24 Wealth & Influence
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בייה Genesis 24 Wealth & Influence Are you ready for what is about to happen? Our study is in the loving memory of Billy Keith Bond ז”ל.
וְאַבְרָהָם זָקֵן בָּא בַּיָּמִים וַיהוָֹה בֵּרַךְ אֶת־אַבְרָהָם בַּכֹּל: ס At the time Abraham lived, he was one of the wealthiest men in the entire world. Abraham was uniquely different in a good way his whole life. He was thoughtful, reflective, contemplative, philosophical, and theoretical. He was a deep thinker. I would not call Abraham a daydreamer even though he was often in a meditative state. He had an acute awareness of Lord. Does anyone wonder if Abraham was a genius? Perhaps. Why was Abraham wealthy and so incredibly successful? What was the key to Abraham’s wealth and affluence? (Genesis 24.1) says, ‘Lord Blessed Abraham entirely in all.’Wealth, or the lack thereof, is a huge issue!! Abraham faced inflated prices. There were times when his purchasing power decreased. Yet, regardless Holy Scripture says, ‘Lord Blessed Abraham entirely in all.’ What is the secret to a financially secure future? How can one always stay on top regardless of world turbulence? Abraham was incredibly BLESSED by Lord. He followed Ha Torah obediently. Lot followed Abraham closely, thus copying and emulating him. Lord said, ‘I will Bless those who bless you’ (Genesis 12.3). Abraham aggressively sought God through logic and other educational, academic, and scholarly methods. He wasn’t born a Torah scholar. Yet, Through much effort, he became a Torah scholar despite being born into a family of idol worshippers. Abraham was not independently wealthy. Despite his objections, he worked in the family business. Likewise, we may be tried by family members. We may be challenged. Lord Sees and Understands what we face. There is a Spiritual side to wealth. We aim to review how Abraham connected spiritually and how that benefited him. Our first record of Abraham’s wealth was on Passover, his 52nd second birthday. (Genesis 11.28) says, ‘Haran died in the presence of his father, Terach.’ In (Midrash Rabbah 38) Rabbi Hiyya said: Terach was a manufacturer of idols. [Terach stopped manufacturing idols before he died and returned to Lord our God ]Once Terach went away, leaving Abraham to sell them in his place. A woman came with a plateful of flour and requested Abraham to offer it to the idols. So Abraham took a stick, broke them, and put the stick in the hand of the largest. When Terach returned, he questioned Abraham, ‘What have you done to them?’ Abraham replied I cannot conceal it from you… A woman came with a plateful of fine meal and requested me to offer it to them. One claimed, “I must eat first,” while another claimed, “I must eat first.” Thereupon the largest arose, took the stick, and broke them.’ Terach shouted Why do you make sport of me? Do they have any knowledge? Abraham said, ‘Father, Your ears should listen to your mouth.’ Terach seized Abraham and delivered him to Nimrod. Nimrod said Let us worship the fire! Abraham countered, Let us instead worship water, which extinguishes the fire. Nimrod agreed. Then let us worship water. Abraham objected. Let us worship the clouds that bear the water. Fine, said Nimrod. Then let us worship the clouds! Abraham objected again, Let us worship the winds that disperse the clouds. Nimrod agreed, Then let us worship the wind! Avraham said Let us worship humans who withstand the wind instead. Nimrod said You are just bandying words. We will worship the fire. Behold, I will cast you into it, and let your God whom you adore come and save you from it. Now Haran was standing there undecided. He thought, If Abraham is victorious, I will say I am of Abraham’s belief. On the other hand, if Nimrod is victorious, I will say that I am on Nimrod’s side. When Abraham descended into the fiery furnace and was saved, Nimrod asked him, Of whose belief are you? Haran replied of Abraham’s. Thereupon, Nimrod seized Haran and cast him into the fire; his inwards were scorched, and he died in his father’s presence. Hence it is written, ‘And Haran died in the presence of his father, Terach.’ (Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 16.13) Says, ‘The steward of Abraham’s household was his servant Eliezer. Whence was his servant relative? When Abraham went forth from Ur of the Chaldees, all the magnates of the kingdom came to give Abraham gifts. Nimrod took his first-born son, Eliezer, and gave him to Abraham as a perpetual servant.’ This was Eliezer of Damascus in (Genesis 15.2) and here in (Genesis 24). (Midrash Sefer Ha Yashar) says, ‘The king, princes, and servants saw Abraham delivered from the midst of the fire. They could not understand how Abraham was saved while his brother Haran was burnt to ashes. As a result, Nimrod gave Abraham many presents, also two servants who were the highest in the king’s house. The name of one was Oni and the other Eliezer. And the king’s princes gave Abraham likewise many valuable presents of silver, gold, and gems, and they told Abraham to go, and he departed from them in peace. Many people followed Abraham. About three hundred men decided to abide, dwell and follow him.’ That was the year 2000 From Creation when Abraham was bound and thrown into the furnace/fire of Casdim. (Genesis 12.5) says, ‘And Abraham took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go to the land of Canaan, and to the land of Canaan they came. (Genesis 12.16) says, ‘And Pharaoh treated Abraham well for Sarah’s sake, and he had sheep, and oxen, and male asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and female asses, and camels.’ (Genesis 12.16) says, And because of Sarah, it went well with Abraham; he acquired sheep, oxen, asses, male and female slaves, she-asses, and camels. Torah, JPS, 2006 (Genesis 13.2) says, ‘And Abraham was very rich in cattle, silver, and gold.’ Some people are born into wealth. They inherit the wealth of their parents and relatives. Others are dedicated to a strict plan of austerity, saving, investing, and spending. They make plans, set goals and devote themselves to accomplishing them. There are brilliant inventors, talented athletes, magical musicians/singers, genius promoters, con artists galore, mobsters, politicians, thieves, and more. Now it’s time for us to reflect on what type of a person I am. Do I read the Creators / Manufacturer’s directions or ignore them? Does Ha Torah contribute significantly to who I am? What owns me? What possess my thoughts and actions? May each of us be blessed with Torah Learning to encourage us, enlighten our way, and help others. Good Sabbath and Good Chodesh Iyar, Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk |
