Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, January 11, 2025
Shavuah Tov
Attention: There will be no service on Saturday, January 11, 2025 due to inclement weather. Stay safe and warm.
Grace – Part 4: Favor for Fellowship
By David Harwood
“Finding favor in someone’s eyes” is an idiom. It references the emotions felt when one looks upon someone they like, or when they like what they see. When one finds favor (chen חֵן) in the eyes of a friend, or patron, the benefactor is favorably disposed towards the one receiving chen/charis.
We looked at Noah’s experience. Abraham is the next person in Genesis of whom it is written that he encountered God’s favor/grace.
Look at their relationship. Abraham was called God’s beloved, God’s friend.
Are You not our God who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and gave it to the descendants of Your friend Abraham forever? (2 Chronicles 20:7)
“But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham, My friend—(Isaiah 41:8)
“And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness”—and he was called God’s friend. (James 2:23b)
Abraham consistently demonstrated his loyal love to his God. Within that framework there is an episode that is packed with revelation. I want to concentrate on this illustration of grace/favor and its results.
El Shaddai had brought Abraham into a deeper, more formal covenantal relationship. He changed his name from Abram to Abraham and confirmed His covenant with him and his descendants. Also, the perpetual promise of land was reinforced. He commanded Abraham to confirm his participation in this covenant through the sign of circumcision. In the midst of all this Abraham and Sarah were promised a son.
Let’s look into what happened afterwards.
Then Adonai appeared to him at Mamre’s large trees while he was sitting in the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day. When he lifted up his eyes to see, suddenly, three men were standing right by him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed down to the ground.
Then he said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in your eyes, please do not pass by your servant. Please let a little water be brought so you can wash your feet, and make yourselves comfortable under the tree. And let me bring a bit of bread so that you can refresh yourselves—then you can pass on—since you have passed by your servant. They said, “Do just as you have said.” (Genesis 18:1–5)
Abraham wanted favor for fellowship.
“When You see me, are you pleased with me? If now I have found chen/charis in Your eyes, if you are favorably disposed towards me, please stay a while and receive my hospitality.”
Abraham found favor for fellowship. Adonai responded, and Abraham received a renewal of promise: in about a year Sarah would have a son.
Two things followed this favor. First, some interaction between God, Abraham and Sarah, that would only be possible with people who were remarkably favored. Next, Abraham was brought into God’s secret counsel.
… Adonai said, “Should I keep secret from Abraham what I am about to do? (Genesis 18:17–19)
Abraham related to the God Who Favored Him in a way that (as far as I know) angels would “fear to tread”. A mere human interceded as if he was a favored member of the heavenly council. Concerning the judgment on the cities of the plains, Abraham remonstrated:
Far be it from You to do such a thing—to cause the righteous to die with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked share the same fate!
Far be it from You!
Shall the Judge of the whole world not exercise justice?” (Genesis 18:25)
Adonai listened to this man and modified His judgment.
Then (Abraham) said, “Please, let not my Lord be angry, so I may speak once more. Perhaps ten will be found there?”
And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.” (Genesis 18:32)
Abraham found favor to fellowship with Adonai and sought to influence his God. Have we found favor? Yes. We have.
Believing that, let’s intercede in harmony with the One who has favored us.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat 11-Jan-2025 11th of Tevet, 5785 Parashat Vayechi
Ge 50:21-26 1 Ki 2:1-12 Rev 7:1-8