從十月廿五日到十月卅一日的閱讀被稱為：離開（Lekh lekha），讀經內容包括：
妥 拉：創世記12:1-17:27
先知書：以賽亞書40:27-41:16
*創世記 12:2『我必叫你成為大國。我必賜福給你，叫你的名為大；你也要叫別人得福。』
『大國』指的是非猶太人，常常翻譯為『外邦人』，在日常話（有時帶著優越感）同樣提及的是非猶太人，但其基本意義是『國家』。主在這裡應許要賜福給亞伯拉罕，叫他的名為大，使他成為『大國』。接著帶著命令語氣（希伯來文的文法比較清楚）：『你也要叫別人得福（成為祝福）』，不是『你將成為祝福』，而是一個宣告，是主對亞伯拉罕與他後裔所說的確切命令。『我口所出的話也必如此，決不徒然返回，卻要成就我所喜悅的，在我發他去成就的事上必然亨通』（賽55:11）。
『成為祝福！』當然最大的祝福是蒙要來的彌賽亞赦免─但 神的話直到今日仍行在亞伯拉罕的子孫中（這很可能是仇敵持續想滅絕他們的原因）。
請禱告：以色列家持續『得救』（羅馬書11:26），再一次『成為祝福』，使萬國『死而復生』（羅11:15）。禱告列國的信徒能得著『神賜福以色列』的啟示。『看守她並祝福她』是 神對全人類釋放祝福的一個方式。
*創世記12:6-7 『亞伯蘭經過那地，到了示劍地方、摩利橡樹那裡。那時迦南人住在那地。 耶和華向亞伯蘭顯現，說：我要把這地賜給你的後裔。亞伯蘭就在那裡為向他顯現的耶和華築了一座壇。』
示劍常在希伯來聖經中提到；在這裡耶和華像亞伯蘭顯現（正如祂早先在吾珥所做的─使7:3），應許將自然界的土地賜給他的子孫，雅各也在此買了一塊地（創33:19），挖了一口井；約書亞則在同個地方立約並更新約（書8＆24）；約瑟的骨頭埋在此地，許多世紀之後耶穌在這裡與一位要打水的婦人談道（約4）。今天比較廣泛讓人知道的名字出於羅馬所命的名那不勒斯（Nablus），它也是伊斯蘭反抗運動（哈馬斯）的要塞。有趣的是這個地方長期與暴力結合（暴力的希伯來文也叫做哈馬斯），追溯到雅各從亞蘭回家，他兩個長子背叛他並殺了當地所有的男丁。以色列先祖在聖地有三個用錢交換之地，示劍為其中之一（希伯崙/亞伯拉罕/創23:16-19；示劍/雅各/創33:18-20；耶路撒冷的聖殿山/大衛/撒下24:24-25），今日這三個地方仍是紛爭不斷的熱門地點。
請禱告：暴力的靈將在示劍/那不勒斯被斷開，神的國會臨到那城市。禱告所有給亞伯拉罕後裔的土地，會以祂的方式與時候成為他們的所有地─唯有用如此方式才能公義地應付那些佔據土地的人。
*創世記13:14 『羅得離別亞伯蘭以後，耶和華對亞伯蘭說：從你所在的地方，你舉目向東西南北觀看；凡你所看見的一切地，我都要賜給你和你的後裔，直到永遠。』
亞伯拉罕謙卑地允許羅得為他的牲畜優先選擇地方，神釋放了一個關乎亞伯蘭眼睛的話語─使他能用天上而非血氣的觀點來看。為著今年ayin-眼睛的季節有此恩典禱告，我們在主面前能有如此的位置，好容祂指引我們的眼睛『從我們所在之地』清楚看見產業的所有方向，並加增祂對我們呼召。
*創世記14:18 『又有撒冷王麥基洗德帶著餅和酒出來迎接；他是至高神的祭司。』
當亞伯蘭抵達迦南時，當地拜許多神。這裡是聖經第一次提到至高神（El Elyon）（神越來越多藉由名字的方式來顯示祂對祂僕人的屬性；17:1 神說祂自己是全能的神- El Shaddai）。貫穿整本希伯來聖經都會找到『至高神』的稱號。在路加福音一章31-32節，天使對馬利亞說：『你要懷孕生子，可以給祂起名叫耶穌。祂要為大，稱為至高者的兒子。』在路加福音八章28節，魔鬼認出祂來，大聲喊叫：『至高神的兒子耶穌，我與祢有什麼相干﹖』正統猶太教或穆斯林都不相信他們所敬拜的神有一個兒子。箴言三十章4b節在問及造物主時說：『祂名叫什麼﹖祂兒子名叫什麼？』
請禱告在以色列能得著至高者與祂兒子之名的啟示。禱告這裡的信徒在讚美高峰與屬靈爭戰中善用這些名字。
創世記14:5, 16 『十四年，基大老瑪和同盟的王都來在亞特律加寧，殺敗了利乏音人，在哈麥殺敗了蘇西人，在沙微基列亭殺敗了以米人，將被擄掠的一切財物奪回來，連他姪兒羅得和他的財物，以及婦女、人民也都奪回來。』
申命記仔細列出以米人(2:10)；何利人(2:12,22)；蘇西人/散送冥人(12:20)和利乏音人(2:11; 3:11)，這些都是那時以色列進入應許之地輕鬆征服的人，但他們也是四十年前探子報惡信時傳聞中的恐怖份子。倘若那些探子還記得殺敗這些巨人的基大老瑪，被他們的祖先亞伯拉罕藉由在神大能中的信心所征服，他們可能會帶回來不一樣的報告。請禱告當以色列面對仍苟延殘喘的邪惡恐怖份子與靈界巨人時，我們會記得神是亞伯拉罕的盾牌（創世記15:1），祂必勝過一切邪惡勢力。
創世記15:6. 『亞伯蘭信耶和華，耶和華就以此為他的義。』
創世記16:14. 『所以這井名叫庇耳拉海萊（意指永生神看見我的井）。』
『被神看見』的必要性是舊約聖經（希伯來聖經）不斷呼求『尋求祂的面』的基礎；好讓神『不轉離祂的面』；而且祂『將祂的臉照亮我們，我們就得拯救』。在古希伯來文，被 神『看見』也意指被 神『供給』。當 神將利百加供給以撒作為妻子時，以撒就在相同的井邊等候（創24:62）。
禱告以色列能察覺 神是『活著的神』，祂為他們『看見/供給』─以致於他們會來到『救恩（希伯來文：耶穌）的井取水』（賽12:3）。
創世記17:20-21. 『至於以實瑪利，我也應允你：我必賜福給他，使他昌盛，極其繁多。他必生十二個族長；我也要使他成為大國。到明年這時節，撒拉必給你生以撒，我要與他堅定所立的約。』
神持守祂對以實瑪利與他的十二個族長（創25:13-16）的應許，他們的子孫最後散居在以色列的東邊與南邊。然而現代伊斯蘭教卻教導神的『約』是透過以實瑪利而非以撒。
