{"id":11754,"date":"2020-11-16T19:41:56","date_gmt":"2020-11-16T19:41:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/?p=11754"},"modified":"2020-11-19T23:05:51","modified_gmt":"2020-11-19T23:05:51","slug":"a-testimony-of-faith-in-the-life-of-isaac-parashat-toldot-bits-of-torah-truths-digging-deeper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/a-testimony-of-faith-in-the-life-of-isaac-parashat-toldot-bits-of-torah-truths-digging-deeper\/","title":{"rendered":"A Testimony of Faith in the Life of Isaac,\u00a0\u05e4\u05e8\u05e9\u05ea \u05ea\u05d5\u05dc\u05d3\u05d5\u05ea, Parashat Toldot, Bits of Torah Truths – Digging Deeper"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In this week\u2019s Torah Portion, we read about a famine in the Land and Isaac and all that he owned moved down to Gerar near to the king of the Philistines, Bereshit \/ Genesis 26:1<\/a>, \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05a4\u05d9 \u05e8\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05d1\u0599 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u0594\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05de\u05b4\u05dc\u05bc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b7\u05d3\u0599 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05a3\u05d1 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d0\u05e9\u05c1\u0594\u05d5\u05b9\u05df \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05a5\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u0596\u05d4 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05de\u05b5\u05a3\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u0591\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05a7\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u059b\u05e7 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc\u05be\u05d0\u05b2\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05de\u05bc\u05b6\u05a5\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05de\u05b6\u05bd\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0\u05be\u05e4\u05bc\u05b0\u05dc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u0596\u05d9\u05dd \u05d2\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05bd\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05c3 \u201cThere was a famine in the land\u2014aside from the previous famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham\u2014and Isaac went to Abimelech, king of the Philistines, in Gerar.\u201d<\/span><\/em> In Bereshit \/ Genesis 26<\/a> we read about how Isaac went down to Gerar and feared the people and the king so he said his wife is his sister. (26:7<\/a>) and then the king saw them together and realized this was his wife. (26:8-11<\/a>) Then because of Isaac\u2019s faithfulness to God to remain in the Land and not go to Egypt, He blessed him with great wealth, power, and caused him to be envied and feared (26:13-14<\/a>). Then we are told how the Philistines had stopped up the wells that Abraham had dug and how Isaac dug those wells again. (26:15<\/a>) We read in Bereshit \/ Genesis 26:3<\/a> the Lord God said to Isaac, \u05d2\u05bc\u059a\u05d5\u05bc\u05e8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05a3\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05bc\u05b9\u0594\u05d0\u05ea \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05bd\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05a5\u05d4 \u05e2\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8\u0596 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u0591\u05da\u05bc\u05b8 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\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\u05bc\u05b5\u05df\u0599 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc\u05be\u05d4\u05b8\u05bd\u05d0\u05b2\u05e8\u05b8\u05e6\u05b9\u05a3\u05ea \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u0594\u05dc \u05d5\u05b7\u05d4\u05b2\u05e7\u05b4\u05bd\u05de\u05b9\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9\u0599 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05c1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d1\u05bb\u05e2\u05b8\u0594\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05a5\u05e8 \u05e0\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u0596\u05e2\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05a5\u05dd \u05d0\u05b8\u05d1\u05b4\u05bd\u05d9\u05da\u05b8\u05c3 Reside in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; I will assign all these lands to you and to your heirs, fulfilling the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. (NASB)<\/span><\/em> This verse may be an indication why we read about the situation of the Philistines stopping up the wells. The purpose of the Philistines stopping up the wells was so Isaac\u2019s servants could not draw water in the hope that Isaac would go away because of the lack of water. It is interesting how we read in Bereshit \/ Genesis 26:1<\/a>, \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05a4\u05d9 \u05e8\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05d1\u0599 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u0594\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05de\u05b4\u05dc\u05bc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b7\u05d3\u0599 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05a3\u05d1 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d0\u05e9\u05c1\u0594\u05d5\u05b9\u05df \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05a5\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u0596\u05d4 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05de\u05b5\u05a3\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u0591\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05a7\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u059b\u05e7 