Vayechi - Day #5

Vayechi, וַיְחִי - And He Lived  

Torah Portion: Genesis 47:28-50:26

Genesis 49:19–26

49:19 “A troop will press on Gad,

    but he will press on their heel.

20 “Asher’s food will be rich.

    He will produce royal dainties.

21 “Naphtali is a doe set free,

    who bears beautiful fawns.

22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine,

    a fruitful vine by a spring.

    His branches run over the wall.

23 The archers have severely grieved him,

    shot at him, and persecuted him:

24 But his bow remained strong.

    The arms of his hands were made strong,

    by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob,

    (from there is the shepherd, the stone of Israel),

25 even by the Elohim of your father, who will help you,

    by the Almighty, who will bless you,

with blessings of heaven above,

    blessings of the deep that lies below,

    blessings of the breasts, and of the womb.

26 The blessings of your father have prevailed above the blessings of your ancestors,

    above the boundaries of the ancient hills.

They will be on the head of Joseph,

    on the crown of the head of him who is separated from his brothers.”

Today’s Meditation:

Jacob continues to praise his sons and prophecy about their future. He gives the longest speeches to Judah and Joseph. We all have favorites among our kids, but it's best not to let them know this, right? The point is that he loved all his children (and grandchildren), and it was essential to bestow blessings upon them. As we discussed yesterday, be sure to bless your children while you and they are alive. You never want to miss out on any opportunities.

Today’s Challenge:

Take a piece of paper and write down one special thing about each of your children. If they are grown, still do it. And do the same for your grandchildren. Take your paper, date it, and store it in a special place. Guaranteed, someone will find it sometime in the future and be blessed. And it will help you to remember the special things about your family. If you don’t have kids, then write something special about a sibling or friend.

Vayechi - Day #4

Vayechi, וַיְחִי - And He Lived  

Torah Portion: Genesis 47:28-50:26

Genesis 49:1–18

49 Jacob called to his sons, and said: “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which will happen to you in the days to come.

2 Assemble yourselves, and hear, you sons of Jacob.

    Listen to Israel, your father.

3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength,

    excelling in dignity, and excelling in power.

4 Boiling over like water, you shall not excel,

    because you went up to your father’s bed,

    then defiled it. He went up to my couch.

5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers.

    Their swords are weapons of violence.

6 My soul, don’t come into their council.

    My glory, don’t be united to their assembly;

for in their anger they killed men.

    In their self-will, they hamstrung cattle.

7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce;

    and their wrath, for it was cruel.

I will divide them in Jacob,

    and scatter them in Israel.

8 “Judah, your brothers will praise you.

    Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies.

    Your father’s sons will bow down before you.

9 Judah is a lion’s cub.

    From the prey, my son, you have gone up.

He stooped down, he crouched as a lion,

    as a lioness.

 Who will rouse him up?

10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,

    nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,

until he comes to whom it belongs.

    The obedience of the peoples will be to him.

11 Binding his foal to the vine,

    his donkey’s colt to the choice vine,

he has washed his garments in wine,

    his robes in the blood of grapes.

12 His eyes will be red with wine,

    his teeth white with milk.

13 “Zebulun will dwell at the haven of the sea.

    He will be for a haven of ships.

    His border will be on Sidon.

14 “Issachar is a strong donkey,

    lying down between the saddlebags.

15 He saw a resting place, that it was good,

    the land, that it was pleasant.

He bows his shoulder to the burden,

    and becomes a servant doing forced labor.

16 “Dan will judge his people,

    as one of the tribes of Israel.

17 Dan will be a serpent on the trail,

    an adder in the path

that bites the horse’s heels,

    so that his rider falls backward.

18 I have waited for your salvation, Hashem.

Today’s Meditation:

Jacob is prophesying over his sons in this reading. Can you imagine having the spiritual insight to gather your children together before you die and speak into their futures, good and not so good? And what would it be like for the sons to hear what he was saying? Would there be words of repentance, resolve, and restitution? Or did they quietly accept his words? All we know for sure is that Hashem was in it all. I’m sure Jacob trusted in that.

Today’s Challenge:

If you have children, what would it be like to gather them and speak into their future? Would they accept or reject your words? If they are younger, you can start doing this gradually. Occasionally, during special times, address the areas that need adjustment and complement the areas of success. Sometimes, parents raise their children without ever encouraging, praising, or offering words of help to foster growth and change. It’s essential to do this. It will help your children to grow up to be responsible. Try this if you are able. If you don’t have children, then try it with the young people that Hashem places in your life. All this will make for a better world.

