Torah Thoughts: Vayeira

Parasha: Genesis 18:1 - 22:24

2nd Aliyah: Genesis 18:15-33

 As we study this week’s Torah portion, Vayeira, it would be easy to gravitate towards some of the familiar verses about Abraham trying to make some sort of-deal with YHVH about Sodom and Gomorra, but once again, something else has caught my attention.

 

In verse 19, says this, “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgement; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He had spoken of Him.

 

I am immediately captivated by-the phrase, “they shall keep the way of YHVH”.  How is it that generations before Moses, Abraham knew how to keep the way of the LORD?  How is it that Abraham would teach his children to do justice and judge righteously without the written Torah to guide him and his family.

 

It has been said that before there was the written Torah, there must have been an Oral Torah and it would not be until Moses that the Oral Torah was finally manifested in written form.

 

It is a profound revelation that one could understand righteousness, holiness, and justice without ever reading the Torah itself.  The Bible says in Hebrews 13:8, “That Yeshua Messiach is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  Malachi 3:6 says, “For I am YHVH, I change not!”  He has been, He is, and He always will be!

 

It gives us hope that we don’t necessarily have to know or understand all of the intricacies that are revealed in our beloved Torah.  No, through the grace of our Lord and Messiah, we can delve into beautiful revelations hidden in Torah without ever being punished for the lack of understanding that we might have.  It is a loving and gracious Father, like Abraham, that will teach his sons and daughters in the righteous ways of YHVH, even when there are no books or instructions from which to read from.

 

As it says in Jeremiah, the Torah is written on our hearts.  I genuinely believe that same Torah was written on the heart of Abraham.  It wasn’t just head knowledge that would have earned him a place amongst the Patriarchs of our faith and so, we who are novices and childlike in our approach to this new found revelation and understanding in Torah are in our own way just as righteous as Father Abraham.  HalleluYah!

 

So, let us continue to study to show ourselves approved with joy, with fascination and sheer delight in His law and in His commands, which are forever, just like Him: the same today, yesterday and forever more.

Shalom,

David Salinas

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