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc\u05be\u05d0\u05b2\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05de\u05bc\u05b6\u05a5\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05de\u05b6\u05bd\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0\u05be\u05e4\u05bc\u05b0\u05dc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u0596\u05d9\u05dd \u05d2\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05bd\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05c3 \u201cThere was a famine in the land\u2014aside from the previous famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham\u2014and Isaac went to Abimelech, king of the Philistines, in Gerar\u201d<\/span><\/em> and then because of Isaac\u2019s wealth and blessing, Abimelech told Isaac in Bereshit \/ Genesis 26:16<\/a>, \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b9\u05a5\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b2\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05de\u05b6\u0596\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc\u05be\u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u0591\u05e7 \u05dc\u05b5\u059a\u05da\u05b0 \u05de\u05bd\u05b5\u05e2\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05b8\u0594\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05bd\u05d9\u05be\u05e2\u05b8\u05e6\u05b7\u05bd\u05de\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05be\u05de\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05b6\u0596\u05e0\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc \u05de\u05b0\u05d0\u05b9\u05bd\u05d3\u05c3 And Abimelech said to Isaac, \u201cGo away from us, for you have become far too big for us.\u201d<\/span><\/em> Now God had blessed Isaac because of his faithfulness, he had acquired large quantity of livestock so there was no room for them to live together. Note there may be a parallel here from the sense that Lot and Abraham parted ways. What did Isaac do? He remained faithful according to Bereshit \/ Genesis 26:17<\/a>, \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05a5\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05de\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05bc\u05b8\u0596\u05dd \u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u0591\u05e7 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05a5\u05d7\u05b7\u05df \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b7\u05bd\u05d7\u05b7\u05dc\u05be\u05d2\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u0596\u05e8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05a5\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d1 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05bd\u05dd\u05c3 “<\/span>So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the wadi of Gerar, where he settled.”<\/span><\/em> It appears as if Isaac went to Gerar and then when requested to leave by the king, he did not leave that place as being obedient and faithful to God\u2019s command. Even though we read about Isaac\u2019s fear of the people of the land, this week\u2019s Torah portion speaks to the importance of having faith and being faithful.<\/p>\n

We note how the Hebrew texts states, \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05a5\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05de\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05bc\u05b8\u0596\u05dd \u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u0591\u05e7 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05a5\u05d7\u05b7\u05df \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b7\u05bd\u05d7\u05b7\u05dc\u05be\u05d2\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u0596\u05e8<\/strong> \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05a5\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d1 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05bd\u05dd\u05c3 specifically it says \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b7\u05bd\u05d7\u05b7\u05dc\u05be\u05d2\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u0596\u05e8 meaning \u201cin the valley of Gerar\u201d<\/span><\/em> suggesting that he moved as Abimelech had requested, but he remained near hence going against their will. This is why we read what follows is Isaac digging the wells that his father had dug. We are also told according to Bereshit \/ Genesis 26:18<\/a>, \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0 \u05dc\u05b8\u05d4\u05b6\u05df \u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05de\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05db\u05bc\u05b7\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b5\u05de\u05b9\u05ea \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8-\u05e7\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0 \u05dc\u05b8\u05d4\u05b6\u05df \u05d0\u05b8\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05d5 \u201cAnd He called them by the name his father called them.\u201d<\/span><\/em> The purpose of his calling them by the same name was to show these were not new wells and that he had faith in God\u2019s promises to give him the Land.<\/p>\n

The text we are looking at for this week is from Bereshit \/ Genesis 26:1-17<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d1\u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05db\u05d5
