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John 14:9
“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” The dear sages who compared Jerusalem to Sarah our matriarch could not have foreseen the extent of their analogy. In the midrash of the barren woman, Hashem reveals the messianic future of His dear city to the prophet Isaiah. Since its sacking by the Romans in the first century C.E., many have looked at Jerusalem just as Isaiah saw her: a barren woman sitting on a heap of ashes, ostracized and rejected by her husband because of her many infidelities (Isaiah 54; Jeremiah 26:6). One of the legends I like the most is the one about the weaning of Isaac. It is said that Abraham called in a great feast (Genesis 21:8). The rumor had gone around that Isaac was actually Pharaoh Abimelek’s child (Genesis 20:2). Not only people couldn't believe that old Abraham sired a boy, but they also could not conceive Sarah lactating at ninety years old. The point of the feast was to vindicate the miracle God had performed and put the rumors to rest. Great Sheiks came from all around in great caravans and pomp to attend Abraham’s feast. To prove herself, not only did Sarah nursed her son, but she offered to nurse every baby in the camp. She did, and the story goes on to say that every child Sarah nursed eventually became a king or a person of great influence and integrity. Also, in order to erase any doubt that the child was truly Abraham’s, God had made the face of Isaac similar to that of his father, so that it was said that he who saw the son saw the father. Sounds familiar doesn’t it (John 14:9)? Look now why our ages compared Sarah to Jerusalem. Just like Sarah was, twice Jerusalem was conquered and taken captive by foreigners, first by the Babylonians, and the second by the Romans. With the re-establishment of the State of Israel, the Roman captivity shows signs of coming to its end. Having the past of Jerusalem in Sarah's life, let us now see now its future. After the return from her second captivity, Isaac, the promised child, the fore-shadow of Messiah was born. Sarah who barren and past the age, finally bore fruit. In the same manner today, Jerusalem, one of the oldest city in the world, a city that has been used, abused, rejected, redeemed, to be rejected again and re-redeemed, prides itself of a new vibrant Messianic community rising all over in Israel: the ‘remnant of the seed of the woman’ (Revelation 12:17) preparing the way for the soon return of the King (Revelations 19). The same miracle that rejuvenated Sarah to conceive Isaac and lactate happens in our day through Jerusalem. Think of it: a whole country was re-born in a day with a new generation of messianic believers preparing the way for the soon-coming of the King who will rule the earth in the justice and righteousness of the Father. Will they become the kings of integrity ‘nursed’ to rule in the Jerusalem of the World to Come? May it be soon Abba, even in our days! Those who would try to interfere with the miraculous plan of God are playing with the unstoppable spiritual and natural forces that created the heavens and the earth. May they beware!
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Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. The itinerant prophet Elisha often traveled through the Jezreel Valley also called the Plain of Megiddo in the Northern Kingdom. A prominent childless woman from the village of Shunem noticed the that this oftentimes wonderer was a prophet of God, so her and her husband who were part of a small remnant who had not gone the way of Jeroboam decided to offer him hospitality whenever he passed through. They added an extra bedroom on the roof of their house which they equipped with a bed, a chair, a table, and an oil lamp. (The first Hebrew letters of each of these elements in the room spell the word: Mishkan which is the term used for the area where the Ark of the Covenant used to rest. This teaches us the very important principle that he who practices hospitably transforms his house into a Sanctuary for the Divine Presence to dwell in.) Our Master relates to this Shunamite woman when He said, The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward (Matthew10:41) . Against the woman’s protests, knowing how God rewards those who care for His saints without personal motives but just because they are God’s people, Elisha desired to reward the woman for her kindness. When Elisha’s servant pointed out to him that she was barren, the prophet proceeded to tell her that by next year, at the time of life (same Hebraic expression used by the angel who spoke to Abraham about Sarah in Genesis 18:10) she will embrace a son, a son which Elisha later raises form the dead. These carry an uncanny resemblance with those told in the Book of Genesis about Sarah after Abraham practiced hospitality to strangers (Genesis 18), but they also follow closely those that Elijah, Elisha’s master performed in that very same area. These local stories were still recounted in those towns of Israel when the Master arrived on the scene. They were still fresh and people encouraged each other with them as they waited for the final Messiah who would deliver them. They knew that He would do the same miracles and even more. What a surprised then it must have been for the people of Nain when this new prophet who was born not too far from them in Nazareth crashed one of their funeral procession and being moved with compassion brought a young man back to life (Luke 7:11-15). If you want Hashem’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven; if you desire to make a Sanctuary of your heart and of your house for the Presence of God to dwell in; if you want to see the life-giving blessings of the Almighty fill your life: practice hospitality, especially on the Sabbath! Hebrews 11:17-18
