Podcasts about Hagar

Fr. Mike reminds us of the context of Galatians and reiterates Paul's admonition not to revert to our previous ways of life now that we have been freed from the yoke of slavery. He also discusses the works of the flesh which separate us from Christ and the fruits of the spirit which result from a life lived in God, reminding us that we will reap what we sow in due season. Today's readings are Acts 25, Galatians 4-6, and Proverbs 29:15-17. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

To unlock Politicology+ visit politicology.com/plus This week, Ron Steslow calls Hagar Chemali to talk about some of the most important stories going on around the world:  First, we discuss President Biden pardoning his son, Hunter, and weighing other preemptive pardons  Then, we talk about what Trump's defense, intelligence, and national security nominations could mean Next, we look at South Korea's president invoking martial law  After that, we break down the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire deal  Finally, for our Politicology+ subscribers, we keep going around the world to talk about Iranian assassination plots (including one against a famous Iranian women's rights activist), the pros and cons of an undisciplined and unpredictable Donald Trump, why Russian propaganda is using AI TV commentators, how the incoming administration might try to end the war in Ukraine, and more. Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don't miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus. Follow this week's panel on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/RonSteslow https://x.com/HagarChemali Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Sons of Avraham - Designated or DisinheritedWebsite: http://www.battle4freedom.com/Network: https://www.mojo50.comStreaming: https://www.rumble.com/Battle4Freedomhttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2037%3A29&version=CJBPsalm 37:29The righteous will inherit the land and live in it foreverGenesis 25https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis%2025&version=CJBGenesis 25:1-4Avraham took another wife, whose name was K'turah. She bore him Zimran, Yokshan, Medan, Midyan, Yishbak; and Shuach. Yokshan fathered Sh'va and D'dan. The sons of D'dan were Ashurim, L'tushim and L'umim. The sons of Midyan were 'Eifah, 'Efer, Hanokh, Avida and Elda'ah. All these were descendants of K'turah.Genesis 25:5-6Avraham gave everything he owned to Yitz'chak. But to the sons of the concubines he made grants while he was still living and sent them off to the east, to the land of Kedem, away from Yitz'chak his son.Genesis 25:7-11This is how long Avraham lived: 175 years. Then Avraham breathed his last, dying at a ripe old age, an old man full of years; and he was gathered to his people. Yitz'chak and Yishma'el his sons buried him in the cave of Makhpelah, in the field of 'Efron the son of Tzochar the Hitti, by Mamre, the field which Avraham purchased from the sons of Het. Avraham was buried there with Sarah his wife. After Avraham died, G_d blessed Yitz'chak his son, and Yitz'chak lived near Be'er-Lachai-Ro'i.Genesis 25:12-18Here is the genealogy of Yishma'el, Avraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian woman bore to Avraham. These are the names of the sons of Yishma'el, listed in the order of their birth. The firstborn of Yishma'el was N'vayot; followed by Kedar, Adbe'el, Mivsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Teima, Y'tur, Nafish and Kedmah. (Maftir) These are the sons of Yishma'el, and these are their names, according to their settlements and camps, twelve tribal rulers. This is how long Yishma'el lived: 137 years. Then he breathed his last, died and was gathered to his people. Yishma'el's sons lived between Havilah and Shur, near Egypt as you go toward Ashur; he settled near all his kinsmen.Why do we treat Ishmael like Cain?Genesis 25:19-23Here is the history of Yitz'chak, Avraham's son. Avraham fathered Yitz'chak. Yitz'chak was forty years old when he took Rivkah, the daughter of B'tu'el the Arami from Paddan-Aram and sister of Lavan the Arami, to be his wife. Yitz'chak prayed to Adonai on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. Adonai heeded his prayer, and Rivkah became pregnant. The children fought with each other inside her so much that she said, "If it's going to be like this, why go on living?" So she went to inquire of Adonai, who answered her, "There are two nations in your womb. From birth they will be two rival peoples. One of these peoples will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger."Genesis 25:24-26When the time for her delivery came, there were twins in her womb. The first to come out was reddish and covered all over with hair, like a coat; so they named him 'Esav [completely formed, that is, having hair already]. Then his brother emerged, with his hand holding 'Esav's heel, so he was called Ya'akov [he catches by the heel, he supplants]. Yitz'chak was sixty years old when she bore them.Genesis 25:27-28The boys grew; and 'Esav became a skillful hunter, an outdoorsman; while Ya'akov was a quiet man who stayed in the tents. Yitz'chak favored 'Esav, because he had a taste for game; Rivkah favored Ya'akov.Genesis 25:29-34One day when Ya'akov had cooked some stew, 'Esav came in from the open country, exhausted, and said to Ya'akov, "Please! Let me gulp down some of that red stuff — that red stuff! I'm exhausted!" (This is why he was called Edom [red].) Ya'akov answered, "First sell me your rights as the firstborn." "Look, I'm about to die!" said 'Esav. "What use to me are my rights as the firstborn?" Ya'akov said, "First, swear to me!" So he swore to him, thus selling his birthright to Ya'akov. Then Ya'akov gave him bread and lentil stew; he ate and drank, got up and went on his way. Thus 'Esav showed how little he valued his birthright.

Have you ever wondered how ancient promises still influence modern-day conflicts? Today on InGrace, explore how God's promises to Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar intertwine with the current tensions between Israel and the Palestinian people. Don't miss this chance to uncover the spiritual and historical threads that weave through this enduring struggle.

Send us a comment or question!Calvary Chapel Franklin: http://calvarychapelfranklin.com/  Email: info@calvarychapelfranklin.com  The Parsons Pad Website: https://parsonspad.com/ Telegram: https://t.me/parsonspadpodcastRumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-1006557?date=this-year Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccfranklintn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CalvaryChapelFranklin/  Subscribe to the audio podcast: https://parsonspad.buzzsprout.com/  Calvary Chapel Franklin meets at: Sunday mornings: 1724 General George Patton Drive, Brentwood TN 37027 Wednesday evenings: 274 Mallory Station Rd, Franklin TN 37967 (Aspen Grove Christian Church)Mail: PO Box 1993 Spring Hill TN 37174 If you need a Bible, please download the free Gideon's app for iPhone or Android: https://gideons.org/  Calvary Chapel Franklin is a 501c3 tax exempt religious organization. If you would like to donate to support this ministry, please click here: https://calvarychapelfranklin.churchcenter.com/giving 

Quelle est l'origine du conflit que traverse le peuple juif depuis des millénaires avec le peuple d'Ichmaël ? Y a-t-il eu un évènement déclencheur ? Que dit Na'hmanide à ce sujet ? Que s'est-il passé à l'époque avec Sarah, Avraham et Hagar ? Quel problème s'est posé avec Its'hak et Ichmaël ? Comment Sarah est-elle parvenue à convaincre Avraham de renvoyer Hagar et Ichmaël ? Qui était Kétoura ? Quel projet existentiel avait Avraham ? Comment l'a-t-il mené à bien ? En quoi a-t-il toujours accompli la volonté de Sarah, même après la mort de celle-ci ? Finalement, lequel de ses fils a reçu l'héritage spirituel et va perpétuer la Torah ? Quels enseignements peut-on en tirer pour nous aujourd'hui ?

TICKETS TO OUR CHICAGO AND NYC CHRISTMAS SHOWS HERE! Lara and Carey head back to the beginning... of time! Introducing Sexy Unique Bible Study. Starting with Book of Genesis (PART I), God gets off his ass and works hard over the course of six days, which he will consequently use against us all for eternity. Things get messy from the get-go, of course... from Adam and Eve getting kicked out of the Garden of Eden, to Cain and Abel's Menendez Brothers turn, to Noah's apocalypse psychosis, to Abraham's covenant, Sarah, Hagar and the earliest instance of men pitting women against each other and more. It's a whole lot of fckery. But Larz and Carz are here to interpret it as best they can. It's time to get Old Testament. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to Sexy Unique Bible Study 08:00 In the Beginning 14:00 The First Man & His Rib Wife 23:35 Cain & Abel Menendez 27:00 Noah was the Favorite 38:00 Abraham's covenant & family circumcision Listen to this episode ad-free AND get access to weekly bonus episodes + video episodes by joining the SUP PATREON. More Lara & Carey Content: Subscribe to Once Upon a Time in Nashville to hear a new episode out now! Listen to this episode ad-free AND get access to weekly bonus episodes + video episodes by joining the SUP PATREON. Be cheap as hell and get full-length videos of the pod for free by subscribing to the SUP YOUTUBE. Relive the best moments of this iconic podcast by following the SUP TIKOK & SUP INSTAGRAM Sexy Unique Podcast is Produced By: Tiny Legends Productions, LLC Executive Producer: Stella Young Tech Director: Guy Robinson Art Director & Social Media: Ariel Moreno Sexy Unique Podcast is Edited by: Video & Audio Editor: Case Blackwell & Ness Smith-Savedoff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Was haben Hagar, die Mutter Ismaels, und Sophia, die Verkörperung von Weisheit, gemeinsam? In dieser Folge diskutieren Rebecca Rogowski und Kübra Dalkilic über zwei inspirierende Figuren, die in Judentum, Christentum und Islam bedeutende Rollen spielen. Hagar steht für Vertrauen und Überlebenskraft in der Wüste, während Sophia mit ihrer Weisheit Brücken zwischen den Religionen schlägt. Wie prägen uns ihre Geschichten heute, und welche Antworten geben sie auf die Fragen nach Gerechtigkeit, Glauben und menschlicher Stärke? [House of One](http://www.house-of-one.org): Verschieden glauben, gemeinsam leben - das ist unsere Botschaft. Wenn ihr unsere interreligiöse Friedensarbeit und damit auch diesen Podcast unterstützen wollt, könnt ihr das mit eurer Spende. Werdet Teil der House of One-Community.[ Lasst uns Gemeinsam Frieden bauen!](https://house-of-one.org/donate) Website House of One: [https://house-of-one.org] **Instaprofile der Hosts** Maike Schöfer: [https://www.instagram.com/ja.und.amen/?hl=de] Kübra Dalkilic: [https://www.instagram.com/kuebra_dalkilic/?hl=de] Rebecca Rogowski: [https://www.instagram.com/rebecca_dora/?hl=de] Und die Website unserer fantastischen Producer [Achtung!broadcast](https://achtung.de/agencies/achtung-broadcast) (ein Riesendank an dieser Stelle!!!)

