham, who smote (הָלַם) all these kings at one time.
He says of the cement: Heb. דֶּבֶק. The nations said, It is good to cleave to this one’s God [rather than to Nimrod’s idols].
And he strengthened him: Shem strengthened Abraham to cleave to the Holy One,
blessed be He, and not to move.
[8] And you, Israel My servant: Abraham, who was not descended from righteous men, I did all this for him,
and you, Israel My servant, who belong to Me by the impression of two forefathers.
the seed of Abraham, who loved Me: who did not recognize Me because of the admonition and the teaching of his fathers, but out of love.
SEED of Abraham picture?
I love
My friend = אָהַב (ʾā·hǎḇ)
170 אָהַב (ʾā·hǎḇ): v.; ≡ Str 157; TWOT 29—1. love, i.e., have an affection based on a close relationship, sometimes in comparison to other persons with a lesser relationship (Ge 22:2; 24:67; 25:28; Est 2:17), note: this relationship can be familial, proper romance, or attraction; (qal pass.) be loved (Dt 21:15,16; Ne 13:26; Hos 3:1+); 2. like, i.e., have a desire for an object based in desirability, with a focus on a preference of one thing over another (Ge 27:
4)
4 For Jacob My servant’s sake, And Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me.
4 For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His special treasure.
9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away:
whom I have taken (grasped): Heb. הֶחֱזַקְתִּי (hehezaqti).
I took you for My share. Comp. (Ex. 4:4) “And he stretched out his hand and (caught it) grasped (וַיְּחֲזֵק) it.”
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail” (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand),
9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away:
from the ends of the earth: from the other nations.
and from its nobles: from the greatest of them.
I called you: by name for My share, “My firstborn son, Israel” (ibid. v. 22).
and I did not despise you: like Esau, as it is said (Malachi 1:3), “And Esau I hated.”
Picture of the seed of Abraham
God is not done with Israel -
When somebody tells you that God divorced Israel, or that God has rejected Israel, we need to understand that when a woman is betrothed to a bridegroom,
she can be given a get released from that covenant for a time and then when the bridegroom dies,
she can be remarried.
And in that you see that God has not relented.
He has been working to renew that covenant that He made with ancient Israel’s descendants who will be over-comers of sin.
16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.
10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
be not discouraged: Heb. אַל תִּשְׁתָּע. Let your heart not melt like wax (שַׁעֲוָה).
“And He was astounded (וַיַּשְׁתּוֹמֵם);” (Micah 6:16) “For the statutes of Omri shall be observed (וְיִשְׁתַּמֵּר);” (I Sam. 1:14) “will you be drunk (תִּשְׁתַּכָּרִין)?;” (Job 30:16) “My soul is poured out (תִּשְׁתַּפֵּךְ).”
No need to be afraid but speak and not be silent
9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;
10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”
11 “Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish.
God shows his great love and devotion to his bride Israel in Abram’s loins saying:
3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Psalm eighty three speaks of the descendants of Israel in the last days.
All nations come against Israel in the last days, but see what happens to the nations that do that
9 Deal with them as with Midian, As with Sisera, As with Jabin at the Brook Kishon,
10 Who perished at En Dor, Who became as refuse on the earth.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb, Yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 Who said, “Let us take for ourselves The pastures of God for a possession.”
This is what Palestine and others are saying today.
Let us take Israel for ourselves
By force, with violence
12 Who said, “Let us take for ourselves The pastures of God for a possession.”
13 O my God, make them like the whirling dust, Like the chaff before the wind!
This is liken the 4 winds from every corner of the earth I have preached on.
Israel bringing justice through the four winds
14 As the fire burns the woods, And as the flame sets the mountains on fire,
15 So pursue them with Your tempest, And frighten them with Your storm.
16 Fill their faces with shame, That they may seek Your name, O Lord.
17 Let them be confounded and dismayed forever; Yes, let them be put to shame and perish,
Put to shame forever as in (Isa 41:10)
18 That they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord, Are the Most High over all the earth.
This is the promise that all the prophets talk about.
That if anyone comes against Israel in the last days will be put to shame and disgraced.
12 You shall seek them and not find them— Those who contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.
13 For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’
6 “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles,
14 “Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you,” says the Lord And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Remember these words in the days to come- have no fear
Have you ever heard somebody be called worm before?
You would think that it might be a insult.
But if you think about the characteristics of a worm, it is very indicative of God’s character.
Of all the Hebrew letters, which letter did God choose to start His holy name?
Picture of Worm and Yod
Yod - the smallest letter
It looks like a curled worm
It is small - cannot defend itself - just like a worm who cannot defend itself
This is God’s character we see in Yeshua
Sometimes we see dual prophecy pertaining to Israel which is also pertaining to Messiah
We know that in His first coming, he came as a servant.
