Parashat 12 - Vayechi – and he lived.

Ber/Gen 47:28 – 50:26

In the entire Torah scroll, “vayechi” is unique in that there is no extra space between it and the preceding parashah, in contrast to the general rule that a new parashah begins on a new line or is at least separated by nine empty spaces. Rashi, therefore, describles “vayechi” as “closed.” Yakov wanted to tell his children the time of the “end,” the Messianic age when Yisrael’s exile would finally end.  We wait for that coming time when this will become a reality. This coming together will bring a quality and intensity of life that will surpass all our expectation and understanding, a life that is presently hidden from us.

Blessing for the Torah:

Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-O’lam, asher bachar banu m’kol ha-amim,

v’natan lanu eht Torah-to. Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”

(Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim , King of the Universe,

you have selected us from among all the peoples, and have given us your Torah.

Blessed are you, YHVH, giver of the Torah. Ameyn.)

Torah Readings:

1. 47:28 – 48:9
2. 48:10-16
3. 48:17-22
4. 49:1-18
5. 49:19-26
6. 49:27 – 50:20
7. 50:21-22
8. Maftir: 50:23-26

Haftarah: 1 Kings 1:1-12

Aliyah Rishon 47:28 – 48:9

Gen 47:28  And Yaʽaqoḇ lived in the land of Mitsrayim seventeen years. So the length of Yaʽaqoḇ’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years.

These seventeen years were the best years of his life -- years of prosperity, goodness and peace; his other 130 years were filled with toil and pain (Midrash; Baal HaTurim).

When the child came home he asked his grandfather, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi: How can it be that our father Jacob, the greatest of the Patriarchs, lived the best years of his life in pagan Egypt?

Replied Rabbi Schneur Zalman: It is written that Jacob "sent Judah ahead of him... to show the way to Goshen" (Genesis 46:28). The Midrash explains that this was to establish a house of learning, where the sons of Jacob would study Torah. When one studies Torah, one is brought close to G-d, so that even in Egypt one can live a true "life." (HaYom Yom)

These would have been the best years of Yahshua’s life. He would have had his bar mitzvah at age 13 and 17 years later he would enter into the ministry of his Father. These were years where promising students would be trained for the ministry.

Why should it be different today? Training for the ministry was to be trained in Torah.

We see a similar pattern repeated for the apostle Paul. If we look at Galatians 1:17,18 and Galatians 2:1 -  It would appear that Paul went through 17 years of preparation before he was released as an apostle to the Gentiles.

Gen 47:29  And the time for Yisra’ĕl to die drew near, and he called his son Yosĕph and said to him, “Now if I have found favour in your eyes, please put your hand under my thigh, and show kindness and truth to me. Please do not bury me in Mitsrayim,

The dispersion “galut” can never be our true home. We constantly sense that this is not our place, constantly beseech haShem to "carry us out of Egypt."

The days of the righteous die, but they do not die... It does not say, "and Israel drew near to die," but "the days of Israel drew near to die." (Midrash Rabbah)

Commentary – Donald Morgan- Gen 24:2-9,47:29"... put your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by YHVH ...." (Note: This means "put your hand under my testicles," which is the manner in which oaths were taken at the time; "testament," "testify," and "testicle" come from the same root word.)

“There has been a great deal of research that examines how ancient religious rituals still influence modern behavior. Praying people would be surprised to learn that the posture of hands in prayer may be a modern re-enactment of touching testicles. The ancient practice is known as the "Yarek Oath" these new discoveries come from the work of the historian Dr. Rex Curry. They are based on some of the oldest descriptions of prayer (or oaths) in the Scriptures.” Wikipedia.

I personally believe that there will be a great deal of reproduction (spiritual and physical) that continues to take place in the millennium and after the “eighth day.” It seems unimaginable that YHVH’s set apart life (the word “holy” was used to translate the Hebrew word Kadosh, but the real meaning is “set apart”) will not be continually produced and reproduced for a long time still to come. -   A thousand generations – From Adam until now we have only had about 120 generations.