We are encouraged to pour out our hearts to God. "⁠Cast all your cares on Him for He cares for you⁠." But what if you've done that and nothing changes ? In this short episode we gain insight and encouragement from the stories of two women in the Bible, Hagar and Hannah. We will see how they moved forward in confidence, trusting God even when everything stayed the same. Scripture references mentioned in this episode: ⁠Genesis 16 & 17⁠ Luke 1:45 ⁠1 Samuel 1⁠ Resources mentioned in this episode: Get the FREE Printable PDF: ⁠Positive Confessions From His Word⁠ Step By Step Bible Study with Angie Baughman ⁠Printable Scripture Memorization Cards – NOW ON SALE!⁠ The Bible tells us the Word of God is our weapon. Are you ready to take on whatever life brings your way? Perhaps nothing has strengthened my walk with the Lord more than memorizing scripture. When we have spent time meditating on His Word, these verses will rise up in our spirits when we need them most. With ⁠these printable scripture cards⁠ (one for each week of the year) you can begin truly hiding His Word in your heart and taking practical steps to a powerful life and a more grounded faith. ⁠Get Yours Today!⁠

https://youtube.com/live/J7CErq6jWd4 Here's the book on Amazon - https://amzn.to/49sWgQ9 RED ON BLACK: The Listener's Guide to Sammy Hagar takes fans on an in-depth journey through the Red Rocker's remarkable recording career. WITH A FOREWORD BY GREG RENOFF, author of Van Halen Rising, this book is a definitive guide to Sammy Hagar's music, from his 1976 solo debut Nine on a Ten Scale to 2022's Crazy Times. Tim Durling reviews every solo album and dives into Hagar's pivotal roles with Montrose, Van Halen, Chickenfoot, and beyond. Fans will also find insights on Sammy's collaborations with the Waboritas, The Circle, and HSAS, along with his covers and the artists who've covered his songs. Whether you're a lifelong Redhead or just love cranking up the volume to 55 (or more), this guide is for you! Praise for Tim Durling's Previous Works: "Most rock fans know Kansas for Leftoverture and Point of Know Return—but there's so much more to discover. Tim's book, Let It Be Your Guide, is full of fantastic insights into a band often described as both overrated and underrated. A must-read for Kansas fans!" —Bill Flanigan "Tim's Let It Be Your Guide explores the entire Kansas discography with passion and depth, asking thoughtful questions that make fans hear these classics in a whole new way. Another must-read!" —Cesare Cetra "Down For The Count is a phenomenal overview of Y&T's career. A deep dive into the albums of an underappreciated band."* —Jerry Attwooll "Tim Durling's Down For The Count gives Y&T the spotlight they deserve, reviewing their entire catalog with incredible detail. A must-read for all hard rock and metal fans!" —Artie Silva "If you're a music fan or collector, UNSPOOLED is essential. Even if you don't collect 8-tracks, you'll enjoy this nostalgic journey. The book is beautifully designed and packed with incredible stories." —Chris Preston "Tim's UNSPOOLED is both educational and entertaining—a rare combo! I was inspired to start my own 8-track collection after reading it. A must-have for music collectors!" —John T. Snow “Exclusively Van Halen" is the ultimate destination for all things Van Halen. Step into the world of rock and roll legends as we delve deep into the history, music, and trivia surrounding one of the most iconic bands of all time. Join us as we explore Van Halen's storied career, from their electrifying performances to the making of their timeless hits. Get to know the band members, their inspirations, and the stories behind the songs that have rocked generations. But that's not all – tune in for exciting giveaways where you can win exclusive Van Halen merchandise and more. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just discovering the magic of Van Halen, this show promises to keep you entertained, informed, and rocking out from start to finish. Get ready to jump into the world of "Exclusively Van Halen" and experience the music like never before. We talk all things Van Halen! #vanhalen #johnnybeaneTV #eddievanhalen #exclusivelyvanhalen #bestofallworlds #timdurling #sammyhagar #alexvanhalen

Day 329 of Heart Dive 365, where we are diving heart first into the Word of God! Today we are studying  Galatians 4-6 in the New Testament

Send us a textDid you know fewer than 10% of podcasts make it to their 100th episode? But we're not like most podcasts, are we? Check out this episode as we take a moment to talk about some of our past highlights. We still cover news items, including stories on the new Superman, Hagar's heist, Woody Harrelson, the Home Alone house, and more.   "Did You Hear About This?" breaks down unusual pop culture topics and news stories that might be new to you. Enjoy learning useless stuff? You have found your tribe. Parental Guidance suggested ;)Please subscribe, like, and review us — we always need support to grow in this algorithmic world.Do you know someone who would like our show? Please share. We aren't afraid to beg. Visit us at didyouhearaboutthis.show

Abraham's failure to trust in God leads to deception with Abimelech. Twenty-five years later, Abraham repeats the same mistake he made in chapter 12. He falls again into deception and failure, which shows believers how easily it is to slip back into sinful habits. However, God is faithful even when we are not. God's faithfulness rescues them from Abimelech and fulfills His promise by giving Abraham and Sarah a son, Isaac. God demonstrates His grace and faithfulness to Hagar and Ishmael because of His love toward Abraham.Support the show

https://youtube.com/live/Qkln4xGr2HA Grammy Award-winning artist Sammy Hagar, joined by special guest Michael Anthony, gave fans a taste of their upcoming Las Vegas residency with a high-energy halftime performance earlier today (Sunday, November 24) during the Las Vegas Raiders game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium. Footage of their performance is available below. Just days ago, Sammy announced that his critically acclaimed "The Best Of All Worlds" summer 2024 tour will transition into a Las Vegas residency, titled The Best Of All Worlds Tour - The Residency. Set to kick off at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas, Nevada, the residency will run from April 30 through May 17, 2025. Reuniting the powerhouse lineup of Hagar, Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani, and Kenny Aronoff, the residency promises a unique "only in Las Vegas" experience. Fans can expect a career-spanning setlist, featuring hits from MONTROSE, Hagar's iconic solo career, VAN HALEN, CHICKENFOOT, and more. Presented in partnership with Live Nation and MGM Resorts International, the residency will be tailored specifically for the Dolby Live venue. With its 5,200-seat capacity, the venue offers an intimate yet electrifying atmosphere, ensuring fans an unforgettable night of rock and roll.

This sermon explores the story of Abram, Sarai, and Hagar in Genesis 16, emphasizing the consequences of trying to “help” God fulfill His promises through human means rather than trusting His plan. Sarai, unable to conceive, persuades Abram to have a child with her servant Hagar, leading to conflict and tension. Hagar flees but is met by an angel of the Lord, who prophesies about her son, Ishmael, and offers comfort to her. This passage parallels Jesus' encounter with the The post Genesis 16 – God Doesn't Need Our Help appeared first on Island Pond Baptist Church.

Jump into the history of Van Halen with author and historian Greg Renoff, who once again joins Nestor to discuss the new Alex Van Halen book "Brothers" on his life with Eddie and the sensation of the "5150" residue on last summer's Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony tour and bringing the best of both worlds back to Las Vegas for a residency next spring. The post Van Halen historian Greg Renoff joins Nestor to discuss post Alex book and 5150 Hagar tour updates on band lore first appeared on Baltimore Positive WNST.

Have you ever cried out to God in life's darkest moments, wondering if He's truly listening? You're not alone. In this episode of Motherhood Unstressed, I sit down with author Rachel Wojo to discuss her powerful new book, Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life's Darkest Moments. Rachel takes us on a deeply personal journey, sharing her own heartbreaking experiences of loss and the desperate prayers that carried her through. Together, we explore the lives of struggling Bible characters like Hagar, Hannah, and David—people who faced unimaginable challenges yet found strength through their cries to God. Rachel's insights reveal simple yet profound truths: your prayers don't have to be perfect; they just have to be honest. With her three-word prayer focus and relatable storytelling, Rachel inspires us to shift from frantic desperation to a dependent, peaceful faith. Whether your prayers feel more like last-minute cries or heartfelt conversations, this episode is a must-listen. You'll leave feeling encouraged, equipped, and reassured that your voice is heard—even in life's pitch-black moments.

Sunday Service (11/17/24) // MBC 3rd Year Anniversary // Visit our website: https://mbchicago.org Follow us to remain connected: Facebook:   / mbc.chicago   Instagram:   / mbc.chicago   TikTok:   / mbc.chicago   Podcasts: Listen on Apple, Spotify & others To support this ministry, you can donate via: Zelle to: info@mbchicago.org Web: https://mbchicago.org/give Venmo: https://venmo.com/mbchurch PayPal/Credit: https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_but... #DanielBatarseh | #mbchicago | #mbcchicago | #Bible | #BibleStudy | #livechurch | #churchlive | #chicagochurch | #chicagochurches | #versebyverse | #church | #sermon | #sermons | #sermononline | #chicago | #gospelofmark | #baptism | #bookofmark | #newtestament | #scripture | #verses | #lessons | #crucifixión Philippians 2:5 (ESV) Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV) 6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Romans 1: 21-22 (ESV) 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, Romans 1: 29-31 (ESV) 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 1 Thessalonians 5: 18 (ESV) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Ephesians 1: 16 (ESV) 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, Philippians 1:3-5 (ESV) 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Luke 10: 17-21 (ESV) 17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” 21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, *“I thank you*, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. John 6:9-11 (ESV) 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when *he had given thanks*, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. John 11: 41-42 (ESV) 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” Matthew 26: 26-29 (ESV) 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” Genesis 16: 13-14 (ESV) 13 So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,”[a] for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.”[b] 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi;[c] it lies between Kadesh and Bered. Genesis 21: 17-19 (ESV) 17 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.

