Bereishiys 22 (Genesis 22)

Bereishiys 22, Yehovah will test Avraham beyond reasonable human standards.  He will tell Avraham to take Yitzchaq to Mount Moriyah and offer his son as a burnt offering.  Avraham does not question this command and travels to Mount Moriyah.  When he gets there he tells the young men to wait for them and they will return.  Avraham will have Yitzchaq carry the wood up the mountain.  As they are ascending the mountain Yitzchaq asks where is the lamb for the Burnt Offering.  Avraham tells Yitzchaq that Yehovah will provide the lamb.  When they at the place of the Burnt Offering, Avraham builds an altar, lays the wood in order, bounds Yitzchaq and places him on the altar.  As Avraham is about to slay Yitzchaq, a Messenger of Yehovah calls out from heaven and tells Avraham not to lay a hand on his son.  Yehovah says to Avraham

For now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only from Me.

Avraham sees a ram caught in the thicket and offers it as a Burnt Offering.  Avraham calls the place Yehovah Yireh.  The Messenger tells Avraham because he has done this thing, he will multiply Avraham as the stars of the heaven and as the sand upon the sea shore, possess the gate of his enemies and all nations will be blessed by his seed.  All these blessings are because Avraham obeyed Yehovah’s voice.  Avraham and Yitzchaq descend the mountain and return to Beer Sheva.  After a while Avraham learns of Nachor’s descendants.  This includes Rivqah.

Bereishiys 22	24 Verses	English	Hebrew	English	Hebrew
God (H0410)	0	Abraham	Avraham	Mary	Miryam
el (H0413)	13	Isaac	Yitzchaq	Moriah	Moriyah
Redeemer (H0430)	5	Jebusite	Yevusiy	Rebekah	Rivqah
Yehovah (H3068)	4	Job	Iyyov

Sections:

Prove H5254	Why Prove Avraham’s Faith	Who Knew
Would a Loving God	Mount Moriyah	Third Day
We Will Return	Yitzchaq Willing or Not	Avraham More Than Willing
Yehovah Stops Avraham	Yehovah Yireh	My Only Son
Final Blessing for Avraham	Avraham’s Blessings	Nachor’s Lineage

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Prove H5254

Prove H5254

Bereishiys 22:1

¹ And it came to pass after these words (davar), that Redeemer did prove (nasah) Avraham, and said to him, Avraham and he said, Behold, I.

Prove (formerly tempt) is the Hebrew word נָסָה nasah (H5254).  It is in the Bible 36 times.  נָסָה nasah (H5254) is translated prove 20 times, tempt 12 times, assay 2 times, adventure 1 time and try 1 time.  It is first used in Bereishiys 22:1. 

In most contexts נָסָה nasah (H5254) has the idea of testing or proving the quality of someone or something, often through adversity or hardship.  Although rendered tempt frequently, it generally means prove, test, put to the test.  It is different than the current English idea of “entice to do wrong.” 

In a number of passages, נָסָה nasah (H5254) means to attempt to do something.  It is used of attempting or venturing various concepts.  In other contexts, it is used of testing various things such as armor and weapons. 

The largest number of references, however, deal with situations where a person or a nation is undergoing a trial or difficult time brought about by another.  Though man is forbidden to put God to the test, mankind will often do this.  The Wilderness of Massah becomes a byword in this regard, often combined in a play on words with נָסָה nasah (H5254), “to try”.  Those who put God to the proof in the wilderness would not see Kenaan.  The Tehilliym reflect this defiant attitude. 

On occasion, one man would try or put another man to the test.  Thus, the Queen of Sheva tested Shelomoh with hard questions; the chief of the eunuchs tested the appearance of Daniyyel and his friends after they ate vegetables for ten days; false prophets sometimes were the instrument for testing a man’s faith.  Often, God will bringing tests and trials upon man.  God delivered Yisrael by sending “great trials” upon the Mitzrayim; but He later tested Yisrael by the Kenaan nations.  Likewise, it is used when God tested both Avraham and Hezekiah.  Such testing by God, however, was not without intent.  It was to refine the character of man that he might walk more closely in God’s ways. 

נָסָה nasah (H5254) should be rendered a form of prove in all uses.  It is used to prove the worth of something.  Its ability to endure a test or standard.

 

Why Prove Avraham’s Faith

Why Prove Avraham’s Faith

Bereishiys 22:1

¹ And it came to pass after these words (davar), that Redeemer did prove (nasah) Avraham, and said to him, Avraham and he said, Behold (hinneh), I (anniy).

It was Yehovah’s intention to test Avraham’s resolve to the faith.  However, one should consider if this was actually necessary.  Yehovah knows our thoughts, Tehillah 139:23.

²³ Search me God (el) and know my heart.  Try me, and know my thoughts.

Further in Hebrews 4:12.

¹² For the word of God alive (zao) and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

If God can know our thoughts, it seems that He could know what we would do in a particular situation.  If it was merely to know, then there would be no point to test Avraham.  Further, God may know what we will do, but we certainly do not.  As humans, we are often subject to our various emotions and driving forces at the time of testing.

