Rabbi Ken Alpren
Summary by: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
October 30, 2010
Genesis 24:1-4, By now Avraham was old, advanced in years; and ADONAI had blessed Avraham in everything. 2 Avraham said to the servant who had served him the longest, who was in charge of all he owned, "Put your hand under my thigh; 3 because I want you to swear by ADONAI, God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not choose a wife for my son from among the women of the Kena'ani, among whom I am living; 4 but that you will go to my homeland, to my kinsmen, to choose a wife for my son Yitz'chak."
We are introduced to Avraham’s servant; a nameless man who Avraham sent on a mission to find a wife for Yitz’chak from among Avraham’s kinsmen after the death of Sarah. Throughout this portion of Scripture, the Servant proves himself a man of G-d; faithful, humble and reliant of the L-rd’s direction.
When Avraham sent him on the mission, he encouraged the Servant to rely on the L-rd and to believe that direction would be given.
Genesis 24:7, “ADONAI, the God of heaven - who took me away from my father's house and away from the land I was born in, who spoke to me and swore to me, 'I will give this land to your descendants'- he will send his angel ahead of you; and you are to bring a wife for my son from there.”
With a positive attitude and expectation the Servant proceeded into homeland of Avraham’s kinsmen. He was determined to stick to the plan laid out for him to find a wife for Yitz’chak. And as he was seeking the L-rd for direction, something amazing happened. The L-rd answered his prayer even before he was finished praying!
Genesis 24:12-15, He said, "ADONAI, God of my master Avraham, please let me succeed today; and show your grace to my master Avraham. 13 Here I am, standing by the spring, as the daughters of the townsfolk come out to draw water. 14 I will say to one of the girls, 'Please lower your jug, so that I can drink.' If she answers, 'Yes, drink; and I will water your camels as well,' then let her be the one you intend for your servant Yitz'chak. This is how I will know that you have shown grace to my master." 15 Before he had finished speaking, Rivkah the daughter of B'tu'el son of Milkah the wife of Nachor Avraham's brother, came out with her jug on her shoulder.
Amazing! Has the L-rd ever answered your prayer even before you were finished praying? Have we noticed that He may be working toward the answer even before we can ask?
Isaiah 65:24, Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear.
Avraham’s servant watched Rivkah’s response to his request for water. Would she follow her provision of water for him with an offer to water the camels as well?
Genesis 24:19-21, When she was through letting him drink, she said, "I will also draw water for your camels until they have drunk their fill." 20 She quickly emptied her jug into the trough, then ran again to the well to draw water, and kept on drawing water for all his camels. 21 The man gazed at her in silence, waiting to find out whether ADONAI had made his trip successful or not.
Yes! She offered to provide water for the camels as well! Not only did she offer she ran to the well and quickly provided the water for all ten camels! Notice her character. She was not sluggish in her response, but quickly provided water even running to and from the well. What was it about his beautiful young woman that would give her the incentive to respond to generously and considerately? Had the L-rd been preparing her to be the wife of His Yitz’chak for her whole life?
Notice the Servant’s response to answered prayer.
Genesis 24:26-27, The man bowed his head and prostrated himself before ADONAI. 27 Then he said, "Blessed be ADONAI, God of my master Avraham, who has not abandoned his faithful love for my master; because ADONAI has guided me to the house of my master's kinsmen."
He worshipped and blessed the L-rd!
Rivkah was included in the decision to become Yitz’chak’s wife. When her family attempted to delay the process, she was given the opportunity to choose for herself and she chose to follow the L-rd and go with the Servant. Perhaps she had confirmation from the L-rd in her heart and had taken note of the Servant’s character so as to feel confident in her choice.
Genesis 24:62-67, Meanwhile, Yitz'chak, one evening after coming along the road from Be'er-Lachai-Ro'i - he was living in the Negev - 63 went out walking in the field; and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. 64 Rivkah too looked up; and when she saw Yitz'chak, she quickly dismounted the camel. 65 She said to the servant,"Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?"When the servant replied, "It's my master," she took her veil and covered herself. 66 The servant told Yitz'chak everything he had done. 67 Then Yitz'chak brought her into his mother Sarah's tent and took Rivkah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. Thus was Yitz'chak comforted for the loss of his mother.
