The Gospel According to Moses - Genesis - Lesson 37 - WHO IS THIS GUY?

Who is Avram – exalted father?  Later God changes his name to Avraham – the father of nations.  Who is this guy?  Why does God pick him?  It is interesting to note that Paul teaches us that God first gave the Gospel of the Kingdom to Avraham and, also, for any of us who are in Christ, we are descendants to Avraham!  Huh?  How are we son and daughters of Avraham and Sarah?  From Paul we are getting the idea that somehow Messiah Jesus and Avraham might be connected somehow.  How?  Perhaps it is in the answer to the question of why did God pick Avraham? 

 

The rabbis make up stories or state their views or opinions as MIDRASH – מִדְרָשׁ or according to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Midrash was initially a philological method of interpreting the literal meaning of biblical texts. In time it developed into a sophisticated interpretive system that reconciled apparent biblical contradictions, established the scriptural basis of new laws, and enriched biblical content with new meaning.  The words in bold are critical.  Midrash of the orthodox rabbis sometimes changes the meaning of the Bible text so that the rabbis views and opinions override the Bible text to satisfy their own views.  So, one must be careful to study the midrashim of the rabbis since it can lead to misleading ideas of the meaning of the Bible text.  One must be extra careful when listening to a teacher who quotes the rabbis and their midrashim as “gospel.” 

But in a midrash of Genesis the rabbis seemingly came up with a story (a form of a midrash - a way to explain a "hole" in the Bible text or an unanswered question or unexplained concept) to perhaps explain what Avraham was like so that God saw this and picked him.  The story in unhistorical and unbiblical but is cute.  It can’t be taken as truth but it is a story that seems to say to us that whatever God saw in this guy must’ve been apparent in Avraham’s life earlier on.  Here’s the story …

R' Hiyya said: Terah was a manufacturer of idols. He once went away somewhere and left Abraham to sell them in his place. A man came and wished to buy one. "How old are you?" Abraham asked him. "Fifty years" was the reply. "Woe to such a man," he exclaimed, "you are fifty years old and would worship a day-old object!" At this he became ashamed and departed.

On another occasion a woman came with a plateful of flour and requested him, "Take this and offer it to them." So he took a stick, broke them, and put the stick in the hand of the largest. When his father returned he demanded, "What have you done to them?" "I cannot conceal it from you," he rejoined. "A woman came with a plateful of fine meal and requested me to offer it to them. One claimed 'I must eat first,' while another claimed 'I must eat first.' Thereupon the largest arose, took the stick and broke them." "Why do you make sport of me," [Terah] cried out, "have they then any knowledge?" "Should not your ears listen to what your mouth is saying," [Abraham] retorted.  (Midrash Beresheet 38)

It is a fun story, a fun midrash.  But it is certainly made up, not true, and unbiblical.  However, it makes a point.  Avraham knew that stone idols are not gods probably before God picked him.  That makes sense. 

Here's a link to a credible Jewish website - The Jewish Virtual Library.  Here you can read about Avraham and some of the "traditions" and midrashim associated with Avraham.  Link - click here to access the article

But, it doesn’t answer the question, why Avraham?  What was it that God saw in him to pick him?  The answer is explosive and must be grasped if you are a true disciple of Jesus enduring the chaos and evil of these days. 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background