Genesis Lech L'cha

Lech L’cha
Genesis 12:1−17:27

I. Summary

A. Lech L’cha = (The Eternal one said to Abram,) “go forth” (from your land)

B. After God’s call and promise of blessing and protection (of Abram and through Abram all the families on earth), Abram, wife Sarai, and nephew Lot go to Canaan. (12:1-9)

C. Famine takes them from Canaan to Egypt (a land known for sexual impropriety). Encountering Egyptians and fearful for his life, Abram tells Pharaoh’s ministers that Sarai is his sister in order to save his life. Pharaoh takes in Sarai. God punishes Pharaoh and his household with afflictions. After realizing he was fooled, Pharaoh drives Abram, Sarai and Lot away. (12:10-20)

D. Abram (now rich) and Lot separate. Lot, generously being given his choice of lands by Abram, selfishly chooses better grazing land (as far as Sodom). God gives land to Abram and his descendants “forever”. (13:1-18).

E. During the battle of four kings (including king of Sodom) against five kings, Lot, a resident of Sodom, is taken captive. Abram (in unusual role of warrior) rescues Lot from the four (powerful) kings with only 318 men. (14:1-14:24)

F. In Abram’s conversation with God (through Abram’s vision and during which Abram mentions his slave, Eliezer, who becomes significant later), Abram whines about being childless and not being assured of getting land. In response, God promises a natural heir/son to then childless Abram. God then makes covenant with Abram whereby 1) Abram’s descendants will be enslaved in “a land not theirs” for 400 years (foretelling Egyptian slavery) and 2) four generations after God brings judgment on enslavers, Abram’s descendants will receive land as their own (foretelling Exodus and Promised Land) … though possession of land conditioned on them not being sinful as were Amorites who lost possession of land because of their sinfulness. (15:1-21)

G. At (barren) Sarai’s request, Abram has a son, Ishmael, with Sarai’s Egyptian maidservant, Hagar (means “the stranger” or “outsider”); however, pregnant Hagar scorns Sarai who, with Abram’s permission, sends Hagar away. Hagar encounters an angel in desert who tells her 1) to return to Sarai and submit to her ill-treatment, 2) her descendants shall be numerous, 3) to name her son Ishmael and 4) her son shall be a “wild ass” and “dwell in permanent opposition to all his kin”. Hagar calls God "El-Roi--the God who sees me". Hagar gives birth to Ishmael. (16:1-16).

H. God establishes a covenant with Abram giving him and his descendants Canaan forever and making Abram “exceedingly fruitful” and turning him “into nations” (to a large extent reversing curses on Adam & Eve … exile, pain in childbirth and uncooperative soil). God changes names of Abram to Abraham. God commands circumcision on the eighth day following a male baby's birth as sign of covenant with Abram that every male be circumcised (v. rainbow as sign of covenant with Noah) (17:1-14)

I. God changes Sarai’s name to Sarah. God tells Abraham that God will also establish a covenant with Isaac who will be born to now-barren Sarah (with God noting that covenant will not be with Ishmael though Ishmael will 1) be blessed (at Abraham’s request that God lets Ishmael live happily), 2) father twelve princes and 3) be made into a great nation. Abraham and all other males are circumcised to bear mark of God’s covenant. (17:15-27)

II. Torah Commentary (Plaut, various websites and prior Hevreh discussions)

A. Connection between change in circumstances and change in name – Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah … also Jacob to Israel, and Hoshea to Joshua. Name changes indicate spiritual transformation. They serve as reminders that when we truly encounter God, our lives, our very beings and our very sense of self, are changed in ways we could not have previously imagined. Reminiscent of God-given power of Adam when Adam names all then living creatures.

B. Rationales for Abram’s deception - At least three views: 1) Abram’s actions were deceptive and wrong … he should have trusted God for protection, 2) while actions were, by definition, deceptive, they were justified since Abram had to do whatever was necessary to preserve opportunity to build nation and 3) actions were neither deceptive nor wrong since i) Abram and Sarai possibly from same father or ii) Sarai was Abram’s adopted sister for inheritance.