A successful journey and answered prayer provided a wife for Yitz’chak. Rivkah and Yitz’chak were married and Yitz’chak was comforted after his mother’s death. Rivkah and Yitz’chak didn’t know one another at first but grew in their love. Their marriage was successful because of the L-rd’s provision and their dedication to Him and to each other.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
The Separation and Reconciliation of Lot
Rabbi Ken Alpren
Summary by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
October 16, 2010
Genesis 13:7-8, Moreover, quarreling arose between Avram's and Lot's herdsmen. The Kena'ani and the P'rizi were then living in the land. 8 Avram said to Lot, "Please, let's not have quarreling between me and you, or between my herdsmen and yours, since we're kinsmen.”
The Hebrew word for kinsmen is achim which means brothers or brethren. God’s greatest testimony is the love we have for each other as well as our harmony, oneness and unity in the Body of Messiah. How we fall short! Our Lord Yeshua Himself prayed in John 17:21-23, “that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are united with me and I with you, I pray that they may be united with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 The glory which you have given to me, I have given to them; so that they may be one, just as we are one -- 23 I united with them and you with me, so that they may be completely one, and the world thus realize that you sent me, and that you have loved them just as you have loved me.” This oneness will outdo anything the secular world has to offer.
Our adversary knows that when we live in this kind of unity; the unity that only the Holy Spirit can bring, that the world will know the Love of our Lord! So he counters us with discord because it discredits us and our testimony.
Notice in the passage above that the Kena’ani and the P’rizi were living in the land; peacefully and without conflict. It was Lot and Avram who were quarreling!
Genesis 13:9-12, “Isn't the whole land there in front of you? Please separate yourself from me - if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left." 10 Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Yarden was well watered everywhere, before ADONAI destroyed S'dom and 'Amora, like the garden of ADONAI, like the land of Egypt in the direction of Tzo'ar. 11 So Lot chose all the plain of the Yarden for himself, and Lot traveled eastward; thus they separated themselves from each other. 12 Avram lived in the land of Kena'an; and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, setting up his tent near S'dom.”
Avram was “not I-but Messiah” oriented and Lot was “I-not Messiah” oriented. Lot chose the territory by what he thought he’d get for himself and Avram trusted the Lord for what Lot didn’t take. When Lot was taken captive, Avram could have easily said he got what he deserved, but Avram armed his people and went to get Lot out of the mess he had gotten into.
What opportunity do I have to behave like Avram; to show the same grace to rescue someone who has failed? Or have I been rescued like Lot by my kinsmen in Messiah who showed me grace when I had fallen short?
Do we cover and build each other up? Are we quick to judge or do we easily recognize that “it could have been me”?
2Peter 2:7-8, “but he rescued Lot, a righteous man who was distressed by the debauchery of those unprincipled people; 8 for the wicked deeds which that righteous man saw and heard, as he lived among them, tormented his righteous heart day after day.”
Notice the description of Lot in the passage! Three times Lot is referred to as righteous!
Our Lord restores what we have messed up. Can He not mend our bad choices? The answer is YES as we seek Him and go after Him.
An evidence that we belong to Him is that when we do fail (and we will and do), that we are convicted and return to Him.
Proverbs 24:16, “For though he falls seven times, he will get up again; it's the wicked who fail under stress.” and 1John 2:1-2, “My children, I am writing you these things so that you won't sin. But if anyone does sin, we have Yeshua the Messiah, the Tzaddik, who pleads our cause with the Father. 2 Also, he is the kapparah for our sins - and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.”
Our righteousness comes from Him. He is over covering, our kapparah, and we are made holy through His grace.
Conversely, the unrighteous sin without remorse, but the righteous can’t get away with sin (at least not for very long) because like David, the Holy Spirit is in our hearts. See Psalm 73.
