Lech-Lecha לֶךְ-לְךָ Go Forth Yourself!
Torah Portion Genesis 12:1-17:27
Reading #6 - Genesis 15:7–17:6
My Thoughts:
A lot is happening in this reading, but what is probably the most important is the covenant Hashem makes with Abram. A covenant that has withstood (and not withstood) the centuries -- the giving of the Land -- Israel to the Hebrews. This is a blood covenant and an unconditional covenant. Between Hashem and Abram. Interesting that it is at this time that Hashem changes Abram’s name to Abraham.
Some see significance that the name change also is at a time where the inheritance changes. That the great nations of the Hebrews will come through the line of Isaac, not Ishmael. Apparently G-d wants the ancestry and the promise of the land to flow through Sarah and Abraham, not Abram and Hagar (Genesis 17:21). We once again learn about waiting on the promises of Hashem. Not to jump ahead at our own solutions (like getting Hagar pregnant to have children) -- but be patient so that Hashem can fulfill His promises (pregnancy through Sarah).
Challenge:
Is there something you are asking Hashem for in your life right now? Are you growing impatient for His answer? I challenge you to pray and wait. Through my experience being patient always pays off. My ways are not His ways. It always seems like when I try to manipulate something in my life, it doesn’t fare well. But, when I wait on Him -- there is usually a huge blessing of answer to prayer!
Reading #6 - Genesis 15:7–17:6
15:7 He said to Abram, “I am Hashem who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.”
8 He said, “Hashem Elohim, how will I know that I will inherit it?”
9 He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 He brought him all these, and divided them in the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he didn’t divide the birds. 11 The birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.
12 When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him. 13 He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your offspring will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years. 14 I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth; 15 but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.” 17 It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 In that day Hashem made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I have given this land to your offspring, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”
16 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2 Sarai said to Abram, “See now, Hashem has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my servant. It may be that I will obtain children by her.” Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife. 4 He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. 5 Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault. I gave my servant into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, she despised me. May Hashem judge between me and you.”
6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.
7 Hashem’s angel found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur. 8 He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where did you come from? Where are you going?”
She said, “I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai.”
9 Hashem’s angel said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.” 10 Hashem’s angel said to her, “I will greatly multiply your offspring, that they will not be counted for multitude.” 11 Hashem’s angel said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because Hashem has heard your affliction. 12 He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will live opposed to all of his brothers.”
13 She called the name of Hashem who spoke to her, “You are a Elohim who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi. Behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
15 Hagar bore a son for Abram. Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Hashem appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Elohim Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless. 2 I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”
3 Abram fell on his face. Elohim talked with him, saying, 4 “As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 Your name will no more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you.