When Yosef and Eliezer “touch” the genitals of the patriarchs, it was a solemn declaration and promise that the set apart covenant life would continue. When Yosef makes this oath I believe it prophetically points to the promise of YHVH to return us to the land of Yisrael to once again reproduce set apart life.

AFTER ALL WE ARE BORN AGAIN FROM AN INCORRUPTABLE SEED!!!!! –

1Pe 1:23  having been born again – not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible – through the living Word of Elohim, which remains forever,

Gen 47:30  but I shall lie with my fathers, and you shall take me up out of Mitsrayim and bury me in their burial place.” And he said, “I do as you have said.”

Gen 47:31  And he said, “Swear to me.” And he swore to him, and Yisra’ĕl bowed himself on the head of the bed.

There is debate over the use of the Hebrew word “mitah”(bed) or “metah”(staff) Perhaps in the context of the narrative “bed” may be a better choice as a bed is a place where the “seed” would be passed on. The bed could be seen as a type of altar where set apart intercourse took place to bring forth a set apart people.

Gen 48:1  And after these events it came to be that it was said to Yosĕph, “See, your father is sick.” And he took with him his two sons, Menashsheh and Ephrayim.

Gen 48:2  And Ya’aqov was told, “See, your son Yosĕph is coming to you.” And Yisra’ĕl strengthened himself and sat up on the bed.

Gen 48:3  And Ya’qov said to Yosĕph, “Ěl Shaddai appeared to me at Luz in the land of Kena’an and blessed me,

Gen 48:4  and said to me, ‘See, I am making you bear fruit and shall increase you and make of you an assembly of peoples, and give this land to your seed after you as an everlasting possession.’

Gen 48:5  “And now, your two sons, Ephrayim (doubly fruitful) and Menashsheh,(to forget or be deprived) who were born to you in the land of Mitsrayim/Egypt (birth canal) before I came to you in Mitsrayim, are mine – as Re’uvĕn and Shim’on, they are mine.

Parashat 11 Vayigash - "And he came near"

ויגש

Beresheet/Genesis 44:18-47:27

In the present and coming chaos of this world the key to shalom is intimacy with Ha Shem. This Torah portion reveals important instruction regarding this shalom.

Yahshua remarkably captured the essence of this instruction when he teaches us about coming to terms with or agreeing with our adversary.

 Mat 5:25  “Be well-minded with your opponent, promptly, while you are on the way with him, lest your opponent deliver you to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

Mat 5:26  “Truly, I say to you, you shall by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

The Greek implies that we must come to terms with our enemy quickly while we are able. If we do not come to terms with that which is unfair and downright unrighteous we could land up in the “jailhouse” in deep bondage that will be almost impossible to come out of.

Occasionally we are able to do something about injustice, but we are living in times when this will become increasingly difficult and often impossible. 

 In these last days believers must be prepared to endure the most terrible injustices against themselves and others.

If we do not come to terms with this “seeming powerlessness” in our lives we will be consumed. How we respond to this “powerlessness” may be the determining factor whether or not you will be called to be part of the bride of Messiah or not.

Yehudah (Judah/tribe of Judah) shows us the way to overcome this “powerlessness” and in these last days will show us the way once again. It is possibly this quality above all that qualifies him to bring his dispersed brothers back together again. Once again Yehudah holds the key.

So in a sense we are “powerless” to even do something about our “powerlessness” No amount of rationalizing can bring about relief to this dilemma, however herein lies our complete victory over all evil.

May this parasha open our eyes to see.

Blessing for the Torah:

Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-O’lam, asher bachar banu m’kol ha-amim,

v’natan lanu eht Torah-to. Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”

(Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim , King of the Universe,

you have selected us from among all the peoples, and have given us your Torah.

Blessed are you, YHVH, giver of the Torah. Ameyn.)

Torah Readings:

1. 44:18-30
2. 44:31 – 45:7
3. 45:8-18
4. 45:19-27
5. 45:28 – 46:27
6. 46:28 – 47:10
7. 47:11-24
8. Maftir: 47:25-27

Haftarah : Ezekiel 37:15-28

When this prophecy comes true great light will be shed upon many of our unanswered questions.