So how do we live in the oneness of Messiah? How can we be more like Avram? By putting our flesh on the altar! Avram sacrificed his desires and put his faith in the Lord to provide. His humility and testimony outweighed his preference and prosperity.
Proverbs 22:4, “The reward for humility is fear of ADONAI, along with wealth, honor and life.” Avram operated in God’s economy that as we decrease, He will increase. It should also be noted that if we increase in our own strength, He shall cause us to decrease!
Genesis 15:1-6, “Some time later the word of ADONAI came to Avram in a vision: "Don't be afraid, Avram. I am your protector; your reward will be very great." 2 Avram replied, "ADONAI, God, what good will your gifts be to me if I continue childless; and Eli'ezer from Dammesek inherits my possessions? 3 You haven't given me a child," Avram continued, "so someone born in my house will be my heir." 4 But the word of ADONAI came to him: "This man will not be your heir. No, your heir will be a child from your own body." 5 Then he brought him outside and said, "Look up at the sky, and count the stars - if you can count them! Your descendants will be that many!" 6 He believed in ADONAI, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
The Hebrew word for ‘look’ is ‘nabat’ which means to gaze, look, pay attention, show regard to, but it also means ‘look down upon’. Avram was dwelling on childlessness, his circumstance and that maybe it was too late for him. The Lord interrupted him and said ‘not so’ Avram! The Lord invited him to see from His perspective, to look at the stars from His viewpoint with eyes that are eternal rather than temporal. When Avram took to heart the Lord’s viewpoint after gazing at the stars and hearing the promise that his descendants would be that many, Avram believed G-d! He put his trust in Him and it was at that point when he rested in G-d’s Faithfulness that it was counted or ‘chashab’ to him as righteousness.
This week, may we have an eternal view like Avram, trusting the Lord and dreaming with Him. His dream for Avram was overwhelming and His dreams for us can be as well. Lord help us be overwhelmed by what we can believe You for!
Further reading: 1Samuel 18:1-4, 20:17, Proverbs 17:17, 18:24, and 16:19, John 12:24, Matthew 16:25, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Philippians 2:3-4, Romans 8:16, Psalm 37:24, Matthew 5:9, Hebrews 12:14, 13:1, Colossians 1:20-21, James 4:10, Isaiah 56:11, 1Corinthians 10:24.
Summary by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
October 16, 2010
Genesis 13:7-8, Moreover, quarreling arose between Avram's and Lot's herdsmen. The Kena'ani and the P'rizi were then living in the land. 8 Avram said to Lot, "Please, let's not have quarreling between me and you, or between my herdsmen and yours, since we're kinsmen.”
The Hebrew word for kinsmen is achim which means brothers or brethren. God’s greatest testimony is the love we have for each other as well as our harmony, oneness and unity in the Body of Messiah. How we fall short! Our Lord Yeshua Himself prayed in John 17:21-23, “that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are united with me and I with you, I pray that they may be united with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 The glory which you have given to me, I have given to them; so that they may be one, just as we are one -- 23 I united with them and you with me, so that they may be completely one, and the world thus realize that you sent me, and that you have loved them just as you have loved me.” This oneness will outdo anything the secular world has to offer.
Our adversary knows that when we live in this kind of unity; the unity that only the Holy Spirit can bring, that the world will know the Love of our Lord! So he counters us with discord because it discredits us and our testimony.
Notice in the passage above that the Kena’ani and the P’rizi were living in the land; peacefully and without conflict. It was Lot and Avram who were quarreling!
Genesis 13:9-12, “Isn't the whole land there in front of you? Please separate yourself from me - if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left." 10 Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Yarden was well watered everywhere, before ADONAI destroyed S'dom and 'Amora, like the garden of ADONAI, like the land of Egypt in the direction of Tzo'ar. 11 So Lot chose all the plain of the Yarden for himself, and Lot traveled eastward; thus they separated themselves from each other. 12 Avram lived in the land of Kena'an; and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, setting up his tent near S'dom.”
