Genesis 22 - Abraham Sacrifices Isaac

Genesis 27 – 28 Jacob's Dream Sermon by Messianic Rabbi Jeff Zaremsky Find more sermons and articles at shalomadventure.com

When Isaac was between 60 and 80 years of age there was a famine in the land and he brought his family to Gerer, which was under the leadership of Abimelech (Avi-melech), king of the Philistines. We saw in a previous sermon regarding Abraham and Abimelech that the name/title Avimelech means “my father is king.” This very well could be the same Avimelech that Abraham met with and lied to. Since Abraham lived 175 years it is possible that Avimelech was much younger than Abraham when they meet, and that he could still be alive at the time of this account with Isaac. There is also another indication in this chapter that gives credence to the very real possibility that this is the same Avimelech. Avimelech as an example: We saw in the sermon regarding Abraham and Avimelech that while Avimelech was a human who lived at that time, some of his actions prefigured those of the Messiah (Whose Father is King). We see some of that in this chapter with Isaac as well. Isaac followed Abraham’s bad example of lying to Avimelech. In the second part of Genesis 26, in spite of how Isaac acted, Avimelech sought Isaac out to make a peace treaty with him. Isaac’s reaction to Avimelech is very telling of Isaac’s mindset at that point and a good mirror for us to see ourselves in. There is much we can learn about Yeshua, and our own lives, from Avimelech’s example. Our example: Have you ever felt distant from God? Have you ever felt God is working against you? Have you had troubles with neighbor’s, work associates, family, or friends? Have you made wrong choices and acted out of fear? If you answered even a partial yes to any of those questions, then this week’s sermon has meaning for you to help you in your current situation. In this week’s sermon Rabbi Jeff Zaremsky elaborates on how Avimelech foreshadowed the Messiah and how our lives can also glorify God. Come along for the Adventure, you will stay for the Shalom – ShalomAdventure.com You can also view any and all of Shalom Adventure videos in one convenient, easy to navigate, site https://shalomadventure.lightcast.com/.

Isaac Blessed Because of a drought Isaac moves to Gerer, an area ruled by Abimelech (Avi-melech), king of the Philistines. Isaac’s father, Abraham, had also lived in this area during a drought. At that time Abraham lied about his Sarah, saying she is his sister, instead of saying that she is his wife. Avimelech innocently takes Sarah as wife, but is restrained by God from having relations with her. This incident took place within the year that God Himself came in the flesh and prophesied to Abraham that Sarah would conceive Isaac. This whole incident endangered the conception of Isaac. The lie brought shame upon Abraham. Then over 60 years later Isaac comes to this same man and also lies about his wife saying she is his sister. In some ways Isaac’s lie is worse in that Sarah was Abraham’s half-sister, but that was not the case with Isaac and Rebecca (she was his cousin). In this account Avimelech does not take Rebecca as wife, but he does find out Isaac’s lie and rebukes him for it. In spite of Isaac’s lack of faith, lying, and not immediately repenting of the wrong, God abundantly blesses Isaac. Being blessed while in disobedience seems contrary to other statements in the Bible. God did have a reason for blessing Isaac at this point in his life. Problems: While being blessed by God, Isaac has problems from people. Isaac’s example helps teach us some important life lessons. Have you been blessed by God? Have you always deserved it? Have you appreciated it? Have people ever caused problems in your life? How should we reacted to these situations? Join Rabbi Jeff Zaremsky by viewing this week’s sermon and finding why God would bless Isaac while Isaac was acting in disobedience to God, and how to deal when misused by others. Come along for the Adventure, you will stay for the Shalom – ShalomAdventure.com You can also view any and all of Shalom Adventure videos in one convenient, easy to navigate, https://shalomadventure.lightcast.com/

Sermon by Messianic Rabbi Jeff Zaremsky Find more sermons and articles at shalomadventure.com

