Parsha #3 of 54Parsha #3 of 54: Lech Lecha

Step Out – Yes, I MeanStep Out – Yes, I MeanYouYou! !

Readings from the Torah: Genesis 12:1 – 17:27

Readings from the Prophets:Isaiah 40:27 – 41:16

Readings from the Apostles:Romans 4:1-25

Where We Left Off Last WeekThe Great Flood has Come . . . and Gone

In the Aftermath of the Great Flood the 4 surviving human couples set out to re-establish life on planet earth.

Noach has pronounced blessings over the lineages of Shem and Yafet,but curses over the lineage of Cham, esp. Cham’s son Kena’an.

Men have established lifestyles independent of God,so He has divided them into nations, tribes and tongues

each of which seeks only its own interest – hence prejudice and war.

In the 10th generation after the Flood a descendant of Shem named Terach sired 3 sons:

Nachor, Charan, and Avram. Terach left Ur of the Chaldees in route to the land of Kena’an.

But Terach only made it half-way.Charan died, leaving an orphan son named Lot.

Terach settled and established a city he called Charan, after his deceased son.

Avram has married a beautiful woman named Sarai, but Sarah is unable to have children.

Where We Left Off Last Week

At the age of 75 years Avram is living in Charan, in his father Terach’s household, with his wife Sarai,

with his fatherless nephew Lot, and with his brother Nachor and his growing family,

Introducing Covenant Covenant

Covenant Covenant = רב

י

תי

A multi-generational agreement multi-generational agreement of favoredfavored alliancealliance and predictablepredictable interactioninteraction

creating a special bondspecial bondbetween a stronger person stronger person or nation as suzerein/protector

and a weaker person weaker person or nation as vassal/servantforged in bloodblood,

confirmed by oathsoaths of loyalty,based upon termsterms specified by the suzerein,

which are enforceable by corrective disciplinediscipline,and evidenced by a covenant signcovenant sign.

B’ritB’rit – from bara, meaning to create by cutting, cleaving, carvingto create by cutting, cleaving, carving

FavorFavor . . . with ResponsibilityResponsibility

PrivilegePrivilege . . . with AccountabilityAccountability

CovenantCovenant

Care, Nurture, Provision, and ProtectionCare, Nurture, Provision, and Protection . . .

Deserving of LoveLove, Loyalty, Honor Loyalty, Honor and Service Service

The Title of This Teaching will beThe Title of This Teaching will be:

Let the Transcenders Arise!Let the Transcenders Arise!Relationship With God Part II:Relationship With God Part II:

Outline of Parsha Lech LechaOutline of Parsha Lech LechaI.I. The Holy One Introduces Himself & His Plan to AvramThe Holy One Introduces Himself & His Plan to Avram

II. The Holy One Proves Himself Worthy of TrustII. The Holy One Proves Himself Worthy of Trust

III. The Holy One Cuts Covenant With Avram – Part IIII. The Holy One Cuts Covenant With Avram – Part I

IV. The Yish’mael Experiment IV. The Yish’mael Experiment

V. The Holy One Cuts Covenant with Avram – Part II V. The Holy One Cuts Covenant with Avram – Part II

Are You a TranscenderTranscender?

To transcendtranscend means to:

1. To go beyond an established limit[example: to cross over a geographical boundary]

2. To surpass [example: to pass the other runners on a track]

3. To live independently of the ordinary framework of ‘givens’ that prevail

in one’s family, one’s culture and one’s time

The Chronicles of the Great Transcenders

I. The Chronicles of AvrahamAvraham [Abraham]

II. The Chronicles of YitschakYitschak [Isaac]

III. The Chronicles of Ya’akovYa’akov [Jacob]

IV. The Chronicles of YosefYosef [Joseph] & His Brothers