<\/strong>\u05d0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e8\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05d1 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05de\u05b4\u05dc\u05bc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b7\u05d3 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05d1 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d0\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05b9\u05df \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05de\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05e7 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d0\u05b2\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05de\u05b6\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05de\u05b6\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0-\u05e4\u05bc\u05b0\u05dc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d2\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4: \u05d1 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b7\u05dc-\u05ea\u05bc\u05b5\u05e8\u05b5\u05d3 \u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d9\u05b0\u05de\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05db\u05b9\u05df \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b9\u05de\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8: \u05d2 \u05d2\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc\u05e8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05ea \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05d4 \u05e2\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05b2\u05db\u05b6\u05da\u05bc\u05b8 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9-\u05dc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05dc\u05b0\u05d6\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e2\u05b2\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05bc\u05b5\u05df \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b2\u05e8\u05b8\u05e6\u05b9\u05ea \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc \u05d5\u05b7\u05d4\u05b2\u05e7\u05b4\u05de\u05b9\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b0\u05d1\u05bb\u05e2\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05e0\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05dd \u05d0\u05b8\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05da\u05b8: \u05d3 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b5\u05d9\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d6\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e2\u05b2\u05da\u05b8 \u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05db\u05d5\u05b9\u05db\u05b0\u05d1\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05ea\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d6\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e2\u05b2\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b2\u05e8\u05b8\u05e6\u05b9\u05ea \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05ea\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8\u05b2\u05db\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05b0\u05d6\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e2\u05b2\u05da\u05b8 \u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05dc \u05d2\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d9\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5: \u05d4 \u05e2\u05b5\u05e7\u05b6\u05d1 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8-\u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05e2 \u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e7\u05b9\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b9\u05e8 \u05de\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea\u05b7\u05d9 \u05d7\u05bb\u05e7\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea\u05b7\u05d9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05ea\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05d9: [\u05e9\u05e0\u05d9] \u05d5 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d1 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05e7 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b4\u05d2\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05e8: \u05d6 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d0\u05b2\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc 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\u05d0\u05b2\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05de\u05b6\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05e7 \u05dc\u05b5\u05da\u05b0 \u05de\u05b5\u05e2\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9-\u05e2\u05b8\u05e6\u05b7\u05de\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8 \u05de\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05b6\u05e0\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc \u05de\u05b0\u05d0\u05b9\u05d3: \u05d9\u05d6 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05de\u05b4\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b8\u05dd \u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05e7 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05d7\u05b7\u05df \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05dc-\u05d2\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05e8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d1 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05dd:<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Bereshit \/ Genesis 26:1-17
<\/strong>26:1 Now there was a famine in the land, besides the previous famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. So Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines. 26:2 The Lord appeared to him and said, \u2018Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I shall tell you. 26:3 \u2018Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham. 26:4 \u2018I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; 26:5 because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws.\u2019 26:6 So Isaac lived in Gerar. 26:7 When the men of the place asked about his wife, he said, \u2018She is my sister,\u2019 for he was afraid to say, \u2018my wife,\u2019 thinking, \u2018the men of the place might kill me on account of Rebekah, for she is beautiful.\u2019 26:8 It came about, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out through a window, and saw, and behold, Isaac was caressing his wife Rebekah. 26:9 Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, \u2018Behold, certainly she is your wife! How then did you say, \u2018She is my sister\u2019?\u2019 And Isaac said to him, \u2018Because I said, \u2018I might die on account of her.\u2019\u2018 26:10 Abimelech said, \u2018What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.\u2019 26:11 So Abimelech charged all the people, saying, \u2018He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.\u2019 26:12 Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the Lord blessed him, 26:13 and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy; 26:14 for he had possessions of flocks and herds and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him. 26:15 Now all the wells which his father\u2019s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines stopped up by filling them with earth. 26:16 Then Abimelech said to Isaac, \u2018Go away from us, for you are too powerful for us.\u2019 26:17 And Isaac departed from there and camped in the valley of Gerar, and settled there. (NASB)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