The question for us is, when faced with a situation do we have the ability to self-regulate ourselves so that we can do the right thing?  Or, do we allow our the situation and various outside forces to overtake us?

If we are not prepared, more than likely, we will just do what resides deep inside our internal makeup.  This can be good and it can be bad.  Often when faced with a difficult situation, time is not the determining factor.  It is our internal makeup.  We can change our internal makeup, but that takes a conscious effort on our part.  It seems we never do take the time to change our internal makeup, because we allow everyday forces to overtakes our lives.

The real question is, are we learning from life’s situation and reinforcing those lesson into our everyday thoughts and actions?  Or, are we neglecting to take advantage of our testing and that of others?  This is something we should all consider and put into action.

To not apply and reinforce in our minds, leaves us subject to the randomness of our internal makeup.  That can result in devastating outcomes for us and those around us.  We need to start engaging our brains and increasing our critical thinking skills.  This will help to mature our faith beyond the agonies and troubles of life on earth.

Why did God prove Avraham’s faith?  Avraham needed to know where he stood in life.  We need to see this so we can learn and progress to the faith of Avraham.  Then we can know the peace that Avraham, the patriarchs, Apostles, Prophets and many of he First Century believers knew.

 

Who Knew

Who Knew

Bereishiys 22:2 

² And he said, Take now your son, your only Yitzchaq, whom you love, and get you into the land of Moriyah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell you of.

It is not lost to Yehovah that Yitzchaq had become Avraham’s favorite.  Avraham loved Yitzchaq above all.

Yehovah tells Avraham to take his only son and offer Yitzchaq as a Burnt Offering.  At this juncture in Avraham and Sarrah lives, Avraham probably informed Sarah what he was about to do, Hebrews 11:11.

¹¹ Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

From the time of Yitzchaq’s birth in Bereishiys 21 to Sarah’s death in Bereishiys 23 nothing is stated concerning Sarah’s life.  There are a few things stated about Sarah later in Scriptures; however, nothing to substantiate what she thought of this situation.

Further there is nothing in Scriptures that tells us if Avraham helped raise up Sarah in the faith with the exception of Bereishiys 18:19.

¹⁹ For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of Yehovah, to do justice and judgment; that Yehovah may bring upon Avraham that which He has spoken of him.

Yeshayahu 51:2

² Look to Avraham your father, and to Sarah bare you.  For I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

And finally in 1 Peter 3:6.

⁶ Even as Sarah obeyed Avraham, calling him lord.  Whose daughters you are, as long as you do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

It makes sense that Sarah started to grow with Avraham in the faith; however, it cannot be proven.  Too often we assume the worst in life, this leads to a degraded overall life.  We should place our hope in God’s goodness and better outcomes throughout life.  This leads to a better quality of life.

 

Would a Loving God

Would a Loving God

Bereishiys 22:2 

² And he said, Take now your son, your only Yitzchaq, whom you love, and get you into the land of Moriyah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell you of.

The question many people have is, how could a loving God do such a thing?  It seems like a fair question, but is it?  In reality, those asking this question are the ones telling God to prove He is a loving God.  This is where most people’s faith falls apart.  It does not mean they leave the faith.  It means they will find it difficult to have complete and total faith.

Before one can understand the answer, one must understand who God is.  If one is trying to determine if God is a loving God, the answer is subject to one’s personal standards and preferences.  As such, many would accuse God of less than loving.  Then again many do not understand who is God and His purposes and plans.  Most get their understanding from those who make the most noise.  Few of us get our understand from knowing God through His Spirit and Word.

If you are trying to answer the question, is God a loving God, the simplest answer is yes, Yochanan 3:16.

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This does not prove God is loving.  This brings us back to the very problem of Bereishiys 22.  The reality is, one could go through Scriptures all day and decide that God is not a loving God.  Until we believe He is a loving God, we will not understand the depth and width of His love.

The question should not be, why would a loving God do this?  The question should be, what does a loving God want us to understand from all this?

What we need to understand from all this, at no point did God want Avraham to sacrifice Yitzchaq.  Neither was there a point in which Yitzchaq’s life was in peril.  Yehovah always had this situation under control.  At no time, would this situation result in anything other than what God intended.

Now this does not mean that Avraham was not going to sacrifice Yitzchaq, he most definitely intend to sacrifice Yitzchaq that day.  However, as the events continue, we will discover that Avraham was aware of other facts.

So why did a loving God do such a thing?  There are many answers to this question.  First to test Avraham’s commitment to Yehovah and the promises.  It eventually provides the limit of faith for humans.  We need to understand that our children and others are never to be used to validate our love.  Our love is to be demonstrated through our actions alone.  We are never to sacrifice others for us.  We are to sacrifice for them, while still providing a living example.

It will demonstrate the extent God would go to establish a people in the future.  This is sometimes lost in the complexity of the Crucifixion and Resurrection.

The most important lesson is, we need to learn complete and absolute faith.  Faith is not something we claim, it is something we do, Yaaqov 2:20-23.

²⁰ But will you know, vain man, that faith without works is dead?  ²¹ Was not Avraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Yitzchaq his son upon the altar?  ²² See how faith working with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  ²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled which states, Avraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness and he was called the Friend of God.

