Toldot - Day #6

Toldot, תּוֹלְדֹת - Generations  

Torah Portion: Genesis 25:19-28:9

Genesis 27:28–28:4

27:28 Elohim gives you of the dew of the sky,

    of the fatness of the earth,

    and plenty of grain and new wine.

29 Let people serve you,

    and nations bow down to you.

Be lord over your brothers.

    Let your mother’s sons bow down to you.

Cursed be everyone who curses you.

    Blessed be everyone who blesses you.”

30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had just gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 He also made savory food and brought it to his father. He said to his father, “Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that your soul may bless me.”

32 Isaac, his father, said to him, “Who are you?”

He said, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”

33 Isaac trembled violently, and said, “Who, then, is he who has taken venison, and brought it to me, and I have eaten of all before you came, and have blessed him? Yes, he will be blessed.”

34 When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, my father.”

35 He said, “Your brother came with deceit, and has taken away your blessing.”

36 He said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright. See, now he has taken away my blessing.” He said, “Haven’t you reserved a blessing for me?”

37 Isaac answered Esau, “Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants. I have sustained him with grain and new wine. What then will I do for you, my son?”

38 Esau said to his father, “Do you have just one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, my father.” Esau lifted up his voice and wept.

39 Isaac, his father answered him,

“Behold, your dwelling will be of the fatness of the earth,

and of the dew of the sky from above.

40 You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother.

It will happen when you will break loose,

that you will shake his yoke from off your neck.”

41 Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him. Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

42 The words of Esau, her elder son, were told to Rebekah. She sent and called Jacob, her younger son, and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban, my brother, in Haran. 44 Stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away— 45 until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send and get you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?”

46 Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these, of the daughters of the land, what good will my life do me?”

28 Isaac called Jacob, blessed him, and commanded him, “You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Paddan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father. Take a wife from there, from the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother. 3 May Elohim Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, that you may be a company of peoples, 4 and give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your offspring with you, that you may inherit the land where you travel, which Hashem gave to Abraham.”

Today’s Meditation: 

Today's reading is about trickery and deceit. Esau is so disappointed that his brother tricked him and got the blessing. And can you blame him? But in his anger, he says he will kill him. Jacob runs away. This reminds me somewhat of what happens when we sin and how sin can snowball into more serious consequences. However, when Jacob flees to Laban, he does meet Rachel, the love of his life. The point is that Jacob deceives his father and then flees for his life. Has that ever happened to you? You played a trick or lied to someone, and the whole thing got worse? If that has happened, try to rectify the situation as quickly as possible. 

Today’s Challenge: 

Did you ever want something so bad that you were willing to lie to get it? We are supposed to be lights to the rest of the world. This story serves as a reminder to be righteous and to rely on Hashem for the outcome of our needs. Present your request before Him and wait. What if Jacob had not tricked his father? How would this story have ended? Would he still somehow have received the blessing? Things to ponder about. The challenge today is to consider how you can be a source of light to your friends and family. And then be it.

Toldot - Day #5

Toldot, תּוֹלְדֹת - Generations  

Torah Portion: Genesis 25:19-28:9

Genesis 26:30–27:27

26:30 He made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 They rose up some time in the morning, and swore an oath to one another. Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. 32 The same day, Isaac’s servants came and told him concerning the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have found water.” 33 He called it “Shibah.” Therefore, the name of the city is “Beersheba” to this day.

34 When Esau was forty years old, he took as wife Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35 They grieved Isaac’s and Rebekah’s spirits.

27 When Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said to him, “My son?”

He said to him, “Here I am.”

2 He said, “See now, I am old. I don’t know the day of my death. 3 Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and get me venison. 4 Make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat, and that my soul may bless you before I die.”

5 Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau, his son. Esau went to the field to hunt for venison and to bring it. 6 Rebekah spoke to Jacob, her son, saying, “Behold, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, 7 ‘Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless you before Hashem before my death.’ 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command you. 9 Go now to the flock and get me two good young goats from there. I will make them savory food for your father, such as he loves. 10 You shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, so that he may bless you before his death.”

