Gen. 25 – Inheritance
Dear family and friends, our discussion in Genesis Chapter 25 will focus on Isaac’s inheritance and how that relates to us, his descendent’s. Proceeding Genesis 25 is some Holy Scriptures that inform us Abraham, Isaac, and their descendent’s would inherit The Land of Israel. Please notice the words highlighted in red.
Genesis 12.7 – ‘To your seedwill I give this land.’
Genesis 13.14 – 16
And The Lord said to Abram after Lot was separated from him, Lift your eyes, and look from the place where you are to the north, and the south, and the east, and the west. For all the land which you see, I will give it to you. I will make your seed as the dust of the earth; so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then shall your seedalso be numbered.
Genesis 15.4 -7
The Lord said to Abram, ‘He who shall come forth from your bowels shall be your heir. And The Lord brought Abram outside and said, Look now toward heaven, and count the stars, if you can count them, and he said to him, so shall your seed be.And he believed in The Lord, and He Counted it to him for righteousness. And he said to him, I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.
Genesis 17.19
And God said, ‘Sarah your wife shall bear you a son indeed, and you shall call his name Isaac, and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.’
Genesis 17.21
The Lord informs Abraham again, saying,‘My covenant will I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time in the next year.’
The Torah provides a prelude to Isaac’s inheriting. In Genesis 21.11, Sarah directs Abraham, ‘Cast out Hagar, this slave and her son, Ishmael; for the son of this slave shall not be heir with my son, with Isaac.’Sarah’s directive to Abraham was difficult for him until The Lord instructed him, ‘In all that Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac shall your seed be called.’
Bereisheit 25.5
וַיִּתֵּן אַבְרָהָם אֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ לְיִצְחָק:ס
Genesis 25.5
And he, Abraham gave everything from Aleph to Tav of all that he had to him, to Isaac. But to the sons of the concubines, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac, his son, while he yet lived, eastward, to the east country.
The Torah introduces us to the meaning of inheriting.וַיִּתֵּן Vah Yee Tayn – meaning ‘And he gave.’In this instant inheriting, it is about Abraham giving all that he had to his son Isaac. It is about how and when Abraham gave. It’s about Abraham’s method of giving.
What is the point?
Giving all that one has is Spiritual, mystical, physical, and financial. However, Spiritual is by far the most important.Abraham gave over to Isaac the most cherished, sacred, and valuable portions of his inheritance first. These were discussions with The Lord God, Angels, Noah, Shem, Sarah, and The Torah. David wrote the teachings of The Torah are more to be desired than gold, even magnificent gold. They are sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb,’ Psalm 19.
We are The redeemed Of The Lord. We were redeemed/delivered from idolatry and slavery by the powerful hand of The Lord. Isaiah 51.11 I have seen fathers and mothers who want to give their children all that they have. Children are like buds blooming in the spring. They enjoy their parent’s attention.
Learning together is a great way to bond and to build close relationships. When parents are giving all that they have to their children, the children are conceived into an atmosphere of love and learning. Life is more than an education. We share mystical concepts with them. Our congregation meets in a building that’s our rabbis call Sukkot Shalom. Our building is the sanctuary. Where people from every walk of life join together to worship The Lord. We leave issues outside. When we enjoy the mystical presents of The Lord, our rabbis, and each other. Our leadership fosters an atmosphere of loving-kindness. That is what we give to our children. Physical Activities are essential. We need exercise to release endorphins into our minds and body. We need times of meditation to calm and release anxiety. We need to share financial responsibilities with our children.
Abraham gave gifts to his children and sent them away from Isaac. Parents must determine who stays home, who goes to Yeshiva, and who goes to Bet Jacob. Each of our children is suited for individual accomplishments In life. It should be our goal to recognize those areas and help our children succeed.
Remember that The Lord proclaimed us as his firstborn in Exodus 4.22-23. ‘you shall say to Pharaoh, The Lord says, ”Israel is My son, My firstborn; and I say to you, Let My son go, that he may serve Me; and if you refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay your son, you’re firstborn.’
The Lord God was expressing our spiritual relationship to Him. He brought us forth from Egypt, Somewhat like a Jewish mother gives birth to her son or daughter. The expression ‘First Born’ is a warm, affectionate term intended to help us realize we are close to The Lord like Abraham was close to Isaac.
This is how Abraham gave everything from Aleph to Tav of all that he had to him, to Isaac.
May each of us enjoy good health, happiness, healing, restoration, and Blessing, as we realize and experience our closeness to The Lord God of Israel. May we be confident and trust in The Lord and The Holy Scriptures. And may we work together Observing the mission God has appointed for us.
Good Sabbath!
Blessings,
Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk
