B'reisheet(Genesis)
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Meaning
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Day Six
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Haftara
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B'rit Hadashah
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1 Our Father, we receive Your Words and hide Your commandments with us; 2 we incline our ear unto wisdom, and apply our hearts to understanding; 3 We cry after knowledge and lift up our voices for understanding; 4 we seek it as silver; and search for it as for hidden treasures; 5 We declare that we shall understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. Declaration of Proverbs 2:1-5.
Genesis 22:1-24 (NASB)1
1 Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you." 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. 5 Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you." 6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" 8 Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together. 9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 12 He said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." 13 Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. 14 Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, "In the mount of the LORD it will be provided." 15 Then the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16 and said, "By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham lived at Beersheba. 20 Now it came about after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, "Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Uz his firstborn and Buz his brother and Kemuel the father of Aram 22 and Chesed and Hazo and Pildash and Jidlaph and Bethuel." 23 Bethuel became the father of Rebekah; these eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother. 24 His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah and Gaham and Tahash and Maacah.
We've come around to the sixth day of the week and is it just me or are these weeks passing faster and faster all the time? It seems like I just set out to set the templates for the week and here I am, only twenty-four hours from setting the templates for the next week! I'm thinking that things must go pretty fast when one is out of the house involved in off homestead activities at least four times a week. Sometimes I do wonder if I'm doing too much. Maybe if I was just HERE and stayed HERE, maybe the time might seem longer. OR, it could all be a symptom of aging. I've heard folks talk about that. You know, the older you get, the faster it goes? Judging from the memories of some of the remarks from many of the elders that I've cared for in nursing homes in my career I wonder if the older one gets the crazier the world gets?
When they were 'spring chickens' things were lively and gay, (the sort of carefree and simple gay that was once the actual definition of 'gay'). Then as the years rolled by things changed so much. Some of the changes were quite welcome and others came from out of nowhere and were a big surprise. Life got a tad more complicated with each passing decade because of changes. There were children to raise and mortgages to pay and the rest of the world was sure making strides in progress too, and some of this progress was troubling. There were conflicts, national depressions and even world wars. It was uncomfortable.
The world had altered while they had changed and it wasn't always the sort with which they agreed. The following generation was always a mystery, along with their music and their attitudes. By the time they reached what was supposed to be their 'golden years', they were exhausted from all those changes. The world was SO different and they weren't fussy about it in the least. The simplicity of living had disappeared. They had lost so many of their peers and siblings over the years and even some of their children. Then as their life slowed bit by bit, and their physical status grew more problematic, they grew listless and tired. Very few of them were even half willing to change “with the times”. I have to wonder if they thought that “the times” were worth the effort, so they decided to 'shut down'.
I know where all this has come from today. I was reading out of “The Best of James Herriot” to Mamaw Burlock yesterday afternoon. She's no longer able to read due to macular degeneration, and so I've been reading to her a book that she regifted to me because we both loved to read the favorite memories of the country vet in Yorkshire, England. And didn't I get all stirred up with Mr. Herriot's discourse on how the world altered drastically when automation came to England and the draught horses no longer pulled the plows that were carefully tended by the men that worked them. Cliff Tyerman was one of these who had seen an entire barn full of rows of stalls with magnificent work horses, year by year, dwindle down to one horse and when that last one died, having to be euthanized because of tetanus from a hoof wound, Cliff's entire world then changed irreversibly. His boss decided to move his farming in a different direction and was going to buy sheep. We did stop right there for a short time, marveling over how the world changed for Cliff Tyreman. But the thing is, he didn't shut down. He expressed that he didn't mind “learnin' summat new” because he was “nobut a lad yet!” Cliff Tyreman was actually closer to seventy years of age. Cliff taught us both a huge lesson! It's all in the attitude!
When I think of Abraham at his time of life and how it was going to change irreversibly, in our text today, we have to know that Abraham was anchored. His entire life had been structured by God to bring him to this very point when he would have a conversation with God and God would put to him a request that would rock his world!
1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. Genesis 22:1-2.
Although The Word doesn't tell us how Abraham reacted mentally and emotionally, it does tell us he was obedient and ready to perform that request!
3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Genesis 22:3.
We've established that we don’t know everything that Yah knows, so it makes sense to trust Him for the stuff we don’t know. He has plans for other people that we have absolutely no inkling and only He knows how He’s going to expertly weave it all together as it impacts our own lives or it might not. We know that the enemy walks in and about the heavenly realm before the throne to accuse us from the first chapter of the book of Job.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Job 1:6-8.