Vayechi - Day #3

Vayechi, וַיְחִי - And He Lived  

Torah Portion: Genesis 47:28-50:26

Genesis 48:17–22

48:17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him. He held up his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”

19 His father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be great. However, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his offspring will become a multitude of nations.” 20 He blessed them that day, saying, “Israel will bless in you, saying, ‘Elohim make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh’” He set Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but Elohim will be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover, I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.”

Today’s Meditation:

How does Ephraim’s offspring become greater than his brother’s (verse 19)? Ephraim became a powerful tribe in northern Israel, but in 721 BC, this tribe, along with nine other northern tribes, lost a war against Syria and was subsequently taken captive. Eventually, this tribe was dispersed and became one of the “lost ten tribes”. 

Here is a curious thought. What if the tribe of Ephraim, through dispersion and intermarriage, although assimilated, has become the largest tribe of peoples? What if, throughout the world, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States, millions of people with Jewish heritage are tied to the tribe of Ephraim and don't even know it? Some people think this is true. Perhaps Hashem is calling many to prepare for their return to Israel, for the end of days.

Today’s Challenge:

If you are a gentile or Jew who follows and studies Torah, I challenge you to examine your ancestry (if you haven’t already). If you have older relatives who are alive, ask them about their family history. Visit websites like ancestry.com and explore your family's roots. You may be pleasantly surprised. Whether you are a gentile or a Jew, you may have some exciting things to learn about your ancestors.

Vayechi - Day #2

Vayechi, וַיְחִי - And He Lived  

Torah Portion: Genesis 47:28-50:26

Genesis 48:10–16

48:10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he couldn’t see well. Joseph brought them near to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. 11 Israel said to Joseph, “I didn’t think I would see your face, and behold, Elohim has let me see your offspring also.” 12 Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near to him. 14 Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. 

15 He blessed Joseph, and said, “The Elohim before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the Elohim who has fed me all my life long to this day, 16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. Let them grow into a multitude upon the earth.”

Today’s Meditation:

Last wishes. Jacob wanted to bless his son and grandsons before he passed. And Hashem honored that. In verse 11, we read that Jacob didn’t think he would ever see Joseph again, but he did. And it was truly a miracle. It’s vital that we let Hashem know what we want when we approach the end of our lives. And that we are sensitive to the wishes of those whom we love who may be close to death. Do you have any “last wishes” or prayers that you are hoping Hashem will answer before you leave the planet? Ask Him and believe He will answer your prayers,  even if it is unexpectedly.

          

Today’s Challenge:

Do you have a grandparent/parent, or friend who is close to dying? My challenge today is to ask them if they have any last wishes. And then to help these wishes come to fruition before they pass. Even if you have to pray for supernatural help or go out of your way to help, it will all be a blessing, and you will be blessed in return. Let’s ensure we help those around us achieve what they desire before it's too late. 

Vayechi - Day #1

Vayechi, וַיְחִי - And He Lived  

Torah Portion: Genesis 47:28-50:26

Genesis 47:28–48:9

47:28 Jacob lived in the land of Egypt for seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were one hundred forty-seven years. 29 The time came near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please don’t bury me in Egypt, 30 but when I sleep with my fathers, you shall carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place.”

Joseph said, “I will do as you have said.”

31 Israel said, “Swear to me,” and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself on the bed’s head.

48 After these things, someone said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 Someone told Jacob, and said, “Behold, your son Joseph comes to you,” and Israel strengthened himself, and sat on the bed. 3 Jacob said to Joseph, “Elohim Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, 4 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’ 5 Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh, even as Reuben and Simeon, will be mine. 6 Your offspring, whom you become the father of after them, will be yours. They will be called after the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7 As for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem).”

8 Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?”

9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom Elohim has given me here.”

He said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.”

Today’s Meditation:

Hashem spreads blessings from father to sons. How beautiful that Jacob was alive and coherent enough to bless his sons and grandsons before he passed away. Most men do not have that opportunity. They die instantly or slowly, losing the ability to talk or reason. Jacob had the chance to be there — mentally, emotionally, and physically — to bless his family. I am sure Hashem planned it that way. That could be something we should seriously think about. Passing on a blessing to our sons, even before we get sick or die suddenly. It seems thoughtful to plan on doing this.

Today’s Challenge:

When was the last time you told your son and/or daughter that you loved them? Whether they are two years old or forty years old, I challenge you to do that today (or as soon as possible). You never know when you or they will be gone from this life. Don’t be embarrassed, and don’t delay taking this step. I promise you will not regret doing so. And continue telling them every day, or whenever you see them. We all need to know that we are loved, and hopefully and prayerfully, they will tell you they love you back.