11 Jacob said to Rebekah, his mother, “Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. 12 What if my father touches me? I will seem to him as a deceiver, and I would bring a curse on myself, and not a blessing.”

13 His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son. Only obey my voice, and go get them for me.”

14 He went, and got them, and brought them to his mother. His mother made savory food, such as his father loved. 15 Rebekah took the good clothes of Esau, her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob, her younger son. 16 She put the skins of the young goats on his hands, and on the smooth of his neck. 17 She gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

18 He came to his father and said, “My father?”

He said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?”

19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done what you asked me to do. Please arise, sit and eat of my venison, that your soul may bless me.”

20 Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?”

He said, “Because Hashem your Elohim gave me success.”

21 Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.”

22 Jacob went near to Isaac, his father. He felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 He didn’t recognize him, because his hands were hairy, like his brother Esau’s hands. So he blessed him. 24 He said, “Are you really my son Esau?”

He said, “I am.”

25 He said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless you.”

He brought it near to him, and he ate. He brought him wine, and he drank. 26 His father Isaac said to him, “Come near now, and kiss me, my son.” 27 He came near and kissed him. He smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him, and said,

“Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which Hashem has blessed.

Today’s Meditation: 

Rebekah and Jacob create a divisive plan to steal a blessing away from Esau. It is one of Scripture’s curious stories. We know Rebekah loves Isaac, but apparently, she loves her son more. Enough to want to trick her own husband. What is the lesson to be learned here? I guess I can only look at it this way. What if Jacob had not stolen the blessing? Yes, he may have received less of the inheritance, but I believe Hashem would still have fully blessed the line of Isaac, continuing His promises.

I recall a client who once told me she planned to visit Social Services and lie about something in her life to receive more free benefits. I gave her a challenge. I asked her to tell the truth and then see what happens. We then prayed that Hashem would bless her. A few hours later, I met with her and she was so excited. She didn’t lie, but she still received the extra benefits. What a wonderful life lesson.

Today’s Challenge: 

Have you recently lied to change the outcome in a particular situation? Or are you thinking about not telling the truth about something because you feel it would help you out? I challenge you to tell the truth, pray, and watch what Hashem does. My daughter told the truth about turning down a job to the unemployment bureau. She could have lied and continued receiving benefits, but instead, she said the truth. They stopped her unemployment. However, the most amazing thing happened next. She got a fantastic job. And it pays more than any job she has ever held. She is giving all the glory to Hashem. And so will you.

Toldot - Day #4

Toldot, תּוֹלְדֹת - Generations  

Torah Portion: Genesis 25:19-28:9

Genesis 26:23–29

26:23 He went up from there to Beersheba. 24 Hashem appeared to him the same night, and said, “I am the Elohim of Abraham your father. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you, and will bless you, and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.”

25 He built an altar there, and called on Hashem’s name, and pitched his tent there. There, Isaac’s servants dug a well.

26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his army. 27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me, and have sent me away from you?”

28 They said, “We saw plainly that Hashem was with you. We said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, even between us and you, and let’s make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, as we have not touched you, and as we have done to you nothing but good, and have sent you away in peace.’ You are now the blessed of Hashem.”

Today’s Meditation: 

In verse 28, we see that Abimelech says to Isaac, “We saw plainly that Hashem was with you.” Can you only imagine? Isaac had something about him —the way he looked, walked, and spoke —that made others recognize that Hashem is with him. Did they even know who Isaac’s G-d was? Did they know anything about Him? Yet, somehow, in some way, they recognize the one and only Elohim of the universe in Isaac. Don’t you wish that others would see Hashem in your life? What an excellent witness that would be. And how beautiful a life you would have if it reflected the love and purpose of Hashem.

