Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Parashah #9: Vayeshev (He continued living) B’resheit (Genesis) 37:1-40:23.
Haftarah: Amos (Amos) 2:6-3:8
B’rit Chadashah: Acts 7:9-16 (specifically vv.9-10)
Yosef’s story extends through the last four parashot of Genesis, making this narrative the longest one in the book. Yosef’s story is one that encompasses all of our human emotions, our inherent weaknesses, and strengths, and how G-d accomplishes his plans for each of us, using the good and bad in all of us for His ultimate glory. But Yosef’s life and the surrounding actions of his brothers inform us of the consequences of efforts to do harm that by G-d’s intervention result in good according to G-d’s plan and not ours. What seems to be independent actions described by all the characters in this parashah including Yosef’s brothers, Ya’akov, Judah, Tamar, Potipher’s wife, the cupbearer, and baker, looking from the “outside” into this narrative provides us the unique opportunity to understand how G-d’s plan weaves through our lives like a ribbon in the wind. Everything has consequences and nothing happens in our lives haphazardly. G-d intervenes in our lives to accomplish his plan for humanity whether we are true believers or G-d’s enemies. Let’s investigate some of the specifics.
Ya’akov thought that he was settled after all that he had experienced. We often think that after we have reached a specific milestone, that we will be able to retire either physically or mentally and be free of any challenges that don’t meet our definition of “retirement.” The reality is that G-d never promised a life of tranquility on this side of heaven. HaSatan does not bother his own but continually prowls around like a lion devouring whom he may (1 Peter 5:8). Furthermore, G-d tells us throughout his Torah that we will be tested and tried like the refinement of gold (Zech. 13:9). By default this means life will not be easy. Ya’akov and Yosef’s lives are testaments to this fact.
According to the Zohar the rendition of “And Jacob dwelt in the land of his father’s sojournings” is translated in the Complete Jewish Bible as “Ya’akov continued to live in the land where his father had lived as a foreigner, the land of Kena’an (Gen. 37:1). The term (sojournings) can be rendered “Apprehensions,” which is similar to the term magor in the phrase magor misabib, “a terror on every side” (Jer. 6:25). This indicates that Ya’akov passed all his life in fear and anxiety. This rendition is consistent with the teaching last week where we identified the fact that although Ya’akov achieved a righteous end in obtaining the birthright from Esav for a bowl of lentils, an offer made by Esav, and by dressing up as Esav at the request of Rivkah in order to receive the blessing of the firstborn that traditionally belonged to Esav, G-d held him accountable for “jumping ahead of G-d’s plan for him that would have occurred without such deception.
Continuing with this theme of being held accountable for any and all sins in one way or another, according to Rabbi Hiya(180CE-230CE), who was one of the Rabbinical Jewish sages in Israel during the transitional generations between the Tannic and Amoraic eras, and was taught by Judah ha-Nasi, quoted Psalm 34:20 that “ Many indeed are the adversaries with whom a human being has to contend from the day that G-d breathes into him a soul in this world. For as soon as he emerges into the light of day, the evil prompter is at hand in readiness to join him, according to our interpretation of the verse ‘Sin croucheth at the door’ (Gen.4:7). In proof whereof note that the beasts from the day they are born are able to take care of themselves, and avoid fire and similar dangers, whereas man, on the other hand, seems to feel at first a natural propensity to throw himself into the fire, the reason being that the evil prompter dwells within him and from the beginning and lures him into evil ways.”
Expounding on Genes 4:7 we read: “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” This discourse by R. Hiya supports the truth that G-d created evil (Is. 45:7) and that it is present in man (Gen/ 8:21). G-d created evil but it is only manifested with evil actions. For example, HaSatan was the most beautiful of angels but acted on a lustful desire to usurp G-d and His authority (Is.: 14:12-15). Evil therefore is a potential according to Kabbalah that is manifested through the actions of the evil inclination. For a detailed course on this subject I encourage you to listen to the 8-lesson series entitles “The Mystical Shape of the G-dhead” taught by Rabbi Milchamah ben David of blessed memory and me. This study can be found on “Tamah’s Torah Teaching” podcasts broadcast on various sites such as Spotify, Pandora, Amazon, and Google.
According to Psalms 34:20 “Many are the ills of the righteous, but the L-rd delivereth him out of them all” As we learned by examining Ya’akov’s life, he endured much anguish and anxiety as a result of the methods he used to become closer to G-d through the coveted birthright and the blessing from Yitz’chak. G-d blessed Ya’akov by softening Esav’s heart favorably toward him but the earthly punishment for Ya’akov’s past sins continued through his life, some of which are addressed in this parashah we will now explore.