請禱告穆斯林能得著啟示，至高神揀選亞伯拉罕、以撒和雅各，使祂的兒子藉由這條血脈成為所有人的負罪者與救主。
以賽亞書40:31; 41:10. 『但那等候耶和華的必從新得力。他們必如鷹展翅上騰；他們奔跑卻不困倦，行走卻不疲乏。你不要害怕，因為我與你同在。』
無疑現代希伯來文將『從新』（renew）這個字翻譯為『交換』(exchange)，可能古希伯來文也是如此。不管是從新或是交換，都是祂的力量使我們從新得力。另一段經文證實此：『不要驚惶，因為我是你的神。我必堅固你，我必幫助你；我必用我公義的右手扶持你。』（賽41:10）。
為以色列的信徒從新得力禱告；這裡可能非常枯竭，很少有令人歡呼的新聞報導，這裡的人多半對 神而言非常珍貴，但絕大多數的人卻對祂的信息仍感到敵意或冷淡。耶穌說：『凡勞苦擔重擔的人可以到我這裡來，我就使你們得安息。我心裡柔和謙卑，你們當負我的軛，學我的樣式；這樣，你們心裡就必得享安息。』（太11:28-29）
以賽亞書41:14-16. 『你這蟲雅各和你們以色列人，不要害怕！耶和華說：我必幫助你。你的救贖主就是以色列的聖者。看哪，我已使你成為有快齒打糧的新器具；你要把山嶺打得粉碎，使岡陵如同糠粃。你要把他簸揚，風要吹去；旋風要把他颳散。你倒要以耶和華為喜樂，以以色列的聖者為誇耀。』
馬汀和娜瑪‧賽維士（Martin & Norma Sarvis）
於耶路撒冷
This week's Torah Portion:
From ancient times there has been a weekly portion from the five books of Moses (The Torah) and from the prophets (Haftarah-final reading) read on the Sabbath in synagogues around the world. This portion is given a Hebrew name taken from the opening words of the passage. An illustration of this practice appears to have been recorded in Luke 4:16 where Yeshua (Jesus) arrived in the synagogue in Nazareth and was asked to read the Haftarah portion (Isaiah 61) from the Prophets. We have found that in perusing these weekly readings, not only are we provided opportunity to identify in the context of God's Word with millions of Jewish people around the world, but very often the Holy Spirit will illumine specific passages pertinent that week in our intercession for the Land and people of Israel. All texts are those of English translations of the Scriptures.
The readings for October 25-31 are called Lekh lekha! "Go you forth!"-and include:
TORAH: Genesis 12:1-17:27
HAFTARAH: Isaiah 40:27-41:16
*Genesis 12:2. "I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great. Be a blessing!"
"Nation" is goy , often translated 'gentile' and used in every-day language (sometimes condescendingly) to refer to non-Jews. But its basic meaning is 'nation'. Here the LORD promises to bless Abram and enlarge his name, and to make of him a "goy gadol"-a great nation. Then (grammatically clear in the Hebrew) there comes a literal command: "Be a Blessing!" -not "You will be a blessing", but a declaration, a veritable decree spoken from the LORD into Abram and the seed which would come after him, a Word which "shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11): "Be a Blessing!" Of course the greatest blessing was released in the coming of the Messiah-but the Word remains working in Abram's descendants today (a likely reason for the enemy's continued attempts to eradicate them).
