Parsha Noach & Parsha Lech Lecha: Bereshith/Genesis 6:9 - 17:27
Ever since we stopped following the New Testament, the book of Christianity, people have been trying to convince us that we’re wrong. Many agree that the Hebrew path is the way to go, but very few dare to leave the fold of Christianity.
If we look closely at Parsha Lech Lecha, we see where this opposition originated and how and why it continues today.
Nimrod
Before we get into Lech Lecha, we need to back up a little to the end of Parsha Noach.
In Bereshith/Genesis 10, we’re introduced to a descendant of Noach named Nimrod. He was the son of Kush, the son of Ham, the son of Noach. He was a mighty hunter who became powerful in the earth, rising to become king of Babel (and other cities) in the land of Shinar. He became so powerful that people began using his name to bless and praise one another: “Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before YAHUAH” (Ber. 10:9).
Then, in chapter 11, we read about the Tower of Babel in the land of Shinar. This was Nimrod’s “pet project.” His purpose was to build a tower to the heavens in order to reach the Most High and take His place as Ruler of the world.
Nimrod wanted his name to be spread throughout the earth, not the Name of YAHUAH.
You see, it’s not that Nimrod didn’t believe in YAHUAH, because he did. He just didn’t want to submit to YAHUAH. In fact, he wanted nothing to do with YAHUAH.
Nimrod wanted a complete disconnect from YAHUAH. He wanted to be independent from Elohim.
The Scriptures say that the people learned to make bricks (Ber. 11:3). They didn’t have to rely on natural stone anymore. They could make what they needed with their own hands.
There’s nothing wrong with being creative (in fact, we’re supposed to be), but when people begin to think that they can do everything on their own and don’t need YAHUAH, then there’s a problem.
The people of Babel began to think they didn’t need Elohim. So, under the direction of Nimrod, they built a tower to the heavens to once and for all sever ties with the Almighty.
Of course, their endeavor was an epic failure. YAHUAH stopped them in their tracks.
Abraham
Then, at the end of chapter 11, Abraham comes on the scene. Now begins Parsha Lech Lecha.
Abraham is the complete opposite of Nimrod.
Abraham worshiped YAHUAH, the One and Only Elohim. Abraham heard the voice of YAHUAH and followed Him wherever He said go. He received the promises of YAHUAH and believed Him completely.
Abraham entered into Covenant with YAHUAH, forever connecting himself and his descendants in an unbreakable bond with the Most High.
Abraham called out in the Name of YAHUAH spreading His Name throughout the land. He brought many over from the pagan belief into the worship of the One and Only El, and many joined and followed him.
Abraham was completely connected to YAHUAH, and his goal was to connect everyone else to YAHUAH as well.
Abraham and Nimrod were complete opposites, diametrically opposed to one another in their mission:
Abraham sought to connect the world to YAHUAH, and Nimrod sought to disconnect the world from YAHUAH.
In Bereshith 14, they battle it out.
The Great Battle
Four kings join together and fight against an alliance of five kings. One of the four is Amrapahel, king of Shinar. Some sources say this was another name for Nimrod. Even if it wasn’t, there’s no doubt that as the king of Shinar (Babel), Amrapahel took over the ideals of its founder Nimrod.
The four kings take Lot captive, and Abraham arms 318 trained servants and goes to free his captured nephew. They defeat the four kings and rescue Lot, bringing back all his goods, the women, and the people.
Surely, Abraham went to battle out of love for his nephew. However, there’s another reason that undoubtedly compelled Abraham to fight.
Abraham could not allow Nimrod to defeat him.
Taking Lot was an attack on Abraham. If they succeeded, then all that Nimrod stood for would triumph over everything that Abraham stood for.
Abraham battled for the sake of the Name of YAHUAH.
(Side note: From Lot descended Moab, the nation of Ruth who was the great-grandmother of David. From David descends the Mashiach who brings His people back from exile. Perhaps, Abraham also knew that there was a much greater purpose to Lot’s life.)
Nimrod Today
How does this all fit today?
Nimrod’s symbol was a vertical line bisected by a horizontal line, representing the cutoff between heaven and earth. It symbolized the disconnect between man and YAHUAH that he sought to create.
The symbol can also mean that Nimrod sought to rule the heavens and the earth; a tower to rule "vertically" and a large city to rule "horizontally."
Either way, Nimrod's symbol represented his desire to rule in the place of the Almighty YAHUAH.
Over time, Nimrod's symbol morphed into the cross, the symbol of Christianity.
How is Christianity disconnected from the Almighty when so many Christians believe in and worship “God"?
The religion of Christianity has placed another in the Seat of Elohim.
Christianity worships Jesus. Its teachings lead people to praise him, pray to him, give thanks to him, and dedicate their lives to him.
(Here, “Jesus” refers to the person at the center of the New Testament gospel story, whatever one may call him.)
Christianity elevates JC, a man, to be Elohim.
In trying to avoid the sin of idolatry, the early church fathers introduced the concept of the trinity, brought in from pagan religions. They began to teach that JC is the Almighty so they wouldn't be guilty of worshipping another.
Yet, their reasoning was entirely wrong. YAHUAH is ONE, and He alone reigns. YAHUAH is not joined with, connected to, or part of any other being or entity. He is One. Not two, not three.
Christianity replaced the Almighty Elohim with its own image of “God” - a triune deity.
Though many Christians sincerely believe in the Almighty, this falsified image they've been fed keeps them distant from the One True Elohim. One cannot draw close to YAHUAH when his prayers and praises are focused on another being.
The real disconnect in Christianity, however, comes from the doing away of the Torah. Christianity abolished the Torah of YAHUAH and discarded the commandments of His mouth.
The Hebrew word for "commandment" is mitzvah. Mitzvah comes from the word tzav, which means "to connect."
The mitzvot (pl.) are what YAHUAH gave us to connect to Him. They're the means by which we form a relationship with Him. Without the commandments, the mitzvot, we cannot connect with our Creator YAHUAH.
JC isn’t the way to our Father in heaven. The mitzvot are the way to our Father.
If we do away with the mitzvot, then we do away with the means to connect to YAHUAH.
Abolishing the Torah, therefore, causes a disconnect from YAHUAH.
Using Nimrod's symbol (the cross) accurately portrays Christianity's continuation of Nimrod's ideology. Because it has done away with the mitzvot and placed another in the seat of Elohim, Christianity is causing billions of people to be disconnected from YAHUAH.
The Battle Continues
There are many, many people in the world today who are "captive" in the world of Christianity. They don't know the true roots of their religion and are unaware that their beliefs are actually preventing them from having a true relationship with their Creator.
Our job is to continue the works of Abraham to set these captives free. We have to battle against the ideology of Nimrod that persists in Christianity and all New Testament beliefs.
Through proclaiming the Name and the Oneness of YAHUAH Elohim and by teaching His Torah, we will draw people back to YAHUAH. We will help them to learn about YAHUAH and form a deep, lasting connection to Him through obeying His commandments.
We will face resistance, but that is the nature of this battle. Though our numbers may seem small compared to the world of Christianity, we remember Abraham's 318 servants who defeated the armies of four kings!
The Name of YAHUAH and His Torah will prevail!