For most of us, our faith lacks any increase in righteousness and action beyond what is convenience.  Many of us claim faith, few of us have long and enduring faith that result in genuine living sacrifice.  We can change that through our own experiences and resolve.

 

Mount Moriyah

Mount Moriyah

Bereishiys 22:2 

² And he said, Take now your son, your only Yitzchaq, whom you love, and get you into the land of Moriyah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell you of.

Mount Moriah is mentioned in the Bible two times.  The second time is in 2 Divrey Hayyamiym 3:1.

¹ Then Shelomoh began to build the house of Yehovah at Yerushalayim in Mount Moriyah, where appeared to Daviyd his father, in the place that Daviyd had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Yevusiy.

The place where Avraham took Yitzchaq became the site of the Temple in Yerushalayim.

 

Third Day

Third Day

Bereishiys 22:3

³ And Avraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Yitzchaq his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which Redeemer had told him.

Avraham rose up early in the morning to begin the trip to Mount Moriah.  Avraham more than likely left the next day after being told to offer Yitzchaq as a Burnt Offering.  Avraham probably did not want to delay this action for two reasons, he was the man of Yeshayahu 66:2.

² For all those has My hand made, and all those have been, says Yehovah.  But to this will I look, to poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at My word.

At this point in Avraham’s life serving Yehovah was paramount above all other things.  Secondly, the longer this was delayed, the easier it would be to never go on the journey.

Avraham took two young men with him on the trip.  Who these two were is never discussed in Scriptures.

Clave is the Hebrew word בָּקַע baqa (H1234).  It is in the Bible 51 times.  The basic idea seems to be “a strenuous cleaving of recalcitrant materials.”  It is used to express the forcefulness of the splitting action.

It seems that Avraham split the wood prior to departing for Mount Moriah.

Additionally, it states that Avraham went to the place of which Redeemer had told him.  However, initially it stated, “upon one of the mountains which I will tell you of”.  At no time did Avraham have a second conversation with Yehovah concerning the location of the offering.  It is unclear at what point Yehovah told Avraham the exact location.  Further it is unclear why Yehovah did not tell Avraham the location from the beginning.

Bereishiys 22:4

⁴ Then on the third day Avraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

Avraham sees the place he is to take Yitzchaq on the third day.  When Avraham sees the place he is still a ways off.  It is unknown how far away Avraham was.  Nor do we know how Avraham knew the place.

This is a foreshadowing of the way many see Yeshua for the first time.  They know He was resurrected on the third day.  When they see Him for the first time with their spiritual eyes, they know it is Him.  They know this from what they were told in their spiritual ears.  Yet, few understand how far they are from Him when they initially see Him.

 

We Will Return

We Will Return

Bereishiys 22:5

⁵ And Avraham said to his young men, Abide here with the ass; and I and the young man (naar) will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

When they reached the mountain where Yitzchaq was to be offered, Avraham left the two to watch the ass.  He told them that he and Yitzchaq would go off, worship and return.  Avraham stated this as if Yitzchaq would return.  However, how would Yitzchaq return if he was the Burnt Offering?  There would be nothing left but ashes.

It states in Hebrews 11:17-19.

¹⁷ By faith Avraham, when he was tried, offered up Yitzchaq.  And he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten, ¹⁸ of whom it was said, That in Yitzchaq shall your seed be called.  ¹⁹ Accounting that God able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Why Avraham believed that Yehovah would raise Yitzchaq back up is never explained in Scriptures.  If Yehovah told Avraham this prior to the Mount Moriah, this would somewhat explain Avraham’s willingness to sacrifice Yitzchaq.  However, that would take even more faith than just offering up Yitzchaq.

There is never a recorded conversation between Yehovah Avraham related to this subject.  As a matter of the fact, very little of the conversation between Yehovah and Avraham is recorded.  At this point, it would start to make sense that a significant number of conversations were never recorded.  It is quite possible that Avraham knew just as much as Moshe or any other prophet of the Bible.  He was the father of the faith.  It would stand to reason Yehovah would tell him in detail what he was the father of.

As for us, it was probably not necessary for us to know what was discussed.  If it was then we would know, Devariym 29:29. 

²⁹ The secret to Yehovah our Redeemer.  But those revealed to us and to our children for ever, that may do all the words of this Torah.

We have all the recorded information we need for the faith.  As we start to understand what we have been given, then possibly God would enlighten us further.

Bereishiys 22:6

⁶ And Avraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid upon Yitzchaq his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

As Avraham headed up the mountain, he put the wood on Yitzchaq.  Yitzchaq would carry of the burden of the wood up the mountain.  This is a picture of the unworthiness of Yitzchaq in comparison to Yeshua.  Yitzchaq is burden with work as compared to the work Yeshua has for us is light, Matisyahu 11:28-30.

²⁸ Come to Me, all that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.  and you shall find rest to your souls.  ³⁰ For My yoke easy, and My burden is light.

Yeshua takes the burden from us and gives a lighter one through God’s power.

