Weekly Torah Portion

[WalterandDebbie]

Friday 10-27-23 6th. Day Of The Weekly Cycle, Cheshvan 11 5784, 35th. Fall Day​

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Weekly Torah Portion​

TEACHINGS ON THE TORAH, THE PROPHETS, AND THE GOSPELS

But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)

CURRENT PORTION
27 OCT 2023

Lech-Lecha​

TORAH	GENESIS 12:1-17:27
PROPHETS	ISAIAH 40:27-41:16
GOSPEL	JOHN 8:51-58

Lech Lecha​

Go Out​

לֶךְ־לְךָ​

Portion Summary​

The third reading from the book of Genesis is named Lech Lecha. It means "go forth." The first verse says, "Now the LORD said to Abram, 'Go forth (lech lecha, לֶךְ־לְךָ) from your country.'" Lech Lecha introduces Abraham and tells the story of his pilgrimage in pursuit of God.

The Famine​

If life is just as tough for believers as unbelievers, what's the advantage of belief?

Dusty plains during a severe drought (Image: © Bigstock)

Now there was a famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. (Genesis 12:10)

Not long after his arrival in Canaan, Abraham's newfound faith was sorely tested. Though God had promised to give the land to Abraham's children, that seemed like a remote possibility. Abraham had no children, and the land was already occupied by the Canaanite nations.

To make matters worse, a drought brought on a severe famine.
Abraham had no choice but to pack up his wife, his servants, his flocks, and his herds and travel to Egypt, where the Nile's abundant waters irrigated the crops even in drought years. He would find food in Egypt.

Maimonides refers to the famine in Canaan as the second great test of Abraham's faith. Suppose you had sacrificed everything, leaving your job, your family, and your home in order to take an offer for a high-paying executive position with a firm halfway around the world.

When you arrived you discovered that the position was not yet open, and you had to take a temporary job in the mailroom. As if that was not bad enough, a financial slump forced the company to lay off several mailroom employees, including you. You would probably be feeling pretty bitter toward the company that offered you the position.

Abraham did not give in to bitterness and resentment. He did not give up on God. When a person holds on to faith and hope despite bad circumstances, it is called perseverance.

We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out." (Romans 5:3–5)

The need to persevere is a normal part of being a believer. The joy of a convert's newfound faith is routinely tempered by life's difficult realities. Faith offers no quick fixes or easy solutions to problems. Sometimes being a believer makes life a lot harder.

So, if life is just as tough for believer and unbeliever alike, what's the advantage of believing? The advantage is hope. As a believer, you have God on your team, and you never know what He has up His sleeve.