Go To Yourself

Genesis 11:27-12:8

Parashah 3: Lekh L’kha (Get yourself out) 12:1–17:27

12 Now Adonai said to Avram, “Get yourself out of your country, away from your kinsmen and away from your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you.

{“A look at the Hebrew in this sentence, however, reveals a peculiarity. The word “Lech” is the command, second person form of the word, “L’lechet“–“to go.” The next word, “l’cha,” is an article which tells us that the previous word is meant to be in the second person (for example, “Ten lecha” would mean “give to you”). Since the form of the verb “to go” the Bible uses is already in the second person form, the word “lecha” is superfluous. Commentators offer various meanings of this extra article, translating the sentence as “Go for yourself,” “Go by yourself” or “Go to yourself.”}

(This is a commentary by Joel Lynn in https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/go-from-your-land/, and he also says that ‘go to yourself’ is his favorite of the various translations. It’s mine too.)

That would make the translation more like this:

“Go to yourself, from your country, away from your kindred and away from your father’s house and go to the land I show you.”

Hebrews 7:1-17

(CJB) 3There is no record of his (Melchizedek’s) father, mother, ancestry, birth or death; rather, like the Son of God, he continues as a cohen for all time.

(NRSV) 3Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest for ever. (Included because I liked the poetic wording.)

John 4:16-26

23 But the time is coming — indeed, it’s here now — when the true worshippers will worship the Father spiritually and truly, for these are the kind of people the Father wants worshipping him. 24 God is spirit; and worshippers must worship him spiritually and truly.”

(—Hora(time; a period of time) erchomai(to come; to go; to pass) kai(and; also; but) eimi(to be; to exist) nyn(now; the present—) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A16-26&version=MOUNCE

I read the text carefully and tried not to over-reach myself in my interpretation. Here’s my take on a possible way to understand the meaning:

“Time passes, but remains the present; when trustworthy worshipers reverence the Father in spirit, and practice according to the truth…”

It has something to do

with Time— the time

that comes and goes;

that leaves and remains;

that takes no account of birth or death;

that never stops being ‘now,’ no matter how long we wait;

that fills every corner of creation and leaves no room for memorials;

that holds great wealth, but only for those who have no use for treasure;

that isn’t behind us, or before us; above, below, or to either side.

It can’t be understood, unless it’s left alone.

It’s worthless, as long as we expect it to mean something.

It’s meaningful, as long as it remains worthless.

Go to yourself and ask, “What is this ‘It’?”

—Only time will tell.