Parasha Lech Lecha: Day 7—Shabbat

B'reisheet/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 corruptness of humanity; we witness through the next few leaves of history the generational progression succeeding Noah through his Shem, Ham and Japheth. Subsequently, each son went his separate path to repopulate the earth, thereby, establishing several divergent people groups. However, Shem, who lived five hundred years after the flood, became the father of Arpachshad; and, eventually, through a succession of generations a son of three 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 going to a land which He was to show him. 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 inheritance. The remarkable precedence of this extraordinary blessing was the faith that Abram had in Elohim through his obedience which was superseded by the Covenant made with Abram.

After Elohim told Abram to bring the required sacrificial animals to be laid in two halves upon the altar, terror and darkness overtook upon the scene. “The birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.” Then Abram fell asleep before Elohim appeared as a flaming torch and passed between the pieces. Preceding this unearthly setting, Elohim 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 him, "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 He would restore His redemptive plan for all humanity. The promised generations of Abram had been earmarked for blessings to those who believe. These were blessings of a hope and future, of land, and of posterity to come. A unique populace was being created. A representation of His 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 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. Yet only one nation is called His possession—Israel His beloved. We must choose by our own volition to enter into this Covenant just as Abram did. He heard Elohim, he believed, and he obeyed. It is crucial at this point to forbid the birds of prey to steal the word of His Covenant. Once we act upon His Word then we must allow the Father of all life to enter our hearts and walk in the midst of us and circumcise 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, “And 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.”

Parasha Lech Lecha: Day 6

B'reisheet/Genesis 17:7-27

Just who are the descendants after Abraham who inherit the Covenant and the Land? This question has plagued humanity in both grand and terrifying ways. There are many on earth who just do not care who Abraham was or the Covenant established by Elohim with Him and his descendants. Either they do not care to know this Elohim or they are false god worshippers who think they have found peace in religion anyway. Leaving these out of the definition, there are still many vying for the position of heirs through Abraham. Many can make it to that place if benefactor, a large number, in fact, of these are the populous of Christians, Jews and others who have decent knowledge of Biblical principles. The other side of that coin are those who presume to be of Abraham's loins, and probably are but through Ishmael and not Issac. 

The true descendants of Abraham, named through Isaac (B'reisheet 21:12), are those with the sign of the Covenant upon them. For most that can be physically traced back through the lineage of Abraham, an outward show of this Covenant is upon each male. The act and sign of circumcision is done in Hebrew boy children as a sign handed down from generation to generation. Alas, there are many in the Arab world who practice similar traditions in the name of their false god and religion. They, too, are descendent from Abraham, but that does not make them fellow heirs to the Promise or the Promised Seed. 

A further account into more recent eras reveals both Jewish folk that have been circumcised and are yet as secular as any other humanist on the earth. Moreover, many a person has called themselves a Christian and been fleshly circumcised as a child but have no relationship with Yeshua. For the Jewish man, a flesh wound does not heal to make the man whole with the Creator without the virtue of belief in Elohim as the only Elohim and His Covenant, and works toward that end. Furthermore, a Christian does not gain eternity through weekly or daily osmosis at a church building or through parents' convictions or lifestyle. He, too, must find favor in YHVH's sight through the personage of Yeshua to find acceptance before the throne, even if fleshly circumcision is established. What is necessitated for both men is to be circumcised of heart and not in flesh alone. Without the surgical skills of the Ruach haKodesh Who cuts the old man out of heart and inscribes Torah on the walls of that same heart, there is only dead works and a foreign people. All the circumcised men on earth amount to nothing if they do not have that abiding relationship founded from the conviction placed in the heart by the very finger of YHVH. 

It is interesting that the male flesh that is cut is the source of the seed that the lineage can be traced to Miriam, mother of Messiah. It was not man who ultimately progenated the final seed to create Yeshua. It was woman who carried the seed from the Ruach haKodesh and she, herself was circumcised of heart so as to hear the voice of YHVH and be found as a pure vessel for such a consignment. Unlike man who would need the sign of the Covenant outwardly and inwardly, Miriam was found to be an heir to Promise in heart and being, wholly belonging to Elohim. That is where each man must come if he is to be used in such magnificence. Each person has the opportunity to bear Messiah from their own being. It may not be the loins of men and women to bring forth Messiah, but it is the hearts, souls and minds of YHVH's intended helpmate that can usher Yeshua forth, pointing to Him as the only Way, Truth and Life to the Father.

