Portion Lech Lecha
Genesis 12:1-17:27
Introduction to the Drash: Exploring the Depths of Scripture
The term drash (דרש), derived from the Hebrew root meaning "to seek" or "to inquire," refers to the interpretive or homiletical exploration of Scripture. Unlike a simple reading of the text, drash seeks to uncover deeper meanings, connecting the sacred words to spiritual truths, moral lessons, and the broader narrative of redemption. Within Jewish tradition, and specifically in the Messianic Jewish context, drash allows us to engage with the Torah and other parts of the Bible in a way that reveals Hashem’s eternal purposes and their ultimate fulfillment in Messiah Yeshua.
The Importance of Drash
By engaging in drash, we approach the Scriptures not merely as historical records but as living, breathing texts that speak to our lives today. This method of interpretation helps us uncover connections between the Torah, the Prophets, and the New Covenant Scriptures, showing the consistent thread of Hashem's plan throughout history. It encourages personal reflection, spiritual growth, and a deeper relationship with Hashem, as the layers of meaning within His Word are revealed.
The Levels of Drash
To fully understand what a drash is, it is helpful to situate it within the framework of PaRDeS, the traditional Jewish method of biblical interpretation. PaRDeS is an acronym for four levels of understanding:
P’shat (פשט) – The literal or plain meaning of the text. This is the foundation upon which all deeper interpretations are built.
Remez (רמז) – The allegorical or symbolic meaning, where the text hints at a deeper truth beyond its surface.
Drash (דרש) – The interpretive or homiletical meaning. This level draws lessons for life, theology, and morality, often connecting passages through thematic or linguistic parallels.
Sod (סוד) – The mystical or esoteric meaning, uncovering hidden, spiritual insights.
Each level builds upon the others, offering a more comprehensive understanding of the text. While P’shat provides the essential narrative or instruction, Remez invites us to see Hashem’s broader purposes, Drash applies these truths to our lives, and Sod illuminates the transcendent mysteries of the divine.
Why Focus on Remez in This Drash?
In this drash on Parashat Lech Lecha (Genesis 12:1–17:27), the focus is on the Remez level of interpretation. By exploring the allegorical and symbolic elements of Abram’s journey, covenant, and promises, we can draw connections to the Messianic faith and the redemptive work of Yeshua. This approach enriches our understanding of the Torah portion, showing how the text speaks not only to Abram’s life but to the lives of all who seek to follow Hashem in faith.
As we delve into this drash, we will see how the call of lech lecha—to "go forth"—is both a historical command to Abram and an enduring spiritual invitation for all believers to walk in covenant with Hashem. This exploration will reveal profound insights into faith, covenant, and redemption, demonstrating the timeless relevance of Hashem’s Word.
Let us now journey together into the depths of Parashat Lech Lecha to uncover its hidden treasures and its ultimate fulfillment in Messiah Yeshua.
A Remez on Lech Lecha: Journey of Covenant and Faith
In Parashat Lech Lecha, the opening words lech lecha (לך לך)—"Go forth" or "Go for yourself"—usher us into one of the most profound journeys in Scripture. Hashem commands Abram to leave his country, his birthplace, and his father's house, and venture into an unknown land that He will show him. This divine call, layered with mystery and promise, serves as a foundation for the unfolding covenant between Hashem and His chosen people.
From a remez perspective, this passage invites us to explore deeper allegorical meanings hidden within the text, particularly as it relates to the identity and role of the Messiah. By examining the journey of Abram through this lens, we can uncover insights into the transformative nature of covenant, the call of faith, and the redemptive work of Yeshua.
Lech Lecha: The Call to Leave and Cleave
The phrase lech lecha is striking not only in its command but also in its duality. On one hand, it is a command to leave—to detach from the familiar, from the security of the known. On the other hand, it is an invitation to go for yourself—to embrace one’s true identity and purpose.
This duality can be seen as a parallel to the call of the Messiah. Just as Abram was called to leave behind his past and trust in Hashem's promise, so too does Yeshua call His followers to leave behind their old ways of life and follow Him into a new covenantal relationship. Yeshua’s words in Luke 9:23—“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me”—echo the essence of lech lecha. It is not merely a physical departure but a spiritual transformation, stepping into the unknown with faith.
