this painting is lovely. It reminds me of something in our Torah Club Notes http://ffoz.org/TorahClub/ for this week.This segment is entitled I HAVE CHOSEN ABRAHAM
Genesis 18:16-19
For
what reason did God chose Abraham? Though the mystery of His devine
choice is always unfathomable, the Torah allows us a simple explanation
for His choice of Abraham. The thing that set Abraham apart was that
"he will command his children and his household after him to keep the
way of the LORDd by doing righteousness and justice..." (Gen 18:19)
Though the English translations often obscure it, the Hebrew of the
Torah implies a causal relationship. Because God knows that Abraham
will teach his children, He has chosen Him.
On
the other hand, the imperfect form of the verb in 18:18 may indicate a
causal relationship in the other direction as well: Abraham's obedience
to teach his children is the result of God's choosing. In fact, this is
the explicit structure of the verse: "I have known him in order that (lama'an למען ) he will command his children and his household..."
We
learn here that our highest priority lies in the education of children.
Passing the commands of God and the testimony of Yeshua to the next
generation should be at the forefront of our every effort.
There
is a curiously 'legalistic' sounding statement made by the LORD in
Genesis 18:19, where He says that Abraham teaches his sons the way of
the LORD in order that God's promises about him may pass. Now,
we know that Abraham our father kept the whole Torah (Gen 26:5), and
that this is "the Way" that he was teaching his sons in this passage.
So why does it say that he taught them to do righteousess 'in order to'
bring God's promise? Weren't God's promises unconditional? Though God,
in His sovereignty has promised and certainly would fulfill, Abraham
understood that this did not absolve him from the responsibility to
keep his part of the covenant. He knew that he couldn't just wait
around for God to do things for him that he was both capable and
responsible to do. This is the faith that Abraham posessed and
practiced and was praised for; this is the faith that we should hold as
his children.
This
illustrates the relationship of justification and sanctification in the
believer's life. In the Apostolic scriptures, justification is the
unconditional declaration of righteousness based upon the work of
Yeshua. Sanctification is the conformity of every true believer's life
to God's righteous standards. Justification is God's gift to us.
Sanctification is our reasonable service to Him. The writer of the book
of Hebrews says, "Without holiness (sanctification) no one will see
God." (Hebrews 12:14)
(END QUOTE)
The
father in this painting is lovingly overseeing his daughter's
education. He's taking time from what looks like his career - reading
blueprints - perhaps he's an architect, or a shipbuilder, or a
realestate owner - but he's got time for his daughter's education.
His
ear is tuned to her, he's not half listening to her lessons and half
reading his plans. His hand is patiently being held, it shows she's
holding his attention.
He's
got refeshments at his side, he's prepared to make his daughter his
priortiy, he doesn't have to leave her side to satisfy his thirst or
hunger.
There are a
few books at the foot of the table in the forefront, perhaps she has
two or three different subjects to discuss at his feet.
We could learn a lot from the study of this painting, and we must always learn from the study of God's word.
What a blessing this "way" we've chosen
