LECH LECHA (“Go Forth, Yourself!”)

Lech Lecha…Genesis 12:1-17:27 (The following overview of this week’s Torah portion is taken from chabad.org)  

G–d speaks to Abram, commanding him, “Go or journey from your land, from your birthplace and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you.” There, G–d says, he will be made into a great nation. Abram and his wife, Sarai, accompanied by his nephew Lot, journey to the land of Canaan, where Abram builds an altar and continues to walk with G–d. A famine forces Abram to depart for Egypt, where beautiful Sarai is taken to pharaoh’s palace; Abram escapes death because they present themselves as brother and sister. A plague prevents the Egyptian king from touching her, and convinces him to return her to Abram and to compensate the brother-revealed-as-husband with gold, silver and cattle. Back in the land of Canaan, Lot separates from Abram and settles in the evil city of Sodom, where he falls captive when the mighty armies of Chedorlaomer and his three allies conquer the five cities of the Sodom Valley. Abram sets out with a small band to rescue his nephew, defeats the four kings, and is blessed by Malki-Zedek the king of Salem (Jerusalem). G–d seals the Covenant Between the Parts with Abram, in which the exile and persecution (galut) of the people of Israel is foretold, and the Holy Land is bequeathed to them as their eternal heritage. 

Genesis 13:15 “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.” 

Genesis 15:18 “In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.” 

Genesis 17:7–8 “And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” 

What is Covenant? It’s an agreement that brings about a relationship of commitment between God and his people. Without Covenant there is no spiritual connection; no means by which we might be drawn into holy relationship with God. And once in Covenant, we develop that sanctifying relationship with commandments. Commandments accompany the Covenant for which we are set apart for. What does commandment mean? Received by faith, the core meaning or purpose is so that a connection for relationship and the forging of character can be established. “If you love me you will keep my commandments”. [John 14:15]  A second part of commandments’ connection is to receive and give a “blessing”; to make holy. To bring energy within and thereby without. That is “salt and light”. Through keeping the New Covenant commandments, the life–changing spiritual power of holiness may be transferred, that a glory–filled closeness to God may be finally realized in resurrection. If one is in Covenant with God, he is then set apart. He is then required to exercise his will to do its commandments, being thereby set apart for that act. 1) first comes spirit prompting (sub-conscience), 2) arrangement into thought (based upon the truth of the Word), 3) communication, 4) action, thereby sanctified (set aside) he brings spiritual energy from the spirit world (spiritual energy, salt and light) into the material world (holiness and blessing).  

What can we call the purpose of Covenant? It is a call unto fitness of the vessel for Glory. “And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?” [Romans 10:23] 

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Circumcision was a special mitzvah/commandment given to Abraham later after he had received the promise of the inheritance of the Land of Canaan. It is a Jewish Abrahamic Covenant mitzvah, and to be a member of that Covenant, it’s a very critical one. The command prompting being of the “spirit” is naturally extended to every Jew, being the seed of Abraham, and is thereby included in that Covenant. Without it a Jew is not sanctified. Without it a Jew can not be “holy” and is ineffective in bringing holiness or a blessing unto the material world, as it is the sign and foundation of the Covenant. It’s the mitzvah necessary in order that any spiritual structure may be built upon. 

Paul had the New Covenant truth (into which he led those who were members) that Brit/circumcision of the body had no affect on their spiritual energy. On the contrary, it could be detrimental if wrongly understood by New Covenant believers. “Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. — Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” [Galatians 5:2-6] We are to be members of the New Covenant, with our spirit promptings, yielded in heart to arrange our thoughts from the New Covenant perspective (Christ follower language), that our relationship and communication with the Lord is not hindered, neither on a personal level nor in our communicating with others. And our obedient actions follow the commandments on the New Covenant terms, that we may be faith–filled, sanctified, holy, bringing spiritual energy of New Covenant, which is love into the World. So the prompting being spirit, the organizing being into New Covenant thought arrangement (communication with God in same “language” the renewing of mind to Christ’s mitzvahs/commands), must have corresponding action following. This is participating in the New Covenant. This is essential to spiritual power, the sanctifying of the soul, and being released as “salt and light” in a tasteless and dark world. 

