In the teaching Lech Lecha: "Get Yourself" | Genesis 12:1–17:27 from B'nai Shalom / Lion and Lamb Ministries, Monte Judah explores the foundational covenants made with Abraham and explains how they define biblical faith, Hebrew identity, and salvation through Messiah Yeshua.
Core Hebrew Concepts & Abraham's Calling
- Meaning of Lech Lecha: Literally rendered "go forth" or "get yourself out," God commands Abram to leave his country, relatives, and father's house for the land God will show him [03:18].
- Origin and Name Changes: Abram and Sarai were originally from Ur of the Chaldees and Haran. God changed Abram ("exalted father") to Abraham ("father of a multitude of nations") in Genesis 17:5 to reflect his destiny, and Sarai to Sarah ("princess") [02:16], [27:16].
- First Hebrew vs. First Jew: Abraham was not a Jew; Judah was his great-grandson. Abraham was the first Hebrew (Ivri), which means "from across the river"—referring to crossing the Euphrates and not being native to Canaan [14:14]. When believers trust in Messiah, they join the community of Hebrews rather than converting to Judaism [15:00].
- Post-Flood World & Rebuilding Mankind: Following the judgment of Noah's flood, God began re-establishing His relational framework with humanity through a single covenant family to bless all nations [03:03].
- Love for Teaching Genesis: Monte Judah highlights Genesis because it establishes the baseline patterns of covenant, trust, and righteousness that shape the rest of Scripture [01:51].
The Patriarchal Lifestyle: Tents, Altars, and Wells
- Why Tents, Not Palaces: Despite possessing immense wealth in gold, silver, and livestock, Abraham lived as a pilgrim in temporary dwellings [07:47]. He remained humble, choosing not to build self-aggrandizing monuments [08:15].
- The Three Altars: Upon entering the land, Abraham erected altars at Shechem, between Bethel and Ai, and at the Oaks of Mamre in Hebron to publicly worship and call upon the name of the Lord [06:08], [06:43], [07:04].
- Digging Wells: While palaces serve only the owner, a well provides life-giving water for any stranger or neighbor passing through [07:40]. The patriarchs prioritized faith and community benefit over personal empire-building [08:23].
The Abrahamic Covenant & Its Multi-Part Revelation
Monte Judah outlines the three distinct stages of God's covenant with Abraham:
- Genesis 12 — The Father: God calls Abraham out and promises to make him a great father, grant the Promised Land, and bless all the families of the earth through him [04:02], [30:11].
- Genesis 15 — The Son: God promises an heir from Abraham's own loins rather than an adopted servant [11:20]. Abraham is told to count the stars:
- Genesis 17 — The Sign (Seal): At age 99, God establishes circumcision in the flesh as an outward sign and seal of this everlasting covenant [27:34], [29:40]. Paul connects this spiritually to the circumcision of the heart performed by the Holy Spirit [30:53].
Salvation: Faith, Righteousness, Justice, and Propitiation
Believing God's Promises ──► Righteousness ──► Demands Justice ──► Satisfied by Propitiation (Sacrifice) ──► Salvation
- Justification by Faith: In Genesis 15:6, Abraham believed the Lord's promise, and God credited it to him as righteousness [11:40]. At this moment, Abraham had not performed ritual commandments; his standing rested solely on trusting God's word [23:19].
- True Faith Defined: Biblical faith is not denomination, church attendance, or ritual membership; it is taking God at His word and believing His specific promises [22:03].
- Righteousness and Justice: You cannot have righteousness without justice, nor justice without righteousness [23:57]. Because God is a righteous judge, sin requires a formal legal settlement—propitiation (payment of equal value) [24:22].
- The Ultimate Sacrifice: Justice demands a sacrifice. Just as Abraham prepared to offer Isaac on Mount Moriah, God supplied His own Lamb [25:36]. Yeshua (literally "Salvation") is the divine payment satisfying justice, fulfilling Paul’s declaration in Ephesians 2:8: "For by grace you are saved through faith" [24:48], [26:20].
The Scope of the Seed: Jews, Israelites, and the Nations
| Group | Biblical Definition |
| Hebrews (Ivrim) | All who cross over and enter into covenant with the God of Abraham [14:24]. |
| Israelites | Descendants of the 12 sons/tribes of Jacob, including the Northern Ten Tribes and the mixed multitude [15:34]. |
| Jews (Yehudim) | Specifically members or descendants of the Southern Kingdom of Judah (a subset of Israel) [16:05]. |
- All Jews are Israelites, but not all Israelites are Jews. The Torah was delivered at Mount Sinai to the entire Hebrew assembly and the mixed multitude, not exclusively to the tribe of Judah [15:34].
- Grafting in the Nations: As the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 11 and Galatians 3, Gentiles who trust in the Messiah are spiritually grafted into the native olive tree of Israel and become heirs to the promises of Abraham [05:37].
- The Everlasting Covenant vs. Replacement Theology: Genesis 17:7 explicitly defines the covenant as eternal. Monte Judah emphasizes that the New Covenant does not abolish or replace the Abrahamic covenant; suggesting God discarded Israel constitutes replacement theology [27:56], [28:28].
The Neglected Inheritance: Parable of the Father's Bible
Monte Judah shares an illustration to warn believers against discarding their Old Testament foundations [17:09]:
- A wealthy father dies and leaves his frivolous son a single leather-bound Bible [18:15]. Disgusted that he received no immediate cash, the son tosses the book into a box in the attic and struggles through life [18:41].
- Decades later, as an older man, he opens the Bible and finds an envelope containing the deed to his father's entire estate tucked inside [19:11].
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