Download pdf - ^L %L I) Reading the Torah Portion · develop your own plan of attack). Prepare by having a pen and paper ready to take notes or by having your computer ready. Read the Torah portion

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TheTorahPortion|Parashat#14LekhL’kha(Reading5of5)

January5,2019

I)ReadingtheTorahPortion

Nowit’stimetoreadtheTorahportion.YouwillgetthemostoutoftheTorahportionifyouhaveadisciplinedplanforapproachingiteachweek.Isuggestthefollowing(althoughyoumaywanttodevelopyourownplanofattack). Preparebyhavingapenandpaperready to takenotesorbyhavingyourcomputerready.ReadtheTorahportionquicklyjusttogetabird’s-eyeviewofitandto gain a general understanding of its contents. Then read it again slowly and morecontemplatively. Asyoureadit,youshouldkeeptrackof1)changesinthemainstoryline(plotsand subplots) of the text, 2) the introduction of new major themes you have not encounteredheretoforeand3)connectionstothemainthemesdevelopedintheTorahportion.Keepingtrack

ofthemajorthemeswillprovideyouwiththoughtstohelpyououtlinethepassagelateron. Recordingchangesinthestoryline(subplots)will 1) help youmore accurately interpret Scripture and 2) see connections to themes thatmay be repeated in theHaftarahandApostolicreadings.

I strongly recommend thatwhenyou study these lessons youhave the following tools available. 1)ABible [all references arebasedontheNKJV],2)aprintedcopyofthislesson,3)penandpaper[notebookpreferred]whereyoucaneitherwriteextranotesorcompleteanswerstoquestionswherethelinesinthislessonarenotenoughspacetowriteon,4)anon-lineversionoftheBible.IsuggestBibleGateway(https://www.biblegateway.com/).TherearemanyinstanceswhereIwillaskyoutomakeaconnectiontosomeotherpassage.TheBibleGatewayapphasanawesomeSEARCHfeaturetofindBiblepassages.Also,onceyoufindapassageyoucanuseControl-ForCommand-F (MACusers) to findwords,numbersorphrases in the textondisplay. Lastly, asoftenaspossible...haveapartnerstudyingwithyou!

II)OutliningtheTorahPortion

NowthatyouhavereadtheTorahportion,it’stimetooutlineit.TrytodividetheTorahportionintoitsmajorsubjectdivisions.Please limit theoutlinetonomorethansevenmajorheadings. Also, tryto limiteachsubjectdivisiontoashortphrase. Inthechartbelowprovideabriefphrasedescribingeachsignificantchangeofeventsinthereading.Outliningwillhelpyoudeveloptheskillof“seeing”thethemesinthetext.

3-Year Torah Cycle

Parashat#14

.̂L %,LLEKHL’KHA

Genesis 17:1-27 Isaiah 63:10-19 Romans 4:10-25

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VII.


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III)Hebrew–OneSignificantWordataTime

LearnasignificantHebrewwordfromtheTorahportion!

Genesis17:1–WhenAbramwasninety-nineyearsold,theLordappearedtoAbramandsaidtohim,“IamAlmightyGod;walkbeforeMeandbeblameless.”TheHebrewwordsforAlmightyGodareElShaddai,y;D;v lea.Shaddaicomesfromtherootwordshadad,d;d'v,meaningstrongormighty. However,ShaddaimayalsobebasedontheHebrewwordshad,d;v,meaningbreast.Althoughbothrootscouldeasilyapply,sometimestherewillbethematicevidence thatwill point you in onedirection or another. For example, inmost placeswhereEl Shaddai occurs(regarding the covenant with Abram), reproduction or the multiplicity of Abram’s descendants is usually thesubject.SeeGenesis28:3,35:11,43:14and48:3aswellasourcurrenttextwhereAdonaiintroducesHimselfasElShaddaiinverseoneandthenimmediatelypromisestomultiplyAbraminto“manynations”.WhenAdonaimakesHimself known through the name El Shaddai, He’s basically sayingHe is the Godwho brings forth life throughmultiplication. TheHebrewwordforGodisElohim,~yihol/a. InGenesis1:1–2:3whereHe1)demonstratesHisabilitytoproduceamultiplicityofanimalsand2)commandsthecreationtobefruitfulandmultiply,thetextonlyreferstoGodasElohim(aderivativeofEl).ThroughoutGenesis2:4–3:24thetextalwaysreferstoAdonaiastheLordGod.

IV)TorahPortionDiscussionQuestions

1. WhatarethetwoprimarypromisesgiventoAbraminGenesis17:1-8?

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2. HowarethesetwothingsthematicallyconnectedtotheeventsinGenesis3:15-19?

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3. ReadGenesis17:3-8andwritea listofeveryaspectof theAbrahamiccovenant thatyoucandiscern,notingthattheseaspectsareAdonai’sresponsibilityinthecovenant(aswelearnedfromouroutline).________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. WeshouldalwaysmakethematicconnectionstootherportionsofScripturewhereverpossible.ReadGenesis12:1-3anddiscusshowitrelatesthematicallytoGenesis17:1-8.