God’s mitzvah to Abraham to circumcise the foreskin, equates to the spiritual understanding of the removal of the flesh over the heart and exposing what is spirit to the soul. Teshuva/repentance is a part of the process of circumcision of the heart. It is a necessary ingredient to successful removal of that which hinders us from the heavenly inheritance. Circumcision of the heart is everything we can do plus what He does; that which we cannot. Our battle in Covenant with God is the obtaining of the circumcision of our heart. It is this circumcision that takes us from one journey on to another; from one Lech to Lecha another, from one height to another higher. When Christ says in Matthew 5:20: “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven,” He speaks of the Covenant with circumcision. The call of the Jew reaches beyond merely the physical sign of the Covenant, to a Covenant life, for inheritance in the Kingdom. So it is that the Seed of Abraham, so Christ calls His followers on beyond regeneration of the spirit (Lech) unto the further journey of circumcision (Lecha), for the removal of the flesh to fully expose the LIFE of inheritance in His Kingdom.  

Being regenerated, we are “beings” who currently have a dichotomy of flesh (fallen nature) and spirit. The spirit is “covered” by the flesh, and often disguises itself as spirit. It is often difficult to discern one from the other. The prompting of the spirit engages our reasoning, which un-renewed, that is to say covered or insensitive, is done primarily on the flesh side of the equation. The World’s realities are our realities, as that is the “language” we have been taught and communicated in from childhood to our old age. So we are tilted towards always interpreting any “communication” (prompted either by the re-birthed spirit or the old man flesh) in the “language” of the World. Of course this World’s “language” is taught to us by satan and the “language” of the spirit/Sprit is God’s language. (His Word that we are to learn and obey) So the Babel/confusion comes from mixing the “languages”. Thus carnal reasonings of God’s Word spawns “religious” thinking (think in terms of cross–breed languages like Yiddish or Tex-Mex, or Ebonics). What is being said? Christians, generally, have been taught by “uncircumcised” followers of Christ, who think and speak in a mixed language and act accordingly. So this mixture of the spirit language and the flesh language has given us a religious perspective of God.  

The Christian is challenged to discern one language from the other language (my sheep shall know my voice). To get rid of what confuses the pure communication of Truth, and then in discovering the truth, we must act/follow/obey the Covenant Commandments of Christ, which have the salvation of our soul with the heavenly inheritance in view. Think in terms of the Truth being necessary for the “circumcision” of the flesh. The removing of the foreskin exposes the soul to life– giving force. Again, disguising the flesh language as spirit language results in a new language that has enough spirit language mixed in that it sounds like the language/Word of God. That effectively misdirects our focus on to peripheral Biblical issues, away from the true spiritual battle set before Christians, that of overcoming the flesh/ the removal of the foreskin/ that hinders us from walking in the spirit/Spirit, that which brings the overcoming power of that Covenant on the battle ground (the knife/Spirit of God of circumcision of the heart).  

So again, what is being said? Christ said that if our righteousness does not exceed that of the Pharisees we would in no case enter into the kingdom of heavens. Christ’s Words/commandments to inherit the kingdom of heavens were to His disciples in Matthew 5, and further defined in the first 3 chapters of Revelation. These Words exposed our being disqualifying from the kingdom of heavens’ inheritance if we, as they, the Scribes and Pharisees, follow some other religious reasonings. 