PLEASE PRAY: That Israel will continue to "be saved" (Romans 11:26)-and again "be a blessing", moving out to bring "life from the dead" (Rom. 11:15) to all nations.
PRAY that believers in the nations will come into the revelation regarding this Word of Blessing on Israel. Watching her and blessing her is one of God's means of releasing the blessing of illumination into His present day work and purposes for all humankind.
*Genesis 12:6-7. "Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem.Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, 'To your descendants I will give this land.' And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him."
Shechem is mentioned often in the Hebrew Scriptures. Here YHVH appears to Abram, (as He had earlier in Ur, Acts 7:3) and promises the physical land itself to his descendants. It is here that Jacob would buy a parcel of land (Gen. 33:19) and dig a well; where covenant would be made and renewed (Joshua 8 & 24); where Joseph's bones would be buried; where centuries later Yeshua (Jesus) would converse with a woman seeking to draw water (John 4). Today it is more widely known by the Roman-derived name of Nablus and is a stronghold of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). Interestingly, it is a place which has long been associated with "violence" (In Hebrew also called hamas), ever since Jacob returned with his family from Aram and two of his elder sons betrayed and massacred the male inhabitants. It is one of three locations in the Holy Land where monies were exchanged by the Fathers (Hebron/Abraham; Shechem/Jacob; the Temple Mount in Jerusalem/David).all of which are hot-spots of contention in these latter days.
PLEASE PRAY: That the spirit of violence would be broken over Shechem/Nablus-and that God's Kingdom would come in that city.
Pray that all of the land allotted to the seed of Abraham would come into their possession in His way and timing-and in such a way that will deal righteously with those already inhabiting the land.
*Genesis 13:14. "And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: 'Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are-northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I will give to you and your descendants forever.'"
