18 How Does Lord Appear?
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בייה Genesis 18: How Does Lord Appear? This discussion is offered in the loving memory of John and Kate Bond. Dear ones, (Genesis 18.1) brings to light that Lord, the Creator of all, DOES NOT have a physical, fleshly body of any kind or shape as humans do, although it may seem like that in various Scriptures. Sometimes translations are misleading. We follow the Scriptural narrative in English without being mindful of the meaning in the original text. This is why we have rules of interpretation. They guide us through proper analysis of Scriptural Text. Jews and Christians follow the same Hermeneutical rules. We are focusing on the original text of the first Hebrew Word in Genesis 18.1), i.e., וַיֵרָאVah Yay Raw – meaning: to appear, to be visible. Yet, we who are Jewish know Lord our God, Creator of all, has no physical body. In other words, Abraham sensed Lord’s Invisible Spirit. Our inner eye perceives Lord. Our inner perception is an internal perception like our external perceptions of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch. (Genesis 1.2) Identifies Lord our God as רוּחַ Ruach / Spirit. (Genesis 6.3) states, the Lord is רוּחַ Ruach / Spirit. Man / Humankind is בָשָׂ֑ר Vaw Sawr / Flesh. (Numbers 23.19) says, ‘God is not man.’ (Genesis 1.27) states, ‘God created man in His own [Spiritual] image.’ (Ecclesiastes 12.7) says, הֶעָפָר Heh Aw Fawr – The dust, i.e.,’ Flesh / Body returns to the earth as it was; וְהָרוּחַ Vih Haw Roo Ach and the Spirit returns to God who gave it.’ (Deuteronomy 4.12) says, ‘Lord Spoke to you out of the midst of the fire; you heard the sound of the words but saw no form; you only heard a voice.’ So when Ha Torah says Abraham was 99 years old when ‘Lord Appeared to him in the plains of Mamre; as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day’ (Genesis 18.1). The meaning of this phrase is Abraham perceived thoughts and Words from Lord. He did not see a VISUAL IMAGE! Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, The Pentateuch Translation And Commentary (London England, Judaica Press, LTD 2nd Edition 1989) p310 says that Lord’s Presence is everywhere but NOT apparent to everyone. (Genesis 18.1) says, ‘ וַיֵרָאVah Yay Raw – The Letter ו Vav in front of יֵּרָא – Yay Raw thus connecting Abraham’s Brit Milah / Circumcision in (Genesis 17.23-27) to the first Letter of (Genesis 18.1) ו Vav – meaning ‘And.’ In other words, Abraham’s righteous Observance of Circumcision enhanced his awareness of Lord’s Presence. (Bava Metzia 86b) states that R. Chama, son of R. Chanina, said: Lord Made Abraham aware of His Presence on the third day from his circumcision to show concern for Abraham. Our Sages Teach that the Lord made a sick call. Let’s review another related comment in (Genesis 18.2). ‘Looking up, Abraham saw שְׁלֹשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים Shih Loh Shaw – three Ah Naw Sheem – ‘Figures.’ Some translations say, ‘He lifted his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him.’ (Bava Metzia 86b) says the three men were the Angels ‘Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Michael came to bring the tidings to Sarah [of Isaac’s birth]; Raphael to heal Abraham; and Gabriel to overturn Sodom. We refer to them as the Three Ministering Angels (Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael) that came to our father, Abraham. Gabriel was in the middle, Michael on his right, and Raphael on his left. Tractate Kallah Rabbati 7 – The William Davidson Talmud (Araha, Cohen, Soncino Press, 1965) – They took on the form of human beings to fulfill Abraham’s wish for guests toward whom he could exercise hospitality. God Charged each Malach / Angel / with a special earthly mission. Raphael was to heal Abraham’s wound, Michael was to bring Sarah the glad tidings [of Isaac’s birth], i.e., that she would bear a son, (Bereisheit Rabbah 50:2) says, ‘After Michael said his tidings he departed. Gabriel was to deal destruction to Sodom and Gomorrah—Legends of the Jews 1:5 by Louis Ginzberg [1909]. Rashi says that destroying Sodom and rescuing Lot are considered one mission because the city could not be destroyed until Lot escaped. Therefore after healing Abraham, Raphael’s mission was complete. He was not permitted to depart after completing his mission. Why? Before Abraham’s intercession on behalf of the righteous, Raphael was given a mission to rescue Lot from Sodom. Rabbi Avrohom Davis, The Mesudah Chumash A New Linear Translation Bereishis (Hoboken New Jersey, KTVA Publishing House, Inc., 1991) p 199 – Dear Ones, throughout the entire chapter of (Genesis 18) Abraham perceived Lord’s Spiritual Presence. This included Abraham’s petition on behalf of the righteous in Sodom. (Genesis 18.16) says, ‘And the men rose up from there, and looked toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.’ Part of hospitality is accompanying guests when they depart. Lord’s Spiritual Presence and Abraham accompanied Gabriel and Raphael. Lord Introduced a new conversation with Abraham that concluded with (Genesis 18.33). Then Lord’s Presence withdrew. Scripture says, ‘He went His way, as soon as He had finished talking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.’ Our responsibility is written in (Genesis 18.17-19). We are to Keep the Way of Lord, to do justice and judgment; that Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He has spoken of him.’ In other words, Do not be swayed by false teachings like Lord has a physical body or Lord is three in one, Et cetera. Lord desires us to follow His path of lovingkindness, graciousness, charity, forgiveness, prayerfulness and helping others. May each of us be blessed with Torah Learning to encourage us, enlighten our way, and help others. Good Sabbath, Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk |