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5. WeknowthatGenesis3:15isaMessianicprophecypertainingtosatan’sultimatedefeatatthehands(feetJ)ofYeshua. However, fromRevelation12:17 (And thedragonwasenragedwith thewoman, andhewent tomakewarwiththerestofheroffspring[seedasintheseedofthewoman],whokeepthecommandmentsofGodandhavethetestimonyofJesusChrist.)wealsoknowthattheseedofthewomanpertainsnotonlytoMessiah Yeshua, but also to thosewho have the testimony of Yeshua and keep the commandments of God.Therefore,theseedofthewomanwillhaveadualidentityinScripture,sometimesreferringtoallbelievers,butultimatelyreferringtoYeshua. This ismadeevenmorecertainbyRomans16:20(AndtheGodofpeacewillcrushSatanunderyourfeetshortly)wherePaulusestheimageryofGenesis3:15toshowhowtheseedofthewomanalsoconsistsofallbelieversnotjustMessiahYeshua.Withthatunderstanding,considerGenesis12:1-3and17:1-8.HowcanweconnectthosetwopassagestoGenesis3:15pertainingtotheenmityoftheseed?

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6. WhatisthesignoftheAbrahamiccovenant?

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7. ReadGenesis17:9-14andcommentonwhoallmustbecircumcisedandthesignificanceofit.

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8. We learned in previous lessons that events in Genesis are actually prophesies of future events and/or theembryonicbeginningsoffuturedoctrinesorlessons.WhatcouldbemeantbythefactthatAbraham’sservants(who were not blood descendants of Abraham) could also come under the covenant (actually they werecompellediftheywantedtoremainwithhim)throughcircumcision?

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9. As we progress through the Torah we shall encounter other commandments regarding the number eight.What’ssignificanthereisthatthisisthefirstmentionofthenumbereightbyitselfintheTorah.Usually,thefirstmentionofanywordwill layafoundationforitsthematicusagelaterinthetext. Fornow,whatallcanyouseeassociatedwiththenumbereightinGenesis17:12?

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10. ReadGenesis17:15-16.ThisisnotthefirsttimethatAdonaihastoldAbrahamspecificallythathewouldfatherachild.WhenelsewasitspecificallymentionedthatAbrahamwouldhaveanheirfromhisownbody?

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11. WriteoneormoredifferencesbetweenthepromiseofasoninGenesis15andGenesis17.

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12. If,inGenesis15,AdonaihadgivenAbramthedetailsHegavehiminGenesis17,Ishmaelwouldprobablyneverhavebeenconceived.WhydoyouthinkAdonaiwaitedtotellAbramtheseimportantdetails?

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13. ReadGenesis17:17-18.ConsideringAbraham’scomments,whydoyouthinkAdonaimadeAbrahamandSarahwaitsolongbeforegivingthemachild?

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14. HowisGenesis3:16(TothewomanHesaid:“Iwillgreatlymultiplyyoursorrowandyourconception;Inpainyoushallbringforthchildren”)thematicallyconnectedtoSarai’sbarrenness?”

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15. Atfirstitmayseemthatcircumcisionisanoddsignforacovenant.Imean,ofallthethingsonecanchoosefora sign, why do you think Adonai chose circumcision as the sign of the covenant? In other words, whatconnectionexistsbetweencircumcisionandtheblessingsoftheAbrahamiccovenant?

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16. Again,whatconnectionexistsbetweentheblessingsoftheAbrahamiccovenantandcircumcisionthatwould


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causeAdonaitochoosecircumcisionasthesignofthecovenant?Butthistimethinkaboutthesethreethings:1)OneofthemainblessingsofthecovenantisthatAbramwillhaveamultitudeofdescendants.2)However,AbramandSaraiarebarrenandcannotevenproducethefirstdescendanttobegintheprocessofproducingamultitudeofdescendants!3)Descendantsoriginatethroughthesexualunionbetweenamanandawoman.

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17. ReadGenesis17:21.Thephrase“settime”isatranslationoftheHebrewword,la-moedde[AM;l,whichmeansappointedtime,season,settime,etc.Whatisthesignificanceofthisword,whenisitfirstusedinScriptureandwhatdoesitssignificanceimplyaboutthetimingofIsaac’sbirth?

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18. ReadGenesis17:5.ExplainhowAbraham’snewnamecouldmakehimuncomfortableforthenextyearasheintroduceshimselftopeople.

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V)MessiahintheParsha

InLuke24:25-27and46-47YeshuastatedthatMoses,theProphetsandtheWritingsallprophesiedofHisdeath,burialandresurrectioninthreedays.Therefore,weshouldexpecttoseeteachingsaboutYeshuaandHisroleinredemptionthroughouttheTorah.InthissectionIwillaskyouquestionsthatwillhopefullyhelpyou“see”MessiahYeshuaintheTorahportionandsometimestheHaftarahreadingaswell.

