Torah Portion: Genesis 18:1-22:24

Vayera (‘And He appeared’)

"I have chosen him so that he may teach and command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord and do what is just and righteous so that the Lord may bring Abraham what He has promised him." (Genesis 18:19)

These significant, clear words from the Lord set out the reason for God's call to Abraham to be the father of Isaac (and ultimately the family of Israel, from which our Saviour Yeshua would come, bringing forgiveness and eternal life to all who would join His family through faith). The Lord had promised that Abraham and Sarah would have a son (v10) precisely because Abraham would be such a father to him.

Here we glimpse the value of fatherhood; the preciousness of good parenting; the need for godly offspring, trained to keep the way of the Lord and do what is just and righteous.

Fathers and mothers are beyond value - in our world and in the Kingdom of God. Paul said to the church in Corinth (1 Cor 4:15), "Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers". How much all children need the love and security, encouragement and discipline, training and support of their parents! Their worth is beyond calculation.

Raising Up the Next Generation

Furthermore, when we meet young people who are at peace with themselves and the world, confident in their relationships, generous and polite in their attitudes, purposeful and clear in their goals, it brings such joy into our world of so much brokenness and need. How much we need young people growing up to take their places of godly leadership in public life; how much we need families who support one another and who take time simply to enjoy life together, grow closer together and share one another's burdens.

Why is this such an uncommon thing in these days when we have such advanced understanding in so many areas? What if the primary goal of every parent was “to teach and command their children after them to keep the way of the Lord and do what is just and righteous”? Homes would be places of harmony and peace, creativity and trust, joy and relaxation. Isn't that what we all long for?

But can we do it? This one man, Abraham, was by no means perfect. Yet God chose him to build His family on earth - and he did. "Is there anything too hard for the Lord?" (v14).

Our Calling

Strong families lead to strong communities and strong communities lead to a strong nation. It is perhaps only now, when we are seeing the disintegration of the family, that we as a nation begin to appreciate its value and crave its restoration.

We are not called to bring up and care for the whole nation but, throughout Scripture, we are called to love and care for our families, to let them take their place in society and be part of restoring the foundation of peace and harmony to national life that is so desperately needed.

Our society is so sick and exhausted from dealing with the outcome of broken lives, yet God has shown us His pathway to life. Let's shake off the compulsion of our culture to earn more and more money, get more and more stuff, and focus on this most wonderful life of peace and purpose that God has offered us. Can we really afford to miss it?

O Lord, restore the family and let it begin with me.

Author: Sally Bolton