Abraham’s Family, How Yeshua Kept from Sinning Even as a Youth The Bible clearly tells us that Yeshua was tempted in all ways as we are, yet He did not sin. How did He do it? Did He have something available to Him that we don’t have available to us? If that was the case than He would not have been tempted in all ways as we are, so that can’t be the answer. Yet He did what no one has done, but which all are called to do. So how did He do it? Finding the answer to that question is the vital key to living a godly life. We will discover the answer to that all important question today, from the Bible. Some people picture Yeshua walking around with a halo over His head, or that His mother was immaculate in order to give birth to a perfect child, but neither of those are pictures that the Bible give us. The Bible says, “Yeshua grew both in wisdom and in stature, gaining favor both with other people and with God.” Luke 2:52. Thus He continually grew with God while here on earth. The Inspired Word of God also tells us, in relation to when He descended from His Divinity to earth, “as the children have partaken of flesh & blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same… Therefore, in all things He had to be made like” us. So since He was made (when He came to this earth) “in all things like us” how did He do what you and I have not done? The Bible also tells us that we will “arrive… at full manhood, at the standard of maturity set by the Messiah’s perfection.” Ephesians 4:13. That is a wonderful promise that we also will grow in stature to the full maturity of Messiah’s perfection, wow. And to those who receive that promise receive this gift: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Revelation 3:21 Thus He became “in all things like us” to be our example, so that we can be in all things like Him. But how? How can we overcome as He also overcame? We will find out today! Yeshua, the Seed of Abraham By looking at Abraham’s family line it will help us understand a little more about Yeshua and how we, like Him, can have victory no matter our inherited tendencies to do wrong. Abraham’s family line, through his father Terah, is a very interesting study. There were many intermarriages among family members bringing about some interesting results. For example Abraham married his half-sister Sarah, Abraham’s nephew Lot was raped by his own daughters, and several other family related bed fellows. All of that inbreeding brought about several nations. Overcomers with God Today Rabbi Jeff Zaremsky ties Abraham’s family line and our relationship to Yeshua together and shows us, from scripture and illustration, how Yeshua overcame temptation throughout His life, and how we also can be overcomers with God. Come along for the Adventure, you will stay for the Shalom – ShalomAdventure.com You can also view any and all of Shalom Adventure videos in one convenient, easy to navigate site. https://shalomadventure.lightcast.com/

Mourning Sarah After the death of Sarah Abraham mourned for her. We don’t know how long they had been married, but they had been together for over 60 years since we were first introduced to them in chapter 11 of the book of Genesis. Seeing as how they were half sister and brother, they knew each other since Sarah’s birth. Thus Abraham was grieving for his sister of 127 years and his wife of over 60 years at the same time. Genesis 23:2 is the first verse in the Bible that specifically mentions someone mourning. It does not mention if Abraham sat shiva or if he held a memorial service for her, but there is an indication of something along that line at the death of Abraham, more on that in a few more paragraphs. Proper grieving is important. The next chapter in the Bible, Genesis 24:67 mentions that Isaac was still grieving his mother Sarah three years later when it says, “Isaac brought (Rebekah) into his mother Sarah’s tent… and she became his wife, and he loved her. Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.” Sarah’s tent had remained standing for at least those three years. Isaac might not have done things that would have helped him properly grieve his mother, Sarah’s, death. There is no mention of Isaac participating in the burial, no mention of him or his father, Abraham, having a memorial service or sitting shiva. Sitting shiva is not mentioned until Joseph mourning his father Jacob. Isaac seems to have done better with the death of his father, Abraham, again, more on that in a few more paragraphs. Burying Sarah When Sarah died Abraham sought a place to bury her. He choose a field and cave owned by Ephron the Hittite and asked him to “give” it to him and he will “pay” him for it. The two of them go back and forth using these concepts “give” and “price.” Those seem not only opposites but in opposition to each other. In our society you can’t “pay” for a “gift,” and you can’t “charge” for a “gift.” But we see in this story that nothing is free – even gifts. Nothing is free, even our salvation (that is an interesting, in some circles heretical, but Biblical concept – click on the video with this article to understand this truth). In some way shape of form someone, including all of us, pay for everything. Death of Abraham Abraham outlived Sarah by about another 40 years. During that time he remarried and had more children. When He died Isaac invited Ismael to come back and participate in the burial. Isaac would be about 75 years old by this time and obviously did not hold a grudge against Ismael. Abraham willed everything to Isaac. It does not seem like Ismael was jealous of that. Both came together to remember their father Abraham. How beautiful. Twenty seven sermons This sermon concludes the series on the life of Abraham by Rabbi Jeff Zaremsky. With a total of 27 sermons in this series it very well might be the most comprehensive sermon series on the 15 chapters of Genesis from chapters 11 to 25, which record the life of Abraham and Sarah. Come along for the Adventure, you will stay for the Shalom – ShalomAdventure.com You can also view any and all of Shalom Adventure videos in one convenient, easy to navigate site https://shalomadventure.lightcast.com/