After all of these things we read Isaac dug a well as it says in Bereshit \/ Genesis 26:19<\/a>, \u05d9\u05d8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b0\u05e4\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc \u05e2\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05d3\u05b5\u05d9-\u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05e7 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05e0\u05bc\u05b8\u05d7\u05b7\u05dc \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05de\u05b0\u05e6\u05b0\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc-\u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05e8 \u05de\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d7\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd: \u201cBut when Isaac\u2019s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of living water.\u201d<\/span><\/em> I feel this is a significant statement here. You will find looking up this in your English translations, the English translations do not say \u201cliving water\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05de\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d7\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd) but either just water of flowing water, etc. Note the rabbinic way of interpreting \u05de\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d7\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd is to be flowing water. The shepherds of Abimelech fought over this well of living water. More importantly, we see how Isaac lived out his faith being faithful to God and because of this he found a well of life (living waters, \u05de\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d7\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd). This is a significant aspect of the Hebrew text that shows us how having faith and remaining faithful we will find a well of living water! There are many parallels to this and our faith in Yeshua the Messiah as the One who gives us a well of living water (read John 4<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we study the Rambam and his commentary, he does not find any purpose or glory to Isaac. There is however great glory to the credit of Isaac in the sense that he was faithful to God and believed in God\u2019s Promises just as Abraham his father was faithful! Since Isaac was faithful, we are told as he dwelled in BeerSheva the Lord appeared to him and promised him saying in Bereshit \/ Genesis 26:24<\/a>, \u05db\u05d3 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05dc\u05bc\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b8\u05e0\u05b9\u05db\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05dd \u05d0\u05b8\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b7\u05dc-\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9-\u05d0\u05b4\u05ea\u05bc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b8\u05e0\u05b9\u05db\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b5\u05e8\u05b7\u05db\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b5\u05d9\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d6\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e2\u05b2\u05da\u05b8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05d5\u05bc\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05dd \u05e2\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05d3\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9: \u201cI am the God of your father Abraham; Do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you, and multiply your descendants, For the sake of My servant Abraham.\u201d<\/span><\/em> The Lord appeared and confirmed His Promise to Isaac. This suggests to us that the Lord God is the one who gives us the power to overcome our enemies and to live our lives for Him! These things reveal to us if we remain faithful to the Lord He will both be with us and bless us!<\/p>\n

Returning to the beginning of Bereshit \/ Genesis 26<\/a>, looking at the opening verses, we read according to Bereshit \/ Genesis 26:3<\/a> the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bershit \/ Genesis 26:3
<\/strong>\u05d2\u05bc\u059a\u05d5\u05bc\u05e8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05a3\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05bc\u05b9\u0594\u05d0\u05ea \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05bd\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05a5\u05d4 \u05e2\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8\u0596 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u0591\u05da\u05bc\u05b8 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\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\u05bc\u05b5\u05df\u0599 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc\u05be\u05d4\u05b8\u05bd\u05d0\u05b2\u05e8\u05b8\u05e6\u05b9\u05a3\u05ea \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u0594\u05dc \u05d5\u05b7\u05d4\u05b2\u05e7\u05b4\u05bd\u05de\u05b9\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9\u0599 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05c1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d1\u05bb\u05e2\u05b8\u0594\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05a5\u05e8 \u05e0\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u0596\u05e2\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05a5\u05dd \u05d0\u05b8\u05d1\u05b4\u05bd\u05d9\u05da\u05b8\u05c3 Reside in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; I will assign all these lands to you and to your heirs, fulfilling the oath that I swore to your father Abraham.