Main Reading: Genesis 12–17
Theme: Faith and Promise
Messianic Focus: Yeshua as the Promised Seed Through Whom All Nations Are Blessed
🌿 Overview
Lech Lecha (“Go forth”) begins the story of God forming a covenant people.
God calls Abram out of his homeland into a life shaped entirely by faith.
Lech Lecha (לֶךְ־לְךָ)
- Transliteration: Lech Lecha
- Pronounced: Lehk Leh-KHAH
- Meaning: “Go forth,” “Go to yourself,” or “Go for your purpose.”
Abram believes God’s promises and follows Him, even when the path is unclear.
This faith becomes the model for every believer.
🌿 Key Passages
| Topic | Scripture |
|---|---|
| Call of Abram | Genesis 12:1–9 |
| Faith and Fear in Egypt | Genesis 12:10–20 |
| Abram and Lot Separate | Genesis 13 |
| Covenant Sealed by Faith | Genesis 15 |
| Hagar and Ishmael | Genesis 16 |
| Circumcision and Name Changes | Genesis 17 |
🌿 Supporting Readings
- Prophets / Writings: Isaiah 51:1–2
- Messianic Writings: Romans 4; Galatians 3; Hebrews 11:8–19
🌿 Key Hebrew Notes in This Portion
1. Emunah — אֱמוּנָה — “Faith / Faithfulness”
- Pronounced: eh-moo-NAH
- Faith is not just belief. It is trust that results in action.
Abram shows emunah by obeying God’s voice.
2. Berit — בְּרִית — “Covenant”
- Pronounced: breet
This is God’s binding promise to bless Abram and his descendants.
3. Tzedek — צֶדֶק — “Righteousness”
- Pronounced: TZEH-dek
When Abram believes God (Genesis 15:6), righteousness—tzedek—is credited to him by faith.
4. Zera — זֶרַע — “Seed / Offspring”
- Pronounced: ZEH-rah
Paul explains that the promised zera (seed) is ultimately Messiah (Galatians 3:16).
5. Name Changes:
- Avram (אַבְרָם) — “Exalted father”
- Avraham (אַבְרָהָם) — “Father of many nations”
- Sarai (שָׂרַי) → Sarah (שָׂרָה) — “Princess / noblewoman”
These small Hebrew touches appear in context, not as the focus of the study.
🌿 Messianic Connection
Paul explains that God’s promise to bless all nations through Abraham is ultimately fulfilled in Yeshua, the promised Seed (zera, זֶרַע).
Just as Abram was counted righteous through faith (emunah, אֱמוּנָה), we too are brought into God’s covenant family through faith in Messiah, not through works or lineage.
🌿 Moral and Spiritual Application
- God calls us to leave behind whatever holds us to the past.
- Faith means stepping into the unknown because God is trustworthy.
- Our identity changes when we enter God’s covenant—just like Abram and Sarai.
- True righteousness (tzedek) is received, not earned.
- God sees every attempt to “help” Him, but His plans are always better than our shortcuts.
🕎 7-Day Devotional (Hebrew Included Only Where Natural)
| Day | Reading | Focus | Hebrew to Notice | Messianic Reflection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Gen 12:1–9 | The call to go forth | Lech Lecha (לֶךְ־לְךָ) — go forth | Yeshua calls us to follow Him in the same way. |
| Day 2 | Gen 12:10–20 | Faith tested in Egypt | — | God protects His promises even in weakness. |
| Day 3 | Gen 13 | Peace and humility | — | Blessed are the peacemakers. |
| Day 4 | Gen 14 | Melchizedek’s blessing | — | Yeshua our High Priest (Heb 7). |
| Day 5 | Gen 15 | Righteousness by faith | Tzedek (צֶדֶק) — righteousness | Salvation is by faith alone. |
| Day 6 | Gen 16 | Hagar & “God Who Sees” | El Roi (אֵל רֳאִי) — the God who sees me | Messiah sees and restores the broken. |
| Day 7 | Gen 17 | Covenant & identity | Berit (בְּרִית) — covenant | Messiah brings the circumcised heart. |
🌿 Discussion Questions
- What does “Lech Lecha” mean for your life right now?
- How does Abram’s journey redefine what faith really is?
- Why is Abraham called the “father of all who believe”?
- Why is the concept of tzedek (righteousness) foundational to the gospel?
- Where might God be calling you to “go forth” in faith?
🌿 Prayer Focus
Ask God for the faith (emunah) to trust Him, the courage to leave behind the familiar, and the willingness to walk into His promises like Abram.
🌿 Memory Verse
Genesis 15:6 — “And he believed the LORD, and He counted it to him as righteousness.”
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