Join Geoffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz discussing the weekly Torah portion. What happens when ancient narratives of trauma echo through generations? This episode of "Madlik Disruptive Torah" delves into the parsha Chayei Sara, exploring the post-traumatic impact of the attempted sacrifice of Isaac. Through the lens of Jewish, Islamic and contemporary literature, we examine the emotional and familial fallout experienced by Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Isaac, and Ishmael. They pose intriguing questions: Did Abraham and Sarah live apart after the Akedah? Where did Isaac go after the attempted sacrifice by his father and how did he relate to his half-brother Ishmael and step-mother Hagar? How did Isaac's near-sacrifice shape his life? The discussion weaves historical context with contemporary reflections, drawing parallels to modern-day conflicts and shared traumas. Sefaria Source Sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/605334  Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2024/11/21/the-day-after/ View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jf-oCqMqbco 

Parsha Talk with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. Parashat Chayyai Sarah [Genesis 23:1-25:18] begins with the death of Sarah and the acquisition of the Cave of Makhpelah from Efron the Hittite. This sale and consequent burial of Sarah establishes Abraham's claim to the land, for he now is the legal owner of a plot of land. The largest section of the parashah is devoted to finding a wife for Isaac. Avraham sends his servant, whom the rabbis identify as Eliezer, back to his ancestral homeland to find a wife amongst his kin, with the proviso that the servant may bring the woman back to Canaan, but under no circumstances is he to take Isaac to the ancestral homeland. This story, and in particular the oath with which Avraham sends off his servant, provides the basis for our conversation this week. Chapter 25 narrates the subsequent marriage of Avraham to Keturah, whom the rabbis identify as Hagar, and the birth of 6 more sons. In turn, Avraham dies and is buried, and Ishmael dies as well, clearing the way for next week's parashah which focuses on Isaac and his family. On the 411th day of the war, we continue to be mindful of the hostages, may they be returned speedily to their families, and the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm's way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parsha Talk with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. Parashat Va-yera [Genesis 18:1-22:24] is filled with interesting material: the announcement of the birth of Isaac, Abraham's conversation with God about the fate of Sodom & Gomorrah, the second wife-sister story, the banishment of Ishmael and Hagar, and the Binding of Isaac [these latter two which we read on Rosh Hashanah]. Our focus this week was on the opening scene and what we can discover about the relationship between Abraham and Sarah. We did not move far from this topic and hope you will find that we had interesting things to say! On the 404th day of the war, we continue to be mindful of the hostages, may they be returned speedily to their families, and the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm's way. Shabbat Shalom.

In this week's episode we look at Parashat Vayerah to read the story of Ishmael and Hagar's exile and near-death in the wilderness. We see Hagar so overwhelmed by her own despair that she cannot be near her dying child, then the angel comes to reassure her that they are not meant to die, and she subsequently sees a well of water. Relating this story to climate despair, we see that if we persist in a despairing mind state it can blind us to the possibilities available for reversing climate change. We also talk about how it is essential to foster supportive relationships where we can express our sorrows when they arise and be reassured and then can return to a state of receptivity, creativity, and action. Follow along with the source sheet here: www.sefaria.org/sheets/591882

https://youtube.com/live/xC7iMY2mcSQ Sammy Hagar Announces ‘Best of All Worlds' Las Vegas Residency. After a successful summer tour, Sammy Hagar has announced The Best of All Worlds Residency in Las Vegas. The Red Rocker's Van Halen celebration will hit the stage at Dolby Live inside Park MGM next spring. Check out the full list of shows below! Joining Hagar on the Vegas Strip are Michael Anthony, former Van Halen bassist; guitarist Joe Satriani; and renowned drummer Kenny Aronoff. Aronoff steps in after Jason Bonham, who played drums during the summer tour, confirmed he would not be continuing with the group. Aronoff's impressive career includes work with John Mellencamp, Bob Seger, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath. Dolby Live at Park MGM will also host Mötley Crüe's Las Vegas residency starting in March. Hagar originally launched The Best of All Worlds Tour on July 13 in West Palm Beach, Florida, alongside Anthony, Satriani, and Bonham. The 28-date North American trek celebrated Hagar's Van Halen era with a setlist of iconic hits, rare tracks, and songs from Montrose, Chickenfoot, and the members' solo catalogs. Fans were treated to a high-energy revival of Van Halen's legendary music, making the upcoming Vegas shows a must-see event!

https://www.youtube.com/live/UVJSNWALKT8?si=0zuOZDQ5ph2S9u54 Jason Bonham has announced he won't rejoin Sammy Hagar's "The Best Of All Worlds" tour. Bonham, who played on the U.S. leg celebrating Hagar-era Van Halen, left with four shows remaining due to a family issue. Kenny Aronoff, a former Hagar collaborator, stepped in for the final dates. “Exclusively Van Halen" is the ultimate destination for all things Van Halen. Step into the world of rock and roll legends as we delve deep into the history, music, and trivia surrounding one of the most iconic bands of all time. Join us as we explore Van Halen's storied career, from their electrifying performances to the making of their timeless hits. Get to know the band members, their inspirations, and the stories behind the songs that have rocked generations. But that's not all – tune in for exciting giveaways where you can win exclusive Van Halen merchandise and more. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just discovering the magic of Van Halen, this show promises to keep you entertained, informed, and rocking out from start to finish. Get ready to jump into the world of "Exclusively Van Halen" and experience the music like never before. We talk all things Van Halen!