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Looking closely at the Hebrew text, why did God phrase the command to not leave the Land of Israel as Isaac being a \u05d2\u05bc\u059a\u05d5\u05bc\u05e8 meaning to \u201cdwell as a stranger\u201d<\/span><\/em> when the Lord had told him previously that he will \u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05db\u05b9\u05df \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u201cdwell permanently in the Land?\u201d<\/span><\/em> The rabbis say this is due to the Lord giving him a hint of \u05d2\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05d9\u05b5\u05d4 \u201csojourner of a lion\u201d<\/span><\/em> the rabbis say is the vision God had given him while laying on the altar during the Akedat Yitzchak, and they also say that his experience led to \u05e4\u05d7\u05d3 \u05d9\u05e6\u05d7\u05e7 \u201cthe fear of Isaac.\u201d<\/span><\/em> This led to His faith and faithfulness in the God of Abraham throughout his life remaining obedient to the teachings of his father. <\/p>\n

In Bereshit \/ Genesis 26:15<\/a> we are told that the Philistines stopped up the wells of his father and that He continued to dig wells also shows us something very important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bereshit \/ Genesis 26:15
<\/strong>\u05d5\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc\u05be\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05e8\u05b9\u0597\u05ea \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05a4\u05e8 \u05d7\u05b8\u05bd\u05e4\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u0599 \u05e2\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05d3\u05b5\u05a3\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b8\u05d1\u05b4\u0594\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05de\u05b5\u0596\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05a3\u05dd \u05d0\u05b8\u05d1\u05b4\u0591\u05d9\u05d5 \u05e1\u05b4\u05ea\u05bc\u05b0\u05de\u05a3\u05d5\u05bc\u05dd \u05e4\u05bc\u05b0\u05dc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u0594\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05d0\u0596\u05d5\u05bc\u05dd \u05e2\u05b8\u05e4\u05b8\u05bd\u05e8\u05c3 And the Philistines stopped up all the wells which his father\u2019s servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham, filling them with earth.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The way Isaac proceeded in life, He kept the wells of his father and he named them the same names is a very significant detail because it shows us the meticulous way in which Isaac adhered to the norms of his father and the things that Abraham had taught him. We also note that Isaac\u2019s name was not changed, something that we see happening to both Abram –> Abraham, and Jacob –> Israel, this is distinctly different and again illustrates how Isaac followed the teachings of his father Abraham. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is real evidence that dads have a unique and important impact in the lives of their children! This is illustrated here from the life of Isaac. Our culture seems to place little value on the role of fathers. This is pretty evident everywhere, from pop culture and media to government policy. In the life of Isaac, we see that he did not drift spiritually from what his father had taught him. If we consider this idea of drifting spiritually, there are a few examples. One example may be found when Moshe went up the mountain and delayed in coming back. Another is when Israel entered the Promised Land and Moshe died, Joshua died, and all of those who lived through the exodus died, the people drifted spiritually from the teachings of their father. Another example, when Yeshua ascended into heaven, we can see how over the course of thousands of years, people have tended to drift spiritually from the truth. When Moshe went up the mountain, the people wondered \u201cwhat has become of him?\u201d<\/span><\/em> The people asked this question and then said \u201cwe do not know what has become of him.\u201d<\/span><\/em> This illustrates how Moshe did not return according to their expectations. The Israelites then decided to look to the world, what they know, for a solution, and in this case to the place they were raised, Egypt. They asked to make a golden calf to worship as their god. Moshe\u2019s delay was longer than the people expected that he should be gone so their affections pulled their attention elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We know that man has an inner quality to worship something, whether this is God or something else (money, etc). We also know this innate desire wants to be free to worship according to the dictates of one\u2019s own mind. This leads to worship without boundaries, confusion, and leads many to seeking a god of their own creation. We know according to the Scriptures that God is not pleased with this approach to worship. He is actually calling people out of this way of thinking because we as the people of God are not to allow the world to mold us into its conduct, character, and attitudes. Solomon wrote in Mishley \/ Proverbs 21:6<\/a> saying, \u201cA man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the congregation of the dead.\u201d<\/span><\/em> Is this not a pretty strong way of saying what we are discussing here? The point is most people do not set out to deliberately depart from the truth of God and His Messiah Yeshua. They begin learning new things, and little by little they begin to spiritually drift. Once the truth becomes a little blurry, it is more easy to move away from the truth and to be deceived into many things. Even one\u2019s way of thinking may be warped to the extent that he or she will not return to the truth found in the Scriptures, such as what we are taught concerning the gospel message in the NT. The author of the book of Hebrews makes an analogy that is similar to a boat drifting away in relation to the topic of spiritual drift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hebrews 2:1-3