Haftarah - Eze 37:16  “And you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it, ‘For Yehuḏah and for the children of Yisra’ĕl, his companions.’ Then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Yosĕph, the stick of Ephrayim, and for all the house of Yisra’ĕl, his companions.’

Eze 37:17  “Then bring them together for yourself into one stick, and they shall become one in your hand.

Eze 37:18  “And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, ‘Won’t you show us what you mean by these?’

Eze 37:19  say to them, ‘Thus said the Master יהוה, “See, I am taking the stick of Yosĕph, which is in the hand of Ephrayim, and the tribes of Yisra’ĕl, his companions.(“chavero” –k&q*) And I shall give them unto him, with the stick of Yehuḏah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in My hand.” ’

Eze 37:20  “And the sticks on which you write shall be in your hand before their eyes.

Eze 37:21  “And speak to them, ‘Thus said the Master יהוה, “See, I am taking the children of Yisra’ĕl from among the gentiles, wherever they have gone, and shall gather them from all around, and I shall bring them into their land.

Eze 37:22  “And I shall make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Yisra’ĕl. And one sovereign shall be sovereign over them all, and let them no longer be two nations, and let them no longer be divided into two reigns.

Eze 37:23  “And they shall no longer defile themselves with their idols, nor with their disgusting matters, nor with any of their transgressions. And I shall save them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and I shall cleanse them. And they shall be My people, and I be their Elohim,

Eze 37:24  while Dawiḏ My servant is sovereign over them. And they shall all have one shepherd and walk in My right-rulings and guard My laws, and shall do them.

Eze 37:25  “And they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Ya’aqov My servant, where your fathers dwelt. And they shall dwell in it, they and their children and their children’s children, forever, and My servant Dawid be their prince forever.

• In the Hebrew Masoretic text occasional changes are made in the text. These changes are indicated by a letter “k”or “Q” in the margin of the text. The “K” stands for “ketiv” which means that which was originally written. The “Q” stands for “quere” and means the way which the text is now read and understood.

I believe the above change of text is objectionable. The original written text says “his companion” in the singular and the text was changed to the plural “his companions.”

I believe the implications of this change are significant. We better understand this implication if we take the analogy Paul uses in Romans chapter 11 concerning the natural branches and the wild branches that have been grafted into an already established root system.

Rom 11:17  And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, (second person singular) being a wild olive tree, have been grafted in among them, and came to share the root and fatness of the olive tree,

Rom 11:18  do not boast against the branches. And if you boast, remember: you do not bear the root, but the root bears you!

Rom 11:19  You shall say then, “The branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.”

Rom 11:20  Good! By unbelief they were broken off, and you (second person singular) stand by belief. Do not be arrogant, but fear.

Rom 11:21  For if Elohim did not spare the natural branches, He might not spare you (singular) either.

Rom 11:22  See then the kindness and sharpness of Elohim: on those who fell sharpness, but toward you kindness, if you continue in His kindness, otherwise you (singular) also shall be cut off.

Rom 11:23  And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, shall be grafted in, for Elohim is able to graft them in again.

Rom 11:24  For if you (singular) were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more shall these who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Rom 11:25  For I do not wish you (plural) to be ignorant of this secret, brothers, lest you (plural) should be wise in your own estimation, that hardening in part has come over Yisra’ĕl, until the completeness of the gentiles¹ has come in. Footnote: ¹Gen. 48:19.

Note how Paul addresses the “branches” as singular and warns them finally in the plural.

I believe we as grafted in ex gentiles need to be extremely cautious how we approach this tree and what kind of fruit our lives produces as a result of being grafted into this tree. WE DO NOT COME INTO THIS TREE AS A GROUP.

We must note that it is not the Messianic movement or any other group or movement that will be grafted in, it will be individuals that have forsaken their identity to take on their new identity. The only reference we have to this identity comes from Israel and the Jews, even though many of them have strayed from the Torah.

We must be cautious not to place too much importance to any on our “little group.” Our little group is a means to an end and not the end itself. I believe the Messianic movement is in danger of assuming a self- importance that will bring about their exclusion and not inclusion into Yisrael.