Abraham humbly allowed Lot to choose the region for his flocks. God released a Word regarding Abram's eyes-enabling Him to see into the Heavenly perspective rather than that of the flesh.
Pray for grace during this season of ayin -"the eye", that we be in such a position before the Lord as to allow Him to direct our eyes to see clearly "from the place we are" into all directions the inheritance and increase of His call on us.
*Genesis 14:18. "Then Melchizedek king of Shalem (or, Salem) brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of El Elyon (God Most High)."
There were many "els" (gods) being worshipped in Canaan when Abram arrived. Here is the first mention in Scripture of El Elyon-God "Most High" (God was revealing more and more of His attributes to His servants by means of names; with 17:1 would come "El Shaddai-God Almighty"). This name "Most High" will be found throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. In Luke 2:31-32 Miriam (Mary) is told by the angel, "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Yeshua [Heb: YHVH is Salvation]. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the 'Most High.'" The demon in Luke 8:28 recognized Him.crying out, "What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Neither Orthodox Jews nor Muslims believe that the object of their worship has a son. Proverbs 30:4b asks regarding the Creator, "What is His name, and what is His Son's name?"
Please pray for revelation in Israel of the name Elyon.and that of His Son.
Pray for believers here to become adept at using these names in high praise and spiritual warfare.
Genesis 14:5, 16. "In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and attacked the Rephaim.the Zuzim.the Emim.and the Horites.. Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants.and went in pursuit.and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot."
In Deuteronomy Moses carefully lists these Emim (2:10); Horites (2:12,22); Zuzim/Zamzumim (12:20), and Rephaim (2:11; 3:11) as peoples who had been easily conquered by the time Israel came to enter the Promised Land. Yet it was the terror-rumours of these same peoples which had contributed to the evil report of the spies forty years before. If only they could have remembered that Chedorlaomer, who had defeated all of these giant races, had himself been subdued by their father Abraham through faith in the power of his God, they might have brought back a different report.
PLEASE PRAY there when faced by evil terrors and spiritual giants which still linger, we will remember the God who was the shield of Abraham (Genesis 15:1) and his victory over all such powers.
Genesis 15:6. "And he (Abram) believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness."
Genesis 16:14. "Therefore the well was called Be'er Lachai Roi--Well of the Living One Who sees Me."
The necessity of being "seen by God" is the basis of repeated calls in the Tanach (Hebrew Bible) to "seek His face"; that God "not turn away His face"; that He "shine His face on us and we will be saved". In ancient Hebrew, being "seen" by God meant also "being provided for" by God. It would be by this same well that Isaac would have been waiting when God "provided" Rebekah for him as a wife (Gen 24:62).
Pray for Israelis to become aware that God is a "Living One" who "sees/provides" for them-and that they will come to "draw water out of the wells of Salvation (Hebrew: Yeshuah), Isaiah 12:3.
Genesis 17:20-21. "And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac."
God kept His promise regarding Ishmael and the "twelve princes" are listed in Genesis 25:13-16; their descendants eventually became disseminated amongst the other peoples dwelling "to the east" and south of Israel. Yet modern Islam teaches that the 'covenant' went through Ishmael rather than Isaac.
Pray for revelation amongst Muslim peoples that it is with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that the Most High God has chosen to place his name.that He has a Son who came through this line to become the sin-bearer and saviour of all people.
Isaiah 40:31; 41:10. "But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."
Certainly in modern Hebrew and probably in ancient as well the word translated "renew" means "exchange". Either way, it is His strength that renews us-as is confirmed by another verse in this Haftarah, "Do not fear for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you surely I will help you; surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand!" (41:10 NASB).
Please pray for strength and refreshment for believers in Israel. It can be very draining here-little that is cheering in the news reports, a mass of people who are precious to God-but for the most part still indifferent or hostile to His message. Yeshua said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from me.and you will find rest for your souls" (Matt 11:28-29).
Isaiah 41:14-16. " 'Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I will help you,' says the LORD and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 'Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; You shall thresh the mountains and beat them small, and make the hills like chaff.You shall rejoice in the LORD, and glory in the Holy One of Israel.'"