Vayera “And appeared”
Genesis 18:1–22:24
2 Kings 4:1–37
Matthew 17-22

Disclaimer: It is not my habit to use a commentary over and over from year to year, but with this one I have. Every year I receive so many emails regarding how this commentary caused deep changes in peoples attitudes regarding worship. I felt is was once again needed for our lives this year.

Worship

When you hear the word worship, what thoughts and images come to your mind? Maybe you think of your favorite song, the one that always brings a tear. Maybe you think of the time in your congregation after the "Worship Leader" has led the people in four fast songs and then slowed the tempo. Maybe you imagine a room full of people standing or kneeling with eyes gazing toward the heaven and hands lifted.

Whatever your thoughts are concerning worship, there are probably a few common denominators with others. The word worship brings forth a peaceful attitude within our spirits. Just the sound of the word causes us to slow from our modern, busy pace. It causes us to direct our thoughts, at least for a moment, off ourselves and onto our Creator. For those who have by faith received HaShem's wonderful gift of life through Yeshua, the word worship should cause us to consider a day in which we will no longer be held by the bonds of our fallen natures, the day we will be free to worship Him face to face.

Just what is worship though? Is it only relegated to those with musical talent? Is it only for those who are able to hit the perfect note every time? Can those of us who cannot carry a tune in a bucket still enter into true worship? The answers to these questions come when we consider the true meaning of worship.

In modern thought, worship and music go hand in hand. In fact, worship has been defined by the presence of music. It is true that worship may involve music. This is however, not the biblical definition of worship. To understand how HaShem defines worship we look to this week’s Torah portion.

Genesis 22 is the familiar story of Abraham taking his only son Isaac to Mount Moriah to be offered as a sacrifice unto Elohim. In the account the first detail, which jumps off the page, is that Abraham rises early in the morning to carry out his appointed task. If there was ever a morning to roll over and contemplate the day, it is this one. Not so for Abraham though. He has heard from God, accepted what he believes to be His will and rises early to carry out the appointed task. Abraham gathers Isaac, the servants and the necessary items they will need and begins his journey.

Scripture states they traveled three days. We can only attempt to imagine what was going on in Abraham’s mind and heart during these three days. As they walked, Abraham must have on many occasions looked at Isaac and wondered if he truly would be called to sacrifice his son. How many times did he wipe away tears from his cheeks as they walked, each step taking them closer to their divine appointment? Oh the questions, which he pondered along the way, each of them calling for him to turn back and retreat from God's will! Yet his faith and his obedience kept him looking and walking forward.

Finally there it was in the distance, Mount Moriah. Abraham knew of this mountain and of its significance. Tradition tells us it was from this mountain that the Creator took the dirt to form Adam. We of course understand this to be the same mountain Yeshua would be executed on thousands of years after Abraham. Abraham knew of this mountain, but he did not understand its full significance. He did not know that the act he was about to perform was merely a shadow of a greater work, which was to be carried out years in the future.
Go back to the scriptures of Genesis 22:5. Slowly read his instructions to his servants and the declaration of faith he gives. He tells the servants to stay where they are. The duty ahead of him is one between him and his Creator. It is not to be a public affair. He does not tell the servants or Isaac what he is about to do. He only describes it with one word, worship.

Now Abraham has not brought the "worship team" from the local church. He does not have a CD of his favorite artist. There are no instruments or music at all in this account. It is just two men, wood, fire and a knife. Yet Abraham calls it worship.

On that infamous day Abraham and Isaac would truly understand heights of worship most of us have never known nor ever will know. The act of not only Abraham, but also the adult Isaac would open the heavens themselves to allow the highest form of worship to come forth, obedience.

Yes, the biblical definition of worship is obedience. We can sing, shout, wave our hands in the air and clap till the cows come home. But if all the outward expression does not come from a life of obedience it is all just an emotional experience. It may make you feel good, but it leaves His heart empty.

So is it possible to worship if you cannot carry a tune in a bucket or dance with two left feet? The account of Abraham and Isaac tells us the answer is a resounding “Yes!” When we are obedient to His Word, we worship. When He speaks to us and our response is, "Yes Sir, here I am!" we worship. When we choose His ways over man’s ways, even though it may cost us a bit of ridicule or even being ostracized from the crowd, we worship. When we drive through McDonalds on a busy morning and order an Egg McMuffin, but "Hold the bacon," we worship. When we say to our family that there will not be a Christmas tree in our house this year, because we now understand this is a tradition of man which is against God's word, we worship. When we wear a blue thread on the corners of our garment, we worship. When we honor our mother and father, we worship. When husbands love their wives, we worship. When wives show the respect to a husband who is serving God, we worship.

I have been in many "Worship services" over the years. At least that is what they were called. I have seen many types of emotional expression from people whose lives were a mess. People would declare all had felt God's presence, but lives in the end were not changed. Maybe in these events most did not worship at all, but merely sang. See, worship is not an event that you do, but it is a lifestyle you live out on a daily basis. Worship is when we live a life that is obedient to His will. Worship comes from who we are, not what we say or sing.

This was not the first time Abraham had worshipped. His life of worship had begun the day he left his father's house and followed Elohim. He had worshipped through obedience many times during his walk. These acts of worship through obedience would give him the faith to climb a mountain and offer his son. His kind of worship would see him through this life and into the presence of his Creator. Abraham's style of worship was real with or without the latest and hottest "Worship CD."