Abraham had long since entered into Covenant with God, and was “justified” in that he “believed” God and had obediently followed God, inheriting wherever he had journeyed (that is to say on an earthly level, the land of Caanan). All this having preceded, now God calls Abraham on another journey, a higher journey, into that Covenant which had the promise of a son/Son which was sealed with the obedience of Abraham, in the cutting off of the foreskin, and then afterwards God granting him a son according to the promise, Isaac the son of his inheritance. Then that very promised son of that Covenant, God then used to call Abraham unto a even further, greater journey. A greater Covenant (Genesis 22:2) with greater inheritance promises (Genesis 23:17), one beyond that of the earthly kingdom Covenant inheritance, a Covenant addendum with the promise of a heavenly Kingdom (with Hebrews 11:16). This is that kingdom of heavens inheritance that Christ refers to in Matthew 5-7, and declares to His disciples a personal righteousness beyond that of the mere justifying Covenant in the coming out of Ur. That being if their righteousness does not exceed, they shall not enter, not withstanding (leaving unaffected) that original Covenant with promise. So Christ, knowing that the Jewish disciples before Him were Covenant circumcised Jews, and more than that they were followers of Him, He yet interjected that just being in Covenant with justification was not enough alone to inherit entrance into the kingdom of heavens. 

The Pharisees, like many Christians, are fluent in religious “language”. That is, full of Scriptural facts but having very little Truth; a mile wide but only an inch deep. Some sects of Christianity emphasize health, wealth, happiness, gifts, God’s magnanimous loving nature, forgiveness etc… and use selected Scriptures to “proof up” their polarizing messages of half–truth denominational doctrines. This is spiritual yiddish, Christian ebonics. They take some Scriptural “facts” and make them out to be representative of “Truth”. They, being ignorant of the Covenant of Circumcision of the heart, with the kingdom of heavens at stake, are arrogantly satisfied in the Laodicean blindness of the earthly inheritance pronouncing “It is Written! It is Written!” But never willing to come to the place of Christ’s illuminating, elucidating Words, “It is also Written”.  It is over–emphasizing some verses, presenting certain doctrines in the dim light of religious reasonings’ language as front and center, supposedly unquestionable hallmarks of God’s New Covenant Words. Such as those so–called “faith” messages on “healing” or “gifts” or “giving and receiving” which emphasize the obtaining of some earthly prosperity or the “once saved always saved” message with an all–encompassing imputed righteousness with regeneration in view. Or “Gospel” feel–good messages of the Love of God that generally excludes the Severity of God…etc. All these doctrines have this in common; they have some Scriptural “facts”, but they have been interpreted in the language of the flesh, religious reasonings. The result being that the Truth has been obscured. Yes, God is the healer. Yes, He has and does heal. Yes, God has granted gifts of the Spirit. Yes, God is interested in our financial well being. Yes, when we are born again we are eternally saved. Yes, He is not pleased without faith. Yes, He is Love. But all these Scriptural facts are misrepresented in doctrines of men and demons which give us a false perspective of God that detracts us from His one overall purpose: to have many holy sons that worship Him in spirit and truth (Hebrews 2:10,12:10, John 4:23–24) This being accomplished in the Power of Christ’s Covenant commandment to LOVE. To love Him with all our hearts; to obey the law of Love fulfills all the requirements of God for inheritance in His Kingdom of heavens (Galatians 5:13-21). That is what He greatly desires, and the propitiation purpose of His Son’s Sacrifice which is to be accomplished out of our lives lived on earth. Of course all may say that it is easy to Love God, but it is not easy to truly love God because it requires the heart to be circumcised. It is made many times harder when we are being distracted and thrown off course by seemingly legitimate Scriptural endeavors, focusing for the most part, on loving self’s well–being on the earth. To love here on the earth is the Covenant Commandment that when engaged in, will bring the sharp edged knife of the Spirit on the foreskin of our hearts. To expose the spirit/Spirit and to bring life to our souls, not merely an earthly type inheritance but the glorious life of the heavenly inheritance reflected in the faith journeys of Abraham. 

