This week’s parsha Vayera contains the famous story of the Akeidah Yitzchak [Binding of Yitzchak] and so I would like to relate further insight on this topic as an example for us in the context of passing our tests with the amazing Emunah faithfulness our Forefathers had!

In Bereshit [Genesis] chapter 22 it tells the story of how God tested Avraham’s devotion by commanding him to sacrifice Yitchak on Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount) in Jerusalem.  Yitzcak was able to willing to trust his earthly Father because he completely trusted his Heavenly Father because he had heard the story of his father Avraham having been saved by God when thrown into Nimrod’s firery furnace and thus was willing to completely submit and trust God through the process of total self-denial like Yeshua did almost 2000 years later!

Like Yitzchak willingly laying down his life while trusting Hashem, over the centuries, there have been many causes for which Jews have become martyrs – giving up their lives in order to sanctify the name of God. And it should not be surprising that many of the extraordinary character traits that Jews have exhibited through the years are actually legacies that we inherited from our Avot Forefathers [Patriarchs]. Throughout the centuries, Jews have had the strength to go to their deaths sanctifying God’s Name because our father Avraham did so first.

The principle of “Ma’aseh Avot Siman l’Banim” teaches us that everything that the Avot Forefathers experienced, happened — or will happen — to their descendants, including us today… 

In addition to the simple interpretation that the actions of the Avot Patriarchs are a historical blueprint of the future, the actions of the Avot are also a personality blueprint of the future. The Avot foreshadow our character legacy. If we have within ourselves the spiritual capability to go to martyrdom for the sake of Torah and Mitzvot, it is only because we have received this character trait as a legacy from our distant ancestors.

In fact, throughout the ages Jews endured tremendous self-sacrifice in order to fulfill the mitzvah of living in Eretz Yisroel [the Land of Israel]. Today it is relatively simple to live in Eretz Yisroel, however, we still see that it literally involved risking one’s life.  For many years, to live in Eretz Yisroel was a constant danger to life. Nonetheless, Jews did it by the thousands. Where did they get that ability? What allowed them to put their lives on the line for the sake of this mitzvah? In the context of our Parashot Avraham Avinu was the trailblazer.   Avraham, by following the command of God to go out from his country (Lech Lecha m’artzecha [Bereishis 12:1]) to forsake everything and journey to Eretz Yisroel, paved the way for the rest of us.

There is a concept in Jewish thought called Emunas Chachamim [Trust in our Wise Ones], which means we must trust our righteous leaders examples.  Yitzchak’s test was, in a sense, even greater than the test faced by Avraham. Avraham heard from God Himself, that he was to sacrifice Yitzchak. But who told Yitzchak that he was to be a sacrifice? Yitzchak must have considered it awfully strange that God, who is love and above all else values life, wants a human sacrifice. Such ritual, after all, is an anathema to all that Torah stands for. But Yitzchak listened to the Chacham of his day. He had belief in the “Wise Ones”.

This act on Yitzchak’s part — to trust in his Chacham — is the original source of the character trait passed down by legacy to later generations of Jews — to have Emunas Chachamim, even in the face of apparent illogical reasoning.

At times, blindly following the advice of our Chachamim is no less a test than “Lech Lecha” [Go forth from your land]. But just as we received the power to withstand the trials of “Lech Lecha” from Avraham, we received the power to withstand the trials of “Emunas Chachamim” from Yitzchak in this week’s parashah Vayera.  May we all be able to have the faith of the Wise ones before us and pass such tests in our lifetime as their lives exemplified!

Hebrews 11 recounts such acts of faith so that we might be reminded when we too are tested… so now read Rabbi Shaul’s words with this mindset of Emunas Chacham [the trust in the Wise Ones] who are our example of what real faith looks like so we can be encouraged to emulate the same amazing faith in our day and bring about the completion of all things!

1Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen. 2This testimony of faith is what previous generations  were commended for. 3Faith empowers us to see that the universe was created and beautifully coordinated  by the power of God’s words! He spoke and the invisible realm gave birth to all that is seen.

4Faith moved Abel  to choose a more acceptable sacrifice to offer God than his brother Cain, and God declared him righteous because of his offering of faith. By his faith, Abel still speaks instruction to us today, even though he is long dead.

5Faith translated Enoch from this life and he was taken up into heaven! He never had to experience death; he just disappeared from this world because God promoted him. For before he was translated to the heavenly realm his life had become a pleasure to God.

6And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God.  For we come to God in faith  knowing that he is real and that he rewards the faith of those who passionately seek him.

7Faith opened Noah’s heart to receive revelation and warnings from God about what was coming, even things that had never been seen. But he stepped out in reverent obedience to God and built an ark that would save him and his family. By his faith the world was condemned, but Noah received God’s gift of righteousness that comes by believing.