Cut! Galatians 5:2-12 by William Klock Back in 1998, just after we were married, Veronica and I travelled to Montreal for her interview with the US immigration folks.  While we were there, we took a day to drive to Ottawa to do some sight-seeing.  It was March and still very much winter in Montreal and as we left the island, driving over the bridge on the Trans-Canada Highway where the Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers converge, we were surprised to see a Jeep speeding across the frozen river, going in the opposite direction back towards Montreal, driving on the ice.  Having lived my whole life on the West Coast I'd never seen anything like that myself.  I have no idea about the history of bridges to and from Montreal Island, but I would guess that at one point riding a horse or driving a wagon across the frozen river was the usual way to get across during Winter.  But then Spring would come, the ice would melt, and all that would change.  I expect there were ferries that carried people across the rest of the year, until the river froze again. Now, for Paul writing to the Galatians, Jesus is like that spring thaw.  Ever since they'd left Egypt, the identity of the people of God had been tied up in their observance of the law.  Circumcision was the beginning of it—eight days after a boy was born.  That marked him out as one of God's people, as a member of God's covenant and an heir of his promises.  But through life, that identity was lived out by keeping the law: by celebrating the Passover every year, by keeping the Sabbath, by offering sacrifices at the temple, by eating only clean foods and by avoiding unclean things and people.  The law was the way to righteousness, the way to fellowship with God.  But that was like driving across the river on the ice.  It was all right and good—and in the case of torah it was God-given—but it was for a time.  Things changed.  Jesus changed them.  Jesus changed everything.  In Jesus Spring has sprung.  God's new creation has begun.  The old world is starting to thaw.  Think of the wonderful image that Lewis used in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, with Narnia frozen by the witch—always winter, but never Christmas.  But when Aslan arrived, the whole country began to thaw and the new life of Spring began break through the snow and the ice.  Jesus has changed everything and in Jesus' new world, the law no longer counts—it'll no longer get you across the river, because the river's thawed.  Try to get across with the law now and you'll just be caught up in the current and lost downstream.  In Galatians 5:2 Paul puts it this way: Look here: I, Paul, am telling you that if you get circumcised, the Messiah will be of no use to you.   So over the last four chapters Paul has made his argument to the Galatians and, we saw last week, he's finished it with the command to cast out the false teachers—to cast them out the way Sarah cast out Hagar and Ishmael—because there's only one family that has inherited God's promises.  Cast them out.  They're undermining the gospel.  Don't let their heresy fester; cast them out.  But I expect Paul knew they would need more to persuade them to do that, so now he turns back to the circumcision issue.  Actually, this is the first time that he mentions circumcision outright in the letter.  So he sort of pulls himself up to his full height and says, “Look here!  I, Paul—you know, the apostle who met Jesus personally and who told you the good news about Jesus in the first place—I want to be very clear that if you follow the advice of these circumcision folks, if you get circumcised, Jesus the Messiah will be of no use to you.” Those are some powerful words.  These pagan gentiles had been completely captivated by the good news about Jesus: this man in whom God became incarnate, who died for the sake of his people, who rose from death and then ascended to his throne.  They were captivated by the good news about this Lord who was unlike any lord or god they'd ever known.  And they believed, they'd been baptised, and God had plunged them into his Spirit and they'd been transformed.  They knew the power of the gospel.  They knew the power of Jesus and the Spirit.  And Paul's saying, “If you get circumcised, all of that is gone.   The good news here is that if Paul's putting this way, it means the Galatian believers haven't yet caved into the pressure from the circumcision agitators.  Reading between the lines, it sounds like the agitators have split up the church with the ethnic Jews—the circumcised—on the inside, while the gentile believers are being forced to sort of participate or to watch from the sidelines—just as things were in the temple in Jerusalem with Jews in the inner court making their offerings and sacrifices at the altar while the gentiles were stuck in the outer court imagining what was going on inside.  Maybe the agitators had got them eating kosher and observing the Jewish calendar, but none of the gentiles had actually gone all the way to circumcision yet.  And Paul's trying to get to them, to persuade them before they do.  Because if they do, it's like driving your car onto that thin, melting ice.  Jesus has made a better way.  So he goes on in verse 3: I testify once more, against every person who gets circumcised, that he is thereby under obligation to perform the entire law.   Paul reminds them what it really means to be under the law.  Even the agitators seem to have forgotten that.  They wanted these gentile believers to do just enough so that they could pass for Jews with the authorities: get circumcised, stop buying pork in the market, observe the Sabbath and other Jewish holy days.  They were motivated by fear.  These new gentile believers were abandoning the gods and the religious customs of the Greeks and Romans and to avoid getting into trouble they were claiming the Jewish exemption—except they weren't Jews—and if the authorities caught on, it might bring persecution on the whole Jewish community.  So the agitators wanted these gentile believers to take on some of the obvious Jewish externals.  And Paul reminds them of what they should have known already: that's not how the law works.  The law is all or nothing.  They've accused Paul of only teaching part of the gospel and now Paul turns around and accuses them of teaching only part of the law.  If the gentile believers go the way of circumcision, they'll end up neither genuine Messiah people nor genuine torah-observing Jews. Back in 2:15-21 Paul said that “through the law [I] died to the law” and that “if righteousness is through the law, the Messiah died to no purpose.”  Now in verse 4 he says the same thing another way: You are split off from the Messiah, you people who want to be justified by the law.  You have dropped out of grace.   To look for justification—which means to show you're a member of God's covenant people—to look for that through torah, is to reject the grace of the gospel.  He's been stressing that God's covenant people are now those marked out by baptism into the death and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah.  That faith in Jesus—and nothing else—is what marks us out as God's people.  The moment you add to that—whether torah or anything else—you lose the gospel and when you lose the gospel you lose God's grace.  In this case, if circumcision is what marks out God's people, then there was no reason for the Messiah to die and to take that old mark in your flesh as a means of justifying your place in the covenant is to reject Jesus and the gospel. But why?  Well, Paul explains in verses 5 and 6: For we are waiting eagerly, by the Spirit and by faith, for the hope of righteousness.  For in the Messiah, Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any power.  What matters is faith, working through love.   Do you remember last week when I was closing and talked about how seriously Paul took false gospels?  We tend to dither around and make excuses when it comes to false teaching.  We often struggle to know where to draw the line.  It's not always easy to tell where the line is—where something that's just poor teaching crosses into bona fide heresy.  In contrast, Paul was really clear: Cast them out.  Get rid of them.  Don't let the false teachers influence the church.  And the way to tell when something crossed the line was to ask if this teaching was still pointing forward into the age to come or if it was something that would drag us back into the old evil age.  Paul gets at that again here when he says that we're waiting eagerly, by the Spirit and by faith, for the hope of righteousness.  In other words, true Christians will always be looking forward in hope to the day when God will vindicate our faith in Jesus, that day when he will finally judge sin and evil and wipe it all from his creation, when death will be no more, when everything will finally be set to rights, and we—his people through faith in Jesus—will live in his presence forever.  Does our theology, does our practise honour the saving work of Jesus and the Spirit and does it look forward to the day when the work of Jesus and the Spirit will finally be fulfilled—or—is our theology or our practise dragging us back into the old age, into the things that once held us captive—whether the law for Jews or the powers of this evil age for the gentiles.  In this case, in terms of practical outworking, does our theology and practise bring us together as one people in Jesus, or does it separate us.  Again, think of the temple with Jews on the inside and gentiles on the out—and how these circumcision folks were trying to impose that kind of template on the Galatian churches all over again. In contrast, in Jesus it no longer matters whether you're circumcised or not.  That was part of the old covenant, the old way, but the ice has melted and that old way won't get you anywhere anymore.  No, someday, before the watching eyes of the whole world, God will call us his own and it won't because of any marks we bear in our flesh or because of anything we've done, it will because we have been baptised into, because by faith we have put on the Messiah as our identity and because God has poured his Spirit into us.  Jesus and the Spirit are the ticket that will give us passage on the ferry across the river.  What matters, he says, is faith working through love.  Faith is the only way to get the ticket—and here Paul hints at what he'll have to say later in the chapter—faith is more than just a thinking thing; it's more than just giving our intellectual assent to the propositions of the creed.  Faith means trust.  Faith means loyalty.  Faith means allegiance.  Faith means committing ourselves to God's new creation made manifest in the risen Jesus and the gift of the Spirit—a new creation made possible by love—and so faith, true, real faith in God's love and that returns God's love and that manifests God's love to the world, that kind of faith is what matters.  That kind of faith is what marks out the people of God and that kind of faith is what will see us through—through hardships and opposition and persecution and maybe even martyrdom—that is the faith that will bring us through to the day when all God's promises will finally be fulfilled. And Paul thought they knew all this, which is why he's so shocked and frustrated with them.  It's why he wants to know how they could have gone so wrong so quickly.  See how he continues in verse 7: You were running so well.  Who cut in on you and stopped you being persuaded by the truth?  This persuasion didn't come from the one who called you.    When Paul left them they were well on their way, running for the prize—running into God's new creation—but now they've gone off course.  “Who's cut in on you?” Paul asks.  It's not the normal word we might expect him to use for someone interrupting the runners, slowing them down or setting them on the wrong course, but Paul is making a harsh accusation here and so he tempers it with some wordplay.  They want to be circumcised, they want to be cut in their flesh.  That was never part of the plan for this race, so he asks, “You who want to be cut, who's cut in on you?”  They were set on the truth of the gospel, but these other folks showed up and have cut in on all that with a false gospel.  He reminds them that it was God who called them to this in the beginning—through the good news about Jesus—but this new persuasion, this new “truth” they're going after, that came from somewhere else—not from God.  They're playing a dangerous game and Paul reminds them of an old Jewish proverb in verse 9: A little yeast works its way through the whole lump.   I think what he's trying to say is that once you start going astray from the gospel, it's not long before you've lost the gospel entirely.  We see this a lot down through church history.  Add something to Jesus as a marker of covenant membership and pretty soon you've lost the whole gospel.  Paul might also be warning them that once you start listening to one false teacher, pretty soon you start listening to anyone.  That happens a lot too.  And so Paul exhorts them: I am persuaded in the Lord that you won't differ from me on this.  But the one who is troubling you will bear the blame, whoever he may be.   They were originally persuaded by God to pursue the truth of the gospel, but these other folks have persuaded them to pursue something else, so Paul stresses that the Lord has persuaded him.  Persuaded him of what?  That, in the end, they'll come back to the gospel truth.  He says literally “you will think nothing else”.  When Paul says that he is “persuaded in the Lord”—something he doesn't say often—it means that he's been praying about something and that the Lord has given him a clear conviction.  It would be dangerous for us talk this way, but Paul was in that unique position of having the authority of an apostle.  The point seems to be that the Lord has revealed to Paul that the Galatians will come back to the truth, but that it will be Paul's Spirit-inspired words that will be the means of bringing them back. By the same token, this false teacher who has been trying to lead them astray will “bear the blame”.  Paul might be referring to the way that the Galatians will cast him out—as he told them to do at the end of Chapter 4 or it might even be more serious than that.  He might be talking about God's judgement and condemnation of this false teacher.  Paul just calls him “whoever he may be” and I don't think that's because Paul didn't know who this man was.  The church in those first decades was small and everyone knew everyone.  Whoever it was, Paul's point is that they can't dither on this false teaching.  They can't treat it as something of secondary importance.  There are lots of things on which Christians can differ.  Someone's wrong and someone's right, but there are some issues on which we can disagree while still holding tightly to the truth of the gospel.  This was not one of those things.  This was one of those things on which the gospel stands or falls and Paul wants them to know—it's a bit of a threat—that this false teacher will without a doubt be held accountable—and the quiet part he doesn't say out loud is that anyone who goes along with him will also go down with him.  He's headed out onto thin ice with his car and anyone who goes along for the ride will end up at the bottom of the river with him.  Brothers and Sisters, false teaching is no joke. Then verse 11.  Paul seems to be addressing an accusation against him. As for me, my dear brothers [and sisters], if I am still announcing circumcision, why are people still persecuting me?  If I were, the scandal of the cross would have been neutralised.   It sounds like these agitators, knowing Paul's history as a Pharisee, back in the days before Jesus met him on the road to Damascus, it sounds like they've been telling the Galatians that Paul was still preaching circumcision—just not to them.  Saying that Paul's a hypocrite.  And so Paul appeals to his own suffering and persecution.  They knew what had happened to him.  It sounds like when he first showed up in Galatia, he was beaten and bloody and weak because of persecution in some nearby town or city.  Paul appeals to that.  This is a strand that runs all through Galatians that I'd never noticed until I started this series of sermons, but it's there.  For Paul, suffering for the sake of the gospel was often proof of its truth.  It goes back to the cross.  Jesus' crucifixion set the pattern so that to follow him wasn't just a new way to be religious—as so many people treat it today: it's good for me, but if you don't like it that's okay too.  The gospel isn't just another option on the religious smorgasbord.  For Paul, the good news about Jesus is the truth that had already begun to change the world.  It is the truth that Jesus has already overthrown the powers and kings of the present age and inaugurated the age to come.  And, in light of that, Paul didn't see the churches as little religious clubs, but as a network of communities where people, filled with God's own Spirit, were living out God's new creation in the midst of the old, declaring that Jesus is Lord right under the nose of Caesar, who made that claim for himself—for example.  Living as one people in the midst of ferocious ethnic and religious divides.  Living as a people of grace and mercy in the midst of a dog-eat-dog world.  As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, this made the gospel a scandal and a stumbling block.  Even this early in his career as an apostle and mission Paul can say it.  His calling is to proclaim the good news of Jesus, crucified and risen and the world's true Lord.  The Spirit works in the hearts of those who hear that good news.  In some the Spirit uses that message to bring about faith, hope, and love, but for others the scandal of the crucified God causes them to cast stones at the messenger who dares announce this anti-religious, anti-social, and unpatriotic message.  If all Paul had been announcing was that pagans could get circumcised and join the Jews in their synagogues in order to become exempt from pagan worship, why no one would have been persecuting him. No, if Paul had been doing that, the scandal of the cross would have been neutralised—something I think every generation finds its own way of doing as we trim the culturally offensive bits of the gospel.  And so Paul says, closing off the paragraph in verse 12: I wish those who are making trouble for you would cut the whole lot off.   Paul comes back to his wordplay with circumcision and cutting off.  Don't stop at circumcision, just cut the whole thing off.  Of course, under torah, that sort of mutilation would have cut them off from covenant.  But, too, the goddess Cybele was popular in Galatia and it wasn't uncommon for her devotees to work themselves up in a manic ritual that ended with them castrating themselves.  I suspect Paul has that in mind, because as he's said, whether it was the Jews under the law or the gentiles under their pagan powers, humanity before Jesus was enslaved and to undermine the cross through circumcision, going back to the law, well, these gentiles might as well just go back to their old pagan gods and their old pagan worship.  Either way, they'll end up “cut off” from God and from his people. That's as far as we'll go this week.  As much as the Galatian problem may seem distant and irrelevant to us, since circumcision and keeping the Jewish law aren't likely to be our problem, what I hope you can see is the underlying issue.  There are things in every age that we do, by which we undercut the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection.  The Galatians were motivated by fear of persecution—and that's often the driver.  We're afraid, whether it's that we might lose our lives or just offend friends or family, for the sake of the gospel and so we compromise, we water things down, we shave the sharp corners off the message where it confronts our culture and the powers of our day.  We end up with a false gospel powerless to save and we run the risk ourselves of losing our way—of running off the race course, of trying to cross the river on the melting spring ice…and putting ourselves in a position where we have forsaken God's grace and made the Messiah of no use to us.  Paul reminds us here that suffering, that persecution for the sake of gospel truth is part of the formula, because we trust in and follow and proclaim the crucified and risen Messiah—a stumbling block to Jews and a scandal to gentiles.  Brothers and Sisters, take hold of that gospel truth and run—run the course that leads straight to God's new age, straight to his new creation and let no one cut in on you, take no short cut.  There is only one way.  It begins with trusting Jesus and the Spirit, but it also means continuing to trust Jesus and the Spirit along the way, trusting that God will bring us through suffering—just as he did Jesus—to that day when we ourselves will be raised from death and everything is made new. Let's pray: O God, you know us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: grant to us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

