Torah Portion Lech Lecha - The Abrahamic Calling and Is Tithing For Us Today?

Lech Lecha - “Go forth” Genesis 12:1 – 17:27 In this week’s parsha we are introduced to Abram, a man whom God calls out of the world to go to a land which is promised to him and his descendants as an eternal inheritance. As part of this calling, God informs Abram that he will be made into a great nation, with seed as numerous as the stars or grains of sand. Joined by his wife Sarai and nephew Lot, they go to the land of Canaan, where Abram builds altars to El Shaddai, with a continuing commission to spread the message of Yah. A famine forces Abram to depart for Egypt, where Sarai is taken to Pharaoh’s palace. Abram believes he has escaped death having presented themselves as brother and sister, rather than husband and wife, but a divine plague prevents Pharaoh from taking her as his wife and he sends Abram and Sarai away with gifts of wealth and livestock as compensation. Back in the land of Canaan, Lot separates from Abram and settles in the city of Sodom, but is taken captive when a war begins between several kings, but Abram sets out with a small band of trained men to rescue him. After the battle is over the king of Salem, Melchizedek, joins Abram with bread and wine and makes an offering to God. God then seals His promises with Abram through an ancient covenantal ritual. In a misguided attempt to bring about this promise, Sarah, who is unable to conceive, gives her maidservant Hagar to Abraham, who gives birth to Ishmael. Thirteen years later, Abram’s and Sarai’s names are changed by God Himself to Abraham and Sarah (‘father of nations’ and ‘princess’) and later, they are promised the child they have longed for, to be named Isaac. Finally, as a sign of the covenant between them, Abraham is commanded by God to circumcise himself, his male descendants and all of the males in his household, which he does immediately as a sign of faith. ******* Find us on social media: Facebook -   / almondhousefellowship   Instagram -   / almondhousefellowship   Contact - [email protected] If you would like to contribute or tithe to our ministry and fellowship, please follow this link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/almon...