Ep. 37 - Looking Down at the Stars

Ep. 37 - Looking Down at the Stars

From Breakneck Through the Bible · Rabbi Bentzi Epstein by TORCH

January 28, 2026 · 42 min · Episode 37

About this episode

This episode explores Abraham's struggle with fear and trust in God's promise of descendants despite his limitations.

Abraham just defeated four kings. He refused their wealth. He should feel victorious. Instead, he's terrified. G-d appears to him in a vision and says: "Fear not, Abraham. I am a shield for you. Your reward is very great." But Abraham isn't comforted. What good is any reward if he has no child to pass it to? Everything will go to Eliezer, his servant from Damascus. G-d takes him outside. "Look at the heavens and count the stars, if you can." The simple reading: Abraham looks up at the night sky. But the Hebrew reveals something else. The word used means looking down, not up. G-d takes Abraham above the stars and shows him from there. Because according to Abraham's astrological sign, he and Sarah will never have children. So G-d takes him outside his mazal, outside the natural order. Abram won't have a son, but Abraham will. The Jewish people exist outside the framework of the world, a thread that shouldn't be there but is. Abraham trusts. The Hebrew word is "והאמין," which doesn't mean belief the way we think. It means locked in, steadfast, unwavering. No matter what questions come, Abraham is locked into G-d. Then Abraham asks one question: "How will I know that I will inherit…

People in this episode

Host: Rabbi Bentzi Epstein

Topics covered

  • faith
  • trust
  • spirituality
  • Jewish identity
  • overcoming limitations
  • divine promise

Keywords

  • Abraham
  • trust
  • God
  • Jewish people
  • astrology
  • mazal
  • faith
  • spirituality

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: TORCH

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