1. ReadRomans4:17-19. TowhatdoesPaulcompare1)Abraham’soldbodyand2) thebarrennessofSarah’swomb?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. PertainingtoRomans4:17-19,explainhowdeath/deadnesscanbeanappropriatemetaphorforAbrahamandSarah’ssituation?Inotherwords,analyzetheirsituationandexplaintheconnectionsPaulmusthavethoughtofinhismindtoconnecttheiroldbodiestotheconceptofdeath/deadness.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. IfAbraham’sbodywas“dead”andSarah’swombwas“dead”thenwhattermshouldweusetodescribeIsaac’sbirth?

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4. Through Paul’s analogy in Romans 4:17-19, we know that he viewed the story of Abraham and Sarah’sbarrennessthroughthelensofdeathandresurrection.Inotherwords,PaulsawMessianicsignificancetothestoryoftheirbarrenness.Whatistheconnectionbetweena)Abraham’sagewhenhewastoldthatIsaacwouldbebornthenextyearandb)Isaac’sbirthfromtheir“dead”bodies?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Similartothepreviousquestion,whatistheconnectionbetweena)Sarah’sagewhenshewastoldthatIsaacwouldbebornthenextyearandb)Isaac’sbirthfromtheir“dead”bodies??________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Asfaraschildbearingisconcerned,canyoudescribehowSarahisthematicallyconnectedtoMiriam(Mary)Yeshua’smother?


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VI)SomeBasicFactsAboutOurLesson

ThiscrosswordpuzzlewillcoverbasicfactsabouttheTorahportion,HaftarahreadingandApostolicreadings.TheanswersarebasedonthetextfromtheNewKingJamesVersionoftheBibleandmaycontainphrasesaswellasindividualwords.


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VII)MakingtheConnectiontotheHaftarahReading

IhavelistedanumberofpassagesfromtheHaftarahreadingthathavethematicconnectionstotheTorahportion.YourjobistofindthethematicconnectionsintheTorahportion.AlthoughImayquoteanentireverseortwofromtheHaftarahreading,youshouldfocusmostofyourattentiononthetextthatisboldanditalicized.TheboldanditalicizedtextwillcontainthemainthemeorwordsthatIwantyoutoconnecttotheTorahportion. OnceyouhavefoundaconnectiontotheHaftarahverses,recordthechapter and verse of the Torah text connection and write a brief sentence describing how the two passages are thematicallyconnected.

There aredifferentways theTorahportionand theHaftarah readingmaybe connected. Oneof the easiesttypesofconnectionsissimilarwords. Nowthatyou’vereadtheTorahandHaftarahreadings,seeifyoucanfindanysignificantsimilarwords.

1. HowisIsaiah63:11a(Thenherememberedthedaysofold)thematicallyconnectedtotheTorahportion?

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2. How is Isaiah 63:12 (Who led them by the right hand ofMoses,With His glorious arm, Dividing thewaterbeforethemTomakeforHimselfaneverlastingname)thematicallyconnectedtotheTorahportion?

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3. HowelseisIsaiah63:12(WholedthembytherighthandofMoses,WithHisgloriousarm,DividingthewaterbeforethemTomakeforHimselfaneverlastingname)thematicallyconnectedtotheTorahportion?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. HowisIsaiah63:18(Yourholypeoplehavepossesseditbutalittlewhile;OuradversarieshavetroddendownYoursanctuary.)thematicallyconnectedtotheTorahportion?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. How is Isaiah 63:16a (Doubtless You are our Father, Though Abraham was ignorant of us,) thematicallyconnectedtotheTorahportion?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Anothertypeofconnectionthatexistsoccurswhenwecanfindsimilarevents.HowisIsaiah63:14(Asabeastgoesdown into thevalley,And theSpirit of theLord causeshim to rest, SoYou leadYourpeople,TomakeYourselfagloriousname.)thematicallyconnectedasasimilareventtotheTorahportion?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sometimeshowever, the connectionbetween theTorahandHaftarah readings is hiddenbecause the rabbiswhochosetheHaftarahreadingwerenotjusttryingtoconnectthereadingsviasimilarwordsoreventsalone.SometimestheychoseHaftarahreadingswheretheconnectionisasimilaremotion,thoughtprocess,ordesiresharedbetweenthesubjectsinthetworeadings.Inthefollowingconnections,examinetheHaftarahpassagetodeterminehowtheemotion,thoughtprocessordesireofthesubjectisconnectedwiththeemotion,thoughtprocessordesireofthesubjectintheTorahreading.

7. HowisIsaiah63:11-13(Thenherememberedthedaysofold,Mosesandhispeople,saying:“WhereisHewhobroughtthemupoutoftheseawiththeshepherdofHisflock?WhereisHewhoputHisHolySpiritwithinthem,WholedthembytherighthandofMoses,WithHisgloriousarm,DividingthewaterbeforethemTo


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makeforHimselfaneverlastingname,Wholedthemthroughthedeep,Asahorseinthewilderness,Thattheymightnotstumble?”)thematicallyconnectedtotheTorahportion?