Both, circumcision in the the flesh and of the heart, are mandatory for the sake of being called Abraham's descendants. Many modern believes would argue that the fleshly sign has been done away as the heart is what counts. To be sure, YHVH reaches for the heart first and foremost. Ancient Israel missed out on much of this inspired rationale as Moshe even implored the nation to be circumcised of heart (Devarim 10:16). It was not a new concept, but a logical reality to what physical circumcision pointed and called for men to accept. Like walking and worshipping in Truth and in the Ruach, circumcision is both physical and spiritual. Sometimes, the physical reminds us to walk in the Ruach and not in the flesh which is dead and cast off, just like circumcision. Often, the Ruach reminds us to physically be responsible and righteous with YHVH's Truth and not give homage in lip service alone. Deeds count as "faith without works is dead."

This is not to insinuate that one is abandoned by YHVH if not circumcised in the flesh. Certainly this can be a realization in regard to heart circumcision. Yet, the heart's inscription written by the Ruach leads us to Truth and is, in fact, the inscription of Torah made personal. A sojourner with Israel (of the nations) may have fleshly surgery and not heart; they may even remain a foreigner observing the Covenant from a distant, but not entering into Covenant as a Hebrew or true Israelite (not Israeli). However, the one who has died to the flesh, receiving the heart surgery of circumcision, can cross over to be heirs of the promises of Abraham. He, also, is responsible to the Covenant as he longs to keep and cherish the Truth as YHVH gave it. That is the desire obtained through heart circumcision and planted as the Seed of Righteousness by the Ruach. This, in turn, leads to keeping Covenant of both an internal and external sign to YHVH that he belongs to Him as the Covenant is within and upon him.

Dwell upon Jeremiah 31:1-33, "'Behold, days are coming,'" declares YHVH, 'when I will make a new [fresh] Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the Covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,' declares YHVH. 'But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,' declares YHVH, 'I will put My Law [Torah] within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people."

Parasha Lech Lecha: Day 5

B'reisheet/Genesis 15:7-17:6

YHVH Elohim is not a respecter of men. He regards each individual based on the response  each person gives in the initial and ongoing contact that Elohim first initiates. If any man did not know that there was a Creator, the only Elohim, then why would he call upon Him? It is Elohim Himself Who causes any one person to realize that there is an El and that He can be called upon in times of distress. This is the same Creator that can be called upon in times of potential sin and temptation or to ask forgiveness in transgressions against Him and/or His Law concerning mankind or the earth.

Abram knew of this as he called upon Elohim numerous times, speaking to him in person. Others, though, would not seem to be likely candidates to have personal conversations with the Creator, or so it would seem to some that regard such conversations as purely sacrosanct and reserved for special, set apart people. It is quite evident that as man is drawn from the earthly corruption and sin of mankind, that Elohim does evoke more of Himself in many ways. Be it intimate contact, an audible voice, signs and wonders, or any infinite number of ways that YHVH can reveal Himself to man, the purest of these is shown to those that are called, chosen, anointed and set apart.

Far be it, however, to think that the Master of all things does not speak to anyone whom He chooses! Sarai's maid may not have been deemed as one to have a personal encounter with the Creator. After all, she was not of Abraham's seed, she had despised Sarai after the conception of Ishmael (and vice versa), and she did not submit to the authority of Sarai to the point of running away. Without Hagar's call, the angel of YHVH came to her, speaking to her about her life, situation, even prophesying over the fruit in her womb. At that point, Hagar, the woman who would spawn the a lineage who would hate Israel into the modern era, called Elohim a Name that had not yet been revealed to any other—El Roi, the Elohim Who Sees. Whether or not Hagar reared Ishmael in a Hebraic way that Abraham lived or not, she was given, as a foreigner, the opportunity to serve the Creator, walk in repentance and live according to His Words as Abraham would exemplify.

