Readings: Jan. 25, 2025 - Hallel Fellowship

Starting after Sukkot 2024, Hallel Fellowship switched to a three-year cycle of Torah and parallel Bible readings (2024–2027), outlined by TorahResource. While there’s ancient evidence for a triennial cycle, a major benefit is to provide more time to mine more of Scripture for lessons.

Tools for study

Readings
Corresponding reading from the 1-year Torah cycle
Hebrew insights from the readings
Studies

Readings

Genesis 17
Isaiah 63:10-19
Romans 4:10-25

Corresponding reading from the 1-year Torah cycle

Torah reading Lech Lecha (לך לך): Genesis 12:1–17:27

Hebrew insights from the readings

These Hebrew terms tie the narratives of Genesis 17 and Isaiah 63 to the broader messianic hope. They reveal God’s covenantal faithfulness, the need for internal transformation, and the ultimate fulfillment of His promises in the Messiah, Yeshua.

בְּרִית berit — covenant

• Verse: Genesis 17:2, “I will make My covenant between Me and you and will multiply you exceedingly.”

• Theological Implications: Reflects the establishment of a divine relationship between God and Abraham, marking a perpetual promise.

• Messianic significance: The covenant foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment in Yeshua (Jesus), the mediator of the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:20).

מּוּל mul — circumcision

• Verse: Genesis 17:11, “You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be a sign of the covenant.”

• Theological implications: Circumcision signifies obedience and separation to God.

• Messianic significance: Points to the need for circumcision of the heart, fulfilled in Messiah (Deuteronomy 10:16; Romans 2:29), symbolizing inner transformation.

שַׂר sar and שָׂרָה Sarah — prince/princess

• Verse: Genesis 17:15, “You shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.”

• Theological implications: Denotes leadership and a role in God’s redemptive plan.

• Messianic significance: Sarah becomes a type of spiritual mother, with her lineage leading to the Messiah.

שַׁדַּי Shaddai — Almighty

• Verse: Genesis 17:1, “I am El Shaddai; walk before Me and be blameless.”

• Theological implications: Represents God’s sufficiency and power to fulfill promises.

• Messianic significance: Demonstrates God’s sovereignty, which is ultimately revealed in Messiah as the fulfillment of divine promises.

רוּחַ ruach — spirit

• Verse: Isaiah 63:10, “But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit.”

• Theological implications: Highlights the Spirit as the presence of God guiding Israel.

• Messianic significance: Points to the Spirit’s role in the Messiah’s ministry (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18) and His empowering of believers.

גָּאַל ga’al — redeem

• Verse: Isaiah 63:16, “You, O Lord, are our Father; our Redeemer from of old is Your name.”

• Theological implications: Stresses God’s role as the Redeemer of His people.

• Messianic significance: Anticipates Yeshua as the ultimate Redeemer, purchasing salvation through His sacrifice (Galatians 3:13).

קָדוֹשׁ qadosh/kadosh — holy

• Verse: Isaiah 63:18, “Your holy people possessed Your sanctuary for a little while.”

• Theological implications: Reflects God’s holiness and the sacredness of His dwelling.

• Messianic significance: Foreshadows the Messiah’s holiness and His establishment of a holy people through His atonement (1Peter 1:15–16).

נָחַה nachah — lead, guide

• Verse: Isaiah 63:14, “The Spirit of the Lord gave them rest; so You led Your people.”

• Theological implications: Depicts God’s guidance and provision.

• Messianic significance: Symbolizes the Messiah as the Good Shepherd who leads His people to eternal rest (John 10:11; Hebrews 4:9–10).

אָב av — father

• Verse: Isaiah 63:16, “For You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us.”

• Theological implications: Affirms God’s fatherly care and covenant relationship.

• Messianic significance: Points to the Messiah revealing the Father’s love (John 14:9) and establishing believers as God’s children (Romans 8:15).

Studies

Abraham has a happy face as he is surrounded by a crowd of noisy happy people. Adobe Firefly palete knife AI image. Text says, "Abraham's noisy descendants: Proclaiming the Messiah's kingdom (Genesis 17; Isaiah 63; Romans 4)."