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8. How is Isaiah63:15 (Lookdown fromheaven,Andsee fromYourhabitation,holyandglorious. WhereareYour zeal and Your strength, The yearning of Your heart and Your mercies toward me? Are theyrestrained?)thematicallyconnectedtotheTorahportion?

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VIII)MakingtheConnectiontotheApostolicWritings

IhavelistedanumberofpassagesfromtheApostolicreadingthathavethematicconnectionstotheTorahportion.YourjobistofindthethematicconnectionstotheTorahportion.AlthoughImayquoteanentireverseortwofromtheApostolicreading,youshouldfocusmostofyourattentiononthetextthatisboldanditalicized.TheboldanditalicizedtextwillcontainthemainthemeorwordsthatIwantyoutoconnecttotheTorahportion. OnceyouhavefoundaconnectiontotheApostolicverses,recordthechapter and verse of the Torah text connection and write a brief sentence describing how the two passages are thematicallyconnected.

Onceagain,itseemsasifwehavebeenploppedintothemiddleoftheApostolicwriting.I’dsuggestgoingbackand reading Romans 4:1-9 to give more context to what Paul is writing in Romans 4:10-25. The rawconnections (especially through similar words) is so voluminous that I’d rather ask you some probingquestionsaboutApostolicwriting.

1. WhatisPaulreferringtowhenheasks“Howthenwasitaccounted?Whilehewascircumcised,oruncircum-cised?”Inotherwords,whatistheitthatwasaccounted?

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2. ReadRomans4:10.WhatmajordoctrineofourfaithisPaulexpoundingupon?

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3. Paul ismakingabigdeal of the fact thatAbrahamwas imputed/given righteousnessbeforehewas circum-cised.WhatisPaultryingtodemonstratebylookingatthetimingofwhenAbrahamwascircumcised?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Howdoes this phrase, “that hemight be the father of all thosewhobelieve,” inRomans4:11 thematicallyconnecttothepromisegiventoAbrahamthathisdescendantswouldbeasnumerousasthestarsinthesky?

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5. ListanotherpassagefromScripturethatdemonstratesthatallbelieversintheGodofAbraham,IsaacandJacobaresonsanddaughtersofAbrahameventhoughtheymaynotbephysicalbloodrelativesdescendedfromhim.

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6. ReadRomans4:17b–God,whogiveslifetothedeadandcallsthosethingswhichdonotexistasthoughtheydid.HowmanywayscanyouseethatAdonaicallsthosethingswhichdonotexistasthoughtheydidfromourTorahportion?


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7. WhatwasitthatAbrahambelievedsothathecouldbedeclaredrighteous?

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8. Comparethattowhatwebelievethatresultsinusbeingdeclaredrighteous?

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9. ListanotherpassagefromScripturethatdemonstratesthatallbelieversintheGodofAbraham,IsaacandJacobaresonsanddaughtersofAbraham,eventhoughtheymaynotbephysicalbloodrelativesdescendedfromhim.

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10. ListanotherpassagefromScripturethatdemonstratesthatallbelieversintheGodofAbraham,IsaacandJacobaresonsanddaughtersofAbraham,eventhoughtheymaynotbephysicalbloodrelativesdescendedfromhim.

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IX)TheMasterConnection

The primary way Adonai teaches us His wisdom is through thematic connections. We read a passage. Then wemake athematicconnectionviaasimilarword,phrase,theme,situation,eventorcircumstanceinanotherportionofScripture.Oncewemaketheconnectionweopenourmindstounderstandhowonepassage“shedslight”ontheotherpassagetohelpprovideamoretrulyHolySpirit-inspiredinterpretation.Thissectionisprovidedtohelpyoudiscovertheimportanceandrelevanceofmakingthematicconnections.

Circumcision is one of those rites in the Tanakh that cause us towonder about its truemeaning. In otherwords,whatistherealsignificanceofcircumcision? OneofthebestwaystobegintounderstandtheBible’slessonsistomakethematicconnections. Wecanbegintounderstandwhatcircumcisionisaboutbyreadingother passages that are thematically connected to circumcision. For example, read Genesis 17:11-12 andDeuteronomy10:16.

1. How are these two verses thematically connected and, based on the connection, of what is circumcisionsupposedtobeapicture?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. AccordingtoGenesis17:12a,circumcisionisthematicallyconnectedtowhatelse?

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3. NowreadColossians2:11-13.Whichpartoftheseversespertainstonewbirth?

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4. Also,whichpartofColossians2:11-13pertainstoputtingawaytheforeskinofourhearts?

