Vayetze - Day #3

Vayetze וַיֵּצֵא - And He Went Out  

Torah Portion: Genesis 28:10-32:3

Genesis 29:18–30:13

29:18 Jacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.”

19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”

20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.

21 Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”

22 Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. 23 In the evening, he took Leah, his daughter, and brought her to Jacob. He went into her. 24 Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah for a servant. 25 In the morning, behold, it was Leah! He said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Didn’t I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”

26 Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me for seven more years.”

28 Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel, his daughter, as wife. 29 Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant. 30 He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him seven more years.

31 Hashem saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because Hashem has looked at my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” 33 She conceived again, and bore a son, and said, “Because Hashem has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also.” She named him Simeon. 34 She conceived again and bore a son. She said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore, his name was called Levi. 35 She conceived again and bore a son. She said, “This time I will praise Hashem.” Therefore, she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.

30 When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I will die.”

2 Jacob’s anger burned against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in Elohim’s place, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”

3 She said, “Behold, my maid Bilhah. Go in to her, that she may bear on my knees, and I also may obtain children by her.” 4 She gave him Bilhah her servant as wife, and Jacob went in to her. 5 Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son. 6 Rachel said, “Elohim has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son.” Therefore, she called his name Dan. 7 Bilhah, Rachel’s servant, conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 Rachel said, “I have wrestled with my sister with mighty wrestlings, and have prevailed.” She named him Naphtali.

9 When Leah saw that she had finished bearing, she took Zilpah, her servant, and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10 Zilpah, Leah’s servant, bore Jacob a son. 11 Leah said, “How fortunate!” She named him Gad. 12 Zilpah, Leah’s servant, bore Jacob a second son. 13 Leah said, “Happy am I, for the daughters will call me happy.” She named him Asher.

Today’s Meditation: 

Jacob is undoubtedly an interesting Bible character. It was clear that he loved Rachel from the beginning, yet he ended up with three more wives. He has multiple children, and there is some bickering between the women. What went wrong, or did everything go right? It’s hard to say what would have happened if Jacob had just married Rachel. Would she be the mother of the twelve tribes of Israel, or did Hashem have it in His plan to have four mothers? It’s fascinating. Again, I would suggest that when we have a desire and a prayer request for Hashem, it’s better to wait. His way is definitely higher than ours.

Today’s Challenge: 

Would you sacrifice seven years to get a prayer answered? We are accustomed to instant results in everything we do. How many of us would actually sacrifice something to achieve the answer to the prayer? Jacob did not hesitate. He knew right away that he would work and make sacrifices to marry Rachel. Would you do this? My challenge today is to spend some time thinking about what you would have done if you were Jacob.

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. 

Chayei Sarah - Day #3

Chayei Sarah חַיֵּי שָׂרָה- Life of Sarah   

Torah Portion: Genesis 23:1-25:18

Genesis 24:10–26

24:10 The servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, having a variety of good things of his master’s with him. He arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. 11 He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water. 12 He said, “Hashem, the Elohim of my master Abraham, please give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. The daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,’ then she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink,’—let her be the one you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this, I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”

15 Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher on her shoulder. 16 The young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin. No man had known her. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher, and came up. 17 The servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a drink, a little water from your pitcher.”

18 She said, “Drink, my lord.” She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him a drink. 19 When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will also draw for your camels, until they have finished drinking.” 20 She hurried, emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.

21 The man looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know whether Hashem had made his journey prosperous or not. 22 As the camels had done drinking, the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold, 23, and said, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father’s house for us to stay?”

24 She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” 25 She said moreover to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge in.”

26 The man bowed his head and worshiped Hashem.

Today’s Meditation:

Can we pray specific prayers to Hashem? Abraham’s servant prayed a particular prayer that the woman he would meet would offer him water and also offer to water his camels. What are the chances of that? And yet that is precisely what happens. Rebekah comes out, provides the servant a drink, and then offers to give water to his camels, continuing to pour until they are filled.

An outstanding example of how we can ask Hashem for specific needs. Some people think that is not right, or that we don’t need to do that because Hashem knows what we need before we ask. But, with my experience, it is good to ask for specific things, mainly because when you do, He answers. It will build your faith tremendously. What a glorious and wonderful Hashem we serve.

Today’s Challenge:

Think of something you have been praying for. Now, edit your prayer to include some specifics. Of course, when you pray, pray in humility and with worship to the Almighty One. Repent and make restitution to those you have offended. And give thanks to Him in advance for what you believe He will do. Then wait and watch  Elohim do miracles. 

Vayeira - Day #3

Vayeira וַיֵּרָא - And He Appeared  

Torah Portion: Genesis 18:1-22:24

Genesis 19:1–20       

19 The two angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them and rose up to meet them. He bowed himself with his face to the earth, 2 and he said, “See now, my lords, please come into your servant’s house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you can rise up early, and go on your way.”

They said, “No, but we will stay in the street all night.”

3 He urged them greatly, and they came in with him, and entered into his house. He made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. 4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter. 5 They called to Lot, and said to him, “Where are the men who came in to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we may have sex with them.”

6 Lot went out to them through the door, and shut the door after himself. 7 He said, “Please, my brothers, don’t act so wickedly. 8 See now, I have two virgin daughters. Please let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them what seems good to you. Only don’t do anything to these men, because they have come under the shadow of my roof.”

9 They said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one fellow came in to live as a foreigner, and he appoints himself a judge. Now we will deal worse with you than with them!” They pressed hard on the man Lot, and came near to break the door. 10 But the men reached out their hand, and brought Lot into the house to them, and shut the door. 11 They struck the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

12 The men said to Lot, “Do you have anybody else here? Sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city, bring them out of the place: 13 for we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown so great before Hashem that Hashem has sent us to destroy it.”

