Vayigash וַיִּגַּשׁ - And He Drew Near
Torah Portion: Genesis 44:18-47:27
Genesis 45:8–18
8 So now it wasn’t you who sent me here, but Elohim, and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry, and go up to my father, and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says, “Elohim has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me. Don’t wait. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you will be near to me, you, your children, your children’s children, your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you; for there are yet five years of famine; lest you come to poverty, you, and your household, and all that you have.”’ 12 Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13 You shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. You shall hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 He fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15 He kissed all his brothers and wept on them. After that, his brothers talked with him.
16 The report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” It pleased Pharaoh well and his servants. 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals, and go, travel to the land of Canaan. 18 Take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.’
Today’s Meditation:
I’m thinking about how Joseph’s brothers are rewarded, simply for being his brothers. What is interesting is that they thought about killing Joseph and then allowed him to be sold into slavery. I am sure their consciences bothered them throughout the years, but now they are truly blessed by Joseph, even after all they have done.
Would you do that? Have you been in a situation where someone “wronged” you, and instead of taking revenge, you treated them with kindness and generosity? What a better and healed world we would live in if we did this.
Today’s Challenge:
Think back on anyone you may have wronged. Perhaps they are not acting as forgiving and generous as Joseph did, so what can you do to repair the damage you have caused? Pray about it. Hashem may reveal something special you can do for them. If He does, do not delay in carrying out the task. The sooner the better. By doing so, you will feel a sense of freedom.
