Tag: faith

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Discussions Torah

Abraham’s teachable moments on faith (Genesis 18:1–22:24)

A graphic with a black background and pink text features the title "ABRAHAM'S TEACHABLE MOMENTS ON FAITH" in bold, uppercase letters inside a rectangular outline. Below, a subtitle states, "Despite Abraham's ups & downs, his faith was growing, not shrinking." The passage reference **Genesis 18:1–22:24** is highlighted in bold pink text. A pink line graph with dots represents Abraham’s faith journey, showing fluctuations but an overall upward trend. The bottom right corner contains a logo with a stylized Hebrew letter and the website hallel.info

Why is Abraham considered our “father of faith” when so much of his biblical biography shows examples of his utter lack of faith? He laughed in God’s face about a son from a barren wife, circumvented God’s prophesy for that son and lied to two different kings about his relationship with Sarah, putting her in real danger.

In the Torah parashah (portion) called Vayera (“He appeared,” Gen. 18:1–22:24), we learn that despite Abraham’s (and Sarah’s) ups and downs, their faith was growing, not shrinking. That is why God Himself not only credited Abraham’s trust as righteousness but also made them patriarch and matriarch of “a great and mighty nation” through which all nations of Earth would be blessed.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Abraham learns faith in God despite his trust issues (Genesis 18:1–22:24)

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Do we trust God in His promises? We can come up with all sorts of ideas about God. But if we don’t really trust Him and His leading, why bother following? These are questions tackled in this discussion on the Torah portion Vayera (“and He appeared”), covering Genesis 18-22. Abraham is shown to have trust issues up to his great test of faith. At that point, he sees something. This passage is all about the Promised One — the Mashiakh (Messiah) — represented by Abraham’s son Yitzkhak (Isaac).

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Apostolic Writings Discussions

Luke 18:9-27: Enough with trust in our righteousness and other stuff!

Jeff

There are several questions posed in Luke 18 on faith, which as we’ve seen in verses 1–8 is better translated as trust. Do we trust in God’s justice or our own vengeance? Do we trust in God’s righteousness or in our own righteousness?

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Apostolic Writings Discussions

Luke 18:1-8: Loss of trust in God’s promises, justice

Jeff

In Luke 18:8, Yeshua said that before the Son of Man’s return that “the faith” would be scarce on Earth. From the Greek word for “faith,” pistis, we learn that we need to seek God’s strengthening of the “pillars” that supporting our role as “temples” for God on Earth: trust in God’s promises and justice.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions

Can one be ‘under grace’ yet obey God’s Torah?

How do we explain to others about being “under grace” and still obey the Torah? Are we “under grace” or “under law”? Paul explains this in his letter to the Romans.

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Discussions Torah

Abraham: An example of hope and trust in God, part 2

A digital graphic features a man in traditional Middle Eastern attire sitting on the desert sand at sunset, gazing at the starry sky. A palm tree stands to his right, silhouetted against the twilight. The Milky Way stretches across the sky. Overlaying the image is text in large, bold, blue-gray font that reads: "Abraham: An example of hope and trust in God part 2" with "Genesis 17-23" below it. The scene evokes a sense of reflection and faith.

This is a review of 11 examples of Abraham’s faith in God in Genesis 17-23. It culminates in his trusting God to resurrect the son of the promise, Yitskhak (Isaac), and in buying property in the Land to bury those also trusting in God to resurrect them.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Genesis 21:10-21: God sends Ishmael away to become a great nation separate from that of Isaac

Richard Agee

On the surface, Paul’s message about Sarah and Hagar in Gal. 4:22-23 doesn’t make sense. After all, we all know how a man and woman come together to make a child.

Sarah symbolizes Heaven, and Hagar symbolizes the Earth. In the last days, God will glorify Jerusalem.