C. Abram and Lot - Lot followed Abram, but was not committed to the moral path. On the ethical issue of allowing flocks to eat from the fields of the locals, Abraham's commitment to justice was so strong that he could not stand living with Lot who could rationalize this form of theft, even from the most immoral of pagans. Their attitudes were incompatible.

D. Hagar - In response to God's acknowledgement of her, Hagar gives God a name ("El-Roi--the God who sees me"), the only person in all of Torah to do so. Seeing and understanding is a central theme of this narrative. God sees Hagar's reality in a way that Sarai and Abram don't. Reproductive health was at the heart of both Hagar's exploitation and her power ... which ties into lives and challenges of women around the world today.

E. Circumcision - Confirms male child’s special relationship to God (does not make him Jewish). Christian equivalent = baptism. Circumcision expresses core Jewish values that put us at odds with modern Western values. It teaches that nature isn't ideal and that we need to improve it. It says that there are some things in life, even in religion, that are not and should not be matters of our own individual choice. It doesn't always make us happy, but it has made us become holy instead and holiness doesn't come easily.

F. Importance of hearing - Ishmael means "God will hear". God "hears the cry of the boy" in the desert after Hagar banished by Sarai (and saves Hagar and Ishmael). Other instances of God "hearing" ... 1) When the "outcry" of Sodom and Gomorrah reaches God, (Genesis 18:20-21), God hears and is moved to end the "outrage", 2) God "hears" the groaning of our ancestors in Egypt (Exodus 2:23-24) and sets their liberation in motion and 3) at the burning bush, God explains to Moses that the time for action has come because God has "heard" the Israelites' outcries. The lesson to be learned from "Hear, O Israel" is that just as God "hears" the cries of the oppressed and needy, we Jews are commanded to do the same.

G. Seeds of universalism - "And all the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you (Abraham)." (Genesis 12:3) This "mission statement," articulates the Jewish dream that embraces all peoples. Abraham’s pleading on behalf of Sodom confirms this universalism.

H. Significance of Sarai - Sarai is willing to take risks to save her loved ones and that "because of her, it went well with Abram." (Genesis 12:16) The text even implies that Sarai bravely speaks up behind the scenes, telling Pharaoh that she is, in fact, Abram's wife. Sarai is not along just for the ride: She is an integral part of the success of Abram's life mission. Abram relies on her as a partner, drawing on her intelligence, discretion, and quick thinking.

I. Why Abram? – 1. Humility - Abram was not altered by his wealth and kept his humility. 2. Ability to “see” - - Also, Lot "raises up his eyes" and sees how lush (well-watered) the plain of Jordan is but when Abram looks up, he sees stars, i.e. while others (e.g., Lot) see only material things, Abram has visions of spiritual matters, namely, stars. Abram senses the existence of something greater than himself. 3. Flaws - Abram may have been brave in heeding God's call and leaving his homeland, but as soon as he finds himself in danger, he looks to his own wits to save himself. He is not yet totally ready to rely on God. Perhaps he was chosen by God because he was not a perfect man … suggests importance of recognizing/accepting that faith is not gained quickly.

J. God giving land to Abram and his descendents “forever” - Basis of allegedly perpetual right of Abraham’s descendants to land in that their ownership of land grows from God’s promise rather than mere occupation v. today’s political realities. Further, Jews have steadfastly believed that they possess Promised Land in justice (as promised by God) for God casts out those who defile it … Amorites lost Canaan because of their sinfulness and Israelites were warned to always be heedful of this possibility.

K. Presenting wife as sister motif – The Abram/Sarai deception of Egyptian Pharaoh (Genesis 12:10-20) happens twice more (Genesis 20:1-18 re: Abraham and Sarah with King Abimelech) and Genesis 26:1-16 re: Abraham and Sarah again with King Abimelech). Basically same story though there are dissimilarities and similarities Three separate instances or retelling of same incident three times?

L. Development of Abram – While parasha appears haphazard with unconnected narratives, unifying theme is development of Abram with successive accomplishments, i.e. he first heeds God and leaves everything, then encounters Pharaoh and winds up with riches (admittedly through an act of questionable morality) and then saves Lot from armies of four powerful kings with only 318 men.


(Revised 10/28/09)