Standing Strong

A Messianic Jewish Congregation with an outreach to Believers in Israel

This week’s Parasha

Nov 11 - And He Appeared

Gen 18:1-22:24

2 Kings 4:1-37

Luke 1:26-38; 24:36-53

Heb. 13:1-8

This week’s parasha includes the history of Isaac’s birth.  It is one of my favorite readings in that it lets me really deal with the issue of the virgin birth and the objections that are often put forth by people who think the idea of a virgin giving birth to a child is just too ridiculous to believe.  Some of these people are Jews who believe whole-heartedly in the Torah and believe all that is written in it as true. That’s where this week’s parasha comes in. 

 

Abraham and Sarah were both very advanced in years.  The scripture even makes it a point to state clearly that Sarah is past the years of child bearing.  The idea of having a child is so ridiculous to Sarah that she laughs upon the L-rd’s announcement.  But after arguing with G-d to save those of Sodom if there were even just ten righteous men therein, (this is where the number of 10 men for a minyan comes from), relying on their own resources and having the child Ishmael by way of their servant, Hagar, misleading Abimelech to believe that Sarah is Abraham’s sister until once again the L-rd reveals the lie... at the point that Ishmael is 13 years old per some scholars; the now advanced-in-years couple have a son, Isaac.

 

If G-d can cause a couple this advanced in age to have a child, despite by what is taught  today that it is medically impossible, why is it so hard to believe in G-d creating a virgin birth thousands of years later? The G-d who can do the first can just as easily do the second.  The argument that it is just “too far fetched” doesn’t ring true when the Torah is believed to be truth.  The next time someone tells you the idea of a virgin birth is too far fetched while that person says they do believe in Torah, think on this.

 

Selah.