by Ptr. Art Calaguas<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shalom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iran attacked Israel last week with some 330 drones and missiles, and many reckon the hand of the Almighty God protected Israel as 99% were intercepted before they reached Israel. Only 7 of the missiles actually got into the land which caused very little damage but the debris injured a 7-year old Bedouin girl. Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein of the Simon Wiesenthal Center was interviewed by CBN News Jerusalem Dateline and said it was \u201ca miracle of Biblical proportions\u201d (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=X_gDajgnwzY<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now Israel has apparently hit back with limited, calibrated and measured strikes in Syria, Iraq and Iran itself. It has shown that all the proxies of Iran and its territory itself, despite the great distance (> 1,500 km) between them, are within Israel\u2019s reach. But it seems that both the Iranians and Israelis do not want to escalate any further. This bodes well as Passover is about to be celebrated in Israel at sunset this Monday, April 22.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Israel-Hamas War is now fast approaching its 200th<\/sup> day since the Hamas attack last October 7, 2023. The world\u2019s attention has been taken by the Iran-Israel exchange away from the plight of the hostages still held in Gaza. We must remember the 133 abductees composed of men, the elderly, 19 women, children and a baby, as well as the unknown number of bodies of dead hostages still kept by Hamas. We should continue to pray for the immediate release of all hostages and for a just end to this war. Let us continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6-9) and stand with Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last time, we saw the LORD choose Isaac to benefit the eternal covenant with a perpetual land grant promised to Abraham and his offspring. The line of succession was now established with Isaac as the natural and legal heir of Abraham. Canaan, the land granted to Abraham as a perpetual possession, would now be passed on to Isaac and the generations after him, as his inheritance. We also saw that the patriarch Abraham acquired property in Canaan via commercial or formal treaty\/covenantal means despite God\u2019s promise to give the whole land to him and his progeny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Genesis 23:1-20 (Death and Burial of Sarah) and 25:8-10 (Death and Burial of Abraham) show Abraham cementing his stake on the land. The commercial purchase of the surrounding field with the Cave of Machpelah near Mamre at Hebron indicated that he already considered his home to be in Canaan, laying claim to it, as owner of that property legally deeded to him. Otherwise, Abraham would have buried Sarah back in Mesopotamia and asked that he also would be buried there upon his death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the death of Abraham and his burial by both his sons Ishmael and Isaac, the narrative now shifts over to Isaac and God\u2019s blessing and confirmation of covenantal promises. Genesis 26:1-6 narrates the LORD\u2019s first appearance to Isaac regarding these matters. In context, The NIV Study Bible<\/em> says these verses occurred before the birth of Esau and Jacob. There was a famine in the land (after Abraham\u2019s time) and Isaac went to Abimelech, king of the Philistines, in Gerar. It parallels Abraham\u2019s dealings with Abimelech earlier; including the episode of Isaac telling Abimelech that Rebekah was his sister (cf. Genesis 20). Isaac apparently planned to go to Egypt but the LORD appeared to him and asked him not to go to Egypt. Isaac obeyed the LORD\u2019s instructions as he decided to stay in Gerar. The Hebrew text of verses 2-5 are given below (read right to left, top down) with the relevant verses regarding the land grant highlighted:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b5\u05bc\u05e8\u05b8\u05a4\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5\u0599 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u0594\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b9\u05bc\u0596\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b7\u05dc\u05be\u05ea\u05b5\u05bc\u05e8\u05b5\u05a3\u05d3 \u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u0591\u05d9\u05b0\u05de\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05db\u05b9\u05a3\u05df \u05d1\u05b8\u05bc\u05d0\u05b8\u0594\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u0596\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b9\u05de\u05b7\u05a5\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b6\u05bd\u05d9\u05da\u05b8\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05d2\u05bc\u059a\u05d5\u05bc\u05e8 \u05d1\u05b8\u05bc\u05d0\u05b8\u05a3\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05b9\u05bc\u0594\u05d0\u05ea \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05bd\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05a5\u05d4 \u05e2\u05b4\u05de\u05b0\u05bc\u05da\u05b8\u0596 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u0591\u05da\u05b8\u05bc \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05bd\u05d9\u05be\u05dc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8\u05a3 \u05d5\u05bc\u05bd\u05dc\u05b0\u05d6\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e2\u05b2\u05da\u05b8\u0597 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05b5\u05bc\u05df\u0599 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05db\u05b8\u05bc\u05dc\u05be\u05d4\u05b8\u05bd\u05d0\u05b2\u05e8\u05b8\u05e6\u05b9\u05a3\u05ea \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u0594\u05dc<\/mark> \u05d5\u05b7\u05d4\u05b2\u05e7\u05b4\u05bd\u05de\u05b9\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9\u0599 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05b0\u05bc\u05c1\u05d1\u05bb\u05e2\u05b8\u0594\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05a5\u05e8 \u05e0\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05d1\u05b7\u05bc\u0596\u05e2\u05b0\u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05a5\u05dd \u05d0\u05b8\u05d1\u05b4\u05bd\u05d9\u05da\u05b8\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05d1\u05b5\u05bc\u05d9\u05ea\u05b4\u05a4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05bd\u05ea\u05be\u05d6\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e2\u05b2\u05da\u05b8\u0599 \u05db\u05b0\u05bc\u05db\u05b9\u05d5\u05db\u05b0\u05d1\u05b5\u05a3\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05b8\u05bc\u05c1\u05de\u05b7\u0594\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05ea\u05b7\u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05a3\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d6\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e2\u05b2\u05da\u05b8\u0594 \u05d0\u05b5\u05a5\u05ea \u05db\u05b8\u05bc\u05dc\u05be\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b2\u05e8\u05b8\u05e6\u05b9\u0596\u05ea \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u0591\u05dc<\/mark> \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05ea\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05bc\u05e8\u05b2\u05db\u05a3\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05b0\u05d6\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e2\u05b2\u05da\u05b8\u0594 \u05db\u05b9\u05bc\u0596\u05dc \u05d2\u05b9\u05bc\u05d5\u05d9\u05b5\u05a5\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05bd\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05e2\u05b5\u0595\u05e7\u05b6\u05d1 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05e8\u05be\u05e9\u05b8\u05c1\u05de\u05b7\u05a5\u05e2 \u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u0596\u05dd \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05e7\u05b9\u05dc\u05b4\u0591\u05d9 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05bc\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05de\u05b9\u05e8\u0599 \u05de\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05de\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u0594\u05d9 \u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea\u05b7\u0596\u05d9 \u05d7\u05bb\u05e7\u05b9\u05bc\u05d5\u05ea\u05b7\u05a5\u05d9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05ea\u05b9\u05d5\u05e8\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05bd\u05d9\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n The English Standard Version (ESV) translates Genesis 26:2-5 this way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2<\/sup><\/strong><\/a>And the LORD appeared to him and said, \u201cDo not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 3<\/sup><\/strong><\/a>\u201cSojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands,<\/mark> and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 4<\/sup><\/strong><\/a>\u201cI will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give your offspring all these lands.<\/mark> And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 5<\/sup><\/strong><\/a>because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes and my laws.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The words of the LORD refer to a number of things. In verse 2, he asked (not commanded) Isaac not to go down to Egypt and abide\/settle in the land. This is the land (definite), not a land or any land. As such, later in verse 6 Isaac understood that the LORD meant it to be the land where he already was and so, he stayed in Gerar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In verse 3, the LORD actually says Isaac \u201cwill sojourn in this land\u201d and (as a result) he will be accompanied and blessed by God. Part of the blessing includes the promise that for to Isaac and his seed\/offspring the LORD gives all these lands (plural). The plural use in Hebrew for \u201call these lands\u201d may mean all the different territories that are encompassed by different peoples\/tribes occupying parts of the land in Isaac\u2019s time. In the last part of the verse, the Hebrew verb ordinarily means \u201cto arise, stand up, stand\u201d but in its inflected form is used to mean \u201cto establish\u201d or \u201cratify (a covenant)\u201d or \u201ccarry out, give effect to (an oath, covenant, vow, word, plan).\u201d See the Brown-Driver-Briggs \u201cHiphil\u201d entry in https:\/\/biblehub.com\/hebrew\/6965.htm<\/a>. The LORD is essentially reiterating the promises made to Isaac\u2019s father, Abraham. The implication is that these are now in effect for him as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Genesis 26:4 now continues God\u2019s promises initially said to Abraham regarding having many descendants, again designating \u201call these lands\u201d are for Isaac and his progeny, and by his offspring \u201call the nations of the earth\u201d will be blessed. This echoes Genesis 12:2-3, the foundational and original promises to Abram when he was called to go to Canaan. Instead of the literal \u201call families of the ground\/land\/soil\u201d in Genesis 12:3 where \u05d0\u05b2\u05d3\u05b8\u05de\u05b8\u05d4 (\u201cadamah\u201d meaning ground\/land\/soil) shares the same Hebrew root for \u201cAdam,\u201d it now becomes \u201call nations of the earth\/land.\u201d But the meaning is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, Genesis 26:5 now states why the LORD reiterates and confirms his promises. (The last Hebrew word in this verse may be translated as \u201cand my instructions\u201d as Torah<\/em> does not only mean law but also direction and instruction.) It was the consequence of Abraham\u2019s complete obedience to the LORD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We will continue next time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God bless us all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Ptr. Art Calaguas Shalom. Iran attacked Israel last week with some 330 drones and missiles, and many reckon the hand of the Almighty God protected Israel as 99% were intercepted before they reached Israel. Only 7 of the missiles actually got into the land which caused very little damage but the debris injured a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[6,7,9,8,5],"class_list":["post-432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ptr-art-calaguas","tag-church-of-the-risen-lord","tag-crl","tag-spiritual-refreshment-of-the-day","tag-upcemi","tag-upcrl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=432"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":433,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/432\/revisions\/433"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}