He was walked all over just like a worm.
He did not defend himself, even when falsely accused.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
7 All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
6 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
The next phrase refers to the metei yisrnʾel, “men of Israel.”
This vocalization may be an error.
On the basis of the Akkadian noun mutu, “maggot,” this should possibly be read moti yisraʾel.
This yields a synonymous parallelism (worm/maggot).
This harsh designation of Israel is turned into a more positive attribute in an old midrash:
just as the strength of a worm is in its mouth, so the strength of suffering Israel is in its prayers and repentance
With our mouth we speak the word of God, and pass righteous judgments
This is a Messianic Prophecy.
He is on the cross saying, I am on the cross and they treat me like a worm.
Every one has stepped on me, scorned me, and anyone who sees me mocks me.
This is the same way Israel has felt for the last 2730 years.
She’s been like nothing among the nations
And people have abused her and used her
And persecuted her; think of the pogroms, the Holacaust.
This is why God can parallel with Israel who was also called to be a suffering servant.
As well as to be a light to the world
Messiah is also called to be a suffering servant and a light to the nations in his first coming.
We must remember that our high calling is to live out the humble character of God’s love,
in a way that man cannot even conceive because the wisdom of God is foolishness to man.
They will say: why do you want to be like a worm?.
That’s horrible.
Why would you like to let them walk all over?
God is my judge and he will uphold me with his righteous right hand.
I do not have to vindicate myself if I truly trust Him.
I can be like a worm for His name’s sake.
You Jacob you are a worm and your Redeemer, (in Ps 22) is the other worm.
15 “Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; You shall thresh the mountains and beat them small, And make the hills like chaff.
Now I will make you, Jacob, a threshing floor.
Now you will stamp on the grain; you break the chaff from the good grain.
Now God is turning the tables
I am going to restore you the years the locust has eaten
He is going to make us the head, not the tail
Now that you were trampled, in times past, are going to do the trampling.
And you make the hills like chaff - remember the parable of the wheat and the tares: you have to let them grow together, and you can tell them apart.
Once you can see them, you let the winds carry them away and you can burn the rest of them.
16 You shall winnow them, the wind shall carry them away, And the whirlwind shall scatter them; You shall rejoice in the Lord, And glory in the Holy One of Israel.
The destruction of the 4 winds in Ezekiel again
Once you realized you were called to vindicate God’s character just like the Redeemer was - being the light to the nations.
You are also being called to be the living Torah, just like Messiah.
It is not just Him who was called to be humble, but us too.
And God will be redeeming you, saving you and defending you.
21 The east wind carries him away, and he is gone; It sweeps him out of his place.
20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
1 And in that day you will say: “O Lord, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.
2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ”
3 Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.
4 And in that day you will say: “Praise the Lord, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted.
5 Sing to the Lord, For He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth.
6 Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, For great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”
CLOSING
Seed of Abraham Picture
God gave Abraham the mission to bring His will to fruition and His message to the nations.
The same way this halftarah encourages Israel to maintain its optimistic spirit, even in the face of its own failure in exile, and stubborn resistance on the part of the nations.
So, we are to be optimistic in our joy, realizing that God has a work for us (Ephraim) in whatever nation we are born into to be a light to the nations.
Wherever we are, we are called to make a difference
There is a reason why He is waking you up to Torah, so that you are equipped and can rightly divide the word to the nations.
This is the true meaning of being a judge.
It is said that Israel will judge the nations.
The ancient judges did not point their finger at each other, but rightly divided the word;
opened up the Torah;
and taught the Torah. In other words we take dominion by giving a proverb.
This is the way we are supposed to be among the nations.
Let’s draw one more parallel between the Torah portion and the Halftarah
Picture of TREE of Israel:
A family tree
A green tree = Israel
The Root is Yeshua
The trunk: The Fathers of the Faith : Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel
The branches: 12 tribes (Ephraim and Judah) Native born/ no native born
All gentile nations can be grafted in. Salvation for the world
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
There cannot be a separate family tree, as there can’t be a separate bride
We know:
The Root is Yeshua
He is the root = the word is the root of all creation
Not many people can see Messiah in Israel because He is the root hidden in the ground.
He needs to be revealed.
The trunk: The Fathers of the Faith : Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel
Forefathers of the promise
The branches: 12 tribes (Ephraim and Judah) Native born/ no native born
Nations have to bear fruit
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
In the ancient world man is seen as a tree
We raise our hands as branches.
10 “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.”