I am not trying to diminish the importance of belonging to a group. The scripture warns us about been lone rangers –

Heb 10:25  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging, and so much more as you see the Day coming near.

It is in these groups that we are pruned and prepared for fruitfulness and to be grafted in the “olive tree” as INDIVIDUALS.

The key to shalom is watching and praying that Yehudah will approach the Messiah in these last days. This has already begun to happen -  Baruch Ha Shem YHVH!

Aliyah Rishon 44:18-30

Yasher chp 54 – gives some interesting background information not found in the Torah. Yasher indicates that Yahudah warned Yosef that he and Mitsrayim/Egypt would come to great harm if they sought to keep Benyamin in captivity.

Herein lies another key to our shalom. Whatever the response of our enemy we know that YHVH’s purpose will be fulfilled.

Note now the use of the word “father” in the following verses.

Gen 44:18  And Yehudah came near to him and said, “O my master, please let your servant speak a

Parashat 10 -Mikeitz – “at the end’

כג  בְּכָל-עֶצֶב, יִהְיֶה מוֹתָר;    וּדְבַר-שְׂפָתַיִם, אַךְ-לְמַחְסוֹר.

Beresheet/Genesis 41:1 – 44:17

             

Prov 14:23  In all labour there is profit, But talk of the lips leads only to poverty.

The Hebrew can also be read as “in every sorrow there is profit” This Hebrew word “profit” can also mean “pre –eminence or abundance”. This root word for “abundance” is “yatar” which carries the meaning of the abundance of a remnant which brings about preservation.

At the end of this age – miketz – all of mankind will know that the revelation and life of Messiah comes with a great price.

This verse goes on to say that this abundance will not come about by “talk.”  It is going to require a great sacrifice to be part of the bride of Messiah. 

Mat 25:1  “Then the reign of the heavens shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Mat 25:2  “And five of them were wise, and five foolish.

Mat 25:3  “Those who were foolish, having taken their lamps, took no oil with them,

Mat 25:4  but the wise took oil in their containers with their lamps.

Mat 25:5  “Now while the bridegroom took time, they all slumbered and slept.

Mat 25:6  “And at midnight a cry was heard, ‘See, the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him!’

Mat 25:7  “Then all those maidens rose up and trimmed their lamps.

Mat 25:8  “And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give

us of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’

Mat 25:9  “But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, indeed, there would not be enough for us and you. Instead, go to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

Mat 25:10  “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.

Mat 25:11  “And later the other maidens also came, saying, ‘Master, Master, open up for us!’

Mat 25:12  “But he answering, said, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

The Number Ten - Law, Testing, and Representation

The number '10' in Hebrew is ‘eser’  the verb  “asar” spelled the same means to have an abundance or to become wealthy.

Blessing for the Torah:

Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-O’lam, asher bachar banu m’kol ha-amim,

v’natan lanu eht Torah-to.

Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”

(Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim , King of the Universe,

you have selected us from among all the peoples,

and have given us your Torah. Blessed are you, YHVH, giver of the Torah. Ameyn.)

Torah Readings:

1. 41:1-14                                            
2. 41:15-38
3. 41:39-52
4. 41:53 – 42:18
5. 42:19 – 43:15
6. 43:16-29
7. 43:30 – 44:13 
8.  Maftir: 44:14-17

Haftarah: (1 Kings 3:15 – 4:1)

Special Chanukah reading for this year: Bemidbar/Numbers 7:1-17; 7:30-35; Zechariah 2:14 – 4:7

Aliyah Rishon 41:1-14.

Gen 41:1  And it came to be, at the end of two years’ time, that Pharaoh had a dream, and saw him standing by the river,

In Romans 10:4 we are reminded that Yahshua is the goal or the purpose of the Torah. We must at least consider the possibility that this Torah portion could be referring to the “two years” or “two thousand” years that have come and gone since our Messiah’s first coming. Hence the title of the parasha “miketz” or “at the end”

If so, the text that follows could suggest that in the end of these two thousand years we too will experience a period of an abundance of “Torah revelation” and then a period of leanness, perhaps the great tribulation when there will be a famine for the hearing of YHVH’s word. (Amos 8:11,12)

We must also consider the possibility that the “assembly of called out ones” have also been in a kind of prison for the past 2000 years as we have not known the full extent of our restoration and blessing in Messiah. It will be through much suffering that the bride will be liberated from this 2000 year prison to be prepared for the coming Messiah.