Here’s the question. How do we know that on another occasion that the topic of Abraham didn’t come up in that same realm? How do we know that the conversation didn’t turn to something like this?
9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. Job 1:9-11.
This doesn’t mean, like the world might argue, that we’re all pawns in some cosmic chess game—it means that our Father is very pleased with us as we walk in His ways here on the earth! It means that He makes examples of us to the accuser; He points out our righteousness like the proud Father He is. (And look at how we denigrate our own experience—always thinking that we never come up to His standards? Doesn’t that behavior seem silly now?) What if the Almighty said, “Look I’ll show you just how devoted Abraham is to me, and how much he trusts me, and how much he will obey.” And then there was Abraham making that fateful journey up the mountain with his son Isaac. And the faith he instilled in his son Isaac becomes into better view when we realize that Isaac was not a pre-pubescent lad of twelve like we learned in Sunday school. Here is another Bible myth buster FACT: Isaac was likely at that time, to be thirty-seven years of age. He could have easily overpowered his father and said “No way are you going to dispatch me!” Isaac went willingly and allowed himself to be bound. He, albeit unknowingly, even carried the wood for the sacrifice upon his own back. Abraham AND Isaac were tested that day and we know the glorious outcome! And even though it may “look like” to some, that Abraham and Isaac were pawns in a game of “proof”, the Almighty was true to His Word that He gave Rebbi Sha’ul/Paul centuries later.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28.
Or…you could look at this whole story at a different angle. Abraham was willing to give up his son for God but was stopped before the point of death. In a later era, thanks to the faithfulness of Abraham and Isaac, our Father would be willing to give up His Son for the whole human race, but this time, did not stop before the point of death. God's Son would also be willing to freely surrender His life, as Isaac, who didn't resist.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.
Isaac was old enough and strong enough to carry a huge lot of wood for a potential human sacrifice and if that, then old enough to overpower his father and walk away. If we consider that Isaac had a relationship with the Lord as his father did, then we might think that Isaac, as the Hebrew legend indicates, might have gone so far as to have asked his father to ensure that his bonds were tight so that he wouldn’t make any last second movements that would spoil the sacrifice. How Abraham must have struggled in his heart, with this command of the Lord! Perhaps he was thinking that God would have the boy killed and then would bring him back to life. After all, this was the confirmed son of promise, and The Lord said that all these descendants promised were to come from Isaac. If Isaac died then how could it be that the Lord would fulfill that promise? Yes, that’s it, Abraham might have thought, my Lord will revive the boy! But still, before that could happen, Abraham had to realize that he would have to lower the blade and then set the fire that would consume the offering, and this offering was his favored son! And add to that, how to explain all this to his wife Sarah!
Then again, there are yet even more things of note. The only son, who apparently gave his consent to the act, and who carried his own wood upon which he would later die on Mt. Moriah. The son was willing to give ‘his all’ in order that his father could give in turn ‘his all’. Because he had been proven, he was given a reaffirmation of the original promise. And so it has been recorded, if anyone cares to do the research, that nations who have blessed Israel have been blessed!
When they were 'spring chickens' things were lively and gay, (the sort of carefree and simple gay that was once the actual definition of 'gay'). Then as the years rolled by things changed so much. Some of the changes were quite welcome and others came from out of nowhere and were a big surprise. Life got a tad more complicated with each passing decade because of changes. There were children to raise and mortgages to pay and the rest of the world was sure making strides in progress too, and some of this progress was troubling. There were conflicts, national depressions and even world wars. It was uncomfortable.
The world had altered while they had changed and it wasn't always the sort with which they agreed. The following generation was always a mystery, along with their music and their attitudes. By the time they reached what was supposed to be their 'golden years', they were exhausted from all those changes. The world was SO different and they weren't fussy about it in the least. The simplicity of living had disappeared. They had lost so many of their peers and siblings over the years and even some of their children. Then as their life slowed bit by bit, and their physical status grew more problematic, they grew listless and tired. Very few of them were even half willing to change “with the times”. I have to wonder if they thought that “the times” were worth the effort, so they decided to 'shut down'.
