{"id":2562,"date":"2013-10-13T12:29:15","date_gmt":"2013-10-13T12:29:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/?p=2562"},"modified":"2013-10-15T10:35:32","modified_gmt":"2013-10-15T10:35:32","slug":"bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-vayera-making-godly-choices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-vayera-making-godly-choices\/","title":{"rendered":"Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Vayera, Making Godly Choices"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This weeks reading is from Parashat Vayera (<em>Bereshit \/ Genesis 18:1-22:24<\/em>), we read in the opening verses <span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b9\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05de\u05b7\u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u05b5\u05d0<\/span> <em>\u201cthe Lord appeared to him (Abraham) by the oaks of Mamre,\u201d<\/em> according to the Scriptures, the Lord God almighty visits Abraham along with two men (angels) traveling with Him (<em>18:1-3<\/em>).\u00a0 Abraham learns his wife Sarah is going to bear a son (<em>18:9-15<\/em>) and the Lord speaks to Abraham about the destruction of Sodom and Gemorah (<em>18:17-33<\/em>).\u00a0 In Parashat Lech Lecha, Lot and Abraham have a disagreement and decide to split.\u00a0 Lot chooses the Jordan valley and Abraham remains in Canaan.\u00a0 The cities of Sodom and Gemorah are so wicked, the Lord Himself comes down to see if what was reported was true and whether he should destroy the cities.\u00a0 The Lord has mercy on Lot and delivers him from destruction.\u00a0 The narrative continues, Abraham encounters Abimelech and Abimelech takes Sarah for his wife.\u00a0 The Lord speaks to Avimelech in a dream (<em>20:1-18<\/em>) telling him to send Sarah back to Abraham.\u00a0 The Lord tests Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac (22:1-18).\u00a0 The Lord God reiterates the covenant blessing to Abraham saying <span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\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 \u05e2\u05b5\u05e7\u05b6\u05d1 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05e2\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e7\u05b9\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9:<\/span>\u00a0 <em>22:18 \u2018In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.\u2019 (NASB)<\/em>\u00a0 This week the Lord God made Himself known to Abraham, and Abraham recognized that the Lord was speaking to him.\u00a0 It is interesting that we do not see Lot being mentioned until the Angels make their way to the city of Sodom.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u05db\u05ea\u05d1\u05d9 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d5\u05d3\u05e9 \/ The Holy Scriptures<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right; padding-left: 30px;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d1\u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05d9\u05d2, \u05d9\u05d8<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u05d6\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9-\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05d1 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b5\u05d9\u05df \u05e8\u05b9\u05e2\u05b5\u05d9 \u05de\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d4-\u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b5\u05d9\u05df \u05e8\u05b9\u05e2\u05b5\u05d9 \u05de\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d4-\u05dc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d6\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b8\u05d6 \u05d9\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05d1 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5: &#8230; \u05d9\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05bc\u05c2\u05b8\u05d0-\u05dc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05e2\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05db\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05d3\u05bc\u05b5\u05df \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05db\u05bb\u05dc\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc \u05de\u05b7\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e7\u05b6\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 | \u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05d7\u05b5\u05ea \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05e1\u05b0\u05d3\u05b9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05e2\u05b2\u05de\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4 \u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05d2\u05b7\u05df-\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05b2\u05db\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e6\u05b9\u05e2\u05b7\u05e8: \u05d9\u05d0\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05d7\u05b7\u05e8-\u05dc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05dc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d8 \u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05db\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05d3\u05bc\u05b5\u05df \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05e1\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2 \u05dc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d8 \u05de\u05b4\u05e7\u05bc\u05b6\u05d3\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05e4\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8\u05b0\u05d3\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1 \u05de\u05b5\u05e2\u05b7\u05dc \u05d0\u05b8\u05d7\u05b4\u05d9\u05d5: <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u05d0\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b8\u05d1\u05b9\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc \u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05db\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05e1\u05b0\u05d3\u05b9\u05de\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e2\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05d1 \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d8 \u05d9\u05b9\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05d1 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05e8-\u05e1\u05b0\u05d3\u05b9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05d0-\u05dc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b8\u05e7\u05b8\u05dd \u05dc\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05ea\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b0\u05e6\u05b8\u05d4:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong><em>Bereshit \/ Genesis 13:7-11, 19:1<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em>13:7 And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram\u2019s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot\u2019s livestock. Now the Canaanite and the Perizzite were dwelling then in the land. &#8230; 13:10 Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. 13:11 So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other.