Gen 41:2  and saw seven cows coming up out of the river, fine looking and fat, and they fed amongst the reeds,

Gen 41:3  then saw seven other cows coming up after them out of the river, ugly and lean of flesh, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the river.

Gen 41:4  And the ugly and lean of flesh cows ate up the seven fine looking and fat cows. Then

Pharaoh awoke.

Gen 41:5  And he slept and dreamed a second time and saw seven heads of grain coming up on one stalk, plump and good,

Gen 41:6  and saw seven lean heads, scorched by the east wind, coming up after them.

Gen 41:7  And the seven lean heads swallowed the seven plump and complete heads. Then Pharaoh awoke and saw it was a dream.

Gen 41:8  And it came to be in the morning that his spirit was moved, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Mitsrayim and all its wise men. And Pharaoh related to them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh.

Gen 41:9  Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, “I remember my crimes this day.

Gen 41:10  “When Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in confinement in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker,

Gen 41:11  each one of us dreamed a dream in one night, he and I. Each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream.

Gen 41:12  “And there was with us a Hebrew youth, a servant of the captain of the guard. And we related to him, and he interpreted our dreams for us. To each man he interpreted according to his own dream.

Gen 41:13  “And it came to be, as he interpreted for us, so it came to be. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him.”

Gen 41:14  Then Pharaoh sent and called Yosĕph, and they hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon. And he shaved and changed his garments, and came to Pharaoh.

They made Yosef who is a type of Messiah to look like a pagan gentile. After two thousand years we have done the same. However things are beginning to change and once again many are discovering the true Hebrew Yahshua. Baruch ha Shem.

 

Aliyah Sheni 41:15-38

Like Yosef the only hope an end time generation will have will be in the faithful remnant of Torah observant believers in the true Yahshua and worshippers of YHVH alone.

Gen 41:15  And Pharaoh said to Yosĕph, “I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one to interpret it. Now I myself have heard it said of you that you understand a dream, to interpret it.”

Gen 41:16  And Yosĕph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me, let Elohim answer Pharaoh with peace.”

Gen 41:17  And Pharaoh said to Yosĕph, “See, in my dream I stood on the bank of the river

Gen 41:25  And Yosĕph said to Pharaoh, “The dream of Pharaoh is one. Elohim has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do:

Gen 41:29  “See, seven years of great plenty are coming in all the land of Mitsrayim,

Gen 41:30  but after them seven years of scarcity of food shall arise and all the plenty be forgotten in the land of Mitsrayim. And the scarcity of food shall destroy the land,

Gen 41:31  and the plenty shall not be remembered in the land, because of the scarcity of food following, for it is very severe.

Gen 41:32  “And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the word is established by Elohim, and Elohim is hastening to do it.

Gen 41:33  “And now, let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Mitsrayim.

Gen 41:34  “Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers over the land, to take up one-fifth of the land of Mitsrayim in the seven years of plenty.

Gen 41:35  “And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.

Gen 41:36  “And the food shall be for a store for the land for the seven years of scarcity of food which shall be in the land of Mitsrayim, and do not let the land be cut off by the scarcity of food.”

Gen 41:37  And the word was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants.

Gen 41:38  And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Could we find another like him, a man in whom is the Spirit of Elohim?”

Is it not possible that that we could be nearing the end of a seven year period where YHVH has made an abundant revelation of Torah and the true Messiah available to His called out ones. Following this initial period of 7 years another 7 years will follow which could be the great tribulation.

This could also be a reference to the prophet Amos where he points to a famine of the hearing of the words of the YHVH in the last days.

Amo 8:11  “See, days are coming,” declares the Master יהוה, “that I shall send a hunger in the land,