Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Parashah # 8: Vayishlach (He sent) B’resheit (Genesis) 32:4-36:43
Haftarah: Ovadyah (Obadiah) 1-21
B’rit Chadashah: Revelation 7:1-12
The commentary today is focused on Chapter 32:22-32, specifically on the subject of prayer, what Ya’akov learned about it beyond his previous experiences, and how the lessons he learned about it apply to us.
We know from the previous verses in this chapter that Jacob was very anxious about the impending encounter with Esav(vv.4-22). His strategic prowess again comes to the fore in the description of how he prepared for a possible confrontation with Esav. He assumed that Esav was still planning to kill him even though Rivkah assured him that with time Esav’s anger would subside (Gen. 27:41-5). He recognized that even though he made some wise choices in dividing his camp, sending word through servants that were strategically spaced to sequentially meet Esav with droves of various flocks and herds as gifts and having the servants tell Esav that “They belong to your servant Ya’akov, and they are a present he has sent to my lord,” He needed to seek G-d’s protection and reassurance of His previous blessings (Gen. 32:8-13).
Following Ya’akov’s preparations for the encounter with Esav and sending his family and possessions over the Yabok ahead of him, he stayed behind, alone with no distractions from family or servants. The following event was pivotal in his spiritual growth towards his ultimate destiny described in G-d’s response to Ya’akov’s prayer for protection in vv. 8-13. Picking up at verse 25-31 we read: Then some man wrestled with him until daybreak. When he saw that he did not defeat Ya’akov, he struck Ya’akov’s hip socket, so that his hip was dislocated while wrestling with him. The man said, ‘Let me go, because it’s daybreak.’ But Ya’akov replied,’ I won’t let you go unless you bless me.’ The man asked,’ What is your name?’ and he answered ‘Ya’akov.’ Then the man said, ‘from now on, you will no longer be called Ya’akov, but Israel; because you have shown your strength to both G-d and men and have prevailed.’ Ya’akov asked him,’ Please tell me your name.’ But he answered, ‘Why are you asking about my name?’ and blessed him there.” Ya’akov called the place P’ni-El [face of G-d], because I have seen G-d face-to-face, yet my life is spared.”
Ya’akov knew that being alone with G-d because G-d wants our full attention without distractions. Just as when we experience static when we try to listen to low power radio stations, interference in our mindset and focus due to distractions when we pray prevents our prayers, hearts, and minds from becoming “one” with G-d (Mt. 14:23; Mk 1:35; Mk 6:46; Lk. 5:15-16; Lk.6:12; Lk. 9:18; Lk. 22:41).
Ya’akov was experiencing deep agony, pouring his soul out to G-d, not yet “seeing” that the man that was wrestling with him was G-d. At this point, Ya’akov did not realize that G-d was already preparing Esav’s heart for the meeting between the two men. According to the Peshitta Holy Bible, Hosea 12:4 is translated from the Aramaic as “And he [Ya’akov] was a match for the power of an Angel and he begged of him in Bayth Eil; he found him and there he spoke with him.” I submit this is one of the most accurate translations because the word “Angel” is capitalized indicating that this was no ordinary angel. Comparing this use of the word “Angel” used in describing YHVH/Yahshua in various other biblical narratives, and by the fact that G-d is identified as the Angel with whom Ya’akov wrestled in v. 31, we are shown that Yahshua is YHVH (G-d).
Why was Ya’kov in so much emotional distress? Referring back to the statement in Hosea 12:4 and the Brenton Septuagint Translation:
“And he [Ya’akov] prevailed with the angel and was strong; they wept, and entreated me; they found me in the house of On, and there a word was spoken to them.” The word “word” in this verse is italicized in the Septuagint also validating the idea that this “Angel” was Yahshua but described as G-d by Ya’akov because he did not have the knowledge of the mystical shape of the G-dhead at this point. “On” is a Greek transliteration for the Egyptian city of Heliopolis also mentioned in Genesis: 41:45; 41;50; 46:20; Ezek. 30:17; Jer. 43:13).
It seems most plausible that in as much as Ya’akov was wrestling with the Angel, the conflict on Ya’akov’s part was his previous sins of “jumping ahead” of G-d, requiring Esav to choose between a bowl of lentils which Esav demanded, in exchange for the birthright. The other “major sin was going along with his mother and wearing a disguise that tricked Isaac into giving the blessing rightly belonging to the firstborn by tradition to Ya’akov.