It states that Avraham “took the fire in his hand.”  Avraham must be holding a torch.  The fire possibly came from a camp fire they previously lit.

 

Yitzchaq Willing or Not

Yitzchaq Willing or Not

Bereishiys 22:7

⁷ And Yitzchaq spoke to Avraham his father, and said, My father and he said, Here I, my son.  And he said, Behold the fire and the wood, but where the lamb for a Burnt Offering?

It is unknown how old Yitzchaq is at this time.  Assumptions range from a young man under 10 to 37 years of age.  Yitzchaq is old enough that he is aware of what is happening.  There is fire, wood, but no lamb.  Either they have to get a lamb or there is no offering.

Bereishiys 22:8

⁸ And Avraham said, My son, Redeemer will provide Himself a lamb for a Burnt Offering.  So they went both of them together.

Avraham tells Yitzchaq that God will provide the lamb.  One might be thinking that Avraham is avoiding the question; however, his answer is factual.  Yehovah provided Yitzchaq through a miracle.  Up to this point, Yitzchaq is to be the offering.  They proceed to the place together.

Bereishiys 22:9

⁹ And they came to the place which Redeemer had told him of; and Avraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Yitzchaq his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

Avraham and Yitzchaq reach the place where Avraham is to build the altar.  It states that only Avraham built the Altar.  It would not make sense for Yitzchaq to build the Altar.  Just as Yeshua did not build the Altar in Hebrews 9:11.

¹¹ But Messiah being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Yeshua went into the one that Moshe saw in Shemos 25:40.

⁴⁰ And look that you make after their pattern, which was showed you in the mount.

Even before the Children Yisrael thought to build the Mishkan, there was already one in Heaven built by the Father.  This was long before Yeshua was conceived in Miryam.  Yitzchaq did not build the Altar and neither did Yeshua.  Both were offered on the Altar their father built.  In the end, only one was acceptable.  Only one was ultimately offered.

The Avraham laid the wood in order.  The Priests are commanded to do a similar thing in Vayyiqra 1:7.

⁷ And the sons of Aharon the priest shall put fire upon the Altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire.

Just as Eliyyahu laid the wood in order on Mount Carmel, 1 Melakhiym 18:33.

³³ And he put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces, and laid on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

Avraham knew the order of the wood.  Either It was know from the beginning or Yehovah told him the order.  Either way, Yehovah had to tell someone that the wood was to be in order.  Just as we are to live orderly lives.  We cannot continue to do things our way.  We must come in alignment with Yehovah’s order.  We are to live a life order by His Spirit and Truth.

The last thing that Avraham does is bound Yitzchaq and lay him on the Altar.

Bound is the Hebrew word עָקַד aqad (6123).  It is only used once in the Bible.  The Hebrew text is וַיַּעֲקֹד.  וַ is the prefix for “and”.  יַּ indicates third person future tense; however, it seems to be used in present tense. 

The Hebrew text seems to be similar to עָקֹד aqod (H6124).  It is in the Bible 7 times and is always translated ringstraked.  It is only used in Bereishiys 30 and Bereishiys 31, in reference to when Yaaqov worked for Lavan.

What should be understood is, Avraham was over 100 years of age and Yitzchaq was a young man.  For Avraham to bound Yitzchaq he would have to either overpower Yitzchaq or there was a willingness on Yitzchaq part.  If Yitzchaq was willing, he would have to be bound to ensure that Yitzchaq did not change his mind or made a sudden movement.

It is unlikely that Avraham would be able to easily overpower Yitzchaq.  Unless Avraham used a club or some other method to force Yitzchaq’s submission.  However, this is not stated in the text.

It is unknown why Yitzchaq would be willing to get on the Altar.  Although there were children though history that were willing to be sacrificed.  These were usually raised knowing that it was a possibility.  Until Avraham was told, there was never any indication that Yitzchaq would be offered.  There was little time to brain wash Yitzchaq to agree to this.  As such, the question remains, was Yitzchaq a willing participant or not?

 

Avraham More Than Willing

Avraham More Than Willing

Bereishiys 22:10

¹⁰ And Avraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

Once Yitzchaq was bound on the Altar, Avraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slay Yitzchaq.  Some people believe that Avraham was waiting for Yehovah to stop him and Avraham never intended to slay Yitzchaq.  However, there is nothing in the text that indicates Avraham was only going through the motions.  It should be clear that Avraham intended to slay Yitzchaq.  We are told in Yaakov 2:21.

²¹ Was not Avraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Yitzchaq his son upon the Altar?

It states that Avraham offered his son.  It does not state that Avraham went through the motions to prepare Yitzchaq.  Had the next thing not happen in Bereishiys 22, there might not be an Yisrael today.

 

Yehovah Stops Avraham 

Yehovah Stops Avraham

Bereishiys 20:11

¹¹ And the messenger (malak) of Yehovah called to him out of heaven, and said, Avraham, Avraham.  And he said, Here I.

The Messenger of Yehovah, this typically indicates that it was Yehovah.  He called to Avraham.  Some believe that Avraham was so focus on what he was doing, Yehovah had to call twice to get Avraham’s attention.  Possible if God has waited a second later, the only option for Yitzchaq would have been resurrection.