“Now Israel [Ya’akov] loved Yosef more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colors” (Gen. 37:3). The coat is also described as “a long-sleeved robe” in the Complete Jewish Bible. The other sons were demonstrably jealous, which may seem to be a righteous cause. According to the Huffington Post, a study done at Brigham Young University and Western University through a meta-analysis of ‘parental preferential treatment,” or the ways that parents treat siblings differently revealed some interesting results regarding parental preferential treatment of multiple children. Interestingly, the traits and/or gender which seem to draw favoritism according to the study were the exact opposite of what we read in this parashah. That is preference for the youngest son versus the oldest, and preference for a male child over a female child as in the case of Dinah. In the study, daughters were usually preferred over sons.
There should be no doubt that parents should treat their children as impartially as possible, praising and encouraging the behaviors, skills, or talents of each, and foster their development rather than overtly showing favoritism towards a specific child.
Sibling jealousy to the degree described in Joseph’s brothers is obviously against the commands of G-d of which they were aware. Not to covet another’s’ possessions, not to murder, and the command to honor parents were all violated and erroneously justified using Yosef’s alleged arrogance as an acceptable explanation for the brothers’ behavior. This is the problem with sin. We always try to minimize, justify, and rationalize sinful thoughts, speech, or actions. The truth is that if we find ourselves attempting to apply human justification to our thoughts, speech, or actions, we can know without a doubt that we are about to sin and we need to avoid the sin before we commit it. The goal is to not allow the evil inclination (yetzer hara) with which we are all born to “come to life.” We must learn to overcome evil and keep it in its place. 1 Peter 5:8 warns us “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” May we learn to keep that “lion” in its cage!
Shortly before his death, Ya’akov responded to the Egyptian Pharaoh’s greeting: “The days and years of my sojourning are a hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life (Gen. 47:9). Just as we discussed Ya’akov’s mental anguish as he prepared to meet Esav after 20 years (Gen. 31:14) of living with the threat that Esav was going to kill him, Ya’akov learned that deception no matter the degree does not bring happiness, even if done for a righteous reason. His bargaining with Esav for the birthright in exchange for a bowl of lentils resulted in 20 years of a haunting fear of being killed if/when Esav returned. He loved Rivkah deeply, but because of his own deeds, his flight from home meant he would never see her again. The wife whom he loved was barren for many years and she ultimately died by the roadside giving birth to Ben-Yamin (son of my right hand) previously named by Rachel as Benoni (son of my suffering) (Gen. 35:16-18). He made Yosef the superior, the manager, the supervisor, the overseer of his other sons. Scripture tells us that Yosef was the person tending the flocks. This indicates that he was the master shepherd and that the other sons were working under his supervision. This was not a good scenario because Yosef was younger than the other sons. He was only 17 and the other brothers were older. Naturally, there was going to be jealousy and strife.
Another problem was that Ya’akov had Yosef reporting on the other brothers every day. Typically the overseer of the flocks would have been able to manage problems occurring on the job. Evidently Ya’akov knew that Yosef was too young for this solo responsibility. The brothers were tough men who acted in ungodly ways (Gen. 34:1-31). They had disappointed Ya’akov and this may be the reason Yosef was elevated to overseer. Fulfilling his responsibility, he brought in a bad report of his brothers behavior daily. We are not told what the report addressed, but it was enough to fuel the fire of the brothers resentment toward Yosef.
Ya’akov also loved Yosef more than the other sons because Yosef was born to Ya’akov in his old age. There was a younger son, Benyamin, but Yosef was the one Ya’akov turned to when the other sons acted badly. He was also the first-born son of Rachel, who he loved, neglecting Leah.
From all indications, Yosef was a godly young man and Ya’akov may have spent more time with him teaching him about G-d and His promises. Yosef would have responded more favorably to Ya’akov’s teaching and instructions.
Referring back to the long-sleeved coat Ya’akov made for Yosef, we learn that the long-sleeved coat was a symbol of a leader or overseer because the long sleeves that extended to the ankles would not have been conducive to working in the field. It was the type of robe used by managers, or overseers. In defense of Ya’akov, such a coat would also have separated Yosef from his brothers because of their horrendous sinful behaviors. That is Reuben, the oldest son, had committed incest, going to bed with Bilhah, one of Ya’akov’s wives. He had proven to be unworthy of a leadership position. (Gen. 35:22). The other sons’ atrocity and cruelty at Shechem had also shown that they were not worthy of assuming the role of the leader of the flocks (Gen. 34:1-31).
For many years he mourned the loss of his first son Yosef, believing he was torn apart by wild animals. But G-d blessed him with a sweet respite just before he died. He was rejoined to Yosef in Egypt. Perhaps even this late in life, he had spiritually matured beyond the level he experienced when he “fought” with G-d at the River Jabbok.