As more of Torah reveals the kindness and long-suffering of Elohim, it is important to point out that He has much patience, not only with us, but with the nations around His own people. For instance, there is a time for the gentiles, all the nations of the earth to teshuvah/repent and live their lives for YHVH Elohim, the only Elohim. That time will end as the end of the age approaches and His long-suffering for the nations of the earth will be spent even as He sends destruction, ultimately consuming the world. Until that time, the nations: pagans, heathens, atheists, agnostics, false religions fare and wide, and those in the church that do not walk in Covenant with Messiah all have the opportunity to return to Elohim and walk out the precepts listed in the Book as exemplified in Yeshua. The future demise is prophesied as Abram was listening to Elohim talk about the Amorite. Their time had not yet come as their iniquity was not yet complete. At the time that it was, more than four generations later, they were removed from the Land of Promise and replaced by YHVH's chosen people.

Wherever we are in life, it is still not too late to call upon the Name of YHVH. Through Yeshua our Messiah, we will find Him since He has first found us. One day, possibly soon, it may be too late as the earth and the transgressors of Torah and Covenant are cut off from the Living One. El Roi sees the circumstances in which each of us dwells. He has carefully placed us here in order to purify us and cause us to call upon His Name, shining as refined silver. Abraham acted favorably as Elohim called Him out of the Chaldeans. From that point forth, Abraham became a Hebrew, crossing over from his past and his former identity with an earthly nation. Hagar, may or may not have committed her heart or reared Ishmael in the way of Life; yet, she still heard Elohim's voice and responded in obedience by returning to Sarai (this would be repentance) and in naming her son Ishmael. When Elohim reveals to us His Name, be it YHVH or some other magnificent outpouring of Himself, will be respond correctly? As our father Abraham, whom Elohim talked to more and more, may we find that voice and hear as we obey and be drawn closer to the Creator.

Dwell upon John 10:16, "I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one Shepherd."

Parasha Lech Lecha: Day 4

B'reisheet/Genesis 14:21-15:6

The town's people more important to the king of Sodom, not because of his care for them, but for the sensual and corrupt ideologies they represented. The depravity around the Salt Sea was so abhorrent that the king of Sodom was intent on the stock of people for immoral acts, not for their welfare or their belongings. Abram's response to the king of Sodom concerning taking the bounty and plunder was above reproach. He did not desire a fee for rescue, a reward or even a token of gratitude for the effort. What was desired had already been gained by the retrieval of Lot and his family. In the reality of it all, Sodom and the surrounding cities were so corrupt that it was for Lot's sake alone that Abram had taken action. His love for his nephew in this heroic venture was clear and paved the way for the questions he would eventual plead with the Angel of Elohim prior to the destruction of the Salt Valley.

The lack of self revelry or assumption of reward was a very important attribute found in Abram. It was this very character trait that marked this man of Elohim as different than the rest of humanity. Abram knew that there was an empirical difference between right and wrong, good and evil. This is what moved him to rescue the righteous from among the unrighteous, even if it mean that Sodomites and others marked as unrighteous would be saved along with Lot. Like Elohim, Abram was willing to allow the unrighteous the opportunity to repent as a result for saving those that were already righteous.

Abram's belief that Lot was a good man belonging to Elohim incited him to a rescue attempt and victory. This was not done for gain to himself, but for to the glory of the Creator. To a believing individual like Abram, each person of the Creator's character was one more person that could effect the world in a positive way. They could, if like Abram, transform landscapes of nations, identities and the outlook of who Elohim is. This belief system was not based on man's ability to transform anything in and of himself, but was a faith in the Creator to use man for His own will and purpose. It was this type of belief and faith that Abram had and Elohim saw that was reckoned to him as righteousness. Abram did not look to his own hands or anything about himself to feel empowered or even able to accomplish what Elohim promised. In fact, the opposite was a reality for this servant of the Most High. As of yet, Abram and Sarai were still barren, with no personal heir to their physical materials or spiritual mantle.

This is where we should share experience and substance with our father Abraham. There is nothing good in us as it was conquered by sin and devoured in the death due to separation between us and the Creator. The faith that we maintain and the belief that YHVH tells us Truth and keeps His promises is the beginning of good in us. Again, this is not our good, as we do not initiate first contact. It is the Ruach haKodesh that inspires us to cry out and call on the name of YHVH first. As that cry resonates, Elohim looks down upon a reflection of Himself and then draws near to us as He even draws us closer to Himself. This in and of itself is an action taken by us. Without a response, such as belief, there is not substance found within us suitable for use by the Creator.

