Standing Strong |
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Isaiah 11:6 2 Thessalonians 2:15 |
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The First Messianic Hebrew |
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Abram knew the Messiah.
This week I wish to focus on The Word of the L-rd. We see in Chapter 15 of Genesis that the Word of the L-rd came to Abram, first in a vision and then in person. Who is the Word of the L-rd? In Psalm 33:6 we clearly see that all creation was made by the Word of the L-rd. We also know that the Word of the L-rd comes forth from Jerusalem. We are also told to meditate upon the Word of the L-rd. We also know that the Word is our redemption.
Within Judaism, the “Word of the L-rd” is understood to refer to the Messiah… to the physical manifestation of G-d that allows man to see G-d without dying. This understanding comes from the Aramaic translation of the Tanach, the targimim. In the Tanach, the Jewish scholars used the Aramaic word “memra” in every instance
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in which G-d appeared to man in physical form. Many Jewish scholars believe that the messiah will be a physical manifestation of G-d. Therefore the correlation is made that every time one sees the phrase “The Word of the L-rd” one is to think of the messiah.
Knowing this, let us return to Genesis 15:1-2.
“After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great.’ Abram said, ‘O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’”
Here, Abram very obviously recognizes the Word of the L-rd as G-d. Therefore, Abram recognized the Messiah as being G-d.
Moving on to Genesis 15:4-6.
“Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, ‘This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.’ And He took him outside and said, ‘Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.’ And He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.”
Most people will say that it was Abram’s belief in what had just been promised to him by G-d that was counted to him as righteousness. This is not the case. Verse 6 very obviously states that Abram believed in the L-rd. Not in what the L-rd promised him. Not in the L-rd in general. But rather, he believed that the Word of the L-rd, the Messiah, was one in the same with G-d. This belief is what was counted to him as righteousness. Thus, it was belief in the Messiah that made Abram a righteous man and through whom he gained redemption.
While his works are counted to him as righteousness his redemption comes from his belief in the Messiah, and the Creator, L-rd G-d to be one in the same. This is further supported in Devarim 32:45-47 where it states “He is no empty word for you and by this word you shall live.” The Hebrew for “word” in this passage is changed from the plural to the masculine singular form. The word of G-d, our Messiah is our life. |