On the other side of the fence, G-d wrestled with Ya’akov and He wrestles with us at various times in our lives as we are refined, chastised, and given spiritual “time out,” as we seek to align our lives with G-d’s will. YHVH/Yahshua wrestles with us in other ways to teach us and to bring us to a closer relationship with Him. Psalm 139 is a perfect prayer for focusing on G-d on a daily basis and beseeching Him to bring any uncleanliness in our hearts/minds to our conscious attention so that we may irradicate it and become a purer vessel for His purpose and glory. Other scriptural verses addressing G-d’s and our desire that we purge ourselves of anything that does not honor our G-d include Ps. 19;12; Ps. 44:21; 1 Chron. 28:9; Ps. 66:18; Ps. 90:8; Jer. 17:10; Jas. 5:16).
So then, why did G-d strike Ya’akov’s hip socket, making him forever physically challenged? Ya’akov had a very persistent sense of independence, confidence, resourcefulness, self-motivation, and seemingly wise enough to manage things himself. Recall that the prayer to G-d in Genesis 32:8-13 was for rescue from Esav. There was no indication that he considered that there may be some character flaws in his life that needed to be revealed to him by G-d and addressed. This realization is apparent in the wrestling encounter and the physical affliction placed on him by G-d/Yahshua/the Angel. Ya’akov’s prayers to G-d prior to this event came only when things got out of control or when an emergency arose. Ya’akov needed the type of strength and deliverance that would last forever and eventually lead him and his descendants to their holy status to which they were destined to become and achieve. Ya’akov needed to learn as do we, that we are totally dependent upon YHVH/Yahshua.
G-d taught Ya’akov the truth of total dependency on G-d through physical affliction. Never again would he be able to trust in his human strength to face all of his life challenges. G-d wrestled with Ya’akov physically, and with Ya’akov’s conscious, exposing his character flaws that Ya’akov would address as he matured spiritually. Ya’akov’s physical handicap was a constant reminder of his human vulnerability and his complete dependence on G-d. Notice that in the narrative, G-d did not choose to physically overcome Ya’akov. Ya’akov prevailed. On the contrary G-d wanted to arouse Ya’akov to cling to him, to cry and beg for blessings more and more. What was this blessing? It was the blessing of inheriting the Promised Land and of bearing the promised seed, the nations of people and the special seed of the promised Messiah. One of the main lessons for Ya’akov and for us is that we can wrestle with YHVH/Yahshua as we negotiate our human character flaws and replace them with attributes that are in synch with G-d’s will for our lives. We can prevail if we persevere! (Mt. 7:7-8; Lk. 18:1; Lk. 18:7; Heb. 4;16; 1 Chron. 16:11; Jer. 29:13).
Haftarah: Ovadyah (Obadiah) 1-21
Ovadya’s vision regarding the destiny of Edom which includes Ishmael and his descendants; Esav’s descendants because he married Canaanite women, Amalek, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, Tyre, and Assyria, and by the way, the Catholic Church. I invite you to read Psalm 83 for more information that is an additional description of Edom’s destiny.
In Ovadya’s vision, G-d states why Edom will be annihilated, beginning at verse 8. This description is a perfect rendition of Israel’s enemies throughout history and to our current age. Reflecting on October 7, 2023, the “proof” of the ongoing hatred by these peoples for G-d’s people is obvious. These attackers were the Islamic Fundamentalist Terrorist Group Hamas, which is included in the Edomite paradigm as are the Houthis, who are also a radical Islamist political organization and Hezbollah, who is made up of a Shia Muslim militant group. It is easy to identify the common thread of hatred for Israel and anything to do with the G-d of Avraham, Isaac, and Ya’akov.
Ovadyah’s vision is one which should be read often as reassurance that G-d will rescue and deliver His people, This is the reassurance Ya’akov needed before his encounter with Esav (Edom) and G-d’s people need today, especially those in Israel and the United States.
G-d calls Edom out reminding them of their many sins against their kinsman, Ya’akov. (Hos.10). But the best part of the vision begins at verse 15 through the end of the book at verse 21: “For the Day of Adonai is near for all nations; as you did, it will be done to you; your dealings will come back on your own head. For just as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so will all the nations drink in turn; yes, they will drink and gulp it down and be as if they had never existed. But on Mount Tzion there will be a holy remnant who will escape, and the house of Ya’akov will repossess their rightful inheritance. The house of Ya’akov will be a fire and the house of Yosef a flame, setting aflame and consuming the stubble which is the house of ‘Esav. None of the house of ‘Esav will remain, for Adonai has spoken. Those in the Negev will repossess the mountain of ‘Esav and those in the Sh’felah the land of the P’lishtim; they will repossess the field of Efrayim and the field of Shomron, and Benyamin will occupy Gil’ad. Those from this army of the people of Israel exiled among the Kena’anim as far away as Tzarfat, and the exiles from Yerushalayim in S’farad, will repossess the cities in the Negev. Then the victorious will ascend Mount Tzion to rule over Mount ‘Esav, and the kingship will belong to Adonai.’ May it be in our lifetime!