In Genesis chapter 20 we read about Abraham lying to Avimelech regarding Sarah. Then in chapter 21 Avimelech comes back to Abraham, this time with the commander of his army to call Abraham out for his sin and to get an assurance from Abraham that he will not do it again. After Abraham is humbled and promises not to do it again, Abraham uses this opportunity to call out a wrong that he feels Avimelech has done to him. Then the two of them go about making peace together through a covenant ceremony. Preparing for Yom Kippur: During the Ten Days of Awe between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur we are reminded to make our records clean and right with God. This Biblical account is a good reminder for us to speak with those who have wronged us and do all that we can on our part, by God’s grace, to make things right. Not only is this Biblical account of Abraham and Avimelech historical, it has spiritual significance regarding God’s eternal plan for humanity and for our own personal lives. Are their people in your life that you need to address for wrongs they have done to you? Listen to this sermon to find out the right and wrong way to do it. Have people called you out for wrongs you have done? Listen to this sermon to find out the right and wrong way to do it? Join Rabbi Jeff Zaremsky in learning how to have better relationships with those around you and how to make peace. Come along for the Adventure, you will stay for the Shalom – ShalomAdventure.com You can also view any and all of Shalom Adventure videos in one convenient, easy to navigate, site. https://shalomadventure.lightcast.com/

After 25 years of waiting for the son of promise to be born God finally fulfilled His oath to Abraham and Isaac was miraculously born to Sarah. Some thirteen to twenty years later when Isaac was at least in his teen years, God called Abraham to sacrifice his only son, the son he loved. How could God ask such a thing? Wouldn’t that have been murder? How was Abraham’s descendants going to be as many as the sands of the sea or the stars of heaven if he killed the one through whom those descendants would come? Many doubts regarding this command must have come into Abraham’s mind. This was the biggest test of his life, one of the biggest tests that any human has been asked to perform. Abraham chose to obey God. He took two servants, Isaac, and most of the preparations for the journey of three days. But one vital item was missing. Isaac did not notice it was missing until the third day, but when he asked about it Abraham gave him one of the most amazing prophetic answers in the Bible. God led them to a specific mountain which later on would have huge significance for hundreds of years, and for our day as well. When they reach the mountain Abraham asked the two servants to wait while Isaac and he continued on a little further. Abraham added a phrase to those instructions which is an astounding statement of faith. The Test Abraham and Isaac built the altar for the sacrifice. At some point Abraham reveald to Isaac the command of the Lord. Isaac’s reaction was most interesting. Isaac was youthful and full of strength, while Abraham was old and weary after an arduous and restless three day. Isaac could have done anything he wanted to do, but his response was amazing, and prophetic. The test was not only for Abraham, but also for Isaac. It is easy for us to at times focus on the sacrifice of the father, and forget about how much the test was also for the son. It is also easy for us to focus on the sacrifice of the Son and forget the sacrifice on the part of the Father. Looking deeper than what is on the surface In this week’s sermon Rabbi Jeff Zaremsky helps us see the deep messages in this Biblical account. We find the prophetic fulfillment to Abraham’s statement to Isaac regarding the missing item they needed for their journey. We learn what was so significant about the spot God chose for Abraham. We come to understand what faith really looks like as we hear Abraham’s instructions to his servants. We are drawn in to feel the pain of both the father and the son, and we rejoice in hearing the greater fulfillment of this Biblical account. And as always we find lessons for our lives today. Come along for the Adventure, you will stay for the Shalom – ShalomAdventure.com You can also view any and all of Shalom Adventure videos in one convenient, easy to navigate, site https://shalomadventure.lightcast.com/.

