The Shalom of YHVH
(An Everlasting Covenant)
Primary Content (From 1 Sefer Moses, the Book of Beginnings):
- Chapter 26 – The Blessings
- Chapter 27 – The Covenant of Circumcision
- Chapter 28 – Promises Made
- Chapter 29 – Promises Kept
Additional Reading (Comparison Texts):
- Genesis 15-19 from the Inspired Version of the Bible
Objectives:
- Introduce more kabbalistic concepts so we will be able to assemble them all in future discussions
Kabbalistic Concepts:
- The Everlasting (Covenant) of the Gospel (Shalom of YHVH)
- Circumcising (or Piercing) of the Heart
Engage:
Engage the Concepts through Comparison
Chapters 28 and 29 are named in such a way that they suggest the author intended that we compare them and use them to understand each other. I invite you to explore these two chapters from that perspective.
Engage the Spirit through Contemplation
The passage that I would encourage you to prayerfully ponder from these chapters is Chapter 26:20-24 where the Shalom of YHVH is described. This appears to be the key to understanding the Everlasting Covenant. I also recommend looking at all the odd things Abrham is doing in that chapter leading up to that point. Don’t dismiss it all just because it’s related to sacrifices we are no longer expected to offer up in our day. There are very odd things going on, which appear to be an invitation to try to think about it until it makes more sense, or until it makes other things make more sense.
Engage the Group through Discussion
When you meet together as a group to discuss the content of these chapters, here are some ideas to help get the discussion going:
- Chapter 27 establishes the covenant between God and Abraham, and the plates of brass consistently adjust the narrative so that Melchizedek is administering the covenant between God and Abraham/Sarah. Before the brass plates the narrative was that God and Abram made a covenant. Why do you suppose suddenly it’s important for us to be aware of this detail, and have it reinforced multiple times in the chapter?