Picture of the Tree of Israel
Jesse from the tribe of Judah
A banner that any sees and look at
Those who went into dispersion kept the message of Yeshua alive - like a banner waving, even though they have not held on to Torah.
The Jews have held on to Torah, but have not been quick to recognize the banner of this Christian Jesus which is kind of counterfeited the true Yeshua who upheld the Torah when they promote that Yeshua is in the place of God and he does away with the laws of God.
They say we are told not to worship any image: in anything in heavens above or the earth beneath.
And we better make sure that no one does away with Torah because that would be a false prophet.
We know from the Torah that says that if anyone does not speak my word not to listen to him:
1 “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder,
2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’
3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.
5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst.
They are right in following the commandments, but are missing the true Yeshua
This root is standing with the banner.
But Israel finished its punishment in 2008/2009 (unilateral cease fire with Gaza),
if you count 2730 years back to 721 BC when Assyria captured them, it seemed like they were dry bones, which have awakened and are being reinvigorated.
But is it time for Israel to respond like the Lion of Judah?
Gentiles have been awakening while holding the banner and returning to Torah while
the Jews having awakening to Yeshua while holding the Torah
The Messianic Gatherings are moving in both these directions. Just like John when he say the vision:
17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
So we know the root is Yeshua.
He is a banner for the people and the nations are coming too.
The 4 leading tribes also carry the banners
Yeshua’s resting place: The millennial shabbat is coming
10 “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.”
Paul says,
7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
Rooted - grafted in or part of the original tree
Established in the faith - faith comes by hearing - also faith w/o works is dead - obedience to Torah
Just as you were taught: this is 300 years before the “church” was institutionalized.
The way was the way - Yeshua was not creating a new religion.
He is Jewish Messiah. The apostles were Messiah.
Verse 8 - be ware - you are deceived through philosophy
Picture of the TREE of Israel
The word is the root
We are rooted in the word of God
This is what was accounted to Abraham as righteousness
Abraham was obedient and kept the commandments
5 because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
In our halftarah
8 “But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.
Jacob the Zera of Abraham - the seed of Abraham
Abraham was my friend - he obeyed
2 Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him.”
Abraham is ought to be our example; look upon to him
Sarah wo bore you
When grafted in to the trunk, you are called the seed of Abraham and Sarah
Both of them were obedient= both have a role to play. He obeyed God. Sarah obeyed Abraham
6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
Paul is speaking about the same thing
Both Abraham and Sarah are examples
for the men and women grafted into the tree of the family
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
A lot of people like to speak about Abraham being justified by faith,
but they do not speak about works.
Works means he obeyed.
Yeshua’s brother, Jacob is clarifying the importance of obedience
Test = Isaac
He obeyed even when human reasoning cannot justify it
Like the chukkim - eg. red heifer
This is the way we need to be, even when we do not understand we obey the word of God
Abraham was obedient
James says, see how his faith works together wit his works?
They are intertwined.
The scripture was fulfilled
6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
22 And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
A true belief is a belief that causes you to walk in the Torah - Lech Lecha in your life
Belief is nothing without obedience
Even the demons believe
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
The forefathers were able to walk (Lech Lecha) with God
The betrothal took place in Mount Sinai because the forefathers were able to make covenant with God
The branches are Israel
The branches have been broken off for a while so that the wild olives can be grafted in
When they have faith will return to Torah obedience and enter the covenant which includes Shabbat
This is why God says:
13 “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.
and
12 Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.
Without working that faith in righteousness
and not observing the holy days, our belief means nothing
And many will say:
22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Not practicing the Torah
You did not believe enough to obey
The law was not nailed to the cross as many say
The branches were broken off (scattered) so that others could come in
20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.
It is like scattering the seed in all the world by sending all the tribes into the nations
Paul is taking about the lost house of Israel in this analogy
Scatter to gather
15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
Picture of the TREE of Israel
The lump referring to the forefathers
The root referring to the word
If you cut a branch, it dies
Do not boast against Israel
18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
Do not bring in pagan worship but take part in Israel and be holy
22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
The fatness is the blessings
If you are grafted in you will learn to walk according to the word of God
Picture of Lech Lecha -walk in the Path
Lech Lecha mentioned: 1555
4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.
2 He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;
5 O house of Jacob, come and let us walk In the light of the Lord.
17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.
This root is standing with the banner.
But Israel finished its punishment in 2008/2009 (unilateral cease fire with Gaza),
if you count 2730 years back to 721 BC when Assyria captured them, it seemed like they were dry bones, which have awakened and are being reinvigorated.
But is it time for Israel to respond like the Lion of Judah?
Remember His Torah/ Live the Torah/ Teach the Torah
Chag Sameach
Shabbat Shalom