Vayetze - Day #7

Vayetze וַיֵּצֵא - And He Went Out  

Torah Portion: Genesis 28:10-32:3

Haftarah: Hosea 12:13-14:9

Shabbat: Genesis 31:43–32:3

31:43 Laban answered Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine! What can I do today to these my daughters, or to their children whom they have borne? 44 Now come, let’s make a covenant, you and I. Let it be for a witness between me and you.”

45 Jacob took a stone and set it up for a pillar. 46 Jacob said to his relatives, “Gather stones.” They took stones and made a heap. They ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. 48 Laban said, “This heap is a witness between me and you today.” Therefore, it was named Galeed 49 and Mizpah, for he said, “Hashem watch between me and you, when we are absent one from another. 50 If you afflict my daughters, or if you take wives in addition to my daughters, no man is with us; behold, Elohim is witness between me and you.” 51 Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap, and see the pillar, which I have set between me and you. 52 May this heap be a witness, and the pillar be a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. 53 The Elohim of Abraham, and the Elohim of Nahor, the Elohim of their father, judge between us.” Then Jacob swore by the fear of his father, Isaac. 54 Jacob offered a sacrifice in the mountain, and called his relatives to eat bread. They ate bread and stayed all night in the mountain. 55 Early in the morning, Laban rose up, kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them. Laban departed and returned to his place.

32 Jacob went on his way, and the angels of Elohim met him. 2 When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is Elohim’s army.” He called the name of that place Mahanaim. When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is Elohim’s army.” He called the name of that place Mahanaim.

3 Jacob sent messengers in front of him to Esau, his brother, to the land of Seir, the field of Edom.

Today’s Meditation: 

In Chapter 32, verses 1 and 2, we read, “Jacob went on his way, and the angels of Elohim met him. When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is Elohim’s army.” How amazing is this? Angels from the throne room of Elohim come to the earth to present themselves to Jacob. They are Hashem’s army. You hear stories from various wars in Israel, past and present, where angels presented themselves and protected Hashem’s people. 

Have you ever seen an angel? I believe I have seen a few, but I can’t verify it. We seemed to have met an angel when we were picking up my sons at the airport in Chicago (they were flying in from South Korea to be adopted by our family). We had gotten lost in the airport, and a woman came up to us and helped us find our way. When we turned around and headed in the right direction, she had disappeared. I could name a few other times, too. Have you ever seen or felt like you had seen an angel?

Today’s Challenge: 

Do you have a “Laban” relative in your life? One that kind of stressed you out? Do you respect him/her or do you disrespect them? Do you take time to listen and be patient with this relative, or are you impatient and contentious with them? Take time to think about how you can be like Jacob and work through your issue. Be determined to have peace in your relationship, rather than turmoil. Remember to respect your elders, whether you think they are right or wrong. It is a commandment to love one another. We should obey this.

This Week’s Haftarah: Hosea 12:13-14:9

12:13 By a prophet, Hashem brought Israel up out of Egypt,

    and by a prophet he was preserved.

14 Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger.

    Therefore, his blood will be left on him,

    and his Lord will repay his contempt.

13 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling.

He exalted himself in Israel,

    but when he became guilty in Baal, he died.

2 Now they sin more and more,

    and have made themselves molten images of their silver,

    even idols according to their own understanding,

    all of them the work of the craftsmen.

    They say of them, ‘They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves.’

3 Therefore, they will be like the morning mist,

    and like the dew that passes away early,

    like the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing floor,

    and like the smoke out of the chimney.

4 “Yet I am Hashem your Elohim from the land of Egypt;

    and you shall acknowledge no god but Me,

    and besides Me there is no savior.

5 I knew you in the wilderness,

    in the land of great drought.

6 According to their pasture, so were they filled;

    they were filled, and their heart was exalted.

    Therefore, they have forgotten Me.

7 Therefore, I am like a lion to them.

    Like a leopard, I will lurk by the path.

8 I will meet them like a bear that is bereaved of her cubs,

    and will tear the covering of their heart.

    There, I will devour them like a lioness.

    The wild animal will tear them.

9 You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against Me,

    against your help.

10 Where is your king now, that he may save you in all your cities?

    And your judges, of whom you said, ‘Give me a king and princes’?

11 I have given you a king in my anger,

    and have taken him away in my wrath.

12 The guilt of Ephraim is stored up.

    His sin is stored up.

13 The sorrows of a travailing woman will come on him.

    He is an unwise son;

    for when it is time, he doesn’t come to the opening of the womb.

14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol.

    I will redeem them from death!

    Death, where are your plagues?

    Sheol, where is your destruction?

“Compassion will be hidden from my eyes.

15 Though he is fruitful among his brothers, an east wind will come,

    the breath of Hashem coming up from the wilderness;

    and his spring will become dry,

    and his fountain will be dried up.

    He will plunder the storehouse of treasure.

16 Samaria will bear her guilt;

    for she has rebelled against her Elohim.

    They will fall by the sword.

    Their infants will be dashed in pieces,

    and their pregnant women will be ripped open.”

14 Israel, return to Hashem your Elohim;

    for you have fallen because of your sin.

2 Take words with you, and return to Hashem.

    Tell him, “Forgive all our sins,

    and accept that which is good:

    so we offer our lips like bulls.

3 Assyria can’t save us.

    We won’t ride on horses;

    neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, ‘Our gods!’

    for in you the fatherless finds mercy.”

4 “I will heal their waywardness.

    I will love them freely;

    for my anger is turned away from him.

5 I will be like the dew to Israel.

    He will blossom like the lily,

    and send down his roots like Lebanon.

6 His branches will spread,

    and his beauty will be like the olive tree,

    and his fragrance is like Lebanon.