All of us Covenant Christians should know that the Scriptures present to us the prize of the high calling of the first resurrection out from among the dead (Philippians 3). It was the emphasis of Christ’s Message, and we should know that it is according to what we have personally accomplished, internally and externally through Him while on the earth that qualifies or disqualifies us from that great inheritance. The devil would distract us with “….hath God really said?.” Religious reasonings that change the pure language of the regenerated spirit into a religious language, that when followed, will sadly be without promise. Satan says: “God wants you healthy wealthy and wise….The Word declares: such and thus, you should seek God always having these truths in mind.” Satan knows God’s purpose, which is to purify a soul unto worthiness of the first resurrection, by taking him through the testing and suffering journeys of a willing death in overcoming our selfish nature so greatly influenced by satan’s nature. Satan knows that it is in this victorious overcoming seed, that the New Creature shall come forth in resurrection, that God will elevate him into the first heaven associated with this earth where he now resides, to rule with Jesus Christ in His Kingdom. What does satan care if you are healthy or wealthy or religious or whatever, all the better….pray, pray, PRAY!!   He only cares to keep you distracted from being led and obedient to the sprit/Spirit. He wants to keep you from yielding unto the promptings of the Spirit/spirit, and from hearing and interpreting the language of Truth, from the commandment to LOVE God. From having true faith like Abraham, giving up all he loved in loving obedience, and denying self, removing the foreskin from our heart, seeking His loving purpose, that of a yielded and victorious first born son, to gratefully worship Him in His presence in spirit and truth, being of those blessed of the First Resurrection! (Revelation 20:4-6) 

Oh, that we might get quiet and learn the language of the spirit, to knowingly, willingly, and gratefully engage in the most important aspect of a human being’s life, the spiritual warfare in the obedience of the cutting off of the foreskin of our flesh that God might bring us forth in the glory–filled New Creation, into the heavens above to rule and reign with the Lord Jesus Christ. Dear God, mercifully and by your Grace, help us into overcoming and being found worthy at Your call. 

THE DUALITY OF GOD’S CREATION: The earthly (material) and heavenly (spiritual) realms are seen in Genesis 1:1…. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” God is eternal, in that He “was” when He determined to create His universe. It would be made up of two distinct parts with their distinct created beings, the heavens and its creatures were created first and then the earth and its creatures. This can be understood from this verse in Genesis 1 and with Job 38:4-7 where the heavenly beings rejoiced when the foundations of the earth were laid. And Scripture further reveals that the heavenly realm’s things such as the City, the Garden, the Mount called Zion, with Holy Sanctuary, its Throne, the heavenly utensils of worship, with the hierarchy system with angelic rulers and ministers abounding, are also “created” (Daniel 7:9, Revelation 4:2,4; 8:3) In that before Eternal Elohim (Triune God Father Son Spirit) created finite beings, there was no need for any of it, but after their creation naturally came the need for a local place of government, a place that finite beings might worship and serve; thus the King Priest and the infinite Son was first manifest. “Who, being in the form of God…” (Philippians 2:6) “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” [Colossians 1:15-17] And from there in the spiritual unseen heavenly realm He came. It is to there He then returned. “I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.” Being then restored; King Priest (Hebrews 8:1–2, Philippians 2:9). 

It is from Scripture we discover Truths. We see that things heavenly were replicated in this, the earthly realm. Adam, made in the image of God to be lord over this realm, as its King Priest with dominion in this realm, replicates from the heavenly realm being God’s designed and disclosed pattern in His universal plan, that to the end; His Will be done on earth as it is in the heavenly realm. But lo the rebellious Serpent devised a thwarting scheme and seduced angels first, then later  woman and man following, seducing them to lose their kingdoms. (Genesis 3, Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28) 