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." Here is a conversation I often have with my Bible student, “Do you believe in Yeshua the Messiah?” When they reply positively I then say, “That means that you believe in a man who resurrected from the dead” I then say. Do you really believe that God can resurrect someone from the dead?” They say yes a bit less self-assured. I then ask, “What then if today God would say to you, “I want to use you for a little skit that will teach the generations to come about resurrection. Take your little sister, put her on a table, stab her with a knife and burn her. Don’t worry because I will resurrect her right away. You do believe I can resurrect her right?”” There is usually a silence among the students then I ask again, ‘Do you believe in the bodily resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah? After all, you bank your whole faith system on that very fact!” Much ink has been shed about God asking Abraham to sacrifice his favorite son Isaac. Most of what is written denotes of the extreme love Abraham had for God, love that gave him the strength to sacrifice the most precious thing he owned: his precious son Isaac, the son of promise. This story is usually offered to encourage people of whom God seems to require great loss or sacrifice. There is a problem with this idea though, because human sacrifice is not acceptable to God. The Father defined what He wanted as offering and humans are off the list. They are actually forbidden, non-kosher, not fit for offering. That’s the whole idea; that’s why Leviticus teaches us that to approach God we need the blood mediation of an innocent fit animal. Abraham also knew that as one of the main differences between the God Heaven and earth and the idols of his days. He knew that God did not accept human sacrifice. What Adonai was asking of Abraham was not a proof of his love by giving up Isaac, but a proof of his faith by believing in resurrection. When he went up the mountain Abraham said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you (Genesis 22:5)." The Hebrew there is specific; it says, “We will come again to you.” The author of the Book of Hebrews tells us that Abraham considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back (Hebrews 11:19). (The Greek for ‘figuratively speaking’ says: ‘as in a parable’; referring to an ancient Hebrew parable on the potential death and resurrection of Isaac). In this case, Abraham, the father of all believers in the Messiah, of Jews and non-Jews, believed in God in the same way that we do now: through believing in a non-human mediated resurrection. Hebrews 11:19
He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. NOTE: The Greek text for ‘figuratively speaking’ says: ‘as in a parable’, thus referring to an ancient Jewish parable by Pirkei de R. Eliezer. In the psarable the Rabbi suggests that as the knife touched Isaac's throat, the boy's spirit actually left his body, only to come back at the sound of the voice of the angel. According to that midrash, while Abraham did not kill him, Isaac actually died and resurrected when on the altar. The author of the Book of Hebrews was aware of this ancient tradition to which he referred in order to make his point. Oh for the provision of our Almighty Abba! When we don’t bring in our part of the bargain, He provides the missing elements. He provides the missing elements and yet teaches us our lesson of faithfulness. Abraham was ready to go though the whole of God’s plan. He was letting go of his own plans for Isaac to accept God’s plans instead. One could blame Abraham for being a fanatic and a lunatic; a religious nut of some sort but wait …! We may have the idea that Abraham was bringing an innocent unsuspecting young boy to an untimely death, but the text tells us that Isaac was actually a young bachelor, a young man who willingly allowed himself to be tied up to this altar on Mt. Moriah in full knowledge of what was going to happen to him. He had seen his father do it many times before and probably did it himself. In the days of the Tabernacles and temples, animals brought to the altar were to be calmed down before going through the whole offering process; they had to be willing victims. Such was Isaac. A young man who utterly trusted his father and who lived solely to do his father’s bidding. That is why Isaac was in the mind of Jewish people a representation of the coming Messiah, a representation alluded to in Jewish literature and most of all in the tradition of the Afikomen of the Passover Seder. Abraham’s confession of faith came with a test that provoked in him immense turmoil. Did he believe, as is alluded to in the text that God would resurrect Isaac and provide something else for the offering on Mt. Moriah? What if God would ask you to testify of your faith in such a way? What if He were to ask you to sacrifice your son and tell you, ‘Don’t worry though, I am going to resurrect him right away!’ The same could be said of Isaac when he realized what was happening. His faith in his father was tested then, but he still relied entirely on the faith of his father who told him, ‘Adonai Yirei’: ‘Hashem will provide’. The test provides a standard to quantify the value of the commitment, a touchstone to define the caliber of our faith. From one to a hundred how would you grade Abraham’s test? Probably off the charts. And what about Isaac’s” Off the charts too. How about yours? Hebrews 13:2