7 Men will dwell in his shade.

    They will revive like the grain,

    and blossom like the vine.

    Their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon.

8 Ephraim, what have I to do any more with idols?

    I answer, and will take care of him.

    I am like a green cypress tree;

    from me, your fruit is found.”

9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things?

    Who is prudent, that he may know them?

    For the ways of Hashem are right,

    and the righteous walk in them;

    But the rebellious stumble in them.

Today’s Haftarah Meditation: 

We read in verse 14:1, “Israel, return to Hashem your Elohim; for you have fallen because of your sin.” This message is a common thread throughout Scripture. Many times, we read that Hashem is asking us to return to Him. So why don’t we? We try to sometimes. But if He is asking us to love Him with our whole heart, soul, and strength, we must devote our entire selves to Him. We are in a time where there is no room for being lukewarm. He wants all that is in us. Return today to Him. And never go back.

Today’s Haftarah Challenge: 

Continuing in verse 14:2, we read, “Take words with you, and return to Hashem. Tell him, ‘Forgive all our sins, and accept that which is good, so we offer our lips like bulls.” To return to Hashem, we must repent of our sins. That means we acknowledge our mistakes and apologize for all that we have done, offering the sacrifice of prayer and praise. I challenge you to do this today. Take a moment to get quiet, repent, and return. Then praise Him. It will change your life forever.

Toldot - Day #7

Toldot, תּוֹלְדֹת - Generations  

Torah Portion: Genesis 25:19-28:9

Haftarah: Malachi 1:1-2:7

Shabbat: Genesis 28:5–9

28:5 Isaac sent Jacob away. He went to Paddan Aram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.

6 Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take him a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a command, saying, “You shall not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;” 7 and that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan Aram. 8 Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan didn’t please Isaac, his father. 9 So Esau went to Ishmael, and took, in addition to the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.

Today’s Meditation: 

In verse 7, we read that Jacob “obeyed his father and his mother”. I find this interesting because he also obeyed his mother to trick his father into believing he was Esau. This verse makes you feel that he earnestly wants to obey them. We were not there to understand everything, but we do understand and should follow this commandment. 

When my parents were old and getting ready to die, I remembered this commandment to honor them. No matter how hard it was, the sacrifices that had to be made were significant. It was a blessing in the end. I made sure, with the help of others, that my parents were well cared for, loved, and had every need met to the best of my ability. I tried to respect them until the day they died. It was so important, and I am so glad I obeyed Hashem in this way.

Today’s Challenge: 

If your parents are still alive and you are having a hard time honoring them, remember Hashem’s commandment to do so. As challenging as it may seem, you will be glad you did it in the end. If you hold any anger or hurt toward them, settle it today. They may not be here tomorrow.

This Week’s Haftarah: Malachi 1:1-2:7

1 A revelation, Hashem’s word to Israel by Malachi.

2 “I have loved you,” says Hashem.

Yet you say, “How have you loved us?”

“Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” says Hashem, “Yet I loved Jacob; 3 but Esau I hated, and made his mountains a desolation, and gave his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness.” 4 Whereas Edom says, “We are beaten down, but we will return and build the waste places,” Hashem of Armies says, “They shall build, but I will throw down; and men will call them ‘The Wicked Land,’ even the people against whom Hashem shows wrath forever.”

5 Your eyes will see, and you will say, “Hashem is great—even beyond the border of Israel!”

6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, then where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me? Says Hashem of Armies to you, priests, who despise my name. You say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ 7 You offer polluted bread on my altar. You say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ In that you say, ‘Hashem’s table is contemptible.’ 8 When you offer the blind for sacrifice, isn’t that evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, isn’t that evil? Present it now to your governor! Will he be pleased with you? Or will he accept your person?” says Hashem of Armies

9 “Now, please entreat the favor of Elohim, that he may be gracious to us. With this, will he accept any of you?” says Hashem of Armies.

10 “Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you,” says Hashem of Armies, “neither will I accept an offering at your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun even to its going down, My name is great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering: for My name is great among the nations,” says Hashem of Armies. 12 “But you profane it, in that you say, ‘Hashem’s table is polluted, and its fruit, even its food, is contemptible.’ 13 You say also, ‘Behold, what a weariness it is!’ and you have sniffed at it”, says Hashem of Armies; “and you have brought that which was taken by violence, the lame, and the sick; thus you bring the offering. Should I accept this at your hand?” says Hashem.

14 “But the deceiver is cursed, who has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to Adonai a defective thing; for I am a great King,” says Hashem of Armies, “and My name is awesome among the nations.”

2 “Now, you priests, this commandment is for you. 2 If you will not listen, and if you will not take it to heart, to give glory to My name,” says Hashem of Armies, “then I will send the curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you do not take it to heart. 3 Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and will spread dung on your faces, even the dung of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it. 4 You will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may be with Levi,” says Hashem of Armies. 5 “My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him that he might be reverent toward Me; and he was reverent toward Me, and stood in awe of My name. 6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness and turned many away from iniquity. 7 For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Hashem of Armies.

Today’s Haftarah Meditation: 

Hashem wants the best from us. As in verse 11, “For from the rising of the sun even to its going down, My name is great among the nations...” There is no other god, no other Name to be worshiped. So, our offerings, whether they be physical or spiritual, should be daily unto Him. He deserves only the best. As we honor our parents, we honor G-d first. Remember this.

Today’s Haftarah Challenge: 

The next time you get depressed, remember that Elohim is L-rd of all. He knows what you are going through, and He wants to help. All we need to do is be obedient and faithful. To honor Him in all our ways. May His light shine through us daily, serving as a witness to His love for others. Rise above your problems and focus on Him alone. It will change your life, change your day.