Abraham did not need the scrolls of the Torah to tell him how to fulfill Hashem’s will. Generations before Mount Sinai, he was already living a Divinely directed life: “You hear My voice and keep My observances, My commandments, My laws and My Torah” (Bereishis 26:5).

(Sefer Ahavas Chesed: Part III Chapter II Abrahams Way) “The Chofetz Chaim observes that Abraham’s actions in this story sets a template for the development of the Jewish people. If the Torah goes to such lengths to spell out the details, says the Chofetz Chaim, surely one is obligated to study these details and acquire the understanding that they are there to impart.”

All true believers in Maran Yeshua the Messiah, whether Jewish or non-Jewish are all children of Abraham because we live by faith and trust in the one true God of Israel. All sources, whether Rabbinical Orthodox Judaism with the Great Rabbi’s both modern and ancient and Messianic Jewish sources within the Good News all point to Abraham as an example of righteousness because of His faith and faithfulness. The following portion of scripture shows us from the perspective of Rabbi Shaul the significance of the Patriarch Abraham for us as believers.

(Galatians 3:6-9) “It was the same with Avraham: “He trusted God and was faithful to Him, and that was credited to his account as righteousness.” Be assured, then that it is those who live by trusting and being faithful who are really children of Avraham. Also the Tanach, foreseeing that God would consider the gentiles righteous when they live by trusting and being faithful, told the Good News to Avraham in advance by saying, “In connection with you, all the goyim will be blessed.” So then, those who rely on trusting and being faithful are blessed along with Avraham, who trusted and was faithful.”  

Trusting God and bring faithful to Him are essential elements in true Messianic Jewish Emuna because it is the key to being blessed just like our father Abraham. Both Jew and non Jew are all blessed along with Abraham because just like Abraham we heard the Good News and believed. Because Abraham is our example for Emuna as laid out by Rabbi Shaul, and as the Chofetz Chaim stated his actions laid a template for the development of the Jewish people, an in depth look into Abrahams Halacha is essential for our lives as Messianic Jewish believers.

(Pirkei Avot / Ethics of the Fathers 5:22) “Whoever possesses the following three traits is of the disciples of our father Abraham; and whoever possesses the opposite three traits is of the disciples of the wicked Balaam. The disciples of our father Abraham have a good eye, a meek spirit and a humble soul. The disciples of the wicked Balaam have an evil eye, a haughty spirit and a gross soul. What is the difference between the disciples of our father Abraham and the disciples of the wicked Balaam? The disciples of our father Abraham benefit in this world and inherit the World To Come, and as is stated, "To bequeath to those who love Me there is, and their treasures I shall fill" (Proverbs 8:21). The disciples of the wicked Balaam inherit purgatory and descent into the pit of destruction, as is stated, "And You, God, shall cast them into the pit of destruction; bloody and deceitful men, they shall not attain half their days. And I shall trust in you" (ibid., 55:24).”

Here in the Pirkei Avot, we see a compare and contrast example of two people from the Torah, one, is our Patriarch Abraham whom is the father of the faithful and the one whom is called wicked Balaam. The comparison here is between righteous and wicked character traits we all have the ability to have and possess.

Firstly, with Abraham and his righteous character, we see three set out traits; “a good eye, a meek spirit and a humble soul.” These traits are exactly what is defined for us as righteous character within the writings of the disciples of Maran Yeshua in the Good News as we will see in the following verses.

(Ephesians 4:2-3) “Always be humble, gentle and patient, bearing with one another in love, and making every effort to preserve the unity the spirit gives through the binding power of shalom.”

A humble and meek spirit is essential for every believer, even the new believer because the joy and peace from the receiving of salvation is the greatest comfort there is. What exactly is a humble and meek spirit? The dictionary defines humble as; not proud or arrogant; modest. Meek is defined as humbly patient or docile, as under provocation from others, gentle; kind. Basically, loving kindness which is what the Chofetz Chaim laid out in his teachings about Abraham setting out a template for the Jewish people and later the rest of the nations grafted into Israel through faith alone in Maran Yeshua. As believers from all nations and backgrounds, we need to internalize this core teaching and template for our lives laid out in the life of Abraham and ultimately fulfilled by our Messiah Maran Yeshua; a live of loving kindness, peace and unity which is a binding power against darkness.

(Mattityahu/Matthew 6:22-23) “‘The eye is the lamp of the body.’ So if you have a ‘good eye’ [that is, if you are generous] your whole body will be full of light; but if you have an ‘evil eye’ [if you are stingy] your whole body will be full of darkness. If, then, the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”

The third character element which Abraham had lived out as part of his righteous character was a good eye (עין טובה ), which means benevolence, kindness and generosity. Maran Yeshua has taught us that the eye is the lamp of the entire body and if we have a good eye, then it is much more than just tzitzits and vain repetitious prayers, but rather it is the very core of the Torah which is love and the kindness and generosity to all men, just as Abraham had done with his tent wide open greeting all who pass his way. To truly be a light to the nations, the light which is in the eye (kindness and generosity) must be radiant on the hill tops and not covered with a bowl of darkness (arrogance and greed).

As disciples of Maran Yeshua, who ultimately fulfilled perfectly the inner depths of the Torah which were displayed in the life of Abraham, we need to embed these elements into our hearts, minds and strength (resources). This is the core of the Shema prayer, and what is written on our door posts, inside the boxes of our tefillin. Life as a believer would be meaningless and only for self gain or the evil eye (greed) if there was no loving kindness radiating from the soul.

As children and also disciples of Abraham, we need to always trust God and remain faithful to Him. This world we live in is a very difficult one, there are many temptations and challenges which we need to overcome. Also as flesh we are very weak, we feel pain we get hurt, we stumble and we fall, but as believers we always get back up, dust ourselves off and try again. Nothing will ever be completely perfect and good until the coming of Messiah, and until then we need to always trust God that whatever challenges and battles we face is for the best and our own good with a positive purpose behind it. Even though today there may be tears and weeping, tomorrow there will be laughing and great joy because our Father promises to tears of sorrow into tears of joy. We need to be true children of Abraham and trust God and remain faithful to Him, we are His children and like any father He does not want to see us in pain or suffer, however likewise like any father He will chastise (correct) us when disciple is needed.