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X) PracticalApplicationLet'sgetpractical. Thestudyof theWord isnot completeuntilweareencouraged to think, speakandactdifferently. Ourstudyof theWordshouldalways involvepersonalapplicationof the text toour lives. As I'veheard it saidbefore,Adonai'sWord needs to go fromour head to our hearts and then to our hands. Our lifelong journey is to become like ourmaster,Yeshua,andthisisonlyaccomplishedaswefaithfullyapplyHisWordtoeveryaspectofourlives.DisciplingOurChildren

Whathaveyoulearnedfromthisweek’sTorahstudythatyoucanteachyourchildren?

Ø Writedownwhatyoulearnedthatcanand/orshouldbediscussedwithyourchildren?Perhapstheyneedtoknowsomeofthefactscoveredinthecrosswordpuzzle?o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ø Writedownanythingyoulearnedthatrevealedbadhabitsorthoughtpatternsinyourchildren’slives?o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ø Writedownanythingyoulearnedthatrevealedgoodhabitsorthoughtpatternsthatyourchildrenneedtobeencouragedorstrengthenedinandgrowinobedienceto?o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ø Writedownanything you learned that canbe a topic of prayer for you and your children thisweekorpermanently?o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DisciplingOneAnother

Thinkaboutwhatyou’vestudiedinthisweek’slesson.

Ø Writedownanythingyoulearnedthatimpactedyouthemost?o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ø Writedownanythingyoulearnedthatrevealedbadhabitsorthoughtpatternsyouneedtostop?o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ø Writedownanythingyou learnedthatrevealedgoodhabitsorthoughtpatternsyouneedtobeencour-agedorstrengthenedinandgrowinobedienceto?o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


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Ø Write down anything you learned that can be a topic of prayer for yourself, your family, yourworshipcommunity,yourneighborhood,theworldorAdonai’speopleatlarge?o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________o ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Justfocusononethingandtalktoanaccountabilitypartneraboutit.DeterminewhatyoucanDOoverthenextweek(ormore)inordertoputwhatyou’velearnedintopractice. Makeacommitmenttosomeoneelsethatyouaregoingtoseektoputsomeaspectofthisweek’slessonintopractice.

ANSWERKEYOutliningtheTorahPortion

Insomeinstances,theTorahwillgiveyoubeautifullittlethematicmarkerstoneatlydividethetextintothematicunits.Youshouldalwaysbe“onthelookout”forsuchhelpfulmarkers.Noticethephrasesa)“AsforMe”inGenesis17:4,b)“Asforyou”inGenesis17:9andc)“AsforSarai”inGenesis17:15!I. Genesis17:1-2–Introduction–AdonaiPromisestheAbrahamicCovenantII. Genesis17:3-8–ResponsibilityofAdonaiIII. Genesis17:9-14–ResponsibilityofAbramandHisDescendantsIV. Genesis17:15-22–ProphecyThatSaraiWillGiveBirthtoIsaacV. Genesis17:23-27–Abraham’sObediencetotheCovenant

TorahPortionDiscussionQuestionsAnswers1. Hepromisesamultitudeofdescendantsandland.2. Thepromiseofdescendantsisthematicallyconnectedtotheseed(descendants)ofthewoman,andthefact

thatherseed(descendants)willcomeforthinsorrowandpain.Thepromiseoflandisthematicallycon-nectedtothefactthatthegroundwascursed.WewillcontinuallyfocusbackonGenesis1-3toprovidecontextforwhatwelearnlaterintheBible.Thiswaywewillcontinuallyberemindedofthetruepurposeforallitsstories–toteachusabouttheonewhowouldcrushtheserpent’shead(Genesis3:15).

3. Adonaiwill1)makeAbramafatherofnations,2)multiplyAbram’sdescendants,3)giveAbramandhisdescendantsthelandofCanaanforaneverlastingpossessionand4)betheirGod.ThecovenantiswithallofAbram’sdescendantsanditisaneverlastingcovenant.

4. Genesis12:1-3makesthefollowinggenericpromisestoAbram:1)Iwillmakeyouagreatnation,2)Iwillblessyou,3)andmakeyournamegreat,4)andyoushallbeablessing,5)Iwillblessthosewhoblessyou,andIwillcursehimwhocursesyou,and6)andinyouallthefamiliesoftheearthshallbeblessed.”InGenesis17:1-8weseethefollowingcorrespondence:1)AdonaiwillmakenationsandkingsspringforthfromAbram,2)thepromisesofGenesis17:1-8areextremeblessings,3)Hewentastepfurtherthanjustmakinghisnamegreat,HechangedAbram’sname,4)theinfluenceofAbram’sdescendantswillbefar-reaching,and5)AdonaiwillgiveAbram’sdescendantsthelandofCanaan(bytakingitfromtheCanaaniteswhowouldlatercurseAbram’sdescendants).

5. Sincebelievers,thosewhohavethetestimonyofYeshuaandkeepthecommandmentsofGod,aretheseedofthewoman,thentheseedoftheserpenthastobetheunbelievingworld.Therefore,theenmityoftheseedwillplayitselfoutintheconstantstrugglesbetweenthosewholoveAdonaiandHiswaysandthosewhodon’t.We’vealreadylearnedthatAbel’smurderbyCainwasadirectconsequenceoftheenmityoftheseed.Therefore,inGenesis12:1-3,wecanseetheprophecyoftheenmityoftheseedwhenitsaysthat


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AdonaiwillcursethosewhocurseAbram(andbyextensionAbram’sdescendants).InGenesis17:1-8,wecanseetheprophecyoftheenmityoftheseedinthefactthatonedaythelandofCanaanwillbefoughtforandconqueredbyIsrael.HereIsraelistheseedofthewomanandtheCanaanitesaretheseedoftheserpent.

6. ThesignoftheAbrahamiccovenantisthesignofcircumcision.Itisimportanttorealizethatthesignofcir-cumcisiondidnotoriginateintheMosaiccovenant!

7. Abraham,hisdescendantsandtheservantsinAbraham’shouseholdhadtobecircumcised!EventheservantswhoarenotblooddescendantsofAbraham.

8. AlthoughtheAbrahamiccovenantpertainedtoAbrahamandhisdescendants,weseethatGentileswerealsoallowedtopartakeofthecovenantblessingsbecauseoftheirassociationwithhim.TheycouldenjoythecovenantblessingsalongwithAbrahameventhoughtheywerenotbloodlinedescendantsofhim.Thisisaforeshadowingofthefactthatnon-IsraelitescouldbepartofIsraeleventhoughtheywerenotblooddescendantsofthepatriarchs.Adonai’sintenthasalwaysbeentobringpeoplefromthenationsintoHiscovenants.

9. Eightisthematicallyconnectedtothebirthofamalechild.EightisthematicallyconnectedtoenteringintothecovenantrelationshipwithAdonai.Eightisthematicallyconnectedtoasignofacovenant.

10. Genesis15:1-6.11. InGenesis15Abramwasonlytoldthathisheirwouldcomefromhisownbody.InGenesis17heistold

that1)Sarahwouldbethemotherofthechild,2)thechild’snamewouldbeIsaacand3)thechildwouldbebornnextyearatthesametimeoftheyear.Asyoucansee,astimeprogressesAdonairevealsmoreandmoredetails.

12. Abramhadtolivealifeoffaith,trustinginthepromisesofAdonai.IfAdonaihadtoldhimalldetailsupfrontthenAbramwouldnothavegrowninhisfaithasheeventuallydid.

13. HewantedtowaituntilitwasacompleteimpossibilityforAbrahamandSarahtoconceiveachild!HedidthissothatallwhoheardwouldseethebirthofIsaacasamiracleofGod.AdonaididnotwantthebirthofIsaactobethoughtofasnormalinanymanner.ItwasimportantthatAdonaisoarrangethecircumstancesofIsaac’sbirthsuchthattheonlywaypossibleforhisbirthwouldbebythemiraculousinterventionofGodAlmighty.ThekeypointisthatAdonaiwantedIsaac’sbirthtobeviewedbyallasTOTALLYSUPER-NATURAL!

14. Genesis3:16establishesthatwomenwouldexperiencetravailinbringingforththeseedwhowouldeventuallycrushtheserpent’shead.Aswe’veseenbefore,thisprophecyisnotlimitedtoYeshuaalone.TheseedisallthosewhoworshipGod.Therefore,weshouldexpecttheretobetravailinbringingforththeancestorsofMessiahtoo.NoticethatGenesis3:16isnotlimitedtojustpainintheactualbirthingprocess.Adonaispecificallysaid,“Iwillgreatlymultiplyyoursorrowandyourconception.”Thismeansthateventheprocessofconceptionwouldbedifficult,letalonetheactualbirthingprocess!Yes,eventheprocessofconceptionwouldbesorrowful.Thisiswhymanytimeswomenexperiencesorrowtryingtoconceive.Thisincludeseverythingfrominfertility,tomiscarriagesandmorningsickness,etc.,etc.,etc.Theultimatepainandsorrowinconceptionisthatofabarrenwoman!Thus,wecanthematicallyconnectGenesis3:16toSarah’sbarrenness!Shewentthroughanentirelifetimeofsorrowinconception!ThisisthetruerelevanceofGenesis3:16inourTorahportion,andunderstandingthisconceptwillhelpusunderstandourMessiah!

15. Justwonderinghowyouhandlethisquestion.16. Circumcisioninvolvestheremovalofskinfromthemalesexualorganusedinprocreation.However,this

wastheproblem!AbramandSaraicouldnotprocreateontheirown!Therefore,thesignofthecovenant,circumcision,focusesourattentiononthefactthatitwasimpossibleforAbramtoproduceachildthroughthenormalmethodofproducingdescendants(oneofthetwomainblessingsoftheAbrahamiccovenant).Thebirthofthatfirstdescendantrequiredtofurtherthecovenantwouldnotcomeaboutbythenormalfunctionofthemalesexualorgan,butthroughthesupernaturalmiracleofGod.