Bereishiys 20:12

¹² And he said, Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do you any thing to him.  For now I know that you fear Redeemer, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only from Me.

Yehovah told Avraham not to lay a hand on Yitzchaq.  Avraham had proven to himself just how far he was willing to go for God.  He also proved to himself and others that he actually believed that God had his best interest at heart.  God would not let harm come to Yitzchaq.  Even if it was Avraham’s willingness.

Besides offering Yitzchaq was not going to resolve the real problem.  Offering Yitzchaq only proves Avraham’s faith.  Yitzchaq was not the one that needed to be offered.  If the ultimate problem with mankind was to be corrected, it would require a much more righteous offering.  That was not available yet nor was it the time.

 

Yehovah Yireh

Yehovah Yireh

Bereishiys 20:13

¹³ And Avraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind a ram caught in a thicket by his horns.  And Avraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

After Avraham withdrew his hand from Yitzchaq, he saw a ram behind him.  The ram was conveniently caught in a thicket.

Thicket is the Hebrew word סְבָךְ sevak (H5442).  It is in the Bible 4 times.  סְבָךְ sevak (H5442) is translated thicket 3 times and thick 1 time.  It refers to a interwoven tangled mass of trees.  It should be rendered thicket in all uses.

Avraham was right when he stated that Yehovah would provide a lamb for a Burnt Offering.

Bereishiys 20:14

¹⁴ And Avraham called the name of that place Yehovah Yireh.  As it is said this day, In the mount of Yehovah it shall be seen.

Avraham called the place Yehovah Yireh.

Yehovah Yireh comes from the Hebrew word יְהֹוָה יִרְאֶה Yehovah yireh (H3070).  It is in the Bible 1 time.  It is the symbolic name given by Avraham to Mount Moriah.  It is in commemoration of the intervention of the Messenger of Yehovah.  The Messenger prevented the sacrifice of Yitzchaq and provided a substitute.  It means Yehovah will see.  Some equate יְהֹוָה יִרְאֶה to mean Yehovah will see our needs and will provide.  In the future all will realize that Yehovah looks far into the distance to ensure our needs are met.

 

My Only Son

My Only Son

Bereishiys 22:15-16

¹⁵ And the Messenger (malak) of Yehovah called to Avraham out of heaven the second time, ¹⁶ and said, By Myself have I sworn, says Yehovah, for because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only.

Avraham did not withhold his only son.  Yitzchaq is the only son, there is no other.  All others are imitations.

Avraham understood that all he had was given by God.  He understood the concepts expressed earlier by Iyyov.  After Iyyov‘s children were taken and all his wealth, Iyyov stated in 1:20-22.

²⁰ Then Iyyov arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, ²¹ and said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there.  Yehovah gave, and Yehovah has taken away; blessed be the name of Yehovah.  ²² In all this Iyyov sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Although Iyyov lost many thing that were dear to him, Iyyov refused to lose what was dearest to him.  His relationship with Yehovah.  Even after his wife told him to curse Yehovah, Iyyov told her in Iyyov 2:10.

¹⁰ But he said to her, You speak as one of the foolish women speaks.  What?  Shall we receive good at the hand of Redeemer, and shall we not receive evil?  In all this did not Iyyov sin with his lips.

If we are ever to have the faith of Avraham, there must not be anything more valuable then our relationship with Yehovah.  Nothing materialistic and certainly no thought should separate us from His righteousness.

This was the example Avraham left us.  He did not become this way overnight.  It was a progressive walk that was continuous throughout Avraham’s life.  One arrives at this point through focus and concentration.  Avraham achieve this and so did many others.  But it did not come without some sacrifice and separation from those around them.

At this point, Yitzchaq had become Avraham’s only son.  Although he had Yishmael, he could never take the place of Yitzchaq.  Avraham’s relationship with Yitzchaq displaced all other relationships except one.  Yitzchaq was never more important than Avraham’s relationship with Yehovah.  For Avraham obeying and pleasing Yehovah was paramount.

Yehovah does not require Avraham to give his son.  Just as Yehovah will not require His own son to give His life.  Yeshua was willing in the day, Yochanan 10:17-18.

¹⁷ Therefore does my Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again.  ¹⁸ No man takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.  This commandment have I received of My Father.

Yeshua was a wiling participant.  Possible Yitzchaq was too.

 

Final Blessing for Avraham

Final Blessing for Avraham

Bereishiys 22:17-18

¹⁷ That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which upon the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; ¹⁸ and in your seed shall all the nations of the land be blessed; because you have obeyed My voice.

This is the final blessing documented in Scriptures for Avraham.  This includes the stars of heaven and the sands on the sea shore.  The stars represent Spiritual Yisrael.  This is believers in the last 2000 years.  The sands represents Physical Yisrael.  This and others will lead to the believers that will come forth in the Restitution of All Things in the Millennium.

Further, Avraham’s seed would posses the gate of his enemies.  They would judge the enemies and eventually take all they possessed.

