Questioning Abraham - Clive Lawton

Clive Lawton guest teacher founder of Limmud International from England
Torah Study 7-9
Abraham.
Grew up in Mesopotamia and gets a command to leave and he takes his family and his nephew Lot. Lot is a "waste of space". Why did he take him?
Maybe to be his heir but he is a disappointment

He goes to Cannan. God promises land to his descendants. But the problem is that he didn't have an heir.

Did Abraham really believe in the one true God? He speculates which of the many gods in his time was the strongest? He is looking for the "ultimate organizer". The "prime mover". There is a good idea about the force of nature.

It was not remarkable to believe in one God.

Abrahams story shows his lack of faith.
When they go to Egypt. He tells Sari to tell the "lie" about their relationship.
He thinks they are on their own. God intervines.
This happens again.

Abraham has no confidence that God is going to give him a true heir.
Reinforced by the story of Hagar...
Sarah offers Hagar as a surrogate mother. But it doesn't work out that way.
That was not the promise...he was to have a son with Sarah...

Then the angels come and then Isaac is finally born.

Sodom and Gomorrah. God invests in Abraham. So tells him What He is going to do...
Plans to wipe out cities because they are evil...Abraham argues with God...

God leads Abraham down a path... Macroeconomics to be concerned about 50 good people. Negotiation tactics similar to bargaining at the shook.

Model for the similar argument tactics in the Talmud... Never come to a conclusion.

Talmud, what is the greatest line in Torah argument between Rabbis. Pick two...Love neighbors and believe in God.
Akiva says "love neighbor as self". Ben Azai says "these are the generations of Adam"
That is where the text ends.... It is an opening fir discussion... Seems like Ben Azai "wins".

Two modes of interpretation: Agadah and Hallacha. What going to do vs what is the law.
Hallacha is drive safe. Agadah is the debate about what is a safe speed. And once decided it becomes Hallacha .. Agadah is the understanding and imprecision of the complex things. We are obsessed by accuracy.

Parable. (Difference between Jews and Christians.) Christians explain what the meaning of the parable/Midrash. Jews ask what it means. Text is an invitation to analysis rather than something that should be interpreted and dictated.

Akivah says : What does “a commandment is more important mean?” It is problematic. What does "You shall love" Actually tell you to do? Who is the” neighbor”? "As self" is a relative term. As you deserve not as they deserve.

Either/Or mode vs the both end mode.
Binary system is not sufficient to allow the possibility of complex outcomes.

Ben Azai says that everyone descends from a single person. And all are equal. There is a fundamental right to be treated equal as all are in the image of God.

Why does Abraham stop at 10 in the argument with God in the story about Sodom...

The final test: Binding of Isaac. Next story. Abraham doesn't argue over Isaac like he did for the people of Sodom.

After this episode God doesn't speak to Abraham again and then Sarah dies.

The concept that God is interested in individuals is phenomenal. Abraham discovers that God cares about individuals. Difficult concept.

Abraham knows that God will not sacrifice Isaac because of God’s promise that Isaac will survive. So he knows that he will not kill his son... this is why he doesn’t argue..