<\/strong>2:1 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2:2 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, 2:3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard (NASB)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Here the author of Hebrews calls us to pay close attention to the truth and to hold fast to it so that we do not drift away from it. He says that every transgression and disobedience received just penalty (2:2<\/a>) and how we have a great salvation in Yeshua the Messiah, how can we neglect such a great salvation? A person neglects this great salvation for many reasons, one is pride. I have run into people who trust in their works of righteousness for their salvation believing that God\u2019s word forbids Yeshua from taking our sins upon himself. Presumption of the truth often results in careless drifting, which then quickly advances from simple neglect to willful disobedience and sin. We are called to be in a continual state of Teshuvah (repentance) and to diligently seek the Kingdom of God and truth. Considering the spiritual drift and becoming dull to hearing, Solomon had some things to say concerning this in Mishley \/ Proverbs 8:32-36<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mishley \/ Proverbs 8:32-36
<\/strong>8:32 \u2018Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, For blessed are they who keep my ways. 8:33 \u2018Heed instruction and be wise, And do not neglect it. 8:34 \u2018Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts. 8:35 \u2018For he who finds me finds life And obtains favor from the Lord. 8:36 \u2018But he who sins against me injures himself; All those who hate me love death.\u2019 (NASB)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Notice how Solomon states that we are to listen carefully and apply diligently what we have been taught. If we do not but instead live a life of sin, then the conclusion is that one loves death rather than life. Since believing in Yeshua, have we ever thought of ourselves as \u201cloving death?\u201d<\/span><\/em> Those who do not consciously and purposefully direct their lives by faith toward obedience to God in reality love death! These are the things that Isaac is drawing out for us in this week\u2019s Torah portion. Isaac\u2019s life may not be as dramatic as his predecessors or as that of his children, but great credit goes to Isaac in the sense that he was faithful to God and believed in God\u2019s Promises just as Abraham his father was faithful! He proceeded in life by keeping the faith, i.e. He kept the wells of his father and he named them the same names is a very significant detail because it shows us the meticulous way in which Isaac adhered to the norms of his father and the things that Abraham had taught him. So too we must trust in the truth that is laid out in the Scriptures as we understand it, the love of God for His people led to the sending His of Son Yeshua to die for our sins so that we may receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life!<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BTT_Parashat-Toldot-2020<\/a>Download<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this week\u2019s Torah Portion, we read about a famine in the Land and Isaac and all that he owned moved down to Gerar near to the king of the Philistines, Bereshit \/ Genesis 26:1, \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05a4\u05d9 \u05e8\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05d1\u0599 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u0594\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05de\u05b4\u05dc\u05bc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b7\u05d3\u0599 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05a3\u05d1 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d0\u05e9\u05c1\u0594\u05d5\u05b9\u05df \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05a5\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u0596\u05d4 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05de\u05b5\u05a3\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u0591\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05a7\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u059b\u05e7 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc\u05be\u05d0\u05b2\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05de\u05bc\u05b6\u05a5\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05de\u05b6\u05bd\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0\u05be\u05e4\u05bc\u05b0\u05dc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u0596\u05d9\u05dd \u05d2\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05bd\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05c3 \u201cThere was a famine in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11758,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-11754","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bits-of-torah-truth","8":"category-weekly-parashah"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11754","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11754"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11754\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11758"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11754"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11754"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11754"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}