Through Avraham’s seed all nations will be blessed.  This is referring to Yeshua and His bride that will bring the Gospel Message to the Nations in the Millennium.  Then they will judge them in the Restitution of All Things, Acts 3:19-22.

¹⁹ Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; ²⁰ and He shall send Yeshua Messiah, which before was preached to you.  ²¹ Whom the heaven must receive until the times of Restitution of All Things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.  ²² For Moshe truly said to the fathers, a Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you of your brethren, like to me; Him shall you hear in all things whatsoever He shall say to you. 

This should not be new to anyone, Peter tells us that all the prophets spoke of this, Acts 3:24-26.

²⁴ Yes, and all the prophets from Shemuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.  ²⁵ You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Avraham, And in your seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.  ²⁶ To you first God, having raised up his Son Yeshua, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

There is no excuse for not knowing and understanding this.  Peter states all the prophets have spoken of this.  It is a widely known subject discussed in every book of the Bible.

All this happens because Avraham obeyed Yehovah’s voice and he did it willingly.  Great things could happen in our lives too if we would obey Yehovah’s voice willingly.

Bereishiys 22:19

¹⁹ So Avraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer Sheva; and Avraham dwelt at Beer Sheva.

After this Avraham returned with Yitzchaq to the two young men as he said he would.  All four returned to Beer Sheva and dwelt there.

 

Avraham’s Blessings

Avraham’s Blessings

From the time Avraham left Charan until he was on Mount Moriah, Yehovah promised different blessings.  They seem to be a progressive trend focusing on different aspects of the Avrahamic Covenant or Promise.  It was first stated in Bereishiys 12:2-3 after Avraham left Charan.

² And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.  ³ And I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you.  And in you shall all families (mishpachah) of the earth (adamah) be blessed.

In this blessing there is no mention of stars or sand.  There is the mention of a nation, but there is no mention of a son.  There is the statement that all the families of the earth will be blessed through Avraham.

After Avraham left Charan, he is told in Bereishiys 12:7. 

⁷ And Yehovah appeared to Avram, and said, To your seed will I give this land and there he built an altar to Yehovah, who appeared to him. 

God tells Avraham that He will give the land to Avraham’s seed.  This is the first mention of a possession.  However, there are no specifics.

After Avraham and Lot separated, Yehovah tells Avraham in Bereishiys 13:14-17. 

 

¹⁴ And Yehovah said to Avram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are northward (tzafon), and southward (negev), and eastward (qedmah), and westward (yam).  ¹⁵ For all the land which you see, to you will I give it, and to your seed for ever.  ¹⁶ And I will make your seed as the dust (afar) of the land.  So that if a man can number the dust of the land, shall your seed also be numbered.  ¹⁷ Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it to you. 

Yehovah now tells Avraham as far as he could see, the land would be his and his seed possession.  Further Avraham’s seed would be as the dust of the land.  Not only as far as Avraham can see, but where ever he walks will be his.  In this blessing, there is no mention of the extent he sees or bless the nations.  This is the only time the term “dust” will be used.  It refers to considerable numbers beyond just physical Yisrael. 

The next time Avraham hears from Yehovah is in Bereishiys 15:1. 

¹ After these things the word of Yehovah came to Avram in a vision (machazeh), saying, Fear not, Avram.  I your shield, your exceeding great reward. 

This is probably the greatest blessing of all.  Yehovah promise to protect and prosper Avraham in all he does.  However, there are no specific details in this blessing.  Avraham desires something more of his own.  Either way, Avraham is still obedient.  Yehovah tells him in Bereishiys 15:4. 

⁴ And, behold, the word of Yehovah to him, saying, This shall not be your heir; but he that shall come forth out of your own internal organs (meah) shall be your heir. 

Yehovah tells Avraham that the heir will come from him.  However, there is no mention of Sarah.  Which certainly would be an important detail to be aware of.  However, it seems that Avraham may have neglected to ask this.  Sarah may have already shown signs that she would not be able to conceive. 

Yehovah then tells Avraham in Bereishiys 15:5-6. 

⁵ And He brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if you be able to number them and He said to him, So shall your seed be.  ⁶ And he believed in Yehovah; and He counted it to him for righteousness. 

This is the first mention that Avraham’s seed would be as the stars.  At this juncture something significant occurred.  Avraham believed Yehovah in a way he had not before. 

Next, Yehovah provides some detail to the blessings, Bereishiys 15:13-16. 

¹³ And he said to Avram, Know of a surety that your seed shall be a stranger in a land not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; ¹⁴ and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge and afterward shall they come out with great substance.  ¹⁵ And you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.  ¹⁶ But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again.  For the iniquity of the Emori not yet full. 

It will be at least 400 years, before Avraham’s seed will possess the land.  This means Avraham will sojourn all his days.  Based on Hebrews 11:9-10, Avraham was not looking for his inheritance in this lifetime. 

⁹ By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Yitzchaq and Yaaqov, the heirs with him of the same promise.  ¹⁰ For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker God. 

Avraham knew more that day, then most know in a lifetime.  When Avraham’s seed left the place of bondage, they would have great substance.  They would return to take possession of Kenaan.  Yehovah will specify the boundaries in Bereishiys 15:18. 

