Don't Forget to
This Parashah covers the covenant promise to Abram if he leaves his country, the split between Lot and Abram, the war with the capture of Lot and Abram's rescuing of Lot, the covenant of the pieces with Abram, the birth of Ishmael, and the covenant of circumcision.
This Torah Portion is an example of how important understanding Ancient Near Eastern Customs and culture is for us to know. Due to the fact that we live in the western hemisphere and we are not exposed to Middle eastern lifestyles or in this case Ancient Near Eastern daily life.
Our forefather live in a time frame in which laws were established and kingdom rule with power and dominate base on Covenant and Oath. Abraham lived during a time of kingdoms fighting one another for power and the fact that they live in the fertile crescent should be important for us to know the lifestyle, customs, and laws. There are many things in this portion that will not be understood unless we learn the legal fictions and context of ancient near eastern law in context of the life and times of the Fathers of our faith. I took extra time explaining context and legal code of the nations to try and bring a better light into the life of the early fathers of our faith.
We are also going to look at the covenant with Abraham from the perspective of honor and the duty of a client towards his patron.
Later in the Brit Portion we also touch in the Book for Romans chapter 4!
This page includes Torah Portions from multiple years covered by Wisdom in Torah. Each year we covered the Torah from a different perspective so you can explore each Parashah from a different perspective and focus.
- 2010 Portions: Focus on Messianic connections in the Parashah
- ANET Portions: Focus on the ancient Near Eastern cultural context of the Parashah
- Mitzvot Portions: Focus on explaining and exploring the commandments found in the Parashah (in progress)
- 2015 Portions: Revisiting the Parashah looking at the ancient cultural context more in depth with additional areas that have been researched
- Brit Portions: Focus on connecting the Brit Hadashah (New Testament) to the Parashah
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Resources
The following is a list of recommended resources for this teaching:
- Torah Portion Lech Lecha-pdf
- These are the Articles that I used as reference for this Torah Portion:
- Women in Mesopotamia
- Women in Hebrew and ANE Law
- The Family in the Ancient Near East
- Grants and covenant
- Abrams_Amen_Full
- Circumcision as a Covenant Rite
- Covenant in Biblical Hebrew
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Books used for this Torah Portion:
- 1. Ancient Near Eastern Themes in Biblical Theology by Jeffrey Niehaus
- 2. Essential Papers on Israel and the Ancient Near East (article by Moshe Weinfeld)
- 3. Treaty of the Great King by Meredith Kline
- 4. Ancient Near Eastern Texts: by Pritchard
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56 thoughts on “Parashah Lech L’Cha Complete”
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How is it that you render all people as brothers; though they even deny the covenant walk. Isn’t the word brother also a legal term for a covenant relationship?
Also reading and discussing the words of Yehovah, is a form of prayer and praise.
Is it possible that the act of circumcision is a blood index of all the man’s seed? which is why men are not to spill seed on the ground? that even every sperm is owned by YeHovah?
Hi Harbormom and Bshucart,
Thank you for the questions regarding covenant. The threshold covenant that Rico was speaking of is an interpersonal covenant between two or more people and was not really the context of what I was referring to.
In the Scriptures there is no such thing as being “in covenant” or “out of covenant”; although we often times use these words, that is not the way that the Hebrew reads. Actions that can be done with regards to a covenant are to “cut a covenant” (to make a covenant) and to break a covenant. Once one makes a covenant, it is everlasting, there is no “in” or “out”…however one can be in gross violation of a covenantal agreement and be suffering the consequences. I know that it is hard to accept that Catholics and Mormons are part of the covenant, but the reality is that they are the descendants of those who were originally followers of Yeshua. Their idolatry doesn’t put them out of covenant, it puts them in gross violation of covenant. This however is nothing new to Israel’s history…all of Israel, especially the northern kingdom often fell into idolatry for long periods of time. They set up golden calfs to worship, they sacrificed their children to Molech, they participated in fertility sexual acts, etc, etc, but they were still Israel and YHWH still sent his son Yeshua to regather all who were willing to come back. In the midst of mankind’s biggest insult to YHWH, He willingly sent his son to earth knowing that we would unjustly kill him, knowing that it was through this path that He could restore those idolatrous peoples.