Avram was “not I-but Messiah” oriented and Lot was “I-not Messiah” oriented. Lot chose the territory by what he thought he’d get for himself and Avram trusted the Lord for what Lot didn’t take. When Lot was taken captive, Avram could have easily said he got what he deserved, but Avram armed his people and went to get Lot out of the mess he had gotten into.
What opportunity do I have to behave like Avram; to show the same grace to rescue someone who has failed? Or have I been rescued like Lot by my kinsmen in Messiah who showed me grace when I had fallen short?
Do we cover and build each other up? Are we quick to judge or do we easily recognize that “it could have been me”?
2Peter 2:7-8, “but he rescued Lot, a righteous man who was distressed by the debauchery of those unprincipled people; 8 for the wicked deeds which that righteous man saw and heard, as he lived among them, tormented his righteous heart day after day.”
Notice the description of Lot in the passage! Three times Lot is referred to as righteous!
Our Lord restores what we have messed up. Can He not mend our bad choices? The answer is YES as we seek Him and go after Him.
An evidence that we belong to Him is that when we do fail (and we will and do), that we are convicted and return to Him.
Proverbs 24:16, “For though he falls seven times, he will get up again; it's the wicked who fail under stress.” and 1John 2:1-2, “My children, I am writing you these things so that you won't sin. But if anyone does sin, we have Yeshua the Messiah, the Tzaddik, who pleads our cause with the Father. 2 Also, he is the kapparah for our sins - and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.”
Our righteousness comes from Him. He is over covering, our kapparah, and we are made holy through His grace.
Conversely, the unrighteous sin without remorse, but the righteous can’t get away with sin (at least not for very long) because like David, the Holy Spirit is in our hearts. See Psalm 73.
So how do we live in the oneness of Messiah? How can we be more like Avram? By putting our flesh on the altar! Avram sacrificed his desires and put his faith in the Lord to provide. His humility and testimony outweighed his preference and prosperity.
Proverbs 22:4, “The reward for humility is fear of ADONAI, along with wealth, honor and life.” Avram operated in God’s economy that as we decrease, He will increase. It should also be noted that if we increase in our own strength, He shall cause us to decrease!
Genesis 15:1-6, “Some time later the word of ADONAI came to Avram in a vision: "Don't be afraid, Avram. I am your protector; your reward will be very great." 2 Avram replied, "ADONAI, God, what good will your gifts be to me if I continue childless; and Eli'ezer from Dammesek inherits my possessions? 3 You haven't given me a child," Avram continued, "so someone born in my house will be my heir." 4 But the word of ADONAI came to him: "This man will not be your heir. No, your heir will be a child from your own body." 5 Then he brought him outside and said, "Look up at the sky, and count the stars - if you can count them! Your descendants will be that many!" 6 He believed in ADONAI, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
The Hebrew word for ‘look’ is ‘nabat’ which means to gaze, look, pay attention, show regard to, but it also means ‘look down upon’. Avram was dwelling on childlessness, his circumstance and that maybe it was too late for him. The Lord interrupted him and said ‘not so’ Avram! The Lord invited him to see from His perspective, to look at the stars from His viewpoint with eyes that are eternal rather than temporal. When Avram took to heart the Lord’s viewpoint after gazing at the stars and hearing the promise that his descendants would be that many, Avram believed G-d! He put his trust in Him and it was at that point when he rested in G-d’s Faithfulness that it was counted or ‘chashab’ to him as righteousness.
This week, may we have an eternal view like Avram, trusting the Lord and dreaming with Him. His dream for Avram was overwhelming and His dreams for us can be as well. Lord help us be overwhelmed by what we can believe You for!
Further reading: 1Samuel 18:1-4, 20:17, Proverbs 17:17, 18:24, and 16:19, John 12:24, Matthew 16:25, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Philippians 2:3-4, Romans 8:16, Psalm 37:24, Matthew 5:9, Hebrews 12:14, 13:1, Colossians 1:20-21, James 4:10, Isaiah 56:11, 1Corinthians 10:24.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)