14 Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, and said, “Get up! Get out of this place, for Hashem will destroy the city!”

But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be joking. 15 When the morning came, the angels hurried Lot, saying, “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city.” 16 But he lingered; and the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and his two daughters’ hands, Hashem being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside the city. 17 It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, “Escape for your life! Don’t look behind you, and don’t stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be consumed!”

18 Lot said to them, “Oh, not so, my lord. 19 See now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your loving kindness, which you have shown to me in saving my life. I can’t escape to the mountain, lest evil overtake me, and I die. 20 See now, this city is near to flee to, and it is a little one. Oh, let me escape there (isn’t it a little one?), and my soul will live.”

Today’s Meditation:

Lot warned his future son-in-laws to leave Sodom, that Hashem was going to destroy the city. But Scripture says they thought Lot was joking. They didn’t go. The city burned, and they were killed. How sad, because they were told ahead of time, and they doubted him. It makes me think about good people in our lives who try to warn us of pending disasters.  But do we heed their warnings or just jump into what could be sinking sand? I recall the times people warned me, but I ignored them out of stubbornness. Then something bad happens, and they were right. We need to learn to listen well to those around us who love and care for us and want us to be safe.

Today’s Challenge:

Think of something in your life that you are doing or have done that you know is wrong. I challenge you today to correct it. Even seek advice from someone wise that you know, share your concern, and see how they instruct you in the situation. Pray and seek Hashem. Then do what they say. Whether it's something you've done or are contemplating, correct it today. You will be glad, and you will avert what would have been a negative outcome.

Lech-Lecha - Day #3

Lech-Lecha לֶךְ-לְךָ Go Forth Yourself!  

Torah Portion: Genesis 12:1-17:27

Genesis 13:5–18

13:5 Lot, who went with Abram, had flocks, herds, and tents. 6 The land was not able to bear them, that they might live together; for their possessions were so great that they couldn’t live together. 7 There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land at that time. 8 Abram said to Lot, “Please, let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen; for we are relatives. 9 Isn’t the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”

10 Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Hashem destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Hashem, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar. 11 So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves from one other. 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against Hashem.

14 Hashem said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for I will give all the land which you see to you and to your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then your offspring may also be counted. 17 Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its width; for I will give it to you.” 18 Abram moved his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built an altar there to Hashem.

Today’s Meditation:

Was Lot looking out for himself? He thought he was choosing the better land, but he actually got some polluted and corrupt land, Sodom. And look at the result of that. Sodom was destroyed. And in the end, Abram was blessed by Hashem with a promise of receiving all of the land.

Next time we have a choice, we will turn to Hashem and ask for guidance on what to do. Also, it might be advantageous and righteous to choose the lesser and give the other person the best.

Today’s Challenge:

I have a friend who is like Abram. She always gives me the best in every situation. I have learned a great deal from her. Here is my challenge for today. The next time you are given a choice with someone else, choose the lesser option and give your friend the best. You will be blessed even more for doing so. 

Noach - Day #3

Noach נֹחַ - Rest  

Torah Portion: Genesis 6:9-11:32

             

Genesis 7:17–8:14

7:17 The flood was forty days on the earth. The waters increased, and lifted up the ship, and it was lifted up above the earth. 18 The waters rose, and increased greatly on the earth; and the ship floated on the surface of the waters. 19 The waters rose very high on the earth. All the high mountains that were under the whole sky were covered. 20 The waters rose fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered. 21 All flesh died that moved on the earth, including birds, livestock, animals, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. 22 All on the dry land, in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, died. 23 Every living thing was destroyed that was on the surface of the ground, including man, livestock, creeping things, and birds of the sky. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him on the ship. 24 The waters flooded the earth for one hundred fifty days.

8 Elohim remembered Noah, all the animals, and all the livestock that were with him in the ship; and Elohim made a wind to pass over the earth. The waters subsided. 2 The deep’s fountains and the sky’s windows were also stopped, and the rain from the sky was restrained. 3 The waters continually receded from the earth. After the end of one hundred fifty days, the waters receded. 4 The ship rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on Ararat’s mountains. 5 The waters receded continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were visible.

6 At the end of forty days, Noah opened the window of the ship which he had made, 7 and he sent out a raven. It went back and forth until the waters were dried up from the earth. 8 He himself sent out a dove to see if the waters were abated from the surface of the ground, 9 but the dove found no place to rest her foot, and she returned into the ship to him, for the waters were on the surface of the whole earth. He put out his hand, and took her, and brought her to him into the ship. 10 He waited yet another seven days, and again he sent the dove out of the ship. 11 The dove came back to him at evening and, behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters had abated from the earth. 12 He waited yet another seven days and sent out the dove; and she didn’t return to him anymore.

13 In the six hundred first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from the earth. Noah removed the covering of the ship and looked. He saw that the surface of the ground was dry. 14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry.

Today’s Meditation: 

Water has great significance in the Bible. The flood, the crossing of the Red Sea, the commandments of washing, and the water from the rock. We must also remember that our bodies are composed of approximately 60% water. We just read about how Hashem separated the waters last week. Bottom line: water is a necessary part of our existence. We can’t live without it. 

In today’s reading, Hashem uses water to cleanse the earth, just like when you go into a mikvah before you enter the Temple area. You must be cleansed to enter into the presence of Hashem. So, what do we do today? Some still use mikvahs in synagogues, while others are baptized with water. Meanwhile, some of us consider how we can be cleansed daily through genuine repentance. Whichever way you choose, it is essential to be cleansed from sin and renewed daily by repentance.

Today’s Challenge:

Take some time today to think about active sin in your life. Or even the sin that you have held on to. See if you can find a way to be cleansed of your sin. Come clean before Hashem today.