Vayera (And He Appeared) B’resheet/Genesis 18:1-22:24
1.Let’s look at Lot and his family in Genesis 19:1-29. Would you say they lived out last week’s Torah portion of “go to yourself?” How did they end up where they were, living in Sodom, neighbors at their door demanding Lot to send out his guests? Was that who G-d created them to be? Did they assimilate with the neighborhood or did they give a G-dly example to sinful people around them? What message can we find here for us living our life today?
You will notice even after the angels told them they were going to destroy the place Lot and his family continued to linger. That is the first clue that Lot and his family might have strayed from the life G-d had for them.
When Lot urged his sons in law to leave with them we see in Genesis 19:14 the sons-in-law thought it was all a joke. Does their attitude remind you of our world today?
Evidently the people of Sodom knew that Lot’s family was somehow different. In Genesis 19:9 they accused Lot of “acting as a judge” while living among them.
Even with all the dire warnings, in Genesis 19:16 it says the angels had to take them by the hand and escort them out of the city. Where do you think they were spiritually in this experience? Had they affected the people around them or had the people around them affected Lot and his family? They seem to be numb to the seriousness of what was happening around them. Maybe they had become comfortable in a sinful situation.
Have you ever become comfortable in a place you shouldn’t be? Has G-d ever had to extricate you by His hand? This story shows the amazing mercy of our Heavenly Father that He would go to such lengths to take Lot and his family out of the city even as they drug their feet all along the way.
2.This question can be part B to the first question. In Genesis 19:17 the angel warns them to escape with their life and to not look back! That’s a pretty strong warning. But Lot’s wife did turn and look back. She was turned into a pillar of salt. What was so wrong in what she did? What is our lesson here that we can apply to our lives?
Lot’s wife was turned to a pillar of salt after she turned to see the destruction of Sodom. This is found in chapter 19:25-26. The apparent cause of her death was that she looked back at Sodom after she and the others had been told specifically not to do that by the angels. The word in Hebrew that is used for the act of her looking back might help us understand what is happening in these verses. The word in Hebrew is tabet. This word means more than a glance. It could be compared to staring at something. Lot’s wife’s actions was more than just wanting to see what was happening. It was more like a longing, or still being attached to the sinfulness of Sodom, not wanting to leave her life there.
When G-d speaks to us about something we need to deal with or leave behind in our life, we are called to not look back. We are called to follow Him, knowing and trusting Him to lead us on to a new and better path. Here, we see a person who could not totally let go of what had been, even in the face of a warning from G-d. Also, the word, consumed, used by the angels in 19:17 is even more powerful in Hebrew. It is teezpay and literally means to be swept away, to be wiped out or destroyed. G-d gave them all a stern warning but she chose to not listen.
We must be ready to move at G-d’s command, not hold on to what was but be ready for what is ahead. The Messianic scriptures are filled with verses stressing the same thought. A good example is found in Luke 17:27-29, “People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.”
These verses specifically reference both Noah and Lot.
Looking back, wanting things that have been left behind, can reveal where we stand spiritually. When we hear G-d’s call He expects us to be able, at a moment’s notice, to answer His call and follow the direction of the Holy Spirit. This is not limited to big decisions but also daily decisions. He might want us to give up something in our life that we are holding on to dearly. Something that keeps us separated from Him or does not glorify Him.
3.In Genesis 18:23-25 we read of the interaction between G-d and Avraham. In verse 23 we read where Avraham came close to the L-rd and asked, “Will you also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” Here, for the first time someone is asking G-d about a matter of justice. Avraham is, in effect, questioning G-d about His decision to destroy Sodom. This is the first but not the last time we read of a dialogue between man and G-d in the name of justice. See if you can find other people in scripture who did the same. What does this tell us about who G-d is? What does it tell us about Avraham’s relationship with G-d?
In these verses Avraham said, “Far be it from You to do such a thing as this; to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
Again, this is the first time in scripture we read of such a thing as this, a dialogue between G-d and man in the name of justice. However, it is not the last. Ex. 5:22 a similar exchange between Moshe and G-d.
Exodus 5:22-23, “Moses returned to the L-rd and said, “Why, L-rd, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.”
Another dialogue takes place in Numbers 16:22 concerning Korah’s rebellion, “But Moses and Aaron fell face down and cried out, “O G-d, the G-d who gives breath to all living things, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?”
Jeremiah 12:1-3, “You are always righteous, L-rd, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. Yet you know me, L-rd; you see me and test my thoughts about you. Drag them off like sheep to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter!
Habakkuk 1:2-3, “How long, L-rd, must I call for help, but you do not listen. Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.”
In all these cases it seems these people sought clarification from G-d on how we are to live and clarification on what they saw around them. In each of these questions the answer can be found in Genesis 18:17-19.
In Genesis 18:17-19 G-d is in effect urging or inviting Avraham to speak, to have a discussion about the way of the L-rd. He wants him to raise his children and teach them about the righteous way to live, the just way to live. In fact, these very words appear in these verses.
To fully understand the way of the L-rd, to come to that understanding, Avraham, and also us, must have a firm grip on what it means to do justly and how to live righteously before G-d. Of course G-d knows all things. He knew there was not 50 or even 10 righteous people in Sodom. But for Avraham’s sake G-d had this discussion so Avraham would also know that G-d is a just G-d and a righteous G-d.
Avraham could then pass this wisdom on to his children. Deut. 32:4 encapsulates these truths clearly for the descendants of Avraham and for us., “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful G-d who does no wrong, upright and just is he.”
This whole occurrence of Sodom was to make clear that Avraham’s G-d and our G-d was just in His actions and as such we His people are to be just in ours. So later when Avraham saw the smoke rising over Sodom he knew that the city was judged and found guilty of their sin. For that to be clear to Avraham this verdict was based on truth not on rumor or feelings. In fact, G-d allowed Avraham to be the defense lawyer for the people of Sodom. The verdict was arrived at justly and fairly.
Our view of moral judgement today must be built on the same G-d given example. Justice depends on each side’s view being fairly considered. This biblical view requires certain things from us as believers. It requires us to not jump to a quick judgement of people or situations. It requires us to truly know the facts and what is written in scripture. I would encourage us to look closely at statements or actions we see around us. Is it based on truth or someone’s opinion?
4.How many different names did Avraham use in addressing G-d and what names did G-d use describing Himself when talking to Avraham? By looking at these names what did Avraham know about who G-d is? Are there specific names of G-d or scripture verses describing G-d that have been especially important to you in your life?
Genesis 12:1 L-rd יהוה (YHWH) The L-rd spoke to Avrahm in Ur of Chaldees
Genesis 14:18-20 Melchizedek introduced Abraham to G-d Most High
Genesis 14:22-23 Abraham used the term the L-rd Most High the Possessor of heaven and earth.
Genesis 15:1 G-d said, “I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.
Genesis 15:2 used the name L-rd G-d – (Adonai יהוה (YHWH) acknowledging Him as his Master as well as the One who is always there
Genesis 17:1 G-d introduced Himself as Almighty G-d. (El Shaddai)
Genesis 21:33 Avraham called on the name of the L-rd, the Everlasting G-d.
These names describe a G-d who can be trusted and will always be there. G-d reminded Avraham that he was his shield. Avraham called Him the Most High G-d meaning there was no one above him, that He owned the heavens and the earth.