Vayera -”And he appeared”
Torah : Genesis 18:1-22:24
Haphtarah : II Kings 4:1-37
Gospel : Matthew 8-10
So, we were down to four last night, but again, the numbers did not keep us from having an amazing conversation. I’m not so sure that wasn’t one of the most transcendent conversations that I’ve ever been a part of. (That might be the most convoluted way of saying that). It was a wonderful discussion.
We had eight questions that lead us all around....we talked about the second coming of Christ, how to live from day-to-day, whether God revealed Christ to the patriarchs, and how precious these words of God are.
I didn’t know that the Jews recite the story of the binding of Isaac each day when they pray. This story is so troubling to me. If I were editing the Bible, I’d be sure to leave this one out. The only way I’ve been able to reconcile this story in the past is to say that it’s testing Abraham’s faith. But hasn’t he been proved righteous already? He got up and left .... He made the covenants with God ...waited for Isaac. So is there more to this story? Many Jews think this is the beginning of the sacrificial system. (In fact, the binding took place on Mount Moriah...where they built the temple).
And spent a lot of time considering whether the Jews will be saved outside of the work of Christ (or through the work of Christ?) What about faithful Jews. Well...we didn’t answer that...but we got stuck in Romans 11. Listen to this:
“ 25I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
"The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”
And this is Paul’s answer to this quandary:
“33Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
35"Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?"
36For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.”