I’m not saying that we are to compromise with them and tell them that God appreciates their actions, but the fact is that they are part of God’s people, just like the northern kingdom was still part of God’s people when they set up golden calfs to worship. Think about the parable that Yeshua told about the Good Samaritan. The Levite and the Priest, who should have been the model for holy worship unto God, did not act with justice and righteousness to their fallen brother, it was a Samaritan who acted as his brother. The Samaritans were a despised group of people whom the Jews surely thought were out of covenant. They had set up a separate temple and were doing sacrifices outside of Jerusalem, they held different books as sacred, they had different doctrines, etc. etc. and yet Yeshua taught that they acted in the proper manner of justice and righteousness towards their neighbor/brother than the people society would have deemed to be a brother/neighbor.
Abraham didn’t move down to Sodom with Lot, but when he saw his sinful brother in need, he pulled up stakes immediately and did what was necessary to rescue him. There are many Mormons and Catholics that would do that for us, are we willing to do that for them or are we going to pass them by on the road because of their erroneous ideology and their idols?
Ryan, Thank you for your explanation. I really appreciate you helping me to understand what you were saying.
My mother & her siblings are Mormon. Our son married a Catholic & are raising our grand babies in it. I really hate these religions but I understand now that I am in covenant with them!
Kimela
Yes, the people are our brother, but we are not in covenant with their religious system, just the people.
What we need is unity without compromise. Maintaining the relationship while standing firm in our Torah based values and they will one day see the light. Remember, God chose to plant Israel in the middle of the world, right along the biggest trade route of that day because God so loves all the world that He desires none to be lost!
Hi Ryan,
Wow ! You really helped clarify some things for us. Our King says all the paths to Him are mercy & truth but I admit – sometimes we’re not sure how to handle certain situations. Not because we lack mercy or love for people but uncertain how to navigate every turn 🙂 For example, family member dies – funeral is in a Catholic Church. Both my husband and I were raised in that. Left when we were young adults. We are intimately familiar with the rituals, the prayers, the idols all over the place, etc…….. I’m sure I don’t need to elaborate 🙂 We both feel extremely conflicted about setting foot inside a catholic church. I’m looking for precedent in the Scriptures. We love our families but we are conflicted about this. Wanting to honor the memory of the deceased loved one, but wouldn’t being in a Catholic Church be akin to entering a pagan temple of worship? There’s a lot involved because for one thing there is the “mass” which involves the priest saying ritualistic prayers about Messiah that are falsehoods & the people who are in attendance say Amen throughout. We could just not participate in the prayers & communion, etc…. but we believe by being present with the participants we are implying by our presence that we are in agreement with them. What does Our King have to say about this? Thanks!
Hi Ryan,
Well, I just went to post and see that Kimela posted my thoughts almost exactly. Since, Rico taught that Lot and Abram were in covenant together that raised their status from uncle/nephew to “brother” therefore Abram was obligated to rescue Lot. This covenental term “brother” would not be the same as how you are referring to the general brethren of today. (And yes, I am unclear as how we would consider Catholics/Mormons and such ‘brethren’.)
Additionally, Rico has taught us to be very careful who we have over our threshold, who we share bread, wine and salt wtih, etc, because this raises our responsibility as we have entered into covenant with them.
So, are there not different levels of responsibility within the brethren? And I don’t ask that to want an excuse to NOT do mercy, justice and righteousness, but wanting to know HOW to do mercy, justice and righteousness.
Ryan,
I’m having a hard time with us being “brothers” with Mormons & Catholics. Rico taught us that that word “brother” in Gen. 14:15 is covenant language, that Avraham was in covenant with Lot his nephew. We are not in covenant with Mormons or Catholics or the gods they serve so how are we “brothers” with them? They certainly do not honor the Elohim we serve.
Bill’s wife Kimela
With all due respect, it would be better to start the Torah teachings by praying first like Rico does. I think the teaching would flow better if we honored YHVH first in prayer.
shalom
DeVora Clark
Thank you! I really enjoy this teaching. I’ve learnt so much and continue to learn. Shalom.
audio did not play on either teaching.
dfink, the audio should be fixed now. Shalom
For those having trouble with playing the video, please specify which video from which year. Thank you
Love the new insights related to honor and shame. I’m always amazed at how much is really in these Torah portions all along. My eyes have been so blind for so many years. Hallelu YAH!! He is opening my eyes and enabling me to understand and change my ways so that I bring Him much honor. Thanks Rico, Ryan and Daniel!!! Appreciate all that you do to teach us and share with us. Love you guys and your families for supporting you too in all the you do! Shalom!!!!
Is something wrong with the audio?
stopped on the second video!!! don’t understand. Thanks for the teaching.