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. It is very common in hot countries for people to take a break from work around noon. Due to the heat, they break at twelve and sometimes do not work again until mid-afternoon. In the case of Genesis 18, Abraham was not taking a mid-day nap due to the heat of the day, he was convalescing from undergoing circumcision (Genesis 17). The fever lasted three days, the third day incurring the highest fever (Genesis 34:25); the first verse therefore of Genesis eighteen could infer that this was the third and highest day of Abraham’s fever. While Abraham was convalescing, the Torah tells us that Adonai came to visit him (Genesis 18:1). The Master Himself came to check on Abraham. This notion of Hashem's personal visit to Abraham to check up on him is the true origins of the apostle’s injunctions to visit the sick (Hebrews 13:2). Discipleship is to want to be like your Master. If the Master therefore took the time to visit Abraham when he was sick, we should also practice the visiting of the ill. This visit resulted in several tests. 1:Hospitality: The hospitality of Abraham was legendary. His table was like no other. To be at the table of Abraham was like being at the table of the Lord. When we receive brethren in our home’s to share with us, we should also do our best to honor them. The meal that Abraham served was composed of dairy and meat; a full meal worthy of a King. Did Abraham know who he was serving? All the text tells us after the verse’s beginning narrative is that Abraham saw three men, strangers in the plain of Mamreh. Even the Book of Hebrew seems to indicate that Abraham didn’t have a clue at first (Hebrews 13:2). We should always share our best with stranger and consider it a high honor to host the Saints, those for whom our Master died. 2: Belief: Adonai had a message for Abraham. When Sarah (89 years old) heard that she would give birth, she laughed a cynical laugh for which the angel reproved her. Abraham did not as he had already gone through that a few days before (Genesis 17). Similarly we should learn not to laugh at the impossible doings of God. The Talmud compares Sarah to Jerusalem. If He is able to take an old woman, rejuvenate her and make her fruitful throughout generations, Adonai is also able a broken down seemingly barren city such as Jerusalem and resurrect her to be a blessing to all forever after. 3: Motives: How was Abraham going to use his new standing with God? Since Adonai and him were now covenanted together, Abraham right away used his new assets as a blessing towards the incredulous world around him, not without motive though. He pleaded for the sparing of Sodom and Gomorrah just for the sake of saving Lot his wayward nephew. How do we use our covenanted standing with the Master. Are our prayers a repetition of ‘gimme’s’, or are our eyes turned toward those in need. I think Abraham passed the test. Would we? Hebrews 11:14-16
For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. A young man at a university was expounding to me his beliefs about the end of the world. He was very excited and convincing in his arguments that the end was coming soon and that we should get ready. He was explaining to me that there will soon be an economic collapse which will cause a downright breakdown of society; that seismic activities also were on the rise and that we should learn to survive without modern conveniences. He was showing me that it was all in the Bible and that there was nothing we could do about it. When the conversation shifted gear, I asked him what he was presently studying. He said he was going for some sort of law degree in economics. This is the point I stopped listening. This man may have been right in his conjectures I do not know, but whatever our beliefs may be, our arguments seem very hypocritical when our lifestyle projects direct opposite values and rhetoric. If this young man believed that the whole social and economic system was on the brink of collapse and that there was nothing he or I could do about it, why in the world was he going for a long set of studies on economics? Why doesn’t his lifestyle reflect his rhetoric? We are taught in Scriptures that we are all in exile here. That our true home is in the ‘World to Come’, when all is restored the way it should be; that we are really here like the Children of Israel in the desert. As believers, we are actually like Abraham who was told to leave his home looking for a 'better place'. We believe this but how much do we live it? Do we live like we are settling down in this world? Do we take part of its Canaanite culture? Do we let its influence shape our thinking? Do we get weighed down with extra unnecessary baggage which makes our journey heavy? Or do we live the lifestyle of the passing through pilgrim? Here is a story about a poor Rabbi; I forgot his name. This Rabbi was so poor he had nothing in his house, just some straw he used for a bed. One day as he was visiting a wealthy neighbor, his host challenged his poverty and said, “But Rabbi, is it wrong for us to own things or to be comfortable?” The Rabbi said, “Of course not; King Solomon was the richest man on earth, but let me ask you a question now, ‘Do you always travel with all your things?’ “Of course not”, replied the host, “when I do, I usually travel light; but I am home now’. To the wise Rabbi then answered, “Aaah, but I am not home yet!” Are you ‘home’? Hebrews 11:10
For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. At Mt Horeb, God instructed the people of Israel about the different types of offerings. The first one mentioned in the Book of Leviticus is the ‘burnt offering’ called in the Hebrew the ’olah’ or ‘the offering of ascent’. This offering is fully burnt and dedicated to God; no-one else receives any benefit from it like with the other offerings. This speaks a total abandonment to Hashem without reservations. This is what Abraham was asked to do with Isaac on Mt Moriah, which he did with the ram provided by Adonai. This event took place at Mt Moriah, the place occupied by the city of Salem where Melchizedec was king. This was also the place where later, at the time when David sinfully decided to take a census of the nation Israel, an angel destroyed many people with a plague (2 Samuel 24). Under the instructions of Gad the prophet, David bought the place to build an altar so he could make an offering for Adonai. We must remember at this point that God had forbidden altars to be built in random places. The only altar to be used so far was the one in Shiloh by the Ark. This was therefore a strange command from Gad, but David also knew that at some point and time, Hashem had a place in the Land of Canaan where He would write His Name. A traditional source tells us that in order to honor both Melchizedec and Abraham, David later renamed the place, ‘Yireh-Salem’, or Jerusalem meaning: ‘He will provide peace’. What a name for a city that has seen more than its share of wars and conflicts and still waits for ‘the big one’! Oh but He will provide peace. Like Abraham we must not stop our eyes at this imperfect world. We must seek for our true homeland; desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. That’s why Hashem is not ashamed to be called our God, for He has prepared for us a city, a city that will finally see and know peace, a peace like no other city or even country in the world has ever known or seen. Not a ‘Pax Jerusalema’ enforced type of peace, but a peace from within originated by Yeshua the Messiah: the Prince of Peace Himself. This Jerusalem is the city with foundations, whose designer and builder is the Almighty God. Abba, the Father. He has the true peace-plan and road-map to peace in Jerusalem. Yes, Jerusalem will see peace; He promised it (Hebrews 11:10, 16)! 2 Corinthians 7:10
… For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret … At the time of Jechonias, the last Davidic king to ever sit on the throne of Jerusalem, we find the following words in an oracle pronounced by the prophet Jeremiah: Thus says Adonai: "Write this man down as childless, a man who shall not succeed in his days, for none of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David and ruling again in Judah" (Jeremiah 22:30). These words are troubling because according to the prophets Samuel and Nathan, the lineage of David was to be never-ending culminating to the Messiah. If this Davidic king was to remain childless the hope of Israel was gone and with it the hope of the world. As we continue looking into the Davidic genealogy, we realize that Jechonias has a son, Salathiel who dies. Pediaiah, the brother of Salathiel fulfills the levirate law and marries his brother’s widow thus raising seed to him in Zerubabel whom God chooses to continue the Davidic line (Haggai 2:23). It is then fair to ask the question: did God reverse Jechonias’ curse? But we also should ask another question: Did God annul the blessing on the Davidic line and the world because of the iniquity of one? These are very serious question imbedded in the reading of the genealogies. It would not be the first time that because of our unfaithfulness towards our covenant made with Him God would decide to annul the whole thing. We have seen it happen in the Sinai desert. One thing we learn from our dear Hashem is that ‘though we are faithless, He remains faithful’: Blessed be His Name. Jewish sages knew that so in Talmudic literature they conclude that Jechonias repented while in exile, thus even though his son died, God reversed the curse through the accepted Toratic principle of levirate marriage. The repentance of Jechonias cannot be documented but what this shows us is that the people of Israel looked at God as a One of mercy who reverses the fruits of our disobedience because of our repentance. Repentance therefore becomes essential to renewal and fulfillment of God’s promises. Come to think of it, it is not the first time that levirate law comes to the rescue of the covenantal lineage. It happened with Judah and Tamar, Boaz and Ruth, and in the immediate family of the Master Himself (Julius Africanus). The Davidic Messianic line is filled with people of disrepute who desperately needed absolution and renewal through sincere and true repentance. So when you feel that you’ve really blown it this time and that there is no hope left for you, look at whom God chose; look at the descendance of Messiah and know that Hashem is a God who rewards true and sincere repentance. David, more than anyone else knew it. He was destined to death because of murder and adultery, so he said, If you, O Adonai, should mark iniquities, O Adonai, who could stand (Psalms 130:3)? Revelation 18:2
"Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!" Abraham was brought up as one coming from the East to deliver Lot his nephew from the captivity of foreign kings. No, Abraham would not take a blessing from the heathen king of Sodom; the patriarch had better rewards than those on earth in his mire. His faith was duly rewarded when Melchizedek, the King of Righteousness came to bless Abraham with the recompense no-one can ever take from him (Genesis 14). In the same manner, King Cyrus, whom Hashem called over two hundred years before his birth ‘My shepherd’ also came from the East (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1). Not desiring a bounty in God’s people, he captured the city of Babylon. Isaiah prophesied, And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground (Isaiah 21:9). After his valiant conquest of the impregnable city, Cyrus’ hand was moved to free Judah and Israel from captivity and allow them to return to their country and rebuild their beloved city Jerusalem with its Temple (Ezra 1:1-3). God’s children are still in captivity. This world is certainly not our home. We, along with all the holy elected ones who died before us declare plainly that we seek a better country that is, a heavenly country solely ruled by the Messiah King and His Torah. Wherefore Hashem is not ashamed to be called our God: for He has prepared for us a city (Hebrews 11:13-16 KJV). Even so our Messiah Redeemer also comes with dyed garments from Bozrah. He is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength. He speaks in righteousness. He is mighty to save. You may ask, Why is He red in His apparel, and His garments like him that treads in the winefat? And He answers “I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come” (Isaiah 63:1-4 KJV). Yes, like Abraham of old flew upon the heathen kings to deliver Lot; as God Himself formed a king to conquer Babylon in order to deliver His people, the moral, social and economic collapse of today’s’ societies uncover the distant cry heard 2,000 years ago by Yochanan the Beloved disciple of the Master saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast. For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living." Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues (Revelations 18:2-4). May it be soon Abba, even in our days! Romans 11:17-18
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Before leaving earth Yeshua told His disciples to immerse people in His Name. The Torah idea of immersion has to do with being born again. For Jews, ritual immersions had to do with being born-again into repentance or renewal after a disease such as leprosy but for a gentile, ritual immersion meant conversion from paganism into monotheism, becoming part of the House of Israel. Such people in Synagogues were called proselytes or 'Children of Abraham' (Acts 13:26). A famous proselyte was Phillip's Ethiopian dignitary (Acts 8:26-40). Why, 'Children of Abraham?' Let me now engage you in a little Hebrew word-play. The sages of Israel loved those! Hashem said to Abraham, I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis 12:3)." It is because of this verse mentioning that those of the nations would blessed through Abraham that Judaism always looked at converts from the nations as 'Children of Abraham'. Yeshua followed the same idea In His admonition to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). You see, the word blessing in Hebrew is 'b'rachah', which is the same word used for an immersion pool. In this sense, Abraham becomes an 'immersion pool’ for the gentiles to repent and turn to the God of Israel. Of course, this is what is called in Hebrew a 'midrash', or a creative interpretation to explain a spiritual principle. Yeshua, Paul, and all the writers of the apostolic Scriptures indulged intensively in 'midrash-ing'. Here is another one. The Hebrew word for 'shall be blessed' in our Genesis verse is 'nivrechu'. This word is a conjugated from of the verb 'to bless'. Many words are cut from that same 'cloth': the word for 'knees' which describes the position in which we bless or are blessed, but also the term ‘mavrich’ or ‘to inter-mingle/to graft'. The later one is quite amazing as in his midrash about the nations entering the covenant of Israel, Paul uses the concept of grafting (Romans 11). He must have gotten the idea from an ancient 'midrash' stating the 'grafting' of Rachab the Amonite and of Ruth the Moabite into Israel by conversion or, being 'blessed/immersed/grafted in’ (Yavamoth 63a). The conversion of these two women into Judaism is all the more amazing because the Torah implicitly forbids Amonites and Moabites to enter the congregation of Israel up to the tenth generation (Deuteronomy 23:3). This shows that they were not thought as foreigners anymore, but proselytes with complete rights in Israel. It also teaches us that if Hashem accdepted them, he will certainly accept you! Today we are sent by the Master not only to ‘immerse/bless/graft’, make disciples of all nations, but also to teach them to observe all things which He has taught us. At His coming may we be found being faithful Torah teachers not only in words, but in deeds also, teaching all who come to us by the sample of a godly life. |
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