Those around us, who see YHVH's goodness, typically do not see the Creator, but only the works of the Creator that can be used, borrowed, bought, bartered or stolen. They cannot purchase our goodness, as it is not ours to sell. Many will, like the kings of old, try and conquer us for the sake of our lives, goods and obedience; yet, Yeshua has come, like Abram, to ransom us back and battle for our lives. For those of us that He has planted righteousness into, He rescues for the sake of His own possessions. The others that gain freedom as part of the multitude have a second chance to look upon the work of YHVH in our lives and walk in repentance themselves. By emptying ourselves for what is good, pure and undefiled, we can be used to bring about real change around us. The world will still be destroyed, just as Sodom ultimately was; but, in the end, how many lives could be touched because we believe in the Word and promises of YHVH our Elohim?

Dwell upon James 2:22-24, "You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'and Abraham believed Elohim, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,' and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone."

Parasha Lech Lecha: Day 3

B'reisheet/Genesis 14:1-20

War waged between men in the days of Abram and Lot. With holdovers from the divided nations who still believed they could dominate their world, there were others, of righteousness, that would not rule anything, rather they would stand up for Elohim and His ways and people. Those that would stand up for Elohim were not designated to be earthly royalty or kings by man's standards. As a matter of fact, one was called a wandering Aramean and had only the call of his Elohim upon his life. Of course, this is Abram. The other, who did not go out to war, but instead purposed Himself as a doer of service of Elohim Most High. 

Abram faced the armies of the four eastern kings with only three hundred and eighteen men. It should stand to reason that the offending armies were easily hosting more soldiers than that. Abram knew that brute strength and numbers would not win the battles and gain his nephew back. It would take the Ruach of Elohim to fight for his army and on his behalf. Only then could he stand against a force that had already dominated the region.

Interestingly enough, King Chedorlaomer and the kings with him had conquered several areas that Israel would overtake plus some. This enemy was a forerunner of what Israel would do and was supposed to but would not. They slew the Amalekites, the Amorites, those of wickedness living in the valley surrounding the Salt Sea, and, they slew a people that Israel had refused to fight at first, the people living in Kadesh in the Negev. It would seem that these conquering kings were assumed to be evil, that in reality they were wiping out all the enemies of Elohim showing a future Israel that it could be done with a less powerful fighting force than three hundred and eighteen men.

Abram may not have been a king, nor a called out priest recognized by men of the earth; but, he was both of these to the Elohim he served. The favor of Elohim was upon him as he would do the work and service of the Master. In likeness of this anointing, Abram met up with the King of Salem, Melchizedek—a priest of Elohim Most High. Much conjecture can be made about this undefined person. His name, though, means King of Righteousness (Melchizedek), the King of Peace (King of Salem). By name in spirit and in the flesh, this person represented both man and Elohim in royalty and in service. His name represented not an earth based blind peacefulness, but the peace that each man is to pursue between himself and the Creator. Not only was Melchizedek the King of this description, but a Priest that would bring others to the One He represented. A later account in Ezekiel 44 gives an account of who Melchizedek's sons will be and by what standard they will abide.

Still, later in the Brit Hadasha/New or Renewed Covenant, Yeshua is singled out as the only One Who could possible be Melchizedek and He anoints His followers, Covenant keepers, us, as His kings and priests in His order, the order of Melchizedek. Like our father Abraham, we look to Messiah's day and rejoice, both back at His passion and forward to His return, rule and reign. The kings of this earth have surrounded the anointed of YHVH, but the kings and priests that Yeshua calls us to be are stronger, mightier and have greater passion and vision than the kings of the earth. It is by the blood and Life of Messiah we have inherited this strength and it only comes through His Ruach haKodesh. We can, in His Name, defeat all foes as He calls us to action and perform His will on earth. Some will bear the sword or muster the elect as Abram did; others will stand in intercession and serve Elohim Most High in the same capacity of Melchizedek. War is being waged no matter the call. It is the same war as in Abram's day being played out in spirit and in flesh. How will we react? In what way will we stand guard over our own lives against the siege set against the elect? What do we do in our call to be kings and priests?

