Vayetze - Day #2

Vayetze וַיֵּצֵא - And He Went Out  

Torah Portion: Genesis 28:10-32:3

Genesis 29:1-17

29 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east. 2 He looked, and saw a well in the field, and saw three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well, they watered the flocks. The stone on the well’s mouth was large. 3 There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, watered the sheep, and put the stone back on the well’s mouth in its place. 4 Jacob said to them, “My relatives, where are you from?”

They said, “We are from Haran.”

5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?”

They said, “We know him.”

6 He said to them, “Is it well with him?”

They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.”

7 He said, “Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.”

8 They said, “We can’t, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then we will water the sheep.”

9 While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban, his mother’s brother. 11 Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 12 Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, and that he was Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father.

13 When Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things. 14 Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” Jacob stayed with him for a month. 15 Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?”

16 Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.

Today’s Meditation: 

In verse 11, Jacob “lifted up his voice and wept.” That’s curious. Why did he weep? Could it be that when he met Rachel, he knew his prayers for a wife had been answered? Have you ever had a time when Hashem responded to your prayers in such a magnificent and obvious way that it took your breath away and you wept?

I recall a time when we were searching for a house. It had to be a unique house because we have two adult disabled sons and need a specific type of space. One day, while driving down a street in the town we wanted to live in, I saw a house for sale. The next day, we saw it. When we walked into the house, I felt like crying. It was exactly what we were praying for and what we had been looking for. And another miracle was that the sellers accepted a very unusual offer from us. Hashem was truly in this.

Today’s Challenge: 

Look all around you during the day to see how Hashem is moving in your life. Look for the “woman who will come to the well”. Seek the unusual and deliberately look to see what He is doing. When you see Him answering your prayer and/or doing something distinctly His, give Him all the praise and glory.

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.

Chayei Sarah - Day #2

Chayei Sarah חַיֵּי שָׂרָה- Life of Sarah   

Torah Portion: Genesis Genesis 23:1-25:18

Genesis 23:17–24:9

23:17 So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all of its borders, were deeded 18 to Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the land of Canaan. 20 The field, and the cave that is in it, were deeded to Abraham by the children of Heth as a possession for a burial place.

24 Abraham was old and well advanced in age. Hashem had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my thigh. 3 I will make you swear by Hashem, the Elohim of heaven and the Elohim of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live. 4 But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”

5 The servant said to him, “What if the woman isn’t willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?”

6 Abraham said to him, “Beware that you don’t bring my son there again. 7 Hashem, the Elohim of heaven—who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, ‘I will give this land to your offspring—He will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8 If the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath to me. Only you shall not bring my son there again.”

9 The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham, his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.

Today’s Meditation:

Interestingly, in this story, Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for his son, but he insists that the servant not bring Isaac to that country. Why would he not want his son to return to the ancestral home? My guess is that back home is a history of idolatry. Perhaps Abraham’s parents, relatives, and friends do not follow Hashem, but instead worship other gods. Out of love for his son, he does not want to expose him to a godless community. He is protecting him. That is a good thing. 

However, there is something else to consider. Why would he want his son to be married to someone from his relatives (who may be godless)? Perhaps a better choice for a possible G-dly woman existed elsewhere than where he was. Plus, Abraham knew that Hashem would be involved in this choice. Additionally, he obviously did not want Isaac to settle there, which might have happened if he had gone. The whole decision is curious.

Today’s Challenge:

Is there a land that you should not return to? A place of godlessness, addictions, ungodly friends, and/or temptation? If you've recently considered returning to a habit or thing that was negative in your past, here is a reminder and caution against doing so. Rethink and pray about your decision and the path you are about to take. Be strong and courageous and do what is right. It will be hard, but with Hashem, anything is possible.

Vayeira - Day #2

Vayeira וַיֵּרָא - And He Appeared  

Torah Portion: Genesis 18:1-22:24

 

Genesis 18:15-33

18:15 Then Sarah denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh,” for she was afraid.

