從古時起，在全世界的猶太會堂會一週一次在安息日讀經，從摩西五經（妥拉）到先知的書（先知書）。本週的內容被給予一個希伯來名，出自於經文內容起頭的字。每週慣例讀經的實例剛好記載在路加福音四章16節，耶穌來到拿撒勒的會堂，讀了一段先知書（以賽亞書61章）。我們發現每週一次閱讀這些內容，不僅提供我們機會，與世界成千上萬的猶太人來確認神話語的內容，在我們為以色列與猶太人的代禱上，聖靈更時常貼切的啟發具體的內容禱告。

從十一月一日到十一月七日的閱讀被稱為：顯現（VaYera） ─  神對亞伯拉罕顯現，讀經內容包括：
妥    拉: 創世記18:1-22:24
先知書: 列王記下4:1-37

*創世記 18:1-3. 『耶和華在幔利橡樹那裡向亞伯拉罕顯現出來。那時正熱，亞伯拉罕坐在帳棚門口，舉目觀看，見有三個人在對面站著。他一見，就從帳棚門口跑去迎接他們，俯伏在地，說：我主，我若在祢眼前蒙恩，求祢不要離開僕人往前去。』 約翰福音八章56,58節，耶穌說：『你們的祖宗亞伯拉罕歡歡喜喜的仰望我的日子，既看見了就快樂。還沒有亞伯拉罕就有了我（I AM）。』

在希伯來聖經中，沒有比這段更清楚的例子來說明神成為人的樣式，向亞伯拉罕『顯現』。當亞伯拉罕看見祂就跑去迎接祂，因為亞伯拉罕認得神（不要忘記，神先前至少向他『顯現』三次（使7:2; 創12:7; 17:1），而且他越來越熟識『主的話』臨到他的方式（創13:14; 15:1）。這裡亞伯拉罕迎接三個人，對其中一個說『我主』。他並沒有用一般的希伯來文Adoni（主/主人/先生），從經文的母音處顯示他使用『Adonal』這個字─一種單單用來尊稱 神的讀法。接下來在亞伯拉罕與撒拉之間的對話，很清楚看出他們是在和主說話，另外兩個『人』顯然是很快要來毀滅所多碼與蛾摩拉的天使。

請為在以色列的信徒禱告，用我們的耳傾聽祂的聲音並尋求祂的面，使我們越來越熟識我們的主與祂的使者，當他們在我們中間運行時，我們可以認出他們的同在。並禱告在我們的忙碌中，我們『不可忘記用愛心接待客旅；因為曾有接待客旅的，不知不覺就接待了天使。』（希伯來書13:2）

*創世記18:14. 『耶和華豈有難成的事嗎﹖到了日期，明年這時候，我必回到你這裡，撒拉必生一個兒子。』

*創世記20:6-7. "『神在夢中對他說：我知道你做這事是心中正直；我也攔阻了你，免得你得罪我，所以我不容你沾著他。現在你把這人的妻子歸還他；因為他是先知，他要為你禱告，使你存活。你若不歸還他，你當知道，你和你所有的人都必要死。』

請禱告雖然我們周圍環繞著對我們充滿敵意的人，卻容我們的心對每一個國家的所有男女充滿 神的恩典與慈愛，要記得祂不願任何一人沈淪。所以我們不會對那些環繞我們的人與國家存有刻板印象，乃是敏銳並預備好為那些 神揀選釋放祂恩典與憐憫之人的復興與豐盛禱告。

*創世記22:7-8. 『以撒對他父親亞伯拉罕說：父親哪！亞伯拉罕說：我兒，我在這裡。以撒說：請看，火與柴都有了，但燔祭的羊羔在哪裡呢﹖亞伯拉罕說：我兒，神必自己預備作燔祭的羊羔。於是二人同行。』創世記22:14. 『亞伯拉罕給那地方起名叫耶和華以勒【就是耶和華必預備（供應）的意思】，直到今日人還說：在耶和華的山上必有預備（供應）。』

在古希伯來文yireh這個字帶有『供應』(provision)的概念，但在當時與今日的實質意義卻是『看見』（to see）的動詞形式。『神必自己看見羊羔』；『耶和華必看見』；『在耶和華的山上必被看見』。我相信這是神看見貫穿整本聖經如此重要的原因，包括住在『祂臉的光中』，『尋求祂的面』與『在主眼中蒙恩』的重要性。倘若沒有任何東西介於我們和祂的臉（祂看見的地方）之間，我們人生旅程中所有的供應都會在那裡。最後，神真的『供應了羊羔』。在以賽亞書五十三章11節用到相同的字：『祂必看見自己勞苦的功效，便心滿意足。有許多人因認識我的義僕得稱為義；並且祂要擔當他們的罪孽。』

*創世記22:13. 『亞伯拉罕舉目觀看，不料，有一隻公羊，兩角扣在稠密的小樹中，亞伯拉罕就取了那隻公羊來，獻為燔祭，代替他的兒子。』我們相信在這裡呈現出號角或羊角重要的意涵；這裡所說兩角扣在稠密的小樹中，就是來描繪神對所有人類的供應 ─ 『神的羔羊除去世人的罪』。羊角響起的聲音就是羔羊救贖工作與得勝的聲音，當羊角聲在對的時候與聖靈的權柄中被吹出來時，魔鬼顫抖，神的軍隊正釋放出能力、勇氣與喜樂！

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 November 1-7 are called VaYera "Appeared" [the LORD to Abraham]-and include:
TORAH: Genesis 18:1-22:24
HAFTARAH: II Kings 4:1-37

*Genesis 18:1, 3. "Then the LORD [Heb: YHVH] appeared to him [Abraham] by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door.three men were standing by him.he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, 'My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant." John 8:56, 58. Yeshua/Jesus: "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.Before Abraham was, I AM."

There is no clearer example in the Hebrew Scriptures of God taking on human form. He "appeared" to Abraham. When Abraham sees Him and runs to greet Him, it is to someone he recognizes (Remember, God had "appeared" to Him at least three times before (Acts 7:2; Gen. 12:7; 17:1) and he had become familiar with the "Word of the LORD" coming to him (Gen. 13:14; 15:1). Here Abraham approaches the three men, and to One of them he says, "My Lord." Instead of using the normal Hebrew word Adoni (Lord/Master/Sir), the vowel points of the text show that he used the word "Adonai"-a pronunciation which is only used for Deity. And in the ensuing conversation both with Abraham and with Sarah, it is made abundantly clear that it is the LORD with whom they are speaking. The other two 'men' are obviously angels, who will soon release destruction on Sodom and Gomorrah.

PLEASE PRAY for believers in Israel, that from inclining our ears to His voice and seeking His face, we will become so familiar with our Lord and His messengers that we recognize their presence when they move among us. And pray that in our busy-ness we "not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels" (Hebrews 13:2).

*Genesis 18:14. "Is anything too wonderful for the LORD?"

*Genesis 20:6-7. "And God said to him [Abimelech] in a dream, 'Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. Now therefore, restore the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live.."

PLEASE PRAY that although surrounded by peoples who are often hostile to us, we would make allowance in our hearts for the grace and lovingkindness of our God for all men and women of every nation, remembering that He is not willing that any should perish. And that we will not stereotype those in the peoples and nations around us, but be sensitive and ready to pray restoration and prosperity for those upon whom God chooses to rest His grace and mercy.

*Genesis 22:7-8. "Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, 'My father!' And he said, 'Here I am, my son.' And he said, 'Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?' Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.' So the two of them walked on together." Genesis 22:14. "And Abraham called the name of the place "YHVH will Provide.In the Mount of YHVH it will be Provided."

In ancient Hebrew the word yireh could carry with it the idea of "provision". Yet literally it was then, as today, a form of the verb "To See". "God sees for Himself the Lamb"; "YHVH will see.In the Mount of YHVH it will be seen." We believe this to be a reason so much importance is placed throughout Scripture on the importance of dwelling "in the light of His face"-"seeking His face"-"finding grace in the eyes of the LORD". If there is nothing coming between us and His face (the place of His "seeing"), all the provision for our journey will be there. Lastly, God had indeed "provided the Lamb". Isaiah 54:11 uses the same word- "He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities."

*Genesis 22:13. "Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horn." We believe that here lies an important part of the significance of the "shofar" or rams' horn. Here, caught by its horn, was the figure of God's Provision for all humankind--the 'Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world'. The sound of the shofar is a sound of the redemptive work and victory of the Lamb. When it is blown in the timing and authority of the Ruah haKodesh (Holy Spirit/Wind).demons tremble, and into God's army is released strength, courage and joy!