\u00a0 (NASB)<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>19:1 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. (NASB)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>As the story goes in Parashat Lech Lecha, Abraham and Lot were both prosperous and had abundant flocks and herds.\u00a0 The Scriptures say that they were so prosperous that the land could not sustain them both. As a result, Abraham went to Lot with an offer saying <em>\u201cLet there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left\u201d<\/em> (<em>Bereshit \/ Genesis 13:8-9<\/em>). Lot then lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, it was well watered and was good for the flocks, so Lot chose for himself the valley of the Jordan (<em>Bereshit \/ Genesis 13:10-11<\/em>).\u00a0 What is interesting is that in Parashat Lech Lecha, Lot chose the valley of the Jordan, however, in Parashat Vayera we find him dwelling at the gates (<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05e8<\/span>) of Sodom.\u00a0 <span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u05d0\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b8\u05d1\u05b9\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc \u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05db\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05e1\u05b0\u05d3\u05b9\u05de\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e2\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05d1 \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d8 \u05d9\u05b9\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05d1 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05e8-\u05e1\u05b0\u05d3\u05b9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05d0-\u05dc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b8\u05e7\u05b8\u05dd \u05dc\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05ea\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b0\u05e6\u05b8\u05d4:<\/span> <em>19:1 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. (NASB)<\/em>\u00a0 What is interesting is the description of Lot\u2019s choice of the Jordan valley and how the sentence is worded.\u00a0 <em>Bereshit \/ Genesis 13:10<\/em> says <span style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u05d9\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05bc\u05c2\u05b8\u05d0-\u05dc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05e2\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05db\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05d3\u05bc\u05b5\u05df \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05db\u05bb\u05dc\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc \u05de\u05b7\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e7\u05b6\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 | \u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05d7\u05b5\u05ea \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05e1\u05b0\u05d3\u05b9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05e2\u05b2\u05de\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4 \u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05d2\u05b7\u05df-\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05b2\u05db\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e6\u05b9\u05e2\u05b7\u05e8:<\/span> <em>13:10 Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. (NASB)<\/em>\u00a0 Notice how the Jordan valley was pleasing to Lot\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 In addition to this, the land is described as being like <em>\u201cthe garden of the Lord\u201d<\/em> and like <em>\u201cthe land of Egypt.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 It seems this valley of the Jordan had both the characteristics of the garden of Eden and of Egypt.\u00a0 <em>Bereshit \/ Genesis 13:11<\/em> states Lot chose for himself <em>\u201cAll of the valley of the Jordan.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Remember that the garden of Eden is known as paradise, Heaven, blessing, peace, and righteousness, whereas Egypt is known as unrighteousness, sin, wickedness, and idolatry.\u00a0 It seems that Lot\u2019s choice was to have a little of both.\u00a0 The question for our lives today is <em>\u201care we like Lot?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 <em>\u201cDo we choose to have a little of both, a little sin and a little of the Lord?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Note that Abraham remained in Canaan (<em>Bereshit \/ Genesis 13:12<\/em>), he rested in the promises of God and lived by faith.\u00a0 When we stop and consider the consequences of Lot\u2019s choices, it is clear that when we make bad choices things don\u2019t always turn out the way we expect.\u00a0 When making choices on what we do each day, what we watch on television or on the internet, ask yourself <em>\u201cIs this God\u2019s Will or My Will?\u201d\u00a0 \u201cAm I thinking of Others, or Only of Self?\u201d\u00a0 \u201cWill I be spiritually strengthened or weakened?\u201d\u00a0 Does this Promote Godliness or Worldliness?\u201d\u00a0 \u201cIf my life was written down in a book, would it be characterized like Lot\u2019s life where I would read about God working all around me however my name is not mentioned until the Angels make their way to the city of Sodom?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This is definitely a sobering thought don\u2019t you think?\u00a0 Parashat Vayera and the story of Lot is a call to repentance before the Lord.\u00a0 Based on these Scriptures, our lives should be characterized by seeking the Lord to keep us strong in Yeshua His Son and by practicing righteousness.\u00a0 Remaining strong in our faith is one thing, how do we practice righteousness, now that is the question!\u00a0 How do you practice righteousness?\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/BTT_Parashat-Vayera-2013.pdf\">BTT_Parashat Vayera-2013<\/a>  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This weeks reading is from Parashat Vayera (Bereshit \/ Genesis 18:1-22:24), we read in the opening verses \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b9\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05de\u05b7\u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u05b5\u05d0 \u201cthe Lord appeared to him (Abraham) by the oaks of Mamre,\u201d according to the Scriptures, the Lord God almighty visits Abraham along with two men (angels) traveling with Him (18:1-3).\u00a0 Abraham learns his [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2562","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-bits-of-torah-truth"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2562","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=2562"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2562\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2562"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2562"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2562"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}