He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

16 The men rose up from there and looked toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way. 17 Hashem said, “Will I hide from Abraham what I do, 18 since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him? 19 For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Hashem, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Hashem may bring on Abraham that which He has spoken of him.” 20 Hashem said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous, 21 I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know.”

22 The men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before Hashem. 23 Abraham came near, and said, “Will you consume the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?”

26 Hashem said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake.” 27 Abraham answered, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to Hashem, although I am dust and ashes. 28 What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?”

He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

29 He spoke to him yet again and said, “What if there are forty found there?”

He said, “I will not do it for the forty’s sake.”

30 He said, “Oh, don’t let Hashem be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?”

He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

31 He said, “See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to Hashem. What if there are twenty found there?”

He said, “I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.”

32 He said, “Oh, don’t let Hashem be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?”

He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake.”

33 Hashem went His way as soon as He had finished communing with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

Today’s Meditation:

Abraham has an interesting conversation with Hashem. It’s almost as if he doesn’t understand the character of Hashem, which is why he challenges Him. Hashem has told him that the city of Sodom and its inhabitants are going to be destroyed. Abraham immediately asks If fifty righteous were found, would He spare the city? Hashem agrees. They discuss some more numbers, and Hashem goes down to ten. In other words, if ten righteous people are found, He will spare the city? The character of Hashem is fully revealed to Abraham. He is faithful, fair, and full of grace. Then Abraham walks away.

Can you imagine? Our glorious Elohim agrees to spare an entire city of evil people if only ten good people are found. We find out later that ten were not found, and the city was burned down. Makes me think of our world today. How many righteous can we see in our decadent, unfaithful cities? The United States has a history of riots that have resulted in destruction. Hashem didn’t have to burn down the cities; the people did. How ironic. Can people get so bad that they destroy themselves? 

Today’s Challenge:

I challenge you today to think about your own family in comparison to this story. How many righteous people are in your family? How many follow Hashem? Now, look at your extended family. How many believers are there? Of course, we can never honestly know what a person believes, but we can examine their actions. If your numbers are low, I recommend taking action to improve them. Pray harder for them, be kinder to them, be a stronger light for Hashem to them. Let’s start with our families and do something. Our cities are made up of families. It’s a good place to start. 

Lech-Lecha - Day #2

Lech-Lecha לֶךְ-לְךָ Go Forth Yourself!  

Torah Portion: Genesis 12:1-17:27

Genesis 12:14–13:4  

12:14 When Abram had come into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15 The princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16 He dealt well with Abram for her sake. He had sheep, cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels. 17 Hashem afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this that you have done to me? Why didn’t you tell me that she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now therefore, see your wife, take her, and go your way.”

20 Pharaoh commanded men concerning him, and they escorted him away with his wife and all that he had.

13 Abram went up out of Egypt—he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him—into the South. 2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 He went on his journeys from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first. There Abram called on Hashem’s name.

Today’s Meditation:

I always thought Abram was lying about Sarai being his sister. But really, it is true. Some believe she is his half-sister and that they have the same father, Terah. Others think that she could have been Abram’s niece. So, was Abram (Abraham) lying? And he does this again, further on in Scripture.

We will never know the absolute truth about all this, but just think, if your life and your beloved wife’s life were in jeopardy, would you lie? Or would you agree to speaking a “half-truth”? 

I think about how people hid Jews in their homes during the Holocaust. If a Nazi official came to their home, they would lie to save the Jews they were hiding. Is that okay? Of course. I had a great uncle who hid out a family of Jews in his home, and I had other relatives in Europe who gave their lives to the underground in Poland. 

Sometimes, when a life is involved, one must go before Hashem and seek Him for guidance on what to do. 

Today’s Challenge: 

Think about a time when you may have said a white lie to protect yourself or someone else. Was it truly necessary? Would you do it again? What did you learn from that situation?