B’rit Chadashah: Revelation 7:1-12
In the beginning verses of this passage we read of the impending Tribulation. However, there is a blessed hope for those who are true believers and those sealed to serve G-d through this time, NOT the Church as mistranslated so many times in G-d’s Torah! In the typical symbolic language of G-d’s Torah according to Matthew Henry, the blowing of the four winds together means a dreadful and general destruction of the Tribulation. But the destruction is delayed. Seals are used to mark those of the 12 Tribes listed in this passage. Note that Levi is now a tribe. Why? Because true believers from the loins of Avraham belong to a higher priesthood (1 Pet. 2), of Melchizedek, who was an antitype of Yahshua. Those who are saved when they stand before Yahshua will be administering His Millennial Kingdom. The Levites will be supervising the sacrifices in the 3rd Temple. Dan is no longer listed. Although Ruben was the first born, we see that Judah is listed first. The tribe of Joseph and M’nasheh are half-tribes from the Son of Joseph. Now they are split into two separate tribes. We do not know if the seals are visible to those marked, if they can be seen by other believers, or if they are only visible to HaSatan and his followers. Whatever the case, G-d will protect them from harm as they conduct their mission of witnessing to Jews who have not accepted Yahshua as the Messiah. Note: this is NOT a conversion to Christianity. Rather, it is the acceptance of the second requirement of the seven-fold witness stipulated by Yahshua for those who want to be considered true believers. The witnesses will tell those who are alive on the earth at this time about the Kingdom of G-d that is about to come and of Yahshua’s return as Messiah ben David. Judah will understand this terminology as their eyes will certainly be opened by G-d to see these truths. The sealed ones will also tell of the wrath of G-d that is about to fall on those who oppose Yahshua’s coming and choose to reject His Word. A profession of faith is clearly not going to cut it. Action speaks louder than words. When their mission has been fulfilled by G-d’s plan, the end shall come as prophesied in Matt. 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom [not of faith] shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then the end shall come.” True believers will be teaching in direct opposition to the forces of the harlot World Church that has within it the replacement theology that G-d has rejected the Jews and is therefore no longer any earthly provision for a Jewish kingdom. Many who follow the harlot will be expecting an all-inclusive Messiah, not a Jewish one. The Messiah who many already have and will accept is the counterfeit Messiah (Antimessiah). The world can either accept the truth that the 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel preach or they will continue to choose deceptive teachings and beliefs consistent with secular humanism and false religion labeled by Yahshua as apostate (Rev. 17-18). Those who reject the message of those sealed by G-d will believe that HaSatan is G-d and that the Babylonian Kingdom he rules fulfills the promise of a kingdom of G-d. They will take the mark of the beast and by doing so will receive the same fate as the beast, his false prophet and Satan at the judgment. They will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Those Jews from Judah (tribes of Benjamin, Judah, and Levites) who repent and accept Yahshua during the Tribulation will be martyred (Rev 13:15). However, they will understand this does not compare to eternity with YHVH/Yahshua in the New Jerusalem. However, let us not assume an elitist attitude. The grafted branches are in the same Olive Tree as the natural branches when all is said and done (Ezekiel 37). A study of Romans chapters 9-11 makes it clear that all people who fulfill the requirements of the seven-fold witness in the book of Revelation as the definition of a true believer according to Yahshua, whether Jew or Gentile, make up the bride of Yahshua spoken of throughout the Bible and in Revelation specifically. Israel in this context consists of these true believers, again, NOT the Church! After all, according Hebrews 12:22-24 describes the promise of a new covenant (not for Christians) that was made with the house of Israel and Judah, not to Gentiles (Jer.31:31-33). The new covenant spoken of in these verses in no way implies a new system that advocates abrogation of G-d’s laws, regulations, or statutes. Yahshua came to interpret his Father’s laws in a way that man could understand, not only in his teachings, but by his life. The truth that G-d’s laws were not abrogated on the execution stake, but were and are to be applied with compassion.
There is no difference between G-d/Yahshua in the Old Testament or His definition of a true believer written seven times in this book. He is One and remains “asher haya v’hoveh v’yavo (Who was, and Who is, and Who is to come).” Ken yehi ratzon! (Indeed may it be (His) will)
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Tamah Davis-Hart