You may ask: Why hasn't God shown up in my trial yet? We often judge our situations and God's interventions based off how much time has passed. And as time passes, our hope declines. But we forget an important part of God's nature: He is outside time. His hand of deliverance is not limited by time. And it is time that we trust His timing in our trial. Torah Portion: Lech Lecha / Go Out Support Rise on Fire Ministries by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/rise-on-fireRead transcript

We are plumb in the middle of two of the hardest stories in the Torah. Genesis 16:1-16 tells of Sarai's continued inability to get pregnant, which leads her to assign her servant Hagar (literally the stranger) to Abram so that she might conceive a child with Abram who would somehow be reckoned as Sarai's child. When Abram and Hagar have relations, she gets pregnant right away. It does not go well. The two women hurt one another. “Abraham cohabited with Hagar and she conceived; and when she (Hagar) saw that she had conceived, her mistress (Sarai) was lowered in her (Hagar's) esteem.” 16:4. Which led to: “Then Sarai treated her (Hagar) harshly, and she ran away from her.” 16:6. That was in last week's reading. This week tells the familiar story (the Torah reading for Rosh Hashanah day 1) of the birth of Isaac, which leads Sarah to direct Abraham to expel Hagar and Ishmael from their home into the wilderness. 21: 9-21. Not Sarah's finest moment: “Cast out that slave woman and her son, for the son of that slave shall not share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.” 21:10. There are 70 faces of Torah (shivim panim l'Torah), and these stories have been grist for the mill for feminist critiques, class critiques, racial critiques. It is a story about the patriarchy. It is a story about rich and poor. It is a story about white and black. It is a story about power imbalance. All of which is also true. And tomorrow we are going to focus on a human question that affects us all: what does pain do to us? These stories yield four characters, and four different responses. Lashing Out in Our Pain Hagar and Sarah do that to each other. Self-Pity Hagar and Sarah both do that as well. Bystander Abraham The One Who Sees Me The angel of God There is no shortage of pain in the world. How can we avoid the first three moves and emulate instead the example of the angel of God who sees the person before them.

https://youtube.com/live/Xh8G_pc5nbg Sammy Hagar is building excitement among fans with hints of something big on the horizon. The rocker recently posted videos on social media featuring himself and Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony in the studio, captioned, “Big announcement coming up next week. The best of all worlds band—we are up to something.” The post also included hashtags like #newmusic, fueling speculation about what's to come. In the clips, fans get a taste of what could be a new song. In one video, Anthony is seen laying down a bass line while Hagar's vocals—singing “thank you”—play in the background. Another clip shows Anthony recording backing vocals, adding to the intrigue. But it might not stop at music. The post also included the hashtag #moreshows, hinting that another leg of the tour could be in the works. Hagar tagged Anthony, guitarist Joe Satriani, and drummer Kenny Aronoff, who stepped in for Jason Bonham during part of the previous tour, suggesting the entire lineup could be involved. Hagar previously told ABC Audio that he had plans to create new music with his Best of All Worlds tour band and had already collaborated on a song with Satriani. He also expressed hopes for additional tour dates. The Best of All Worlds tour, which kicked off in July, showcased a mix of Van Halen classics and Hagar's solo hits, leaving fans eager for what's next. #sammyhagar #vanhalen #eddievanhalen #johnnybeaneTV

This week's Torah portion contains two stories - the incident of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the incident of Hagar and Ishmael - that teach important Jewish values about justice and about the way we are supposed to relate to neighboring peoples. In this episode, Rabbi Micah Streiffer speaks about the ideas that come out of these narratives, and about how they relate to Jewish life and to Israel today. --------------------------------- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution). For info on our weekly Zoom study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/. Comments or questions? Email info@laasok.org, or contact Rabbi Micah Streiffer directly at micah@laasok.org. 

This week, we look at the conclusion of Paul's argument to the Galatians about what it means to be God's children. Pastor Connor guides us through a tale of two sons: one enslaved and one free.  When we belong to God's family, we are children of promise, free and righteous because of God's grace through Christ. He delivers us from the hopeless slavery of trying to justify ourselves through works of the Law.This week, our hosts go over why Galatians 4:27 was left out of the sermon, why the story of Sarah and Hagar is a hard one to teach to children, and we find out what happened to Ishmael after he was sent away. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear Connor and Jason talk about mountains, nature, and hiking trips they've been on.If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFAFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbcInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurchWebsite: https://www.discovertbc.com/

Commentary on Genesis 30 Genesis 30 continues the narrative of Jacob's family, highlighting themes of rivalry, human frailty, divine intervention, and God's faithfulness to His covenant. The chapter primarily focuses on the struggles between Rachel and Leah, Jacob's wives, as they compete for his affection and vie to bear children who will continue the lineage of Israel. 1. Rachel and Leah's Rivalry (Verses 1–13) Rachel, despite being Jacob's favored wife, remains barren, while Leah continues to bear children. This causes deep frustration for Rachel, who exclaims to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!” (v. 1). Jacob responds with anger, reminding her that only God can grant children. •Rachel's Desperation: Rachel resorts to using her servant, Bilhah, as a surrogate mother, mirroring the earlier story of Sarah and Hagar. Bilhah bears two sons, Dan and Naphtali, whose names reflect Rachel's feelings of vindication and struggle. •Leah's Response: Not to be outdone, Leah also gives her servant, Zilpah, to Jacob, resulting in two more sons, Gad and Asher. This rivalry shows the human tendency to seek control over circumstances instead of waiting for God's timing. Reflection: This portion of the narrative highlights the dangers of envy and competition within families. Despite their actions, God's sovereignty is evident as He fulfills His promise to build a great nation through Jacob. 2. Leah and Rachel's Fertility (Verses 14–24) The story takes a curious turn with the mention of mandrakes, a plant believed to enhance fertility. Reuben, Leah's son, brings mandrakes to his mother, but Rachel bargains for them, offering Leah a night with Jacob in exchange. Leah conceives again and bears two more sons, Issachar and Zebulun, and later a daughter, Dinah. •God's Grace to Rachel: After years of barrenness, God remembers Rachel and grants her a son, Joseph. His name reflects Rachel's prayer for God to “add” another son to her. Reflection: This section demonstrates the futility of relying on superstitions (mandrakes) versus trusting in God. Ultimately, it is God who opens and closes the womb. 3. Jacob's Prosperity (Verses 25–43) After Joseph's birth, Jacob asks Laban for permission to leave and establish his own household. However, Laban, realizing that God has blessed him because of Jacob, persuades him to stay. They agree on a plan where Jacob would keep the speckled and spotted sheep as his wages. •Jacob's Resourcefulness: Jacob employs a breeding strategy using peeled branches to influence the flocks' appearance. While the exact science behind this is unclear, the text emphasizes God's blessing on Jacob's efforts. •God's Faithfulness: Jacob becomes exceedingly prosperous, acquiring large flocks, servants, and camels, fulfilling God's promise to bless him. Reflection: This section highlights God's ability to bless His chosen people even amid human scheming. Jacob's success is not solely due to his ingenuity but ultimately stems from God's covenant with him. Key Themes in Genesis 30 1.God's Sovereignty: Despite human manipulation, it is God who determines outcomes, whether in childbearing or prosperity. 2.Faith vs. Human Effort: The chapter illustrates the tension between waiting on God and taking matters into one's hands. 3.Family Dynamics: The rivalry between Rachel and Leah showcases the complexities and struggles within Jacob's family, yet God uses their imperfections to accomplish His purposes. 4.Fulfillment of the Covenant: The children born to Jacob become the twelve tribes of Israel, furthering God's covenant with Abraham. Applications for Today 1.Trust in God's Timing: Like Rachel and Leah, we may struggle with waiting for God to act, but His plans are always perfect. 2.Avoid Envy and Strife: Rivalry and jealousy can fracture relationships, but unity and trust in God lead to peace. 3.God Uses Imperfect People: Despite their flaws, Jacob and his family are part of God's redemptive plan, encouraging us that God can use anyone for His purposes. Genesis 30 is a powerful reminder that God remains faithful to His promises, even when human actions are flawed and motivations are self-centered. It encourages us to rely on God's sovereignty and trust in His provision.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.

