Vayeshev וַיֵּשֶׁב - And He Settled
Torah Portion: Genesis 37:1 - 40:23
Genesis 37:12–22
37:12 His brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. 13 Israel said to Joseph, “Aren’t your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them.” He said to him, “Here I am.”
14 He said to him, “Go now, see whether it is well with your brothers, and well with the flock; and bring me word again.” So he sent him out of the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15 A certain man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field. The man asked him, “What are you looking for?”
16 He said, “I am looking for my brothers. Tell me, please, where they are feeding the flock.”
17 The man said, “They have left here, for I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’”
Joseph went after his brothers and found them in Dothan. 18 They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them, they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Behold, this dreamer comes. 20 Come now therefore, and let’s kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, ‘An evil animal has devoured him.’ We will see what will become of his dreams.”
21 Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, “Let’s not take his life.” 22 Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.
Today’s Meditation:
Joseph’s brothers plot to kill him. It appears that the special “privilege” given to Joseph has really upset his brothers, which is a totally normal reaction. But, to be upset and to plan to kill someone are two different reactions. Reuben stands up for Joseph (sort of) and recommends they don’t kill him, just throw him in the pit, and someone will discover him. So, he can learn his lesson.
Have you ever wanted to throw someone off a cliff? Maybe not physically, but in your heart, you have despised them and hoped they would die? Or perhaps even you have said or done hurtful things to this person because of your jealousy of them? This is the root of gossip. When we are jealous or offended by someone else, we often want to talk negatively about them to get back at them. It’s not right, and if you have done or are doing this, you must stop. Hashem does not like gossip and considers it a sin. It can keep you from a right relationship with Hashem. Amend your ways and seek forgiveness.
Today’s Challenge:
I have already given you a challenge in the section above. To stop gossiping. I once heard it said that if you couldn’t say something to someone’s face, then you should probably not say it at all. If you are talking to someone and they start gossiping, tell them you would rather not participate in the conversation without the person you are talking about being present. We can learn to stop gossiping and gently teach others to do the same.