Abraham’s noisy descendants: Proclaiming the Messiah’s kingdom (Genesis 17; Isaiah 63; Romans 4)

Jeff January 25, 2025

The Messiah’s covenant with humanity via Abraham is the foundation of our faith. In this study, recalling Abraham’s journey of trust in Heaven starting in Genesis 12, we see the power of the Spirit to transform and empower us as overcomers of the attractive lure of a world steeped more in the knowledge of bad than of good. Like the new names for Abram and Sarai recorded in Genesis 17, the Messiah’s new name and our new identity in Him call us to a life of spiritual renewal, where we boldly proclaim His glory and advance His kingdom. May…

God’s unwavering love: Foreshadowed in Abraham, realized in Messiah (Genesis 12–17)

Jeff October 28, 2023

This study on the Torah reading לֶךְ-לְךָ Lech Lecha (Genesis 12–17) explores the spiritual lineage of Abraham and how it emphasizes God’s faithfulness and love, irrespective of human failings. This faithfulness and love reaches its fullness in Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ). Being a true descendant of the covenant the Creator of Heaven and Earth made with him means embodying the trust — faith — he had in Heaven’s promises, not just sharing his DNA. We explore the importance of spiritual commitment over rituals such as circumcision, biblical criticism toward religious figures’ service without sincerity, and the necessity for…

Torah reading Lech Lecha (לך לך): Genesis 12:1–17:27

Hallel Fellowship October 21, 2023

Apostle Paul called Abraham the “father of us all,” those born in Israel and those who have faith like his (Rom. 4:16). In this week’s Torah passage, Lech Lecha (“go forth,” Gen. 12:1-17:27), we see Abraham’s first move of faith in leaving his homeland for some unknown destination Heaven was leading him toward. His response is an inspiration to us all.

How Abram learned faith, fought fear and become a friend of God

Jeff October 31, 2020

In the Torah reading Lech Lecha (“go forth,” Genesis 12–17), we see some key motifs from Abram/Abraham’s life that are repeated or echoed elsewhere in Scripture. Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ) is the ultimate expression of these messages from Heaven.

Genesis 12:1–17:27: Why God cannot be bribed

Daniel November 9, 2019

When you are called to move, what is your first question? Do I move to the next town, next state, across the country or to a foreign land? We usually want to know our exact destination before we move.  We also prefer to plan how we will transport ourselves? Will we go by car, train, bus or plane?   In the Torah section לֶךְ-לְךָ Lech Lecha (“get going,” Gen. 12:1-17:27), Abram was not given a destination. It’s a strange place to be when you don’t know where you’re going. It takes trust to make the first step. And this is the beginning of…

Genesis 12–17: Instant gratification is never instant or gratifying

Daniel October 28, 2017

It’s not easy to leave one’s family, even at 75 years old, but God called Abram out of his father’s house for his own good. This was Abram’s first test. In the Torah passage לֶךְ-לְךָ Lech Lecha/Lekh Lekha (“go forth,” Genesis 12:1-17:27), we learn that Abram’s faith came from both hearing God’s instruction and doing it. Doing matters, not just hearing. Hearing is easy, doing is much more involved and more difficult. When our life is smooth and we get instant gratification, it’s easy to continue walking in a way that brings a quick blessing. But when we are doing something that is…

Genesis 12–17: From old self to ‘new creation’ in Abraham’s footsteps

Jeff November 12, 2016

Apostle Paul called Abraham the “father of us all,” those born in Israel and those who have faith like his (Rom. 4:16). The following is a discussion of Torah passage Lech Lecha (“go forth” or “get going,” Genesis 12-17). In it, we see Abraham’s first move of faith in leaving his homeland for some unknown destination Heaven was leading him toward. His response is an inspiration to us all. Abraham’s first move of faith was leaving his homeland for some unknown destination Heaven was leading him toward. His journey plus that of Israel from bondage in Egypt parallels our path on…

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

Daniel October 12, 2014

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.

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.

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

Richard April 27, 2013

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.

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

Richard January 5, 2013

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.

Genesis 17 — Beyond Circumcision: Unpacking God’s Radical Promise to Abraham

Richard April 18, 2009

Circumcision has been a misunderstood “sign” of the deal El Shaddai, literally God Who Has the Power to Destroy Anything, “cut” with Abraham to create a great people and bless the world, ultimately seen in Messiah Yeshua. Can anyone become “blameless” before God?