Dwell upon Exodus 19:5-6, "'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My Covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."

Parasha Lech Lecha: Day 2

B'reisheet/Genesis 12:14-13:18

When a woman is married to a man, the become one before the Father and before men. The husband has given his name to the wife and she is bound by that name, but represents it as well. The wife has submitted herself to the husband and he is to provide, shelter and protect the wife no matter what. Neither the man nor the woman is  permitted to be promiscuous or to act is if they are not married anymore.

Upon entering Egypt, Abram essentially asked his wife to pretend they were not married so that his own life would not be at risk. Seemingly, Abram thought Sarai's life would be perfectly safe. At sixty-five plus, Sarai must have been exceptionally beautiful for Abram to fear man on account of his wife. As she left his covering, she entered under the cover of another man and would be husband. The was obviously a displeasure for Elohim. Pharaoh was assuming he could take Sarai for himself and add to his harem the soon to be Mother of many nations, including Israel. She, however, was already spoken for, if not properly, and betrothed to another—Abram was her earth bound husband who was making a few mistakes and Elohim was her betrothed husband who had orchestrated the whole thing.

Since Sarai was a man of Elohim's wife, she was vindicated by Elohim as a point of cursing those who cursed Abram. Pharaoh had no rights of intimacy or mastery over one of Yah's elect. As a nation leader, Pharaoh was used to getting what he wanted. He was, then, held accountable as an individual caught in sin. His chastisement were plagues sent by the Creator upon Pharaoh and his household. Later, the entire nation of Egypt would be guilty of the same sin. They would presume a role of husbandry to Israel and mistreat her with no regard to what a husband should properly do. Moreover, Israel already would be betrothed to another, as well. Elohim was her suitor and would be husband if she would accept Him. All of Egypt would suffer plagues on account of taking Israel captive as a prisoner bride and treating her with contempt.

Later, Egypt would try to reign over Israel as a brutal husband who had no legitimate rights of intimacy or mastery to rule her. That was, after all, Yah's place and description. Elohim forced a separation between a wrong husband and His bride to be when He sent plagues upon Egypt as a warning, chastisement and punishment for their indecencies. Like Sarai of old, Israel would leave Egypt and find her purpose in sojourning with Elohim, bearing the next generation that would be named by the seed of Abraham and Isaac.

For his part, Lot was separated from Abram, as well. This left Abram to be married to the Land of Promise as a Covenant was born from Elohim to Abram and his descendants named through Isaac. Later, Isaiah would profoundly call prophesy that same Land as married to the people that are betrothed to YHVH as a bride, Covenant keepers and His own possession as helpmate.

Our lives are bound to and by Elohim if we have said yes to His Covenant and accepted His authority in our lives. As we are to be one with our earthly helpmate, our King has ransomed us to Himself as the Kinsman Redeemer. We belong to Him and He hides us in His arms, making us one with Him. As His betrothed, Yeshua will not allow us to be cursed by others and not take up for us by cursing them. We, too, must be careful not to spurn YHVH's anointed by slander. We are also responsible to love our neighbor as we love ourselves for they are to be one with the Bridegroom, therefore we are to be one with them. If we enter Egypt, Babylon or other parts of the corrupt world, our Husband looks out for us and bears us in Himself. The inhabitants of that land will have the chance to do right by us and be blessed or to act corruptly toward us and be cursed. The ultimate conclusion for this real-life scenario is that those nations and its members would be blessed by seeing and realizing Messiah in us so that Elohim's promise to Abram would continue in that the nations would be blessed in him.

Dwell upon Song of Solomon 6:2-3, "My Beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of balsam, to pasture his flock in the gardens and gather lilies. I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine, He Who pastures His flock among the lilies." 

Parasha Lech Lecha: Day 1

B'reisheet/Genesis 12:1-13

After the flood, the world was repopulated by Shem, Yepheth and Ham. It did not take long for man to begin his corruptness once again, as Elohim had already stated, "the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth." Men had gathered themselves together for the sake of making a name for themselves. That name would not last as the Father would divide the peoples into the nations and their tongues setting confusion between them. Unlike the men of the earth, whose hearts purpose was evil, Elohim could bring man from nothing and forge him into a nation for His own possession, a people set apart from Himself. That is the place where Abram is called by the Creator to leave what was familiar for the land of Canaan. It was apparent that Abram would be the beginning of a nation for Elohim and that Canaan's possession would belong to that nation.

