Tag: Abrahamic covenant

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Discussions Life With God

God ‘cuts off’ parts of House of God to promote growth

6:9 digital painting in intricate layered paper-origami style. A vast vineyard fills the landscape beneath an early morning misty dawn. A majestic divine gardener, represented only by glowing hands descending from heaven, carefully prunes branches from an enormous vine shaped like the nation of Israel based on the pre-1948 borders. Some vine branches are being trimmed while others burst with clusters of ripe fruit. Paper-cut rays of sunlight stream into newly opened spaces where dense foliage was removed. The discarded branches lie below while healthy growth expands upward. Rich symbolic storytelling, folded-paper textures, intricate shadows between layers, of shimmering silver, emerald green, and deep burgundy tones, dramatic depth, highly detailed origami craftsmanship, inspirational and hopeful atmosphere. At the bottom center of the graphic, the title "God 'cuts off' parts of House of God to promote growth" and in the bottom right corner, the logo of Hallel Fellowship is in the shadows.

There’s a common theme occurring throughout the Hebrew Roots/Messianic community recently — separation and regrouping. We also see in Scripture the recurring symbol of “cutting off” in an agricultural sense to talk about God’s action in improving the health of the “vine” of Israel. It’s OK when God cuts off parts of the vine to promote growth. It’s OK if there is a time of not producing fruit.

Categories
Discussions Torah

Genesis 17: God Renames Abraham and Sarah, Establishes Everlasting Covenant

Digital illustration of a man in ancient shepherd’s robes standing in a palm grove at night, gazing up at a clear, star-filled sky with the Milky Way prominently visible. He holds a wooden staff, and the surrounding desert trees and mountains are dimly lit under the starlight. Overlaid text reads: “God Renames Abraham & Sarah, Establishes Everlasting Covenant – Genesis 17.” A small logo in the bottom right corner reads “hallel.info."

Abraham obeyed God and had himself and all the men in his household circumcised and they all agreed to do it, including Ishmael. In the flesh, there’s no reason for circumcision, but if you believe in God, there’s every reason for it. Actively trusting God’s words — called “faith” and “belief” — is what makes one righteous.