Today’s Challenge: 

Think about how you could reflect Hashem more in your life. Is there something you need to change, such as your attitude, the way you speak, or how you treat others? I challenge you to take a hard look at yourself and work hard to eliminate anything that doesn't reflect Hashem. And you study His Word more so that you know Him better, so that you can better represent His love and Way in your life.

Toldot - Day #3

Toldot, תּוֹלְדֹת - Generations  

Torah Portion: Genesis 25:19-28:9

Genesis 26:13–22

26:13 The man grew great, and grew more and more until he became very great. 14 He had possessions of flocks, possessions of herds, and a great household. The Philistines envied him. 15 Now all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped, and filled with earth. 16 Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”

17 Isaac departed from there, encamped in the valley of Gerar, and lived there.

18 Isaac dug again the wells of water, which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham. He called their names after the names by which his father had called them. 19 Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found there a well of flowing water. 20 The herdsmen of Gerar argued with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him. 21 They dug another well, and they argued over that, also. So he called its name Sitnah. 22 He left that place and dug another well. They didn’t argue over that one. So he called it Rehoboth. He said, “For now Hashem has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.”

Today’s Meditation: 

Isaac was re-digging wells and trying to reclaim what his father had. Apparently, after Abraham died, the Philistines covered them up. When his servants attempt to re-dig them, the Philistines argue, and it appears they prevent them from opening them. Then, finally, in verse 22, “For now Hashem has made room for us...” they find a successful well to dig. Isaac does not give credit to himself, but to Hashem for this. Sometimes in life, we search and search for an answer to a problem. When we find the answer, we will tend to give the credit to ourselves or someone else, when all the glory should go to Hashem. Let’s try to remember that all gifts come from the Father of Lights.

Today’s Challenge: 

Are you looking for an answer or solution, and not allowing Hashem to make room for your result? What does that look like to have Him do that? To me, it means praying and worshiping Him daily, minute by minute. Then, when there is a problem, really look to Him for the answer. Watch Him move. Watch Him make room for your solution. And there will be the answer before your eyes. The only thing left to do is to give Him all the thanksgiving and glory for helping you. Your missing ingredient may only be, patience. 

Toldot - Day #2

Toldot, תּוֹלְדֹת - Generations  

Torah Portion: Genesis 25:19-28:9

Genesis 26:6–12

26:6 Isaac lived in Gerar. 7 The men of the place asked him about his wife. He said, “She is my sister,” for he was afraid to say, “My wife”, lest, he thought, “the men of the place might kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to look at.” 8 When he had been there a long time, Abimelech King of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was caressing Rebekah, his wife. 9 Abimelech called Isaac, and said, “Behold, surely she is your wife. Why did you say, ‘She is my sister?’”

Isaac said to him, “Because I said, ‘Lest I die because of her.’”

10 Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us!”

11 Abimelech commanded all the people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife will surely be put to death.”

12 Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year one hundred times what he planted. Hashem blessed him.

Today’s Meditation: 

Today, we learn about generational sin. We see Isaac doing the same thing his father Abraham did, saying his wife is his sister to avoid being killed. He lied. But does Hashem count that against him? Interestingly enough, Scripture continues to say that Hashem blessed his crops one hundredfold. This is reported right after we see Isaac lying.

Are there certain times when it is okay to lie? To save your life or save someone else’s life? Maybe he repented to Hashem, and He forgave him? Some Scripture is very curious and mysterious. We don’t know the entire story of what happened, so we can only speculate. That’s why it is essential to always be in the will of Hashem, so that when we feel like we don't have to tell the truth, we will hopefully know His heart in the matter.

Today’s Challenge: 

Think of a time when you stretched the truth. Was it for a life-saving reason? Or were you just making things easier? Lying is a sin. If we lie, we repent and we make restitution. Learning to restore what has been done is more effective when it can be done in tangible ways. Think today of how you can do that. Repentance brings life.