Faith of the Patriarchs

8Faith motivated Abraham to obey God’s call and leave the familiar to discover the territory he was destined to inherit from God. So he left with only a promise and without even knowing ahead of time where he was going, Abraham stepped out in faith. 9He lived by faith as an immigrant in his promised land as though it belonged to someone else.  He journeyed through the land living in tents with Isaac and Jacob who were persuaded that they were also co-heirs of the same promise.

10His eyes of faith were set on the city  with unshakable foundations, whose architect and builder is God himself. 11Sarah’s faith embraced God’s miracle power to conceive even though she was barren and was past the age of childbearing, for the authority of her faith  rested in the One who made the promise, and she tapped into his faithfulness.

12In fact, so many children were subsequently fathered by this aged man of faith—one who was as good as dead, that he now has offspring as innumerable as the sand on the seashore and as the stars in the sky!

13These heroes all died still clinging to their faith, not even receiving all that had been promised them. But they saw beyond the horizon the fulfillment of their promises and gladly embraced it from afar. They all lived their lives on earth as those who belonged to another realm.

14For clearly, those who live this way  are longing for the appearing of a heavenly city.  15And if their hearts were still remembering what they left behind, they would have found an opportunity to go back. 16But they couldn’t turn back for their hearts were fixed on what was far greater, that is, the heavenly realm!

So because of this God is not ashamed in any way to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them.

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

17Faith operated powerfully in Abraham for when he was put to the test he offered up Isaac. Even though he received God’s promises  of descendants, he was willing  to offer up his only son! 18For God had promised,

“Through your son Isaac your lineage will carry on your name.”

19Abraham’s faith made it logical to him that God could raise Isaac from the dead, and symbolically,  that’s exactly what happened.

20The power of faith prompted Isaac to impart a blessing to his sons, Jacob and Esau, concerning their prophetic destinies.

21Jacob worshiped in faith’s reality at the end of his life, and leaning upon his staff he imparted a prophetic blessing upon each of Joseph’s sons.

22Faith inspired Joseph and opened his eyes to see into the future, for as he was dying he prophesied about the exodus  of Israel out of Egypt,  and gave instructions that his bones were to be taken from Egypt with them.

Moses

23Faith prompted the parents of Moses at his birth to hide him for three months,  because they realized their child was exceptional  and they refused to be afraid of the king’s edict.

24Faith enabled Moses to choose God’s will, for although he was raised as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, he refused to make that his identity, 25choosing instead to suffer mistreatment with the people of God. Moses preferred faith’s certainty above the momentary enjoyment of sin’s pleasures. 26He found his true wealth in suffering abuse for being anointed,  more than in anything the world could offer him,  for his eyes looked with wonder not on the immediate, but on the ultimate—faith’s great reward!  27Holding faith’s promise Moses abandoned Egypt and had no fear of Pharaoh’s rage because he persisted in faith as if he had seen God who is unseen.

28Faith stirred Moses to perform the rite of Passover and sprinkle lamb’s blood,  to prevent the destroyer from harming their firstborn.

29Faith opened the way for the Hebrews to cross the Red Sea as if on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried to cross they were swallowed up and drowned!

Jericho and Rahab

30Faith pulled down Jericho’s walls after the people marched around them for seven days!

31Faith provided a way of escape for Rahab the prostitute, avoiding the destruction of the unbelievers, because she received the Hebrew spies in peace.

More Faith Champions

32And what more could I say to convince you? For there is not enough time to tell you of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. 33Through faith’s power they conquered kingdoms and established true justice. Their faith fastened onto their promises and pulled them into reality! It was faith that shut the mouth of lions, 34put out the power of raging fire, and caused many to escape certain death by the sword. Although weak, their faith imparted power to make them strong!  Faith sparked courage within them and they became mighty warriors in battle, pulling armies from another realm into battle array.  35Faith-filled women saw their dead children raised in resurrection power.

Yet it was faith that enabled others to endure great atrocities. They were stretched out on the wheel and tortured,  and didn’t deny their faith in order to be freed, because they longed for a more honorable and glorious resurrection!

36Others were mocked and experienced the most severe beating with whips; they were in chains and imprisoned. 37Some of these faith champions were brutally killed by stoning, being sawn in two or slaughtered by the sword. These lived in faith as they went about wearing goatskins and sheepskins for clothing. They lost everything they possessed, they endured great afflictions, and they were cruelly mistreated. 38They wandered the earth living in the desert wilderness, in caves, on barren mountains and in holes in the earth. Truly, the world was not even worthy of them, not realizing who they were.

39These were the true heroes, commended for their faith, yet they lived in hope without receiving the fullness of what was promised them. 40But now God has invited us to live in something better than what they had—faith’s fullness! This is so that they could be brought to finished perfection alongside of us.

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Study by Rabbi Isaac. © Assembly of Called-Out Believers.
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