For Abram, the journey led to the land of Canaan. For those who follow Yeshua, the journey leads to the Kingdom of G-d, where the promises of Hashem find their ultimate fulfillment.
The Covenant of Promise: A Seed and a Sign
In Genesis 15, Hashem makes a covenant with Abram, promising him offspring as numerous as the stars and the land as an inheritance. Abram's response—belief in Hashem, which is credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6)—is a pivotal moment.
This covenant points forward to the work of Yeshua. Just as Abram's righteousness was credited through faith, so too are believers in Yeshua justified by faith, as Paul explains in Romans 4:3: “Abraham believed G-d, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
The covenant also includes the sign of circumcision (Genesis 17). While this sign marked Abram and his descendants physically, it also carried a deeper symbolic meaning. Deuteronomy 10:16 calls for the circumcision of the heart—a removal of spiritual barriers that hinder one’s relationship with Hashem. In the Messianic context, this is fulfilled in Yeshua, who, through the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), enables a transformation of the heart (Romans 2:29). The circumcision of the flesh becomes a symbol for the inward circumcision that prepares us to walk in covenant with Hashem.
The Journey of Faith: A Mirror of Redemption
Abram's journey is punctuated by moments of both faith and failure. He trusts Hashem’s promise but later questions how it will come to pass. He steps into Canaan but also goes down to Egypt during a famine. These events mirror the journey of every believer—a path marked by trust, doubt, and growth.
Abram’s journey foreshadows the redemptive work of Yeshua and the process of spiritual sanctification for His followers. Just as Abram is called to trust in Hashem's provision and promises, so too are believers called to trust in Yeshua as the ultimate fulfillment of those promises. The journey is not without its trials, but it is through these trials that faith is refined and the covenant is deepened.
In this way, Abram becomes a prototype of the Messiah. His willingness to leave all behind and embark on a journey of faith prefigures Yeshua's own willingness to leave the glory of heaven, take on human flesh, and walk among us. Yeshua, like Abram, trusted completely in the will of the Father, even to the point of laying down His life.
The Multitude of Nations: A Messianic Promise
Hashem’s promise to Abram includes a profound declaration: “All the families of the earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). This promise finds its ultimate fulfillment in Yeshua, the seed of Abraham, through whom salvation is extended to both Jews and Gentiles. Paul underscores this in Galatians 3:29: “If you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
The multitude of nations represents the spiritual descendants of Abraham—those who, through faith in Yeshua, are grafted into the covenant people of Israel (Romans 11:17-24). Abram’s journey to Canaan, then, is not just about a physical inheritance but a prophetic picture of the gathering of Hashem’s people from all nations into His eternal Kingdom.
This inclusivity does not negate the specific calling of the Jewish people but rather amplifies it. Just as Abram was called to be a blessing to the nations, so too is Israel called to be a light to the nations, a role that Yeshua fulfills as the light of the world (John 8:12).
Conclusion: Walking in the Promises of Lech Lecha
The Torah portion Lech Lecha is more than a historical account of Abram’s journey. It serves as a profound allegory for the call to faith, the covenantal relationship with Hashem, and the redemptive work of Yeshua.
Through Abram’s willingness to leave behind his past and step into the unknown, we see a picture of what it means to walk in faith. Through the covenant of promise, we see the foreshadowing of the new covenant in Yeshua. And through the promise to bless all nations, we see the inclusivity of Hashem’s plan of salvation, which unites Jew and Gentile in Messiah.
The call of lech lecha echoes through the ages, inviting each of us to embark on our own journey of faith. It is a call to leave behind the old, to embrace the new, and to trust in the promises of Hashem. And just as Abram’s journey was sustained by faith, so too is ours, as we look to Yeshua, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
May we, like Abram, respond to the call with courage and faith, trusting that Hashem will guide us to the land He has promised—a land flowing with His presence, His peace, and His eternal covenant.