“Get down!” my friend said firmly to her son after he climbed onto the church pew and waved his hands. “I want the pastor to see me,” he innocently replied. “If I don’t stand up, he won’t see me.” While standing on the pews is probably not encouraged in most churches, my friend’s son had a good point. Standing and waving his hands was certainly one way to be seen and to capture the pastor’s attention. When we’re trying to get God’s attention, we don’t have to worry about being seen by Him. God sees each of us all the time. He’s the same One who revealed Himself to Hagar when she was probably at the lowest, loneliest, most frustrating time in her life. She’d been used as a pawn and given to Abram by his wife, Sarai, to produce a son (Genesis 16:3). And when she did get pregnant, Abram allowed his wife to mistreat Hagar: “Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled her” (v. 6). The runaway slave found herself alone, pregnant, and miserable. Yet in the midst of her desperation in the wilderness, God compassionately sent an angel to speak to her. The angel told her that God had “heard of [her] misery” (v. 11). She responded by saying, “You are the God who sees me” (v. 13). What a realization—especially in the midst of the wilderness. God saw Hagar and had compassion. And no matter how tough things are, He sees you.

In this message, Pastor Phil talks about how it matters who you name God. While God had many names such as Yahweh and Jehovah, he highlights the story of Hagar, who called God Jehovah Roi, the God who sees.

This past week's Shabbos morning Drasha. The ups and downs of living a life of meaning - Hagar's story.

Cast Out the Slave-girl and her Son Galatians 4:12-5:1 by William Klock I have a non-Christian—or it would be better to say, anti-Christian—relative who, I've observed, is very uncomfortable with me being a preacher.  At one point she just came out and said it: As far as she's concerned, preachers are just moralising, kill-joy demagogues who glory in lording their authority over people and pontificating to them what they can and cannot do.  People like this think of God as a kill-joy in the sky and the preacher as his sour and spiteful earthly representative.  She has no clue that the preacher is the intermediary between the loving God who has given his word to make himself known and his people, filled with his Spirit, who desire to hear his word that they might know him and love him in return.  They have no idea that both the Bible and preaching sit at the intersection of God's love for his people and his people's love for him.  But it's not just non-Christians.  Even people in the church forget that God speaks—and he tells us what he expects of us—out of love and they forget that the preacher preaches that word out of love, too.  And so they get angry when they hear things they don't like.  Sometimes they get angry with God and leave the church entirely.  Sometimes they just shoot the messenger—the preacher.  And that's where Paul is at as we come to the middle of Galatians 4.  Paul knew the people in the Galatian churches well.  He loved them as brothers and sisters in the Lord.  And he's deeply troubled by what he's heard has been going on there ever since these agitators had arrived.  This is why he's writing to them.  And so far he's mostly been talking theology—explaining why these people urging them back into torah are undermining the gospel, the good news about Jesus.  And he's been building this argument as he's walked them through the biblical story, walked them through God's covenants with his people, walked them through the significance of what Jesus did when he died and rose again.  And he's about to finally make the point he's been working toward.  He's about to tell them what they need to do in light of all this.  But in verses 11-20 he pauses and he takes a breath and he reminds them who he is.  He reminds that he's not only their friend, but that he's their brother in the Lord who loves them—and that that's why he's taking the trouble to say all of this.  Look at Chapter 4, beginning at verse 12. Brothers [and Sisters], become like me!  Because I became like you.  You did me no wrong.  No, you know that it was through bodily weakness that I announced the gospel to you in the first place.  You didn't despise or scorn me, even though my condition was quite a test for you, but you welcomed me as if I were God's angel, as if I were Messiah Jesus!  What's happened to the blessing you had then?  Yes, I can testify that you would have torn out your eyes, if you'd been able to, and given them to me.  So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?   Become like me, because I became like you.  These Christians were mostly gentiles.  Paul was a Jew.  But as he would later write to the Corinthians, he has become like all things to everyone.  Knowing that the gospel unified them as one in Jesus and the Spirit, Paul came and fellowshipped with them—he prayed and sang and worshipped and ate with them, despite their ethnic differences—which is something that can't be said of these false teachers.  And Paul reminds them of when he first arrived.  We don't know exactly what the problem was, but it sounds very much like he arrived in Galatia bloody and beaten after preaching the good news in some neighbouring city.  This might be what he was referring to when he said the brutality of the cross had been shown to them.  He'd stumbled into their fellowship having very nearly shared Jesus' crucifixion—and they welcomed him.  That would have been a dangerous thing to do.  Harbouring a man who had been in trouble another town over could have brought the local authorities down on them.  It sure wouldn't have looked good to the community around them.  But they welcomed Paul and took care of him as he regained his strength.  In the meantime, he proclaimed Jesus and the good news in his weakness.  And they received Paul and his message as if he were an angel, a messenger from God—practically as if he'd been Jesus himself. “So now,” Paul asks, “what's happened to that welcome?  Back then you knew my love for you and you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me if you'd thought it would help.  But now I've told you the truth—because I love you—and you're treating me like an enemy.”  Now he goes on in verse 17: Those other folks are zealous for you, but it's not in a good cause. False teachers are often full of zeal.  Enough so that they con good Christians into thinking that they've got the truth.  And then those conned Christians lash out when the pastor who loves them comes along to show them how the false teachers are wrong.  It happens over and over and over.  Paul says: They want to shut you out, so that you will then be zealous for them. Paul has the temple in mind, with its segregated courts.  Jews could go into the temple court, but gentiles were stuck outside.  They couldn't go in.  And these agitators, these false teachers are trying to make the Galatian churches like that.  The Jewish believers can come into church, they can eat at the Lord's Table, but the gentiles are stuck outside until they get circumcised and start living according to torah.  So Paul says, Well, it's always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I'm there with you.  My children, I seem to be in labour with you all over again, until the Messiah is fully formed in you.  I wish I were there with you right now, and could change me tone of voice.  I really am at a loss about you.   Paul knew all about being zealous.  He'd been zealous for torah and he'd been zealous for persecuting Christians.  And then he'd met the risen Jesus and now he's zealous for the gospel.  Zeal isn't the point.  You can be zealous for anything.  So don't be taken in by the zealousness of false teachers and a false gospel.  And we get a sense of how Paul loves these people and, because of that, how he's so exasperated.  He thought they knew all of this.  He'd laboured over the gospel with them before, but now it feels like he's got to labour with them over the gospel all over again, because it's obvious they weren't as mature in the gospel—in the Messiah—as he had thought. It happens.  Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses knock on the door and they've got carefully worked out arguments that fool far too many Christians.  Prosperity hucksters will tell you they've got the “full gospel” and they'll back it up with great zeal.  In our own day we've got various Messianic groups or the Adventists with a false gospel rooted in the same errors Paul confronted in Galatia.  They dupe Christians into their false teaching and, apart from praying for such people, all we can really do is confront false teaching with gospel truth.  That's what Paul does here.  Look at verse 21: So you want to live under the law, do you?  All right, tell me this: are you prepared to hear what the law says?  For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave-girl and one by the free woman.  Now the child of the slave-girl was born according to the flesh, while the child of the free woman was born according to promise.   Do you recognise the story Paul's talking about?  He's going back to Genesis 16.  This is after God's promise to Abraham, but before the birth of Isaac.  Abraham and Sarah trusted the Lord.  They believed he would provide a son to inherit the promise, but from their perspective a natural heir was impossible.  Sarah was an elderly woman and elderly women past their child-bearing years don't bear children.  So they followed the custom of the day.  Abraham took Sarah's slave-girl, Hagar, as his concubine and had a child by her.  Because she was Sarah's slave, the child was legally hers. But, if you know the story, you know the plan backfired.  When Hagar became pregnant, she lorded it over Sarah.  In their culture, for a woman to be barren was a great shame and Hagar made sure that Sarah felt that shame.  Sarah, of course, wasn't going to stand for that, so she mistreated Hagar.  Hagar ran away, but in the wilderness the Lord met her and sent her back and she gave birth to Ishmael.  Years later—as if the Lord was really, really wanting to make a point to Abraham and Sarah that with him anything was possible—years later, when Sarah was even more elderly, she became pregnant and gave birth to Isaac.  Sarah became jealous of Ishmael and we have a cryptic text about Ishmael abusing Isaac, so Sarah banished Hagar and her son from the camp.  Ishmael would become the father of the Arabian tribes and Isaac would became the father of Jacob, who became the father of the Hebrew tribes—of Israel. It's possible Paul brings this up because the false teachers might have been telling this story in their own way, as if to say, “See…Abraham has two families.  You gentiles might have believed the gospel, but since the Jews are the free children of Abraham, you're like Ishmael and his sons.  If you want to really be part of Abraham's family, you're going to have to get circumcised and become a Jew.  Paul has heard this before and says, “No.  You've got it backwards and here's why.  Let's suppose that Abraham does have two families.  How can you tell which one is the slave family and which one is the free family?  Well, look at the story.  Ishmael was born according to the flesh.  He was the result of Abraham taking matters into his own hands.  