Parsha Vayera - B'reshit (Gen.)
18:1-22:24
Mark R. Ensign, Adot Adonai, Amarillo, Texas
Introductory questions -- Brief answers, not for extended discussion:
1. At what point in history does this parsha
unfold?
2. Where does this parsha take place
geographically? What are the setting and environment?
3. Who are the primary actors in the parsha and
what role or roles does each play? What is the
significance of each role? Who are the secondary
actors and what roles do they play? What is the
significance of their roles?
4. What is the overall theme of this parsha? What
are the subdivisions, if any?
Parsha Specific Questions -- for extended discussion:
Chapter 18. 1-8. What lessons about visiting the sick and hospitality may be
learned from the story of
the visit of YHVH and the men to Avraham? What does
the Brit Chadashah teach about these topics and
the importance of breaking bread together?
18:9-15. What announcement did the visitors make to
Avraham about his wife; what was her response;
why? What did YHVH promise Avraham in response to
Sarah? What essential truth about the nature of
YHVH is found in his statement?
18:16-33. What was YHVH's intention for Avraham and
why? How did he show this to Avraham? What
concern did Avraham express to YHVH? What
characteristics of a spiritual person are demonstrated by
Avraham's conversation with YHVH? What lessons may
we learn from this conversation that will aid our
relationship with YHVH? How did Y’shua enhance our
understanding of this topic?
Chapter 19. 1-14. What concern did Lot have about his visitors and why was it
justified? What was
Lot's offer to the wicked men and what did his
visitors do in response? Whom did Lot's visitors try to
deliver from the wrath to come on Sodom; what was
their response; who was finally saved? What lessons
can we learn from this about YHVH's character,
people's response to his call, and persecution of those
who speak on his behalf?
19:15-29. When told to leave the city, what did Lot
do? In response, what did the visitors do to assure
the deliverance of Lot and family? What final
instruction was given by the visitors to them? What was the
response of Lot and what did he ask for? What was
the response? What did his wife do and what was
the result? What did YHVH do to the area? What did
Y’shua and Kefa (Peter) teach about this episode
and the end times? What lessons can we learn from
all this about obeying G-d and the coming judgment?
19:30-38. What thoughts motivated the actions of
Lot's daughters; what did they do; what was the result?
What is identifiable today as a result of their
actions? How did their actions affect the coming Mashiach
(Messiah)?
Chapter 20. What deception did Avraham and his wife perpetrate and why? What did
YHVH do to
Avimelech and his household in response? How did
YHVH communicate with Avimelech? What powers
does YHVH have which he described in his statement
to Avimelech in verses 6-7? What did Avraham
receive as a result of this deception and, in
return, what did he do for Avimelech and his household? What
essential thing had YHVH done for Avraham and Sarah
in this episode and why is that significant?
Chapter 21. What did YHVH do for Sarah? Why did they name the son Yitzchak
(Isaac)? What did
Sarah require Avraham to do to her handmaid, Hagar,
and his/her son? What assurance did YHVH give
to Avraham and what was his response? How did YHVH
bless Hagar and what did he promise her?
What effect does this family division have in
today's world?
Chapter 22. What request did YHVH make of Avraham and what was the purpose? What
was
Avraham's response? How did Yitzchak respond? What
deliverance did YHVH provide and how?
According to the Brit Chadashah, what was Avraham's
expectation as he obediently responded to the
request of YHVH? What reward did YHVH promise
Avraham as a result of his obedience? What
parallels are there between this story of the Akeda
(binding) and YHVH's sacrifice of his Son, the Lamb
of G-d who takes away the sins of the world? What
spiritual lessons can we learn from this story?
Imagine you are Avraham. Describe the range of
emotions you feel, the conflict within, from the first
request of YHVH, through the journey of obedience,
the binding of Yitzchak, preparing to sacrifice him,
the deliverance through the ram, and the return
home. Imagine you are Yitzchak, probably age 37. Do
the same exercise.
Closing Questions: For Personal Introspection
Why do you believe G-d provided us with this
particular portion of his words? What was his purpose and
objective in preserving this portion of the
Scriptures to this day? What benefit do they have for Torah
observant believers today?
What other insights has the Ruach HaKodesh given
you in your study of this portion that you would like
to share with the group?
What questions from this portion have you had that
have not been answered by the study?
What impact do you think the study of the words
from your Father in this portion will have on your life?
How do you plan to implement his instructions in
this parsha in your life?
Silently pray for the Ruach HaKodesh to implant his
words like seeds, to nurture their growth in your heart,
and to enable you to respond fully as they do.