I know where all this has come from today. I was reading out of “The Best of James Herriot” to Mamaw Burlock yesterday afternoon. She's no longer able to read due to macular degeneration, and so I've been reading to her a book that she regifted to me because we both loved to read the favorite memories of the country vet in Yorkshire, England. And didn't I get all stirred up with Mr. Herriot's discourse on how the world altered drastically when automation came to England and the draught horses no longer pulled the plows that were carefully tended by the men that worked them. Cliff Tyerman was one of these who had seen an entire barn full of rows of stalls with magnificent work horses, year by year, dwindle down to one horse and when that last one died, having to be euthanized because of tetanus from a hoof wound, Cliff's entire world then changed irreversibly. His boss decided to move his farming in a different direction and was going to buy sheep. We did stop right there for a short time, marveling over how the world changed for Cliff Tyreman. But the thing is, he didn't shut down. He expressed that he didn't mind “learnin' summat new” because he was “nobut a lad yet!” Cliff Tyreman was actually closer to seventy years of age. Cliff taught us both a huge lesson! It's all in the attitude!
When I think of Abraham at his time of life and how it was going to change irreversibly, in our text today, we have to know that Abraham was anchored. His entire life had been structured by God to bring him to this very point when he would have a conversation with God and God would put to him a request that would rock his world!
1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. Genesis 22:1-2.
Although The Word doesn't tell us how Abraham reacted mentally and emotionally, it does tell us he was obedient and ready to perform that request!
3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Genesis 22:3.
We've established that we don’t know everything that Yah knows, so it makes sense to trust Him for the stuff we don’t know. He has plans for other people that we have absolutely no inkling and only He knows how He’s going to expertly weave it all together as it impacts our own lives or it might not. We know that the enemy walks in and about the heavenly realm before the throne to accuse us from the first chapter of the book of Job.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Job 1:6-8.
Here’s the question. How do we know that on another occasion that the topic of Abraham didn’t come up in that same realm? How do we know that the conversation didn’t turn to something like this?
9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. Job 1:9-11.
This doesn’t mean, like the world might argue, that we’re all pawns in some cosmic chess game—it means that our Father is very pleased with us as we walk in His ways here on the earth! It means that He makes examples of us to the accuser; He points out our righteousness like the proud Father He is. (And look at how we denigrate our own experience—always thinking that we never come up to His standards? Doesn’t that behavior seem silly now?) What if the Almighty said, “Look I’ll show you just how devoted Abraham is to me, and how much he trusts me, and how much he will obey.” And then there was Abraham making that fateful journey up the mountain with his son Isaac. And the faith he instilled in his son Isaac becomes into better view when we realize that Isaac was not a pre-pubescent lad of twelve like we learned in Sunday school. Here is another Bible myth buster FACT: Isaac was likely at that time, to be thirty-seven years of age. He could have easily overpowered his father and said “No way are you going to dispatch me!” Isaac went willingly and allowed himself to be bound. He, albeit unknowingly, even carried the wood for the sacrifice upon his own back. Abraham AND Isaac were tested that day and we know the glorious outcome! And even though it may “look like” to some, that Abraham and Isaac were pawns in a game of “proof”, the Almighty was true to His Word that He gave Rebbi Sha’ul/Paul centuries later.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28.
Or…you could look at this whole story at a different angle. Abraham was willing to give up his son for God but was stopped before the point of death. In a later era, thanks to the faithfulness of Abraham and Isaac, our Father would be willing to give up His Son for the whole human race, but this time, did not stop before the point of death. God's Son would also be willing to freely surrender His life, as Isaac, who didn't resist.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.
Isaac was old enough and strong enough to carry a huge lot of wood for a potential human sacrifice and if that, then old enough to overpower his father and walk away. If we consider that Isaac had a relationship with the Lord as his father did, then we might think that Isaac, as the Hebrew legend indicates, might have gone so far as to have asked his father to ensure that his bonds were tight so that he wouldn’t make any last second movements that would spoil the sacrifice. How Abraham must have struggled in his heart, with this command of the Lord! Perhaps he was thinking that God would have the boy killed and then would bring him back to life. After all, this was the confirmed son of promise, and The Lord said that all these descendants promised were to come from Isaac. If Isaac died then how could it be that the Lord would fulfill that promise? Yes, that’s it, Abraham might have thought, my Lord will revive the boy! But still, before that could happen, Abraham had to realize that he would have to lower the blade and then set the fire that would consume the offering, and this offering was his favored son! And add to that, how to explain all this to his wife Sarah!
Then again, there are yet even more things of note. The only son, who apparently gave his consent to the act, and who carried his own wood upon which he would later die on Mt. Moriah. The son was willing to give ‘his all’ in order that his father could give in turn ‘his all’. Because he had been proven, he was given a reaffirmation of the original promise. And so it has been recorded, if anyone cares to do the research, that nations who have blessed Israel have been blessed!
16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Genesis 22:16-18.
1 NASB www.lockman.org for daily reading and KJV in commentary unless otherwise specified.
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