¹⁸ In the same day Yehovah made a covenant with Avram, saying, To your seed have I given this land, from the River of Mitzrayim to the great river, the river Peras. 

Yehovah also specifies the tribes to be dispossessed in Bereishiys 15:19-21. 

¹⁹ The Qeni (Kenites), and the Qenizzi (Kenizzites), and the Qadmoni (Kadmonites), ²⁰ and the Chitti (Hittites), and the Peizzi (Perizzites), and the Refaim (Rephaims), ²¹ and the Emori (Amorites), and the Kenaani (Canaanites), and the Girgashi (Girgashites), and the Yevusi (Jebusites). 

In Bereishiys 16, Avraham did not get another prophecy, but he did get a son, Yishmael.  For a while, Avraham thought Yishmael was the son of promise.  However, I wonder if Hagar told Avraham what Yehovah told her in Bereishiys 16:12. 

¹² And he will be a wild ass (pere) man; his hand against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. 

Avraham may not have heard this.  It would be hard to believe that a wild ass man could be a blessing to others.  Especially since every man’s hand is against him.  It should be unconceivable that Yishmael could ever be the son of promise. 

The next time Avraham hears a blessing from God is in Bereishiys 17:2. 

² And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly. 

God again tells Avraham that he will be multiplied.  God does not mention the dust, sand or stars.  But still, it will be a lot of descendants.  God repeats something similar in Bereishiys 17:4. 

⁴ As for me, behold, My covenant with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 

Not only will Avraham be multiplied, it will result in various nations.  There will be a covenant between Yehovah and the people of Avraham.  Then in Bereishiys 17:6-9. 

⁶ And I will make you exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come out of you.  ⁷ And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a Redeemer to you, and to your seed after you.  ⁸ And I will give to you, and to your seed after you, the land wherein you are a stranger, all the land of Kenaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their Redeemer.  ⁹ And Redeemer said to Avraham, You shall keep My covenant therefore, you, and your seed after you in their generations.  ¹⁰ This My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your seed after you; every man child among you shall be circumcised. 

Not only will there be many nations, there will be kings.  This makes sense, every nation has a king.  However, this may mean something quite different.  Also, God would establish a covenant with Avraham and his descendants.  The covenant being referred to is the Covenant of Circumcision.  This far more than just an incision.  This is between Yehovah and Avraham’s people.  As far as the blessings and promises, not much has changed. 

Understand this, one can perform circumcision, but that does not mean they are part of the Covenant of Circumcision.  One must be a descendant of Avraham through the correct lineage and correct faith. 

Then God tells Avraham in Bereishiys 17:15-16. 

¹⁵ And Redeemer said to Avraham, As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Saray, but Sarah her name.  ¹⁶ And I will bless her, and give you a son also of her.  Yes, I will bless her, and she shall be of nations; kings of people shall be of her. 

This changes everything.  Up to this point Avraham maneuvered in different ways to try to establish a descendant.  At one point, he thought it was a servant.  Next, Avraham thought Ishmael was the son of promise.  Even after hearing this, Avraham will plead for Yishmael.  It seems that Avraham just could not wrap his mind around the idea that Sarah could give birth.  She was long past the manner of women.  Sarah was 90 years of age and she was not getting any younger. 

However, it did not matter what Avraham or anyone else thought.  God said Sarah would give birth.  As such, who are we to argue with God?  Yet many of us do in our human reasoning and emotions.  Most of the time we should shut up and listen. 

We know when Avraham heard this, he fell down laughing.  I am pretty sure that was not counted for righteousness.  God repeats Himself in Bereishiys 17:19. 

¹⁹ And Redeemer said, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son indeed; and you shall call his name Yitzchaq, and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, with his seed after him. 

Yitzchaq Avraham’s future son will be the lineage of the covenant.  Yehovah then tells Avraham what He will do for Yishmael, but Yishmael will never be the son of promise.  That idea is a foolhardy pursuit.  God tells Avraham a third time in Bereishiys 17:21. 

²¹ But My covenant will I establish with Yitzchaq, which Sarah shall bear to you at this set time in the next year. 

This point Avraham is no longer laughing.  He must realize the seriousness of Yehovah.  This is no laughing matter.  One has to wonder if Avraham told Sarah, because later she will laugh. 

After the circumcision, Yehovah will show up at Avraham’s tent.  He will dine and tell Avraham in Bereishiys 18:10. 

¹⁰ And He said, I will certainly return to you according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah your wife shall have a son.  And Sarah heard in the tent door, which behind Him. 

This is the fourth time Yehovah tells Avraham that Sarah will have a son.  If Avraham was smart, he should have told Sarah.  Either way, when Sarah hears this she laughs inside.  Yehovah ask Avraham why did Sarah laugh?  Avraham does not have an answer.  Possibly, Avraham did nothing to prepare Sarah for this moment.  Sarah denies laughing and Yehovah again tells her that she did laugh. 

When you take a look at what has occurred and the number times Yehovah repeats Himself, you got to wonder why people doubt.  Avraham and Sarah doubted and we do the same thing.  Yehovah makes a statement that we should keep with us at all the time Bereishiys 18:14. 