The takeaway is that G-d used Ya’akov, no longer “Ya’akov but Israel, to father His chosen people, the people of G-d. Likewise, we can learn to identify our real and potential thoughts, speech, and deeds that are sinful by asking G-d to search our hearts and make them clean (Psalm 139) overcoming the evil inclination within us by continued prayerful learning and internalizing G-d’s Word, then acting upon it as Ya’akov learned to do through his experiences, both earthly “punishments” and blessings by putting on the “new nature” which in the likeness of G-d has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth (Eph. 4:24). Just as Ya’akov described his life as being not as long as his ancestors, few and evil, when he recalled his life when speaking to Pharaoh (Gen. 47:9), we need to have our sins revealed to us and address them with G-d’s help. We are not to lose heart, “but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day (2 Cor. 4:16). To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires (yetzer hara), and to be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of G-d in true righteousness and holiness (yetzer tov) (Eph. 4:22-24).
May we all come to the point where we completely submit ourselves to G-d’s mercy, grace, and justice and cry “Hineni!” (Here I am) which expresses readiness, attentiveness, and willingness to obey and serve G-d. It is a courageous response to G-d’s calling with no doubt or hesitation. Rather this level of submission demonstrates absolute faith and readiness to obey. This is the attitude and love for G-d that Ya’akov achieved after his wrestling encounter with the Angel (Yahshua) at the Jabbok River but would continue to be tested as he continued to live in Egypt and experience his next spiritual growing pains that would finally bring him blessings from G-d for himself and his descendants that will last forever (Gen. 48:6;11;15,16;20;28-33).
Haftarah: Amos 2:6-3:8
This week’s haftarah reflects the sale of Joseph by his brothers described in the parashah. Amos opens with the bad news first; G-d had been patient with them notwithstanding their transgression of the three cardinal sins- sexual impropriety, idolatry, and murder. Their fourth sin was the last straw; the mistreatment of the innocent, widows, orphans, and the poor.
G-d reminds the Jewish people how He lovingly took them out of Egypt and led them through the desert for forty years to the Holy Land. Yet the people did not respond appropriately. They gave wine to those who took the Nazarite vow and told the prophets not to prophecy. Amos then describes G-d’s punishment: “And the stouthearted among the mighty shall flee naked on that day, says the L-rd.”
This passage ends with an admonition from G-d, one that recalls His eternal love for His people: “hearken to this word which the L-rd spoke about you, O children of Israel, concerning the entire nation that I brought up from the land of Egypt. Only you did I love above all the families of the earth; therefore, I will visit upon you all your iniquities…” As opposed to other nations to whom G-d does not pay close attention, G-d’s love for His nation causes Him to punish us for our misdeeds, to cleanse us and prod us with His rod of justice and staff of grace and love back onto the path of the jus just as he did with Ya’akov. Remember, He chastises those He loves (Heb. 12:6) and His will is perfect (Psalm 18:30). Let us internalize and act upon this truth even when the tempest roars and we cannot physically see the “Son.” Do not fear or doubt; He is behind and above the clouds of our storms!
B’rit Chadashah: Acts 7:9-16
“Now the Patriarchs grew jealous of Yosef and sold him into slavery in Egypt. But Adonai was with him; he rescued him from all his troubles and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him administrator over Egypt and over all his household. Now there came a famine that caused much suffering throughout Egypt and Kena’an. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time. The second time, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. Joseph then sent for his father Jacob and all his relatives, 75 people. And Jacob went down to Egypt; there he died, as did our other ancestors. Their bodies were removed to Sh’khem and buried in the tomb Avraham had bought from the family of Hamor in Sh’khem for a certain sum of money.”
Yosef’s life reveals many parallels to Yahshua’s, for Joseph was a type of Yahshua to his people. G-d gave Joseph favor and wisdom for his appointed mission in life. Similarly, G-d provided Yahshua all he needed for his earthly ministry. Joseph was appointed the chief administrator over Egypt. Yahshua was appointed King of Israel and L-rd of all the universe. Joseph had to live in the world of sinful Egypt, but he kept himself separated even in prison. He remained close to G-d and exemplified his faith through his behavior. Similarly, Yahshua came to a sinful world to show us how to live G-d’s Torah not only by His teachings, but by example. Joseph prepared Egypt for the food famine that was about to strike the land. Yahshua showed us how to prepare for the famine to come when the world will no longer have the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) present. Joseph withheld his identity from his brothers until the second time they went to him and confessed what they had done to him, not knowing they were speaking to him. Similarly, most Jews did not recognize Yahshua for who He is the first time He came to earth. He will identify himself to them when He returns the second time, when they say “Baruch haba b’Shem Adonai.” Unfortunately, these will be martyred for their faith during the Tribulation but will understand that physical death cannot compare to an eternity in Yahshua’s presence. The time is coming soon. Take heed to learning, internalizing, and living G-d’s written and Living Torah and shine your light ever brighter in an increasingly secular world (Matt. 5;16).
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Tamah Davis-Hart