Day 6: Lech Lecha/Genesis 12:1-17:27

Long after the great deluge that was sent by Elohim to cleanse the earth from all of its wickedness and the corruption of humanity, we witness the generational progression succeeding Noah through his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Subsequently, each son went his separate path to repopulate their respective corners of the earth, thereby, establishing several divergent people groups. However, Shem, who lived five hundred years after the flood, became the father of Arpachshad; eventually, through a succession of generations, a son was born to Terah whose name was Abram.

Later, when Abram was seventy-five years old he heard Elohim’s voice which instructed Abram to leave his father’s house and go to a land that Elohim chose. Through Abram’s obedience, Elohim chose to establish His covenant between Himself and Abram, as spoken, “I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be Elohim to you and to your descendants after you.”

At this point in time, there was a vital parenthetical pause for the entire human race. This was the interlude in time that set a consecrated precedence for all future generations upon the earth. Elohim chose one offspring of Shem, Abram, to take possession of Elohim’s promised inheritance. The remarkable precedence of this extraordinary blessing was the faith that Abram had in Elohim through his obedience, which was ratified by the Covenant made with Abram.

In establishing that Covenant, Elohim told Abram to bring the required sacrificial animals to be laid in two halves upon an altar. That’s when terror and darkness overtook the sacrificial scene—“The birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.” Then Abram fell asleep, but Elohim appeared as a flaming torch and passed between the pieces.

Preceding this unearthly setting, Elohim had promised Abram an heir and told him to, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to Abram, “So shall your descendants be. Then he believed in Elohim; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.”

After the flood Elohim allowed the earth to repopulate from the offspring of Noah’s sons. However, He chose only one individual through whom YHVH would restore His redemptive plan for all humanity.

The promised generations of Abram had been earmarked for blessings to those who believe as Abram did. These were blessings of hope and future, of land, and of posterity to come. A unique populace was being established. A representation of YHVH’s original plan for man in the Garden was to be realized through the seed of Abram. Henceforth, Abram’s name was changed to Abraham meaning “father of a multitude of nations.”

From the loins of Abraham, we inherit those blessings. Ultimately, we receive the everlasting Covenant that was ratified on our behalf by the sacrificial blood of the Lamb—Yeshua. All the nations of the earth are blessed because of the everlasting Covenant that Elohim made with Abraham, for each country member has the opportunity to believe like Abraham. Yet only one nation is called His possession—Israel, YHVH’s beloved.

We must choose, by our own volition, to enter into this Covenant just as Abram did. He heard Elohim’s voice, he believed, and he obeyed. It is crucial for us diligently forbid the birds of prey to steal the Word of YHVH’s Covenant (think about the garden of Gethsemane and the disciples keeping watch, but being tempted to sleep). Once we believe YHVH’s Word, we must allow the Father to enter our hearts and inhabit us, circumcising our hearts.

Only the circumcised of heart is capable “to love YHVH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.” The blessings of Abraham are ours, “… if you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”

Dwell upon Galatians 3:16-17, “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as {referring} to many, but {rather} to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Messiah. What I am saying is this: Torah, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a Covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.”