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17. TheHebrewwordmoedmeanssettime,appointedtimeorseason.ItisfirstusedinGenesis1:14–ThenGodsaid,“Lettherebelightsinthefirmamentoftheheavenstodividethedayfromthenight;andletthembeforsignsandseasons,andfordaysandyears.”ItisthesameHebrewwordtranslatedasfeastinLeviticus23!AlthoughGenesis1:14impliesthatthesunandmoonwerecreatedforseasons,asinwinter,spring,summerandfall,itsmeaningisdeeper.ThesunandmoonwerecreatedtohelpdeterminethetimingofthefeastsoftheLord.Genesis1:14couldjustaswellbetranslated,“ThenGodsaid,‘Lettherebelightsinthefirmamentoftheheavenstodividethedayfromthenight;andletthembeforsignsandfordeterminationofAdonai’sfeasts,andfordaysandyears.’”ThesignificanceofitsusagehereisthatitimpliesthatIsaacwillbebornononeofthefeastsoftheLord,possiblyPassover!

18. HisnamemeansfatherofamultitudeyetheandSaraiarebarren!Thiscouldbesomewhatembarrassing!

MessiahintheParshaAnswers1. HecomparesAbraham’sbodyandSarah’swombtodeathorthatwhichisdead.2. Abraham’sbodywassooldthathewasbarelyabletoproduceanddelivertheseednecessaryforLIFE.

Therefore,sincehisbodycannotproducelifeit’sasifhisbodywasdead.Thewombisaplacewherelifeisconceived,nurturedandproduceslife.Sarahhadbeenbarrenherentirelife.LIFEhadnotbeenconceivednornurturedinherwomb.Therefore,itisasifherwombwasdead.

3. WeshouldusethewordLIFEorRESURRECTION!Paulhascreatedapictureoflifespringingforthfromaplaceofdeath!

4. Abrahamwas99yearsold.99isamultipleof3since99=3*33.Threeisthenumberofresurrection.Therefore,thestoryoflifespringingforthfromthedeadnessofAbrahamandSarah’sbodiesisyetanotherveiledMessianicprophecyofresurrectiononday3.

5. Sarahwas90yearsold.90isamultipleof3since90=3*30.Threeisthenumberofresurrection.Therefore,thestoryoflifespringingforthfromthedeadnessofAbrahamandSarah’sbodiesisyetanotherveiledMessianicprophecyofresurrectiononday3.

6. Thesetwowomenarethematicallyconnectedinthatneitherofthemwereabletoconceiveandbearachild,albeitfordifferentreasons.SarahwasbarrenandtoooldandMiriamwasavirgin.Bothsituationscreatedanimpossiblescenarioforconception!

HaftarahConnectionAnswers1. Genesis17:1–WhenAbramwasninety-nineyearsold,theLordappearedtoAbramandsaidtohim,“Iam

AlmightyGod.Infact,ourTorahportionmentionsthewordoldsixtimes.

2. Genesis17:7–AndIwillestablishMycovenantbetweenMeandyouandyourdescendantsafteryouintheirgenerations,foraneverlastingcovenant,tobeGodtoyouandyourdescendantsafteryou.

3. Genesis17:19–ThenGodsaid:“No,Sarahyourwifeshallbearyouason,andyoushallcallhisnameIsaac.Infact,thewordnameappearsfivetimesinourTorahportion.

4. Genesis17:8–AlsoIgivetoyouandyourdescendantsafteryouthelandinwhichyouareastranger,allthelandofCanaan,asaneverlastingpossession;andIwillbetheirGod.”BothpassagesmentionapossessionofthepeopleofGod–thesanctuaryintheHaftarahandthelandofCanaanintheTorahreading.

5. BothpassagesmentionthenameAbraham.

6. Genesis17:5–NolongershallyournamebecalledAbram,butyournameshallbeAbraham;forIhavemadeyouafatherofmanynations.Bothreadingsusethewordname.However,bothpassagesalsohaveasimilareventpertainingtothewordname.Bothpassagesspeakofobtaininganame,andinbothpassagesthenamewillbegreatinsomemanner.IfyoudonotseehowGenesis17:5alludesnotonlyto


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givingAbramaname,butalsotomakingAbram’sname“glorious,”asinourHaftarahreading,thenperhapsthisextraconnectionwillhelpyousee.Genesis12:2–Iwillmakeyouagreatnation;Iwillblessyouandmakeyournamegreat;andyoushallbeablessing.Abram’snamewouldbecome“glorious”asaresultofAdonaimakingAbramthefatherofmanynations.