Centuries after the flood of Noah, out of all the peoples then on the earth, He persuaded Abram to come out from idolatry and follow Him in Covenant. He being faithful, God bestowed the name Abraham on him, being the father of “faith” (Romans 4:16) and nations. Abraham being then typical of the King Priesthood of the heavens. And out of that man came that one nation Israel, a nation called to be God’s kings and priests (Exodus 19:5–6) to rule over the nations of the earth. And that from that City Jerusalem, in a priestly manner, again typical of the place and  hierarchy of Angels in the unseen heavenly realm. From that Covenant with Abraham and his seed/Seed, all past and future blessings to mankind can be traced (Galatians 3:13–14). From Abraham’s example, “faith” was established as the means by which man may come into an acceptable relationship with God. This justification and acceptance covering by faith extendeth to the Gentile as well, dividing all mankind into two groups. Those 2 being those who like Abraham had justifying faith in God, and those who didn’t (Romans 2:25-29).  Yet the Covenant of Blessing Promises remained exclusive with the seed/Seed of Abraham, and within that Covenant was the prospects of an earthly and heavenly inheritance, by which those in that Covenant were further divided.  In that some were satisfied with the prospect of the earthly inheritance, while others, like Abraham, were fully persuaded by the greater promises of a heavenly kingdom and thereby became a stranger and sojourner in the Earth. 

Unquestionably, Abraham was keenly aware of the prospects in both the earthly and heavenly realms, and was promised mighty blessings upon the earth but even greater blessings within the heavenly realm. His faith encompassed both realms but “He desired a better country, that is, a heavenly” (Hebrews 11:8-16).  

The message of forgiveness of sins through the atoning blood was not the Message of Jesus Christ, that message had been spoken since Abel. What was distinct in Christ’s Message was the call to an Heavenly inheritance (Matthew 5:10,12, 1st Peter 1:3-5, 2nd Timothy 4:18). Thus opening up, increasing, and guaranteeing the heavenly realm’s greater inheritance possibilities introduced in the Abrahamic Covenant. WITH THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE ABOLISHING OF THE MOSAIC LAW COVENANT AS THE MEANS TO HOLINESS,  RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD ONCE AGAIN REVERTED BACK TO THE GROUND ON WHICH ABRAHAM HAD BEEN ACCOUNTED RIGHTEOUS.  

It is important that Christians be able to see this vital distinguishing aspect of inheritances in the Abrahamic Covenant, earthly and heavenly. It remains today in full force for the seed and the Seed of Abraham. There yet is this spiritual dynamic reflected to us in Abraham’s life in Covenant with God, that is still working within the Christian, in Covenant with God’s Son, the Seed of Abraham. That we, in times past, just like Abram, were first persuaded to come out of Ur (the idolatrous world), and in obediently doing so (what we Christians call born again), we, as he was, are guaranteed a certain promised ‘material’ inheritance to be realized in our resurrected eternal life or living. But this withstanding (unaffected), the Covenant of Abraham expanded in the Brit of circumcision. The further opportunity, in the refining of his original justifying faith, that now through his fiery tests, trials and sufferings, came the prospect of a greater inheritance, that if we, like him, faithfully endure, it will ultimately lead to the realization of the greater promise of inheritance; that being in the heavenly realm (Romans 8:17).  

Albeit being different Covenants, both have the promise of the greater inheritance the heavenly kingdom.  Jesus, being that Seed of Abraham on which the fulfillment of all God’s Covenants hinge. We (Jews or Gentiles) answering the call, being the new man of a new nation, exclusive to being found in Jesus Christ, have then the promised prospect found in the further sanctification of our faith in the purifying of the soul through obedience to His Commandments in the Power of the spirit/Spirit. That of being Jesus Christ’s Bridal consort, at the first resurrection, that most exclusive and most glorious inheritance in that heavenly kingdom. 