Obscurity has hidden the father, brothers and grandfather of Abram. If not mentioned by name in B'reisheet, their identities would be all but lost. A town, named after a deceased brother Haran, was left and Canaan lay before Abram and his family. The only thing hat would come from this former people would be "wife-stock" for the next two generations from among Abram's brother's children. Only those from Shem that Elohim had called through the line of Eber. Subsequently, Canaan was not a place to go for a new lifestyle, but a place of possession. Canaan was not to be a substitute for home by way of adopted habits or local traditions. Abram was sent to the Promised Land as a sojourner, a would be owner and a future nation called by YHVH's name. Up until that point, he was of  any other nationality nor was he to be reckoned by any other name.

Both, Lot and Sarai were people who were of Eber, and both took their identity through Abram—one by marriage and the other through a pseudo adoption because of Haran's death. Lot remained with Abram until he outgrew the shadows of his surrogate father. While still found righteous, his path and lineage would not match or even parallel Abram's. On the other hand, Sarai, was completely covered and to be seen in Abram's namesake and likeness. Through barrenness, lies, and all, Sarai would be the mother of nations. Those nations would be blessed by Abram, and some would be reckoned as sons of Abram. Many of those nations would be hidden until the dispersion of Israel and Judah so that the fulness of the nations would come to pass as fulfillment to the promise made to Abram upon leaving Haran. 

The interesting facets discussed about identity in B'reisheet reveal a lineage and a line that follows through Moshe, David, and into Messiah. This name and lineage transcends the logical etymology bound by blood and physical relationship. Like Lot who had the opportunity to choose good and live amongst his own kind, the people of Covenant have a choice to live inside the Name of YHVH and within the physicality of Yeshua. His is the Seed that was promised to Abram, the blessing to all the families of the earth, as well as, the Promised Land in which the chosen people are to live and be seen by YHVH.

Our lives are obscured from the totality of living inside Messiah because we live in a fallen world. Our decision to lie, hide or to abandon our past lives and become sojourners with the Master identifies us more readily to Whom we belong and the business that we are to conduct in His name. If our lives are obscure, it is either by way or poor decisions on our part or by the Father's hand to protect and shelter us from the evil of man's ways. Setting this aside, it is not our lives that count for they are to be lost. As Sarai had not real life of her own, she was counted as with and one with Abram. Our own lives are forfeit and we have taken on the life of Messiah as our identity. Like Sarai, we should be accounted in Yeshua, not in our own merit or our own decisions. Unlike Abram, Yeshua will not lie or ask us to lie, but will hide us in the cleft of the Rock, which is Who He is anyway.

A repopulation has taken place in several instances. From Adam, to Noach, from Abram to Messiah, the people chosen by YHVH as His own possession and nation, are to be know by Him and through Him. They should not be readily recognized by those estranged from the Father, for how do they know what pure Righteousness looks like. Yet, they will know that something is different if the take time to look. They, too, can be blessed by our lives if Messiah lives through them. Those that are of the Book, share the common father in Abraham and should recognize each other. It is not Abram that is recognizable so much any more, but the Seed from Abraham who saw of Messiah and rejoiced.

As we are to hide and find refuge in Messiah, the nations around us are looking for those to either follow into Righteousness for themselves or searching for the scapegoat to blame for all their problems. As Abram hid Sarai's identity for the sake of not being cursed, he landed a blessing from Pharaoh when being sent out. Egypt was later blessed with food as the whole world faltered in famine. Now, the world teeters on destruction due lack of bread. It is not a lack of wheat, barley or flax, but the Word of YHVH is sparse in this day and age. As we live among the nations and are recognized by them, our lives can be a blessing to them or bring about further curses if they reject Who is in us. The repopulation of the world only retains a remnant of those that are truly of Abraham's seed. May we be a blessing to those around us as the world needs that Seed for future Bread and hope.

Dwell upon Philippians 3:8-9, "...I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Messiah Yeshua my Elohim, for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Messiah, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from Torah, but that which is through faith in Messiah, the righteousness which comes from YHVH on the basis of faith..."