17 Abraham Perceived Lord
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בייה Genesis 17 Abraham Perceived Lord. Dear Ones (Genesis 17) begins with Ha Torah narrating a story that I cannot adequately share. Judaism is a pattern of living that has to be experienced. Our words cannot convey what happened. Jewish festivals are spiritually charged. Our services start slow and then gradually begin to elevate. One has to be present to experience what Ha Torah is sharing. All our senses are connected, i.e., sight, thoughts, voices, et cetera – ‘It happened.’ When did it happen? Abraham and his Talmudim were spiritually singing, dancing, celebrating, and joyfully worshiping Lord in unity. Then something happened. What happened? Abraham was elevated. He perceived the Lord. Translators say, ‘The Lord Appeared to Abraham.’ However, we should know that the Lord is always with us. The difference here is on that day, Abraham perceived Lord. They were enjoying their belief in Lord. The atmosphere was charged with excitement. During this beautiful, glorious experience when Abraham perceived thoughts from Lord. (Genesis 17.1) Says, ‘The Lord Communicated these thoughts to him. אֲנִי־אֵל שַׁדַּי Ah Nee – El – Shah Dai – I Am Almighty God; continue to go on wholesomely unimpaired entirely in accord with Truth. Translators say, ‘walk before me and be perfect.’ Abraham was so close to the top rung of the ladder. He was approaching the finish line, so to speak, when Isaac would be born to Sarah and himself. God’s Divine promise with Abraham in (Genesis 15) was nearing fulfillment. Here in (Genesis 17), the Lord was Encouraging Abraham and Sarah on and forward. Prophecies are waiting for the appointed day of fulfillment in Ha Torah. It may seem like some of us will not fulfill these prophecies. That is because we do not see as the Lord Sees. We are not in a space where we can perceive on such elevated levels. I believe the Lord wants individuals on elevated levels to help family and friends prepare their personal space for enhanced levels of perception. So we learn to teach and prepare to enter the citadels, i.e., the fortified Spiritual fortresses not seen by human eyes. How? (Genesis 17.19) says, ‘God Said [to Abraham], Sarah your wife shall bear you a son indeed; and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish אֶת־בְּרִיתִי – Eht – Bih Ree Tee – my covenant with him for an לִבְרִית עוֹלָם – Lee Vih Reet Oh Lawm – everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.’ The Covenant Ha Torah is sharing about a ‘Cutting / Tearing of the flesh. For men/boys, the foreskin is cut. For a woman, the womb is torn in childbirth. For a husband / Wife, the vagina area is torn/broken when they do as stated by Adam Ha Reshon in (Genesis 2.24) ‘a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall וְדָבַק בְּאִשְׁתּוֹ Vih Daw BahK – Bih Eesh Toh – cleave to his wife; and they shall be one flesh.’ Tradition is the husband and wife seclude themselves in a private room with witnesses guarding the entrance/exit. Their marriage is consummated. The bed cloth is examined for blood, then upon affirmation, collected and given to the father of the wife as proof of his daughter’s virginity. (Genesis 17. ) says, ‘This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between you and Me and your seed after you; Every male child among you shall be circumcised. And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between you and Me. And he who is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any stranger, who is not of your seed. He who is born in your house and bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant’ Abraham obeyed! (Genesis 17.24-27) says, ‘And Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. And Ishmael, his son, was thirteen. Years old… And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money from the stranger, were circumcised with him.’ Ibn Ezra wrote, ‘IN THE SELFSAME DAY. Abraham did not hesitate to carry out the commandment of circumcision. Abraham’s household consisted of three hundred eighteen males born in his house aside from those bought with his money. They were voluntarily circumcised with Abraham. H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver, Menorah Publication 1988-2004 – Genesis 17.26.1 – (Genesis 17) brought us face-to-face with how we can make our world a better place. We begin with ourselves. We can improve the space we occupy. Let’s consider giving our area a remodel, given this discussion. Let’s think about the steps we can take to help us elevate to the higher perception we shared here. Abraham agreed with the terms of the covenant with the Lord in (Genesis 17). Years later when we, the People of Israel and the people outside of Israel, made a commitment to abide by the terms of our father Abraham’s agreement with the Lord. (Exodus 24.7) says, ‘[Moses] took the Book of The Covenant, and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, [That is us. We said.] All that Lord has said will we do and obey.’ We made a commitment. The Lord has given us that power. Success is available to us. There is so much beauty to be seen if we clean our windows. (Proverbs 11.25) says, ‘A Soul is blessed with abundance and is also refreshed because he or she refreshes others.’ Abraham and his Talmudim remembered the great victory that the Lord Gave them on Passover when the evil Kings were defeated, as discussed in (Genesis 14 / 15). They attacked the evil Kings and brought freedom to His brother’s son, Lot. They restored what the enemy had taken. They rejoiced on Passover day in Jerusalem with the king of Salem, Shem, aka Melchizedek. May each of us be blessed with Torah Learning to encourage us, enlighten our way, and help others. Good Sabbath, Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk |
