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We in the
Messianic Movement are in the midst of a great shift of paradigms,
one of the most difficult things to do for the human mind. We as
human beings fight hard to retain our belief systems, our egos hold
onto own truths and we defend them even to death. We generally prefer
to attack the messenger bringing truth instead of stopping to re-examine
our own beliefs.
Such
is the case when we look at Abraham in this week's portion, Vayera.
I wrote about Abraham's righteousness in last week's drash, actually
coming from G-d and not from Abraham. We are accustomed to believe
that if we are blessed it is because we did something to deserve
it while the opposite is also true. It is true that we suffer the
consequence of disobedience to Torah but again as I have said in
the past, let us not confuse Torah with Salvation being equivalent
with rewards from G-d. There is absolutely nothing we can do to obtain
our Salvation. It is also beyond our understanding how if G-d chose
us, then why would He allow us to be punished.
There
is so much to talk about in this beautiful parashah: we see Abraham
and Sarah being visited by three persons, this episode being a wonderful
drash about G-d's revelation to man in a visible way, without compromising
his Divinity! Abraham rushes to feed them; he laughs when he hears
that he will have a son as does Sarah which is why he is named, Itzchak
meaning laughter. Abraham pleads with G-d to spare Sodom and Gomorrah
or Amora if only 10 righteous men could be found. Please notice that
G-d is visibly present at that time as one of the three persons,
not as Rambam, Moses Maimonides (Moreh Nevuchim 3:43) said, that
it was only "a prophetic vision", but as Ramban-- Moses
Nachmanides, vigorously challenged that it was not a prophetic vision
but that G-d was clearly present "as it is stated in the Scripture".
Lot is saved from Sodom but his mother in law is turned to salt as
she looks back. The two nations Moab and Amon are born from his two
daughters having an incestuous relationship with him after they escape.
This is important in the pedigree of the Messiah since Ruth, the
grandmother of Kind David was a Moabite and Amon is the ancestor
of King Rehaboam also in the line of Messiah.
In
this portion we watch as Sarah gets rid of Ishmael and read of what
a terrible mother Hagar as she deserts her son not wanting to watch
him die of thirst and starvation. We read of the binding of Isaac,
the akeda. Each of these subjects has volumes written about them,
this portion being so very rich.
The
Messianic Writings use Sodom and Gomorrah as a sign concerning the
end times and I believe that we are not in these end times. Morality
has changed to such a point that what was right 30 years ago is now
wrong and what was considered wrong is now perfectly right. One of
the main sins associated with Sodom was sexual perversion and gross
immorality with sodomy being rampant. When perversion reigns we know
we are in these end times. Lot found himself in such a terrible position.
2
Peter 2: and Matthew 24: 15-18 speak of these last days, where false
prophets will arise and fool everyone, even the very elect. Today
we prefer not hear the truth but prefer to believe lies. We believers
are called to be agents of change in such times as these. We are
not running in a popularity contest but are part of the remnant of
G-d who constantly speaks of this. Many of you are still living your
lives without direction, confused jumping from one place to another.
You struggle in the community because you do not want to be responsible.
You want to live your own lives your own way thinking that this will
bring happiness and freedom. You don't want to listen to G-d , preferring
to trust in yourselves then in G-d. When Yeshua said, " You
shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free", he was
speaking about G-d for he also said, "I am the Truth…".
He was not speaking about a set of doctrines.
We
are so convinced that our doctrines are truth that we twist the Word
of G-d to fit our belief systems. For instance, there is no such
thing in the Bible as the Old and New Testament. The word "testament
"does not appear in the original texts. The word is "covenant".
In Jeremiah 31: 31-34 we read: "The
time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a
new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when
I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke
my covenant, though I was a husband to them, "declares the LORD.
This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that
time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will
be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his
brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD.
"For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their
sins no more."
He wasn't speaking about a new book but a covenant which is a pact
between two parties. We Israel broke the covenant which G-d made
with us, handed down to us by Moses. This time, He would write His
law on our hearts through His mediator Yeshua and his covenant would
be re-NEWed. The veil would be lifted from our eyes and we will all
know G-d. This understanding has been completely lost in the interpretation
which was written in order for the church to replace Israel. There
is only one Israel and in the Scriptures there is no such thing as
the church. It was a fabrication of a political body who wanted to
control the masses as it changed the Word of G-d.
Yeshua told us "Remember, I chose you. You did not choose me"
and he warned us about the tares being together with the wheat and
only by their fruit would we know them. This is a message to all
you righteous people who think that you are better than others. You
are not. Stop pointing your fingers in judgment at others. How many
of you are truly serving G-d?
We have been given a vision by G-d. We are a special people and our
life ahead will not be easy. This is not a Jewish/Gentile issue;
not a measure of pedigree. We are either His or we are not. Are we
being obedient to the call of G-d as was Abraham? There is a price
to pay in serving G-d and not all are willing to pay it. There is
a price to pay to shift paradigms and to be willing to stand for
G-d's Truth instead of man's truths. It is time that we stop being
so self-centered and allow G-d to be the center of our lives. Abraham
gave us a pattern as the father of all the nations. He prayed for
the lost in Sodom and Gomorrah and begged G-d to save it even for
a few righteous people. We need to empty ourselves of our own ideas
of faith and allow us to be filled with G-d's faith so that we can
truly be agents of change in the world. The words yeled and yalda
are suded several times in this portion. It means child and birth.
We are to come to Him as children and be reborn into His faith.
Let us examine our hearts and be truly willing to step up to the
plate and serve the living G-d no matter what the cost. These days
ahead will be dark and we need to stand in the Truth and shine G-d's
light in a dying world. Are you ready?
May
G-d add blessings to His Word!
Rabbi
Percy Johnson
Netanel
ben Yochanan
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©
2008 Use by Permission
Kehilat
She’ar Yashuv
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