Abraham and Sarah held a party celebrating that their miraculously born child, Isaac, was weaned. I am sure 90 year old Sarah was very thankful that day had finally arrived. Hagar, Sarah’s maid, and Ismael, the son she bore to Abraham, were at the party. Ismael was probably around 16 years of age at this point. During the party Ishmael showed his jealousy by mocking Isaac. It is understandable that Ismael would be jealous after years of being the only child, the inheritor of all of Abraham’s wealth. Sarah noticed the jealousy and she was not going to allow it to harm the unity of bond she had with her husband Abraham. She told Abraham that Hagar and Ismael needed to be cast out. Abraham was distraught over the thought of being separated from Ismael, whom he loved. God knowing Abraham’s heart gave him guidance by instructing him to listen to Sarah and cast out the bondservant and her son. God choose not to acknowledge their names. God knows that Abraham is still concerned for them and He assures Abraham that they will be well and that from Ishmael many people will come, even mighty nations. Symbolic spiritual meaning: While this is a very real story with even more drama in it than just mentioned, it also has deep spiritual meaning. Rabbi Paul, the writer of the book of Galatians, wrote “it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren, you who do not bear! Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.” Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.” Galatians 4:22-31 Two women, two sons, two locations, two covenants: In this week’s sermon Rabbi Jeff Zaremsky helps us understand what these two women, two sons, two locations represent, and what are the two covenants. Is one of the covenants, the one represented by Hagar and Mount Sinai, the Ten Commandments, as is commonly taught in some circles? Are the Ten Commandments to be cast out? No, of course not! God forbid, as Rabbi Paul would say. That would not make sense in light of what the rest of the Bible says regarding the Ten Commandments which were given by God Himself, written with His own finger, on tablets of stone, placed inside the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies. Rabbi Paul says are: “The law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” Romans 7:12. And Yeshua said, “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” Matthew 5:18. So than what are the two covenants? Watch the sermon and hear how Rabbi Jeff makes it plain as day for us. Come along for the Adventure, you will stay for the Shalom – ShalomAdventure.com You can also view any and all of Shalom Adventure videos in one convenient, easy to navigate, site. https://shalomadventure.lightcast.com/

At the age of 90, after being promised by God a child for at least the previous 25 years, Sarah gave birth to a son. It was a miraculous occurrence like no other mentioned prior to God creating Adam from dust, and Eve from a rib. Sarah was beyond child bearing age. Thus for her to give birth to a child was nothing short of miraculous. Impossible? Is anything too hard for God? Some question whether or not God could perform miraculous births. What do you think – did God miraculously bring forth Isaac from Sarah & Abraham? If so, would it be too hard for God to do other types of miraculous births? Can God do miracles in your life? Miraculous: Rabbi Jeff Zaremsky explores Bible predictions and an example of another miraculous birth during this week’s sermon. Find out for yourself these life changing truths by joining Rabbi Jeff in listening to this drasha. Come along for the Adventure, you will stay for the Shalom – ShalomAdventure.com You can also view any and all of Shalom Adventure videos in one convenient, easy to navigate, site. https://shalomadventure.lightcast.com/