Greetings, saints of the Most High!

Welcome to another installment of the Messianic Torah Observer. I’m Rod Thomas, coming to you on a very dreary Preparation Day in the DFW. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to fellowship with me. As always, it is my hope, trust, and prayer that this installment finds you, your families, and your fellowships well and blessed.

As I am publishing this discussion, it is the 25th day of the 9th month of Yah’s sacred calendar year, which translates to December 27, 2024. For those who celebrate or observe Hanukkah, may you have a meaningful and blessed time of rededication and reflection, especially with your families.

This week’s Torah Reading is contained in Genesis/Beresheit 12.1-13.18. Our Haftarah Reading is in Joshua/Yahoshua 24.3-18, and our Apostolic in Hebrews/Ivrit 11.12. Since these collectively are such beefy passages, we will not read them verbatim for the sake of time. As always, I encourage you to read, more so, study these passages, especially as part of Sabbath devotions.

Key Concepts of the Torah Reading — Genesis/Beresheit 12.1-13.18

Ur of the Chaldees/Chasdim (11.28)

According to Jubilees, Haran, Lot’s father, died from being burnt to death in Ur. Terach (Avram’s father) took his family to live in Haran, where they dwelt for 14 years. It was there that Avram dedicated himself to Yehovah-worship and obedience to His ways.

Kenaan/Canaan (11.31)

At the behest of Yehovah, Avram moves himself and his immediate family to Canaan, the Promised Land. Yah sends Avram on a tour of Canaan with the promise of gifting him and his descendants the land. Yah instructs Avram to leave his country, family, and father’s house and go to the place Yah would show him.

Phases of the Avrahamic Covenant

1. Yah will make Avram a great nation.
2. Yah will bless him.
3. Yah will make his name great.
4. He would be a blessing.
5. Yah will bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him.
6. In Avram, all families of the earth will be blessed.
7. Yah would give the land to Avram’s offspring.
8. Avram’s descendants would number as the dust of the earth.

Avram’s Journey

Avram builds altars unto Yah in Shechem and between Bethel and Ai, calls upon the Name of Yehovah, and faces famine in Canaan, driving him to Egypt. Avram becomes wealthy during his stay in Egypt and returns to Bethel-Ai. Avram and Lot separate over land use, and Avram resettles in Hebron, building an altar unto Yah.

Haftarah of Yahoshua 24.3-18 — Taking Possession of the Land of Promise

In our Haftarah reading, Yahoshua regales the gathered tribes of Yasharal at Shechem with their history up to that time, documenting the partial fulfillment of the Avrahamic Covenant, particularly the aspect of the Covenant that deals with ownership of the Land by Avram’s descendants.

Apostolic of Hebrews/Ivrim 11.1-12 (Avram’s Legendary Faith)

Our Torah Reading rests upon the concept of emunah/faith, which is the basis of this week’s Apostolic Reading. The author’s treatment of Avraham’s emunah/faith is manifested in his obedience to Yah’s instructions to go out into a place that he would later receive as an inheritance. Without his faithful-obedience, Avraham’s story would be inconsequential.

Reflection and Application

Why did Yah call Avraham to remove himself from his familiar surroundings? Sometimes Yah moves us so that He may work with us: to bless us, test us, teach us, and plant us where we may properly fulfill our calling and purpose in Yeshua Messiah. Avram’s trusting-faith/emunah was not perfect, but Yah’s inexplicable love for His human creation persists despite its flaws.

Have we, as Yah’s beloved, realized our purpose in Yeshua through an obedient faith/emunah? Have we fully trusted Yehovah to do what He has instructed us to do? If not, we need to learn to trust Yah and show our trust by our obedience to His instructions.

Conclusion

Trusting-Faith/emunah leads to obedience, and obedience leads to blessings. Yah’s covenant with Avram was not contingent upon his trusting-obedient-faith/emunah. Yah’s grand plan of salvation, redemption, and restoration for humanity is revealed through the Avrahamic Covenant, which is a unilateral covenant dependent solely on Yah.

Thank you for joining me in this discussion. I pray you got something out of it and that your walk in Mashiyach has been enhanced. Until next time, may you be most blessed, fellow saints in training. Chag Hanukkah Semeach … Shabbat Shalom … Shavu’tov … Blessings. Take care.

Links to Previous Teaching Relevant to Today’s Discussion