We are walking in today: Torah Portion--Vayeshev, He Continued Living
Genesis 37:1–40:23; Amos 2:6-3:8; John 9-13
Witness continually throughout the Bible: H3117 yom day, time, year, day (as opposed to night), day (24 hour period), as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1, as a division of time, a working day, a day's journey
Genesis 6:5, 8:5; Exodus 28:29; Leviticus 24:2, 24:4, 24:8; Joshua 6:13; 1 Samuel 18:29; 2 Samuel 9:7; 1 Kings 10:8; 2 Kings 4:9; Isaiah 58:11; Jeremiah 33:18; Hosea 12:6; 1 Chronicles 16:11, 16:37; 2 Chronicles 9:7; Psalm 34:1, 25:27, 40:11,40:16,42:3, 44:15, 71:3, 71:14, 119:44, 110:109, 119:117; Proverbs 6:20; Acts 6:4; Hebrews 13:15
This section of the text gives us the lineage of Jacob and his sons. In particular we have Joseph's story of being delivered into Egypt. This family dynamic of favorites is not new. As many can attest of the favorite child in families that the parents may not try to hide. As Rebecca favored Jacob and Issac favored Esau, Joseph was favored because of being the son of Jacob's old age and of the favored wife Rachel. The Torah was given to us by Yahweh to show us how to treat each other as well how we are to approach the King of kings! As we have in the teaching from Yeshua that we are to treat our neighbors as ourselves. The Hebraic understanding of neighbors is not only those who live close to you but all those in the commonwealth of Israel. This shows us that this caring for is not only based on proximity but by heritage. The family within your own walls of your home, the family in your community and throughout the country. This mindset seems to come around at the end of the Gregorian year in November and December to care for those less fortunate. In a community based society that the Hebrews had and the principles speak about--we are to care for them at anytime. Not only in the merriment of the time or seasons but at any time. The question does become do those in need only have a need when you can assist them? Yahweh directs us to not allow our brothers to be sold into slavery when we can pay their debts. Here with Joseph we have him being sold into slavery by his brothers for being favored of their father and the sharing of the vision that he had in a dream.
The situations that Joseph finds himself in show that Adonai is with him through it all, for things went well for him in Potifar's house and the prison. While he upheld the things that are pleasing to Yahweh no matter what the situation. He became a blessing to those around him where ever he went. All the while being positioned for salvation for his family for the coming famine that takes over all of the civilized world. This deliverance was not something that Joseph could manage on his own without Yahweh orchestrating this from years and years ago. The entirety of Jacob's remaining sons, their wives, children, servants, and animals coming down to Egypt would not have been received in the same manor if Joseph with the hand of Elohim on him, had not been there.
This relationship in our families we have all seen or dealt with. We have to understand that in the natural we find that there are those that will be able to know who your grandparents are with one look at you. The reputation of your earlier generations can be the key to lock or unlock access with some people. With Yahweh this is not so--He only has sons, no grandsons. This lets us know that we each have to have our own personal relationship with Him without excluding the whole community. There is no riding in on the coattails of the relationships that your grandparents or parents have with Yahweh. The access is for each relationship. Certainly the blessings that were left by righteous previous generations will be bestowed on us. Let us not rest on our laurels and not pursue our own relationship with Him! To hear this teaching again click here.
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