¹⁴ Is any thing too hard for Yehovah?  At the time appointed I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. 

If God says He will do something, He will do it at the appointed time.  It really does not matter what we think or say.  Further it does not matter what any one says.  We ought to be laughing at all the nay sayers.  We need to realize the amount of disrespect we give towards God when we doubt, worry and walk around mopey. 

If we have a word from God or a specific statement in Scriptures, we ought to start believing it.  We need to stop all this disrespect towards God and show the faith in Him that He deserves. 

Yehovah even tells the messengers with Him of Avraham in Bereishiys 18:17-19. 

¹⁷ And Yehovah said, Shall I hide from Avraham that thing which I do; ¹⁸ seeing that Avraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the land shall be blessed in him?  ¹⁹ For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of Yehovah, to do justice and judgment; that Yehovah may bring upon Avraham that which He has spoken of him. 

Yehovah is bragging to others what Avraham will accomplish.  Evidently, Yehovah had more faith in Avraham then Avraham had in himself.  This seems to be the case for many of us.  We need to find the person who will help us believe in ourselves.  God is that person and we need other believers in our lives to encourage us.  This is why we should gather together with likeminded believers as often as possible. 

God even tells Aviymelek that Avraham is special in Bereishiys 20:7. 

⁷ Now therefore restore the man wife; for he a prophet, and he shall pray for you, and you shall live, and if you restore not, know you that you shall surely die, you, and all that yours. 

Yehovah considers Avraham a prophet.  It is one thing when an individual tells others they are a prophet, but it is quite different when Yehovah states one is a prophet.  Avraham was coming into his own at this point.  Yehovah even answers Avraham’s prayer to heal the house of Aviymelek. 

After Yitzchaq is born, Yehovah will later reinforce that through Yitzchaq is Avraham’s seed, Bereishiys 21:12. 

¹² And Redeemer said to Avraham, Let it not be grievous in your sight because of the lad, and because of your bondwoman; in all that Sarah has said to you, hearken to her voice; for in Yitzchaq shall your seed be called. 

He also tells Avraham that Yishmael would be a great nation, but not the same as Yitzchaq. 

Finally, Yehovah tells Avraham in Bereishiys 22:17-18. 

¹⁷ That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which upon the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; ¹⁸ and in your seed shall all the nations of the land be blessed; because you have obeyed My voice. 

Yehovah tells Avraham that he will multiplied as the stars and sands.  He will possess his enemies’ gate.  Yehovah tells Avraham for one simple reason.  Avraham obeyed God’s voice.  Maybe we should do the same thing. 

May be we should show a little respect and take Yehovah at His word.  If not, one has to wonder why anyone would be involved in the faith.  The only reason one would be involved and not trust God completely or be joyful is because they have selfish reasons for being in the faith.  That would explain why so many are faithless and do not have the faith of Avraham.  But we can change that now.  We need to completely believe and walk in that belief. 

So why did Yehovah present the blessing and promises in a progressive manner to Avraham?  It is to be a walk of faith.  We are to grow in the faith

 

Nachor’s Lineage

Nachor’s Lineage

Bereishiys 22:20-22

²⁰ And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Avraham, saying, Behold, Milkah (Milcah), she has also born children to your brother Nachor (Nahor);²¹ Utz (Huz) his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Qemuel (Kemuel) the father of Aram, ²² And Kesed (Chesed), and Chazo (Hazo), and Pilddash (Pildash), and Yidlaf (Jidlaph), and Besuel (Bethuel).

Some time after Avraham returns to Beer Sheva, he hears of Nachor’s family.  Nachor was a son of Terach, Bereishiys 11:26.

²⁶ And Terach lived seventy years, and begat Avram (Abram), Nachor, and Haran.

Nachor had the following 8 sons through Milkah.  Qemuel the son of Nachor was the father of Aram.  The eight sons were:

·         Utz (Huz) his firstborn.

·         Buz.

·         Qemuel.

·         Kesed.

·         Chazo.

·         Pilddash.

·         Yidlaf.

·         Besuel.

Bereishiys 22:23-24

²³ And Besuel begat Rivqah (Rebekah).  These eight Milkah did bear to Nachor, Avraham’s brother.  ²⁴ And his concubine, whose name Reumah, she bare also Tevach (Tebah), and Gacham (Gaham), and Tachash (Thahash), and Maakah (Maachah).

Besuel will have a daughter Rivqah.  She will return with Avraham’s servant in Bereishiys 24:58-60 to marry Yitzchaq.

⁵⁸ And they called Rivqah, and said to her, Will you go with this man?  And she said, I will go.  ⁵⁹ And they sent away Rivqah their sister, and her nurse, and Avraham’s servant, and his men.  ⁶⁰ And they blessed Rivqah, and said to her, You our sister, be you of thousands of myriads (revavah), and let you seed possess the gate of those which hate them.

Nachor also had four sons with his concubine, Reumah.

·         Tevach.

·         Gacham.

·         Tachash.

·         Maakah.

Nachor has a total of 12 sons.

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