God Who Provides

This week's Torah Portion, Vayera וַיֵּרָא (And He Appeared), we learn about the God of provision. The core message of this portion is how it concludes with Adonai providing Abraham with a ram, who is a substitute sacrifice for Isaac at the altar. For me, however, the lesson that stood out wasn't immediate. That is why I didn't write anything on my usual day, Sunday, to be posted on Monday. I didn't get that immediate clarity about what He wanted to teach me this week. It was only last night, while praying with my 15-year-old daughter, that I gleaned this week's message for me. Before we pray, we often get into conversation where we share information about what is happening in each other's lives. I prompted her about issues she's been dealing with at school, offering a guilt-free platform for her to share whatever is on her mind so we can pray on it effectively. Our conversation shifted towards how, even though we both believe in the Creator, we sometimes find that while He is acting in our lives, He does so silently. That is when I connected with the scriptures I read on Sunday with an immediate life struggle I've been dealing with recently. This week's lesson is based on Genesis 18:1-22:24, and it concludes with the narration of Abraham offering Isaac as a sacrifice to prove his love to the Creator. Adonai requests this of Abraham in verse 2 of chapter 22:

"After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, 'Abraham!' And he said, 'Here I am.' He said, 'Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.'" Genesis 22:01-02

The scriptures then describe how Abraham immediately obeys and heads towards Moriah to fulfill Adonai's request in verse 3. This is very controversial, and the way the scriptures describe Abraham's nonchalant attitude is so different from the average Jew's understanding of YHVH that even in today's modern interpretation, the majority translate this section of scripture as the "binding of Isaac". This is because Jewish and Hebraic faith flat out denies that Adonai would ever request and ever accept human sacrifice. They also reject the notion that a person can die in the place of someone else's sins (Jeremiah 31:30 and Ezekiel 18:21). It is something they verbally reject and use as a direct opposition that Adonai would ever accept Yeshua's sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of someone else's sins (in this case, our own). So, how do we accept or interpret this section of scripture? A real dilemma to face indeed, but that is not what I connected with this week, and this may be a topic for another study. What I want to focus on is the "human" reaction anyone would have to such a request. As a father who loves my only daughter dearly, how would I react to such a request from the Creator? The One who not only gave me life and everything I have (including my daughter) has the right to demand anything from me without question. Still, we just witnessed how Abraham "negotiated" and challenged Adonai a few chapters before in this same portion when pleading for Sodom and Gomorrah. How then would I not at least attempt to negotiate for my daughter's life? What I'm attempting to share here is how Abraham's immediate acceptance of Adonai's request makes no sense. Even if the scriptures do not show his conflict with this demand, I am almost 100% sure that Abraham pleaded for Isaac's life every moment and every step of that journey.

It was during my conversation with Bella that the coin dropped. Abraham, from the second he heard God's request, likely prayed and pleaded for Isaac's life. He likely cried and attempted to sway Adonai's request to sacrifice his only son. Yet, as he drew closer and closer to Moriah, Abraham heard nothing but silence from God. No response was given. No friendly banter, back and forth, like we just read about while Abraham pleaded for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. That is when I connected with this portion intimately. I've had incredible real-life experiences where the God who created all things has clearly answered my prayers. I've witnessed and experienced miracles. Yet, so many times, if we are being completely honest and transparent with each other, the answer to our prayers is silence. Lately, while facing the unfortunate, familiar health struggles, I've been hearing nothing from God when I pray. I don't feel neglected, but I do experience the silence. That is what Bella also shared with me last night. She hasn't been experiencing these responses or connections from her prayers. Though she completely believes in the Creator and His Son Yeshua, she is questioning His personal interaction with her and her life. Something we spoke more about before praying, and I explained to her that it takes genuine faith to believe and follow the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As it is written:

"In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe... And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." Hebrews 1:1-2 & 11:6

But the ending of this week's message is what brings me back full circle. It is that ending that allows me to tell her, and now tell you, and even tell myself: "He is working in His silence." He is testing our faith and resolve. He wants us to show Him we love Him and that we fully trust and believe in Him, even when circumstances sometimes display otherwise. In the last moment, the moment that matters, God always shows up and provides. To Abraham, that moment came when he raised his dagger, a single moment before executing his son to prove his love and trust to Adonai:

"Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, 'Abraham, Abraham!' And he said, 'Here I am.' He said, 'Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.' And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, 'The LORD will provide'; as it is said to this day, 'On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.'" Genesis 22:10-14

In Hebrew, Abraham's words are better translated as "God will provide HIMSELF the lamb for sacrifice". As in, He is Himself the lamb, not that He will provide another lamb. A nuance in the Hebrew that speaks a deep truth.

Halleluiah! That gesture gives me the faith and hope required for me to continue on my daily walk, even when the circumstances around me are not conducive to producing faith. Even when I hear crickets when I pray for something I need immediately. I have enough experience from the past to draw from and proclaim boldly, "God is my provider, and in due time His hand will move in my favor!" I can also say, "God is your provider, and no matter what you are facing today, if you trust Him, He will deliver you!"

Another subtle, yet VERY IMPORTANT message I can give you based on this week's lesson is that God will never demand from you something He would not demand from Himself. He asked Abraham for his only son, and in the end, He provided for Himself a substitute. We see later that He offered up His only Son as a substitute and atonement for us. And just as I speculated that Abraham pleaded for a substitute for Isaac, I can proclaim without speculating that Yeshua pleaded for a substitute, but the answer from the Father was also silence. Silence not because of neglect, but because there was no other way. There wasn't an alternative solution to save my soul and yours:

"Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, 'Sit here while I go over there and pray.' He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, 'My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.' Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.' Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. 'Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?' he asked Peter. 'Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.' He went away a second time and prayed, 'My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.' When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, 'Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!'" Matthew 26:36-46

Yeshua is worthy to be followed, loved, and obeyed. He always led by example and by doing. He did for you and me what we could not do for ourselves. So I will keep my head up and continue to follow Him to my dying breath. Even when He doesn't respond to all my immediate prayers and needs. I do this knowing that in the correct moment, He will provide for me what I need to get by and succeed. Deep thoughts, I know, but that is worth pondering in this week's Torah portion. Shalom Ve'Shavuah Tov, beloved of Christ.

"For God so loved the world, that He GAVE His One and Only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not die, but have eternal life" John 3:16