The weekly reading for the week of 27 Heshvan, 5764 - November 22, 2003 Parashah: Chayei Sarah Genesis 23:1 to 25:18; Haftarah: 1 Kings 1:1-31; Brit Chadashah: Luke 1:3 to 47


The Bagel: Forth Dimension. The reading of Parashat Chayei Sarah constructs the story of the first dimension of a godly lineage. Sarah died and Abraham purchased the burial site of Machpelah. It was up to Abraham to find a wife for Isaac so that the godly lineage could be preserved. He instructed his servant Eliezer to go to Paddan Aram and find Isaac a wife from among Abraham's extended family. Rebecca was found and agreed to return with Eliezer so as to be Isaac's wife. Now with Rebecca's arrival there was a chance to produce godly offspring. Not so with the available Canaanite women. Abraham commenced the search for a successor to Sarah, but it was G-d who arranged everything so that Rebecca was chosen. The first dimension was complete and the godly lineage was secured.

The Haftarah builds the next dimension of a godly dynasty. David was dying and preparations for his death included choosing the next king. But the ambitious Adonijah stepped in to take the throne. A crisis developed. Would Adonijah succeed and destroy the true and godly successor? David instructed his servants, that is, Nathan the Prophet, Bathsheba the queen, and Zadok the High Priest to find Solomon. He was found and anointed as king. Adonijah submitted to Solomon's authority. It was G-d who ordained the transition of power from godly David to godly Solomon. The dimension of the godly dynasty was preserved.

The Brit Chadashah assembles the third dimension of a godly Sheliach (ambassador or apostle). Judah Ish Kariot had died, by suicide, and his office as Sheliach was vacant. Judah was supposed to have held his office in righteousness, but instead resorted to deceit and betrayal. Who was going replace him? Two qualified men were presented, but the selection process needed help. G-d put it upon the hearts of the Sheliach leadership to use the purim, the lots. Matthiahu was selected and added to the number of the leadership. Now there was were 12 godly men to fill the office of the Sheliach for the Messiah. The dimension of a godly Sheliach was restored.

The fourth dimension hangs above each of those three dimensions. In this One person of Yeshua, the greater godly lineage was constructed and completed. His lineage descended from Abraham through the Davidic kingly line. The greater godly dynasty was built and preserved, because the Son of David, the Meshiach Ben David had arrived in the person of Yeshua. The greater Sheliach was assembled and did the work of restoring the office. He, who had assembled the original 12 apostles (Sh'lichim), orchestrated, visa-via the Holy Spirit moving in the hearts of the leadership, to replace the erring one. Yeshua is also arch model of a Sheliach, for He bears the title of "the Apostle and High Priest of our confession of faith" (Hebrews 3:1). When we encounter the living Messiah in the person of Yeshua, we enter into that fourth dimension, the spiritual dimension of pure godliness.

Cream Cheese: Greater in depth, greater in width, greater in height - greater than these He is out of sight!


The weekly reading for the week of 27 Heshvan, 5764 - November 22, 2003 Parashah: Chayei Sarah Genesis 23:1 to 25:18; Haftarah: 1 Kings 1:1-31; Brit Chadashah: Luke 1:3 to 47