Weekly D'rash Lech Lecha

The first words of the Torah portion and the first words that God speaks to Abraham is “Go!” Literally the text says” “Go, you go!” It reminds me of the first words of Yeshua to some of his disciples. Matthew, Peter, Andrew, John, and Philip responded to the words “follow me.” They left everything behind and followed Yeshua. Abraham left everything behind and followed the call of God.

We read that Abraham was to go to the “land that I will show you.” When God called Abraham and when Yeshua called his disciples, they were not told where they were going or exactly what the future would hold. But nevertheless, they followed. We know that the result was participation in the plan of redemption for the world. Abraham’s journey to Canaan resulted in a promise of blessing for the world.

The disciples of Yeshua followed him which meant eternal significance and satisfaction. Much of the story of God’s interaction with man results in movement, journey, and change. The wilderness wanderings, the exile and return, the lives of almost all of the well known people that we read about it the bible experienced some kind of journey. Sometimes the journey is geographical and sometimes the journey is in the heart. Hebrews 11 describes the faithfulness of godly people who followed God wherever he led them. They were assured of a promise even if they did not live to see its fulfillment.

Our lives are a journey from wherever we are to the day of Messiah Yeshua when there will be a restored world. Walking with the Lord give meaning to every experience, good or bad. The journey allows us to see God at work in different ways. It allows us to share the good News of Messiah to people in who come across our path, to be transformed to move the plan of God forward. God told Abraham that he would be blessed and that he would be a blessing. Blessing is the infusion of life that takes a variety of forms. When we follow the leading of God, we experience blessing or an infusion of life that also takes a variety f forms. I am reminded of the famous verse in Deuteronomy 1:6 “The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, 'You have stayed long enough at this mountain.'

God desired that they keep moving toward the land of promise. He desires that we also keep moving. The challenge for us both individually and as a community is to know that we are on the right course following the Lord. Based on Abraham and the disciples of Yeshua, we do not need to know specifically and concretely where the journey is taking us as long as we know we are following the Lord. At Beth Messiah we are desiring to build a legacy for the future. We are thinking about new ways of outreach; fresh approaches to messianic worship and a new look to our sanctuary. We must look at it as a journey that we are on, following the leading of the Lord and bringing to the place that he desires. This is also true for us as families and individuals. What journey are you on? Change is not easy, but it yields fruit when we are moving forward with our eyes on Yeshua. Let us remove whatever weight and sin that holds us back! Let us press on! (Hosea 6:3; Phil. 3:12-14)

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Howard