Lech Lecha: A Call to Faith and Aliyah in Our Time

“Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1).

God called Abraham to leave everything familiar: his homeland, his community and his father’s house. In the very place where Abraham had roots and a sense of belonging, God asked him to begin again. He had to trust God before he could see how the promise would unfold.

As a Messianic Jew, I believe that call still speaks to us today. Many Jewish people have built full lives in the diaspora, raising families, earning a living and finding a sense of security. Yet God’s covenant reminds us of the enduring bond between the Jewish people and the land of Israel. Making aliyah (Heb.: returning to Israel) can be an act of faith, a homecoming and a way to take part in the restoration of our people.

In Jeremiah 16:16, God says,

“After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them.”

I understand these hunters as hostile figures, and I see their image reflected in antisemitism and hostility toward Israel. These forces pursue the Jewish people and unsettle the sense of security many have found in exile. To me, this is a call to wake up, consider the times we are living in and give serious thought to returning to Israel.

In the same chapter, God promises to restore His people to the land He gave their ancestors (Jeremiah 16:15). That promise gives me hope in the face of hostility. I believe this is a time to consider aliyah with faith and a renewed sense of belonging.

Obadiah adds another picture of return:

“The exiles from Jerusalem who are in Sepharad will possess the towns of the Negev” (Obadiah 1:20).

Jewish tradition has associated Sepharad with Spain. I also see hope here for descendants of Jews forced to convert in Spain and for people rediscovering their Jewish roots. Although the verse does not explicitly name these descendants, I believe its vision of return invites us to welcome them, help them explore their family histories and support their renewed connection with the Jewish people and the land of Israel.

Abraham heard God’s voice and stepped forward in faith. Today, we too must listen and consider our response. In the face of antisemitism and hostility toward Israel, I believe the time has come to reconnect with our roots, strengthen our bond with the land and seriously consider making aliyah. The call of “Lech Lecha” still speaks to us, inviting us to trust God and take part in the future of our people.