7. ThebolditalicizedwordsintheHaftarahreadingremindusofhowAdonaideliveredthechildrenofIsraelfromEgyptianslaverybyleadingthemthroughthesplitRedSea.ToconnectthistotheTorahportionwesimplyneedtorememberthethemesandfactssurroundingthatgreatact.ThechildrenofIsraelwereinanimpossiblesituation.TherewasnowayhumanlypossibleforthemtodeliverthemselvesfromPharaoh’sapproachingarmy.SohowdoesthatthemerepeatitselfintheTorahreading?TheconnectionistoAbramandSaraiwhohadpassedtheageofabilitytohavechildren!Itwashumanlyimpossibleforthemtoconceive.Theyneededsupernaturalinterventiontodeliverthemfromanimpossiblesituation,justlikethechildrenofIsrael.

8. Genesis17:17-18–ThenAbrahamfellonhisfaceandlaughed,andsaidinhisheart,“Shallachildbeborntoamanwhoisonehundredyearsold?AndshallSarah,whoisninetyyearsold,bearachild?”AndAbrahamsaidtoGod,“Oh,thatIshmaelmightlivebeforeYou!”TheHaftarahreadingisapleafromthewriterforAdonaitomoveonhisbehalf.HeencouragesAdonaito“lookdownfromheaven”andseehisbadsituation.HequestionsAdonaiaboutHiszealandstrengthtomoveonhisbehalf.Lastly,thewriterasksAdonaitoshowhimHismercyandevenasksifAdonaiisrestrainingmercyfromhim!ThisiscloselymatchedbyAbraham’sfeelingsthatAdonaihadforgottenabouthimandHispromisestohim!CanwenoteasilyseeAbrahamaskingtheexactwordsexpressedbyIsaiah?ButunlikeIsaiah’sreasonsforquestioningAdonai’sfaithfulness,AbrahamwouldquestionAdonaiabouthislackofasonneededfortheestablishmentofthecovenant.

ApostolicReadingAnswers1. The“it”isrighteousness.PaulisstatingthatAbramwasimputed/accountedrighteousnesswhilehewas

uncircumcised.2. Thedoctrineofsalvation(soteriology).3. Paulistryingtocountertheargumentthatwearesavedbyworks.HedoessobyshowingthatAbraham

hadalreadybeendeclaredrighteousBEFOREhefulfilledthecommandmentofcircumcision.4. Thephrase,“thefatherofallthosewhobelieve,”meansthateveryonewhosharesAbraham’sfaithin

AdonaihasAbrahamastheir“father.”Statedanotherway,wearechildrenofAbrahamthroughfaith.ThisimpliesthatwhenAdonaipromisedAbrahamthathisseedwouldbeasnumerousasthestarsinthesky,HewasnotsolelyspeakingofphysicaldescendantsofAbraham,butalsothespiritualdescendantsofAbrahamwhowalkedinthesamefaithinAdonaiasAbrahamdid.

5. Galatians3:7-9–ThereforeknowthatonlythosewhoareoffaitharesonsofAbraham.AndtheScripture,foreseeingthatGodwouldjustifytheGentilesbyfaith,preachedthegospeltoAbrahambeforehand,saying,“Inyouallthenationsshallbeblessed.”SothenthosewhoareoffaithareblessedwithbelievingAbraham.AlsoseeRomans4:16–Thereforeitisoffaiththatitmightbeaccordingtograce,sothatthepromisemightbesuretoalltheseed,notonlytothosewhoareofthelaw,butalsotothosewhoareofthefaithofAbraham,whoisthefatherofusall.

6. HetoldAbrahamHehadmadehimthefatherofmanynations.HetoldAbrahamtonamehissonIsaaceventhoughhehadnotbeenborn.HesaidHegaveAbrahamthelandofCanaan.AlltheethingsAdonaispokeasiftheyexisted.

7. HebelievedinthepromiseAdonaihadgivenhimthathewouldfatherasonfromhisownbody.INotherwords,Abrahambelievedinthepromiseofason.

8. WebelieveinthepromiseofTHESon–thatHediedforoursins.Butasyoucansee,bothAbrahamaswellasourselves,webelieveinthepromiseofason!Andifwebelieveinthispromiseofason,thatfaithiscountedforusasrighteousness.


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TheMasterConnectionAnswers

1. Bothpassagesspeakaboutcircumcisionoftheforeskin.Obviously,circumcisionoftheforeskinismeanttoteachusaboutthecircumcisingorcuttingawayofthe“foreskin”ofourhearts.ThisistheTanakh’swayofsaying,“makeyourheartssoftandresponsivetoAdonaiandHisways.”

2. Thebirthofaboychild,or,moregenerically,newbirth!

3. TheportionofColossians2:13whereitsaysthoughweweredeadintrespassesHehasmadeusalivetogetherinHim.

4. TheportionofColossians2:11whereitsaysputtingoffthebodyofthesinsoftheflesh.Thus,puttingoffthebodyofthesinsofthefleshisequivalenttocircumcisionoftheheart!Now,wecanseethattheteachingaboutcircumcisionontheeighthdayisthebeginningpointforunderstandingwhatitmeanstobebornagain!