Now in the failure or willful ignorance of this most noble call, the same like destinies follow again in the Two Covenants for the merely justified Jews in the Abrahamic Covenant and the merely justified Christians in Covenant with Christ. In that first the Jews living, along with the justified then resurrected, who were content with the earthly inheritance, shall then receive at His Coming a part in that promised earthly Millennial Kingdom. And while those Jews receive the earthly portion of Christ’s Millennial kingdom, their everlasting possession (Genesis 17:8) will fully be realized after that 1000 years in the Creation of the New Earth as God’s chosen Jewish people (Revelation 21:3). As for the merely justified Christians, they shall have to await their appointed resurrection and determined eternal estate, until after that 1000 years. That is the 2nd resurrection and to stand before the White Throne judgment that will ferret out their portion of the eternal inheritance. Certainly to be less glorious than the blessed of the first resurrection (Revelation 20:5). Most likely these are those relegated subjects in His Kingdom, they are the citizens of the nations in the New Earth then created (Revelation 21:24). 

So it is that Scripture has defined and separated the Inheritance of the Christian from that of the Jew, and that inheritance being everlasting /eternal on both fronts. In that the eternal inheritance of the Jew; that of the earthly portion promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’s seed remains and all justified Jews of all time are certainly a part of that original Covenant between Abraham and God. That promise being reflected in his obedience to journey out of Ur into the Land of Canaan where God then gave his seed irrevocably forever as an inheritance. But the further Covenant promises given to Abraham’s seed extended to those with a heart like Abraham, and willingness to suffer and forsake all unto greater sanctification. Who, like his sons Isaac and Jacob, become inheritors in that heavenly kingdom realm, (Hebrews 11:9 and these being highly favored friends of the Bridegroom are the blessed [guests] called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb and Bride Revelation 19:9).  

That SEED of Abraham having come in the form of man, came unto His own, who in rejecting Him, disqualified themselves from His Inheritance which included not only the earthly promises of inheritance but the heavenly realm promises as well. So it is, the heavenly portion was taken from the Jews per-se and was given to individuals of a new nation; neither Jew or Gentile, the New Man (Matthew 21:43, Ephesians 2, 1st Peter 2:9) To these faithful followers of Christ, now the promise of that heavenly inheritance is extended.   

This differentiation of two peoples and their different inheritances of the earthly and the heavenly are clearly seen in the prophetic portions of Scripture, starting with the eternal Covenant promises given to Abraham, and then recorded throughout the Old Covenant and then confirmed in the New Testament. Gabriel spoke to Mary regarding Jesus: “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever: and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:32–33). Using the name Jacob in this prophecy limits the application to the Jews only, as nowhere in Scripture is that name associated with Christians/the Church, whereas the name Israel has an application to both peoples. It is therefore Written of this “….kingdom there shall be no end.” That is this earthly kingdom, granted to the seed/SEED of Abraham, at the Second Coming of the Messiah, shall be over the people of Jacob  and that earthly kingdom is to last forever, that is there is no hint of this kingdom mixing or blending in with the heavenly portion of the Messiah’s Kingdom, but will stand on its own forever as promised to Abraham and later to King David “…for an everlasting possession.…” (Genesis 17:8  for ever Luke 1:54–55). The earthly kingdom inheritance continuity is again confirmed by Daniel, “the stone became a great mountain and filled the whole earth”. It is declared to be specifically on the earth and given to the Jewish people, “…the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.” (Daniel 2:35 7:27 with Revelation 21:1-5,24)   

From Christ’s early days of ministry He would bring the heavenly kingdom inheritance into view, that inheritance that Abraham had at some point embraced. “Blessed they which have been (the Old Testament faithful) persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heavens. Blessed are you (the New Testament faithful) when they shall reproach you, and shall persecute, and shall say every wicked word against you, lying, on account of me. Rejoice and exult, for your reward is great in the heavens for thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10–11 the Englishman’s Greek NT).  

This message of the heavens’ inheritance to His persevering disciples is carried all the way through His ministry to the night before His Crucifixion, recorded by John, where He clearly defines His call to His faithful, that of the heavens realm as opposed to just the everlasting earthly inheritance promised. “I go to prepare a place for you (in the heavenly realm) and I come again, and will receive you unto myself: that where I am ye may be also”. And to the Father He then said: “I desire that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory.”