Isacc, on the other hand, was born miraculously and in fulfilment of the Lord's promise. And now we see why Paul has been talking so much about covenants and inheritances and heirs all this time.  This is where he's been going with it.  In verse 24 he goes on: Think of this allegorically—as picture-language.  These two women stand for two covenants: one comes from Mount Sinai and gives birth to slave children—that's Hagar.  (Sinai, you see, is a mountain in Arabia, and it corresponds, in the picture, to the present Jerusalem, since she is in slavery with her children.)  But the Jerusalem which is above is free—and she is our mother.   All you have to do is follow the theme of promise through the story.  Well, that and you have to recognise that the story is ongoing.  The false teachers were telling the story as if it stopped with Abraham—or maybe with Moses—but Paul has been showing how the Abraham story, the story of a promise and a family and an inheritance that encompasses the whole world—Paul has been showing how that story is still going on.  So they were right to see the promise back in the story of the birth of Isaac, but now Paul's sort of urging them on: Yes, yes.  You've got that part right, but keep following the promise through the rest of the story.  Because Jesus changes everything.  And so, sure, Isaac was the child of God's promise and so were his children and their children and eventually the whole people of Israel.  But before his little break to remind them that he's not their enemy, Paul was also pointing out how the law, how torah was only meant to serve the promise family for a time—between Moses and the Messiah.  Remember, the human race is sick.  Israel had the same sickness, but the law held the sickness at bay until the promise could be fulfilled.  Or, Paul used the illustration of a babysitter, keeping the promise family out of trouble until the promise to them could be fulfilled.  And, that means, Paul has said, that as much as the law was a good thing given by God for a time, it kept the Israelites as slaves until the Messiah came.  So the law, he's saying here, the law if left to itself can never set people free.  The law, ironically, makes Ishmael children, not Isaac children. And then Paul adds this sort of parenthetical statement: For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia.  And his point is that—using this allegorical or picture language—the law of Moses, which was given on Mount Sinai, now represents the people, the family on the outside in the original picture.  As much as the Lord's promise once led his people to Mount Sinai where he gave them his law, the story has moved on in Jesus the Messiah and so Hagar—the mother of Abraham's son according to the flesh—Hagar now corresponds to Mount Sinai and Mount Sinai represents the law, torah, that the false teachers are saying the gentile believers have to keep. So Isaac represents the promise and freedom.  Ishmael represents the flesh, slavery…none of which would have been controversial, but now Paul has also shown that Ishmael also represents Mount Sinai and the law.  Again, we've got to follow the promise all the way through the story to Jesus and then to the present.  The law was part of God's provision for his people during the present evil age, but the Messiah has inaugurated the age to come.  So Paul's now ready to bring the false teachers into this.  They've been appealing to some authority figures in Jerusalem—maybe James, but we really don't know—just that they're in Jerusalem.  And Paul, in verses 25 and 26 is saying, “Okay, but they're talking about the present Jerusalem, not the heavenly Jerusalem, not the “Jerusalem above”, which is the home of all real believers and the true people of the promise.  To make his point he quotes Isaiah 54:1 which is addressed to Jerusalem herself: For it is written: Celebrate, childless one, who never gave birth! Go wild and shout, girl that never had pains! The barren woman has many more children Than the one who has a husband!   In Isaiah's day, Jerusalem was laid waste, but through the prophet the Lord gave hope to his people.  One day Jerusalem would be restored.  He put it in terms of a barren woman—like Sarah—finally knowing the joy of bearing children and having a family.  By Paul's day this had become an image of the age to come, when the Lord would return to his people and the heavenly city would come with him, heaven and earth would be rejoined, and his new age would dawn.  So the Jerusalem above—the promise of God's new age—it was barren, but now through the Messiah it's bearing children.  The promises are being fulfilled.  In contrast, the present Jerusalem—the city the false teachers are appealing to as their authority—it's got children, yes, but they're in slavery.  In fact, the earthly Jerusalem is slated for judgement and destruction.  So now Paul goes on in verse 28: Now you, my brothers [and sisters], are children of promise, in the line of Isaac. Follow the promise.  It has passed from Isaac to Jesus and now to these people—even though they're gentiles—because they have trusted in the Messiah.  Jesus-believers, uncircumcised as they may be, are Sarah-children, new-Jerusalem people, Isaac-people, promise-people.  But, Paul goes on: But things now are like they were then.  The one who was born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the spirit.   Genesis doesn't elaborate on what Ishmael did to Isaac, only that he abused him in some way, and Paul's point here is that this is how the children of the flesh are always liable to treat the children of the promise.  It sounds as though the unbelieving Jews were actively persecuting the Christians in Galatia—angry at them because they claimed the “Jewish exemption” from pagan worship, but didn't live as Jews.  But Paul lumps the false teachers, these people who say they believe in Jesus the Messiah, but also insist on the gentiles being circumcised—Paul lumps that in with the abuse of the unbelieving Jewish community.  The false teachers stand in sharp contrast to Paul.  Even though Paul has had some sometimes harsh words for the Galatians, he loves them like a father.  He's speaking gospel truth.  The false teachers, for all their zeal, don't really love the Galatians—not if they're trying to drag them back into slavery under the law.  And with that, Paul's ready to drive his point home, he's ready to tell them what they have to do.  Look at verse 30: But what does scripture say?  “Throw out the slave-girl and her son!  For the son of the slave-girl will not inherit with the son of the free.”  So my brothers [and sisters], we are not children of the slave-girl, but of the free.   Do what Sarah did: cast out the slave girl and her son.  In other words, cast out the false teachers before they drag you away from Jesus and the promise and back into slavery.  At this point there's a chapter break, but I really think Paul meant for verse 1 of Chapter 5 to be the close of this paragraph, because it's not easy to cast out false teachers.  And so Paul continues there: The Messiah set us free so that we could enjoy freedom!  So stand firm, and don't get yourselves tied down by the chains of slavery.   Stand firm and don't let anyone take you back into slavery with a false gospel, because Brothers and Sisters, Jesus has set us free.  Paul doesn't mess around with false teachers.  Jesus died and he rose again, he is Lord, and he has fulfilled all of God's promises.  Paul saw the promise fulfilled as the gentiles were forgiven, filled with the Spirit, and swept up into this great story of God and his people and he was outraged at the idea that anyone might come along and drag these people back into slavery. In contrast, how often is our tendency to be wishy-washing about false teaching.  People come in the name of Jesus, but end up proclaiming false gospels—or things that undermine the gospel.  They'll say, for example, that there are other ways to God and other ways to be good and other ways to enter the age to come and in doing that they undermine the work of Jesus and the Spirit no less than the false teaching in Galatia did by trying to add torah to the gospel.  Others come into the church and tell us that Jesus isn't enough and that we've got to do something extra to receive the Spirit.  Others these days come preaching post-modern ideas of identity that undermine our identity in the Messiah and our unity in him.  And we equivocate on what to do about them.  Instead of dealing with the false teachers we quibble with each other over whether or not the false teachers are truly believers or not—as if we need to treat them differently if the false teaching isn't so bad as to rule them out as real Christians.  Paul does the opposite here.  The false teachers in Galatia believed in Jesus.  They believed in his death and resurrection.  But they added something that ultimately undermined that good news.  And so Paul says to cast them out.  Get them out of the church.  Just as he did with the man sleeping with his step-mother in Corinth.  Get them out.  Maybe that will get them thinking hard about what they've done or what they're teaching and they'll repent and come back, but that's not the first priority.  Get them out, because their teaching undermines the gospel itself and if it's allowed to fester, the church will cease to be the church.  The promise will be lost.  The false teaching will make us slaves again.  If the Anglican Communion had cast out the false teachers a hundred years ago, our generation wouldn't have had to face the difficulties we have.  The church can't fool around with false teachers and false gospel.  But the flip side of this imperative is that we as Jesus' people need to work hard for unity with our brothers and sisters who do believe the good news about Jesus.  This was the vision of Bp. Cummins when he called together the men and women who would found the Reformed Episcopal Church.  All baptised and believing Jesus-followers are, in fact, one family and we need to do our best, despite our various differences on other things, to live as the one family that Jesus has made us.  I think Galatians has something to say about how we distinguish which of our differences are demand separation and which don't.  Does the message being preaching point forward to the age to come, or like the Galatian heresy, does it drag us back to the darkness of the old evil age?  If it undermines or undoes what has been accomplished by God in Jesus and the Spirit, we must cast it out.  Standing firm against false gospels while standing just as firm for the unity of God's gospel people is no easy task—especially as things are today—but Brothers and Sisters it is our calling.  It is what honours God, it is what honours Jesus and the Spirit, and it is what witnesses to the world the new creation that has been born in us. Let's pray: Heavenly Father, make us mature in the Messiah so that we will be able to discern truth from error, and fill us with zeal for your gospel truth, so that we will stand firm—not afraid to cast out false teachers and false teaching, but also zealous for the unity that Jesus and the Spirit bring to your church, that we might be effective witnesses of the good news about Jesus, crucified and risen, and of his kingdom, the new Jerusalem.  Through him we pray.  Amen.

