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The cry that reached Heaven: Part 3

by GloriaSeptember 13, 20208 min read

This article is the third installment of a series. The other parts can be found here:
Part 1: The cry that reached Heaven: Part 1
Part 2: The cry that reached Heaven: Part 2

When we study the scriptures and pray for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding a much broader perspective and deeper understanding start coming into view.  Researching the original language is like adding gravy on mashed potatoes, it just makes it that much better.  It unearths layers of speculations and assumptions, and a much deeper picture comes into focus.  Haleluyah! 

     We previously covered some of Genesis 18, in which we saw Yahweh (God) actually talking, eating, and sharing with Abraham His intentions. 

In our previous discussion we saw how Abraham drew near to Yahweh (God), prayed and interceded for the righteous of these five cities that had been judged and awaiting judgment. 

Prayer is defined in Hebrew as:

H8605

תְּפִלָּה

tephillâh

tef-il-law’

From H6419; intercession, supplication; by implication a hymn: – prayer.

In the ancient Hebrew it’s defined as Plead/pleading.

Root Word of Prayer

H6419

פָּלַל

pâlal

paw-lal’

A primitive root; to judge (officially or mentally); by extension to intercede, pray: – intreat, judge (-ment), (make) pray (-er, -ing), make supplication.

In the Ancient Hebrew:  Plead ; Judgment: To plead for intercession or an outcome.

Abraham pleaded on behalf of the righteous people, his prayer was heard and answered.  This is a reminder to all of us how important prayer is.  Please keep in mind that drawing near (permission granted) and praying implies a mutual relationship.  There was a series of events that took place in order for this permission to be granted and a mutual respect to be established.

If you read the exchange of words between Abraham and Yahweh (God) you see that there wasn’t any repetitive prayer, or any particular way of praying, but Abraham was speaking from his heart, and pleading a cause which was heard.  There might be some people who might feel that they don’t know how to pray; that prayer might involve a series of fancy words, perhaps even a formula and that in itself prevents them from even attempting to pray. 

We see in:

Psalm 51 (Tehellim 51) verses 15-17

Psa 51:15  O יהוה, open my lips, And that my mouth declare Your praise.

Psa 51:16  For You do not desire slaughtering, or I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.

Psa 51:17  The slaughterings of Elohim are a broken spirit, A heart broken and crushed, O Elohim, These You do not despise.

He’s interested in you, your heart; your spirit, all about you, don’t let your lack of words keep you from drawing near to Him.    

So what series of events took place which granted Abraham the right to draw near? 

Let’s go back a few chapters, to Genesis 15, we find the beginning of these series of events.  We see here how the Almighty spoke to Abraham (Abram at the time) through a vision:

Gen 15:1  After these events the word of יהוה came to Aḇram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Aḇram. I am your shield, your reward is exceedingly great.”

Gen 15:2  And Aḇram said, “Master יהוה, what would You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliʽezer of Damascus?”

Gen 15:3  And Aḇram said, “See, You have given me no seed, and see, one born in my house is my heir!”

Gen 15:4  And see, the word of יהוה came to him, saying, “This one is not your heir, but he who comes from your own body is your heir.”

Gen 15:5  And He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward the heavens, and count the stars if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So are your seed.”

Gen 15:6  And he believed in יהוה, and He reckoned it to him for righteousness.

Did you get that?  He believed and was declared righteous!!       !!!

BELIEVE

H539

אָמַן

‘âman

aw-man’

A primitive root; properly to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain; once (in Isa_30:21; by interchange for H541) to go to the right hand: – hence assurance, believe, bring up, establish, + fail, be faithful (of long continuance, stedfast, sure, surely, trusty, verified), nurse, (-ing father), (put), trust, turn to the right.

In the Ancient Hebrew – Firm: To stand firm as a support. [Hebrew and Aramaic] [freq. 111] (vf: Paal, Niphal, Hiphil) |kjv: believe, assurance, faithful, sure, establish, trust, verify, steadfast, continuance, father, bring up, nurse, stand, fail| {str: 539, 540}

RIGHTEOUS

H6666

צְדָקָה

tsedâqâh

tsed-aw-kaw’

From H6663; rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity): – justice, moderately, right (-eous) (act, -ly, -ness).

In the Ancient Hebrew it means:  Straightness: [freq. 157] |kjv: righteousness, justice, right, righteous, moderate| {str: 6666}

ROOT WORD RIGHTEOUS

H6663

צָדַק

tsâdaq

tsaw-dak’

A primitive root; to be (causatively make) right (in a moral or forensic sense): – cleanse, clear self, (be, do) just (-ice, -ify, -ify self), (be, turn to) righteous (-ness).

Because Abram believed, he was declared right (righteous). 

We then see what happened next.  The Father revealed to Abram His name and who He is:

Gen 15:7  And He said to him, “I am יהוה, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.”

Gen 15:8  And he said, “Master יהוה, whereby do I know that I possess it?”

So let’s recap.  First Abram had a vision and heard from the Yahweh (God); then we read that Abram believed the word of the Yahweh (God) and was declared righteous.  The Almigty then goes on to give Abram His name (Yahweh) and Who He is.  Amazing!  Sound familiar?

Gen 15:9  And He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, and a three-year-old female goat, and a three-year-old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”

Gen 15:10  And he took all these to Him and cut them in the middle, and placed each half opposite the other, but he did not cut the birds.

Gen 15:11  And the birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Aḇram drove them away.

Sacrifice took place and then we see mercy being declared:

Gen 15:12  And it came to be, when the sun was going down, and a deep sleep fell upon Aḇram, that see, a frightening great darkness fell upon him.

Prophecy given:

Gen 15:13  And He said to Aḇram, “Know for certain that your seed are to be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them, and they shall afflict them four hundred years.

Gen 15:14  “But the nation whom they serve I am going to judge, and afterward let them come out with great possessions.

Gen 15:15  “Now as for you, you are to go to your fathers in peace, you are to be buried at a good old age.

Gen 15:16  “Then, in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the crookedness of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

Gen 15:17  And it came to be, when the sun went down and it was dark, that see, a smoking oven and a burning torch passing between those pieces.

Covenant took place and confirmation of prophecy:

Gen 15:18  On the same day יהוה made a covenant with Aḇram, saying, “I have given this land to your seed, from the river of Mitsrayim to the great river, the River Euphrates,

Gen 15:19  with the Qĕynite, and the Qenizzite, and the Qaḏmonite,

Gen 15:20  and the Ḥittite, and the Perizzite, and the Repha’im,

Gen 15:21  and the Amorite, and the Kenaʽanite, and the Girgashite, and the Yeḇusite.”

Genesis 16 we will talk about another time, but in this book we see disobedience even after everything that took place in chapter 15.  How quickly we give up sometimes, and forget the goodness and promises of our Savior. Ah to be human.

We touched base on chapter 17 last time; and the transformation of Abram to Abraham.

A verse to encourage:

Psa 32:6  Therefore, let every kind one pray to You While You might be found; Even in a flood of great waters They would not reach him.

Psa 32:7  You are my hiding place; You preserve me from distress; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.

More to come…………

Blessings to all.

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Gloria

Gloria, a believer of the most high; blessed with the opportunity to read and study the Bible (the Holy Scriptures). Has had the blessing of sharing the Word with friends over a cup of coffee for years. She wants to extend that invitation to you. Please join her for such a time as this, a time to enjoy the scriptures over a cup of coffee.

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