Abraham seems to always be journeying. In last week's Parsha he traveled from his birthplace of Ur to Charan. This week the Parsha begins with Abraham's journey to Canaan. He traveled there with his family, he traversed the land in every direction; and when famine strikes, he went down to Egypt and returns. Abraham's journey is more than being about sightseeing. This is the saga of the transformation of Abraham and the building of the Jewish Nation. What can we learn from Abraham's journey? What Abrahamic qualities shine forth in his narrative? In this very special edition of the Parsha podcast, recorded live on Zoom during the 2024 US elections, we explore Abraham dramatic transformation and when he departed from his sidekicks and fellow travelers. We also take a very careful look at a remarkable interaction between Abraham's concubine Hagar and the angel.– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletterrabbiwolbe.com/newsletter– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe's PodcastsThe Parsha PodcastThe Jewish History PodcastThe Mitzvah Podcast This Jewish LifeThe Ethics PodcastTORAH 101 ★ Support this podcast ★

We read in Parashat Lech-Lecha of Hagar, an Egyptian woman who become the maidservant of Sara Imenu. The Midrash teaches that Sara was actually a princess, Pharaoh's daughter, and Pharaoh gave her as a maidservant to Sara upon seeing Avraham and Sara's greatness, and realizing what a privilege it would be for his daughter to work in their home. Later, after Avraham and Sara lived together for many years without children, Sara had Avraham marry Hagar. Hagar immediately conceived, resulting in tensions between her and Sara. Sara mistreated Hagar, and Hagar fled. She ended up meeting an angel, who urged her to return to Avraham and Sara's home, despite the hardships she would face there. Hagar complied. Hagar's return to Sara conveys a powerful lesson to each and every one of us. She understood the immense value and benefit of joining Avraham and Sara, even when this entailed a degree of hardship. It was difficult for Hagar to live in the home, given the tensions that arose between her and Sara, but she nevertheless accepted the angel's advice, coming to realize that it is worth enduring this unpleasantness for the sake of the great privilege of living with Avraham and Sara. The Gemara in Masechet Shabbat (31a) tells the famous story of a non-Jew who came before Shammai and said that he would convert to Judaism if Shammai could teach him the entire Torah in just a few moments, within the amount of time he could stand on one foot. Shammai sent the man away, figuring that he could not possibly be serious about embracing Judaism if he demanded to learn the entire Torah in just a few seconds. The gentile then came to Hillel, and said the same thing – that he would convert if Hillel could teach him the entire Torah while he stood on one foot. Hillel warmly embraced him, and said, "That which you dislike – do not do to your fellow." He explained that this concept encapsulates the entire Torah. This story is often understood as contrasting the approaches of Hillel and Shammai, showing how Shammai followed a stricter policy, whereas Hillel was more patient and tolerant. However, I would like to suggest an additional angle to this story. Perhaps, the gentile's experience with Shammai is told not as a point of contrast with his experience with Hillel, but rather as the background to his experience to Hillel. Meaning, Hillel quite possibly accepted this prospective convert as sincere and well-meaning precisely because he continued in his quest even after being rejected by Shammai. The fact that the man did not relent, and persisted in his attempt to join the Jewish Nation, even after a rejection, demonstrated how highly he regarded the privilege of being a Jew. His perseverance testified to his sincerity, showing that he was prepared to go through a lengthy process for the priceless opportunity to join Am Yisrael. He in fact was not just looking for an easy route; like Hagar, he was prepared to do whatever it took to become part of the Jewish People. We declare each morning during the Shaharit service, "Ashrenu Ma Tob Helkenu, U'ma Na'im Goralenu, U'ma Yafa Me'od Yerushatenu" – "We are fortunate, how good is our portion, and how pleasant is our lot, and how exceedingly beautiful is our inheritance!" At the beginning of every day, we are to remind ourselves of how privileged we are to belong to Hashem's special nation, to be able to devote our lives to His service. We remind ourselves that no matter what we will have to do deal with over the course of the day, we've won the lottery of life, we have received a precious gift. Yes, throughout any given day, a Jew is going to confront challenges. He might struggle with a challenge to his faith, a challenge posed by his sinful inclinations, the hardships that arise when seeking to meticulously observe the Misvot, or the hostility so often shown to us by other peoples. Belonging to Am Yisrael is not always going to be easy. But we can and must look to Hagar for inspiration, to be reminded that we are truly fortunate, that any difficulties that we endure are a small price to pay for the great privilege that we have been given to serve the Almighty.

Paul White teaching from Paul White Ministries.

In this shiur, delivered in Ba'er Miriam, Rav Burg explains how living from a deep place of soulfulness creates our reality. Hagar received messages from four or five angels when she was told that she was going to give birth to Yishmael. This is a reference to the soul itself and when we are deeply connected to our soul, we can bring ourselves into reality.

Stephanie welcomes Rachel Wojo, who exhibits grace under pressure. Rachel recounts the hardships she's faced, not as a means of lament, but as a powerful testimony to her faith in God. Throughout the years, Rachel has encountered numerous challenges that have tested her faith and resilience. Rather than succumbing, she has chosen to lean into God's strength. From personal hardships like joblessness and financial stress, to navigating the extraordinary pains of watching her daughter slowly lose her life to a rare disease, and the loss of several other key family members, Rachel's story of tenaciously clinging to Christ proves that it is possible to emerge stronger and more faithful. Rachel shares her story of becoming a single mother to a special needs child after discovering her husband's affair, leading her to rely more deeply on her faith. Her eventual remarriage and the birth of five children, along with the devastating loss of her daughter Taylor to a rare neurological condition, illustrate the peaks and valleys of her journey. What happens when God's answer to our prayer is NO? Rachel shares her journey of praying for her daughter Taylor's earthly healing, only to embrace the eventual understanding that Taylor's true healing would come in heaven. This acceptance of God's broader plan beyond immediate desires offers a deeper understanding and trust in His divine wisdom. Rachel's book, "Desperate Prayers," is a source of comfort and guidance for those struggling with faith and prayer life. Her stories, drawn from personal pain and loss, illustrate the profound transformation that can come from earnest, desperate prayers and a heartfelt surrender to God. Rachel offers vivid examples of the importance of gratitude. She shares how she has learned to recognize "God moments"—serendipitous events that, when noticed, reveal God's subtle presence and guidance in our daily lives. She recalls pivotal moments where choosing to focus on small blessings, such as "noticing the sunshine through the window," helped her navigate through immense grief and trials. This perspective shift, seeing God's work in the gentle, everyday occurrences, has been transformative for her. Rachel reflects on her journey of enduring hardship and witnessing God's hand in the small moments of life. When reflecting on the journey of a faithful servant, it's the moments of hardship and perseverance that vividly stand out. Rachel explores the idea of discovering gratefulness in small, often overlooked, moments. In our fast-paced world, it's easy to become overwhelmed by adversity, missing the simple blessings that God provides daily. Rachel shares how she has cultivated an attitude of gratitude, even during the toughest times. This perspective shift has allowed her to recognize and cherish the small glimpses of joy and blessings in her life. By focusing on God's presence in the mundane and the miraculous, Rachel demonstrates that gratefulness can be a powerful antidote to despair. Stephanie's conversation with Rachel invites all of us to reflect on our own lives and consider how we can embrace gratefulness and deeper faith amidst our trials. Our journeys, no matter how difficult, are imbued with God's grace and presence. So, listen to Rachel's story; and then also introspectively examine your own hardships and blessings. By fostering a heart of gratitude, we too can witness God's hand in our lives and draw strength from it. MEET RACHEL WOJO https://rachelwojo.com/ Rachel says, "Sin erupted in my 'perfect life'. I grew up in a wonderful Christian home with fabulous Christian parents.  Our family was faithful to church, and I graduated from a Christian school.  I attended a Christian college and completed the circle by teaching in a Christian school.  My future husband was a “preacher boy,” and when we married, the plan was that he would take a youth pastor position wherever God led.  Only after we married did he have serious doubts about his calling and stop attending church altogether. After two years of marriage, a precious daughter was born to us via emergency c-section.  She experienced oxygen deprivation and required resuscitation, but she lived. Three years after Taylor's birth, I discovered that her father had been having an affair essentially four of the five years we were married. Despite that great protective environment I'd always known, and being faithful to God's house, sin had erupted in my “perfect” life, and my marriage to this man didn't withstand. Bad choices were made by both parties, and we divorced. Despite all the pain and loss of the “perfect” life, God brought a solid Christian man into my life, and He has given us a wonderful story of grace and redemption. But amid Matt and I falling in love, my dearest mom fell severely ill, diagnosed with a rare type of anemia.  Two months later, the diagnosis was changed to leukemia, and she lived just six short months after that.  Mom was the strongest, most faithful Christian I've ever personally known; she was my best friend. The discovery process for my daughter Taylor's developmental delays became more intense during my divorce and my mom's death.  Doctors often blamed the delays on her lack of oxygen at birth.  But in my heart, I knew there was more to her issues.  Nine months after my mom's death, the diagnosis for Taylor came through: MPSIIIB, a rare genetic metabolic disorder that causes gradual neurological degeneration.  The average life span is 10-15 years, and there is no cure or even a treatment. Upon receiving Taylor's diagnosis, my walk with the Lord became intense.  I asked all the “why” and “how” questions.  I wanted God to spill out His plan for my entire life in one day. But through His Word, God has taught me that faith is not only a one-time decision; it's an everyday decision. Trusting His plan for your everyday life is equally as important as trusting Him for your eternal life. On January 2, 2019, our Taylor graduated to heaven. The heartache and sorrow of our loss, yet heaven's gain, is difficult to describe in a few words. In November 2018, I began writing letters to Taylor because she could no longer communicate. God has richly blessed Matt and me with a beautiful family and more blessings than we can count.  Our incredible six children are growing steadily; they challenge me and bless me in every way. I am so very thankful for them. Each day we live by faith that God would have His will in our lives. Each day we claim God's promises and choose to run towards His plan, no matter what it includes. We are still learning how to take one more step." MORE ABOUT "DESPERATE PRAYERS" Do your prayers resemble last-minute cries more than first-response chats? You're not alone in calling out to God in life's pitch-black moments and wondering if He's listening. Enter the powerful secrets of the Bible's eleventh-hour pleas of fifteen men and women. This engaging book invites you into the prayer stories of struggling Bible characters like Hagar, Hannah, and David. Each chapter's simple three-word prayer focus will deepen your trust and affirm your heart that it's best to be you before God. The ideal desperate pray-er to shine light on your prayer dilemmas, Rachel Wojo vulnerably shares her heartbreaking experiences of loss while pointing you to your Father. Her prayer journey and promising principles will guide you from frenzied desperation to dependent faith. When you finish Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life's Darkest Moments, you'll know that praying in a panic creates a powerful pathway to peace.  We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with. Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog Identity in the battle | Ephesians https://www.podcastics.com/episode/74762/link/ Centering on Christ | The Tabernacle experience https://www.podcastics.com/episode/94182/link/ Shades of Red | Against human oppression https://www.podcastics.com/episode/115017/link/ God's glory, our delight  https://www.podcastics.com/episode/126051/link/   Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

The Follow Up Crew of Mattea, Kayce, Jess, and Jodi are back! This time they are following up Episode 17 when the ladies talked about Hagar and the God who sees. Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or YouTube.

Pastor David taught us about the God who see us through the story of Hagar, from Genesis 16. Hagar's story shows us God sees us, hears us, and understands us.

LECH LECHA From Brother To Foe Looking at the current state of affairs in world, the war, the casualties, the hate and all the rest, it's tempting to wonder…what if? What if Isaac and Ishmael were never pitted against one another, unleashing animosity that would outlive many empires until our present day? Or –deeper yet- what if Yishmael had never come along altogether?! In many ways, the seeds of the problem were sown in this week's Parsha, when Avram, upon Sarai's instruction marries Hagar and fathers Ishmael, and the rest is history. We will discover an almost prophetic teaching by Rabbi Chaim Vital, that appears to be talking about our current predicament. We will connect the dots of history, and unearth an entirely different understanding to this war, and our place in it. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mendy-goldberg/support