Parasha "VaYechi" (and he lived)

[Jacob Ben Avraham]

PARASHA: “VaYechi” (and he lived)

GEN 47:28-50:26.......1 KINGS 2:1-12......MATT 22:1-23:39

In this we see Jacob (Israel) in his last days, he prepares to “go the way of all men” (As king David put it), Jacob is getting ready to die. He prepares himself and makes sure that his sons and grandsons are blessed and they know what is ahead of them. A father's blessing to his children is very important.

It is important that we also bless our children, especially when we know when we will die (which applies to some, perhaps with terminal illnesses). Even so, we should take time to give each and every one of them a special blessing, and remind them always of those blessings... Who knows, with Adonai's guidance, they will come to pass.

We see that Jacob lives 17 years in Egypt, and strangely enough, Yosef comes to Egypt at age 17! When we add up the two “17s” we get “34”, then adding 3+4 = 7, we are back to the number “7” which is God's number, Both Jacob and Joseph were in God's perfect will and HE fulfilled HIS perfect purpose through those men. Jacob lives for 147 years. Those numbers and significant also. Jacob has “12” sons altogether, the “founding fathers” of what and who are the Israelis, Israelites, Jewish people today. When we add up the numbers 1 +4+7 in the number 147, we get 1+4+7= “12”. To write the number 147 using Hebrew letters we would use a “Qoph” (Q or K) “mem” (M) and a “Zayin” (z) Qoph = 100, Mem = 40, Zayin = 7, how do these numbers tell us about Jacob/Israel?

Jacob/Israel was set side “Kadosh” for YHVH's special purpose, to bring forth a “multitude of people “mem” and this people, the Jewish people would have to “fight” (Zayin) for survival, “zayin = weapon”,” mem” = “multitude, water, or chaos”

Before he dies, Jacob blesses his 12 children and his 2 grandkids and tells them about their futures, some are bleak, not so nice (one reaps what one sows). Each name of “b'nei Israel” (children of Israel) has a symbolic meaning, what does these names mean to us as “born again believers in Yeshua HaMashiach?” well, let's see;

RUEBEN (Re'eh) “to see” , SIMEON (Sh'ma) “to hear”, LEVI (lev=heart) “united, joined together” Y'HUDAH (contains the most sacred name of God, YHVH) “praise” ,DAN “judge” , NAPHTALI “wrestling” GAD “a troop comes”, ASHER “blessed” , ISSACHAR “wages”, ZEBULUN “dwelling with husband”, YOSEF “YHVH will add a son” , BENJAMIN “son of the right hand” MANASSEH “forget my toil and my father's house” (pray 4 Zion, the significance of the twelve tribes of Israel).

There is one interesting thing about “Yosef” it is the blessing that Israel pronounces on his favorite son. It is found in Gen 49:22; “Yosef is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall” We wonder what could this mean? If we take some of these words in the original Hebrew, we see the words; “porat” which is a boy’s name in Israel, it means; “fruitful” from the verb “Parah” which means “to bear fruit” then we have the combined words “Alei-Ayin” which, when searched in the dictionary is very hard to find an exact meaning. But in Hebrew letters, it would be spelled out; “Ayin, Lamed, Yod (then a line connecting) Ayin, Yod, Nun.

In the basic Hebrew dictionary, I found two meanings for the word; Ayin, Lamed, Yod (Alei) one is “On” the other “Pestle” which is part of the flower. The word “Ayin” is “eye.” What could we understand with this phrase? Perhaps something like “a bough that bears fruit on the eye, that goes “on” the wall, and then “over the wall” being watered by a spring. Here is one idea, we have to say; “an idea” because one can never be 100% certain of some meanings. What does the “eye” have to do with a plant? a bough? Tree? A pestle which is part of a flower which is part of a tree?

Yosef will be “porat” fruitful, because of him bringing his family to Egypt, they “multiplied” in population in four-hundred years. The family began with 70 some persons, and left Egypt four-hundred and some years later with perhaps two-million! Now THAT is what I call being FRUITFUL (porat) The verse also says; “Ben Porat” or “son of fruitfulness” this is mentioned TWICE, before and after the name YOSEF. Could this mean a “double portion of fruitfulness?” again, we see 70 persons become two-million. Take even the sons of Yosef; Manasseh and Efraim, they became many and it is believed that the descendants of Efraim spread out to many nations, yet Israel claims his grandsons as “his own” meaning they are part of the 12 tribes, which is “Adat Yisrael” (Community of Israel) .

But what is a possible meaning of “Alei-Ayin?” perhaps we could say that the flowers that bloom on many trees have pestles, and the leaves, well, many are shaped like “eyes” and if the tree is connected to a spring/well of water, it will flourish. The letter “Ayin” in Hebrew symbolizes “sight” or “insight” if we take the two words “Alei-Ayin” and look at the meaning of the words from an ancient Hebrew perspective, we could see the following; “insight through instruction or direction is a done thing! (Alei) and “insight accomplished leads to life” (ayin).

What were the names of the two trees in the Garden of Eden? The Tree of Knowledge, and the Tree of Life! Is there a connection? If we, as descendants of perhaps Efraim, who descends from Yosef, if we adhere to the instruction of the Torah, we will be blessed with life and life in abundance and we will be fruitful, not so much biologically, but in bringing “spiritual fruit” bringing others close to Messiah, through witness and teaching others HIS Word. We are then “B’nei Porat” (sons of fruitfulness) This is just an idea. We can think on this.

What do we see when we apply these meanings to our lives as “born again believers?” We can all SEE the changed lives, the miracles that have been done in believers' lives, and we HEAR of the faith of others who have been challenged by oppressive governments, we HEAR God's Word through SEEING the words in the Torah, and take them into our HEART, so that the words of Torah are JOINED TOGETHER to our lives, so that we may PRAISE the name of YHVH. We must all look at our lives and JUDGE ourselves in light of the scriptures, are we living the way YHVH wants us to live? We must judge ourselves, lest we be judged, yet we will ALL incur JUDGEMENT at the “Judgment Seat of Messiah. Every day is a kind of “WRESTLING” match between our old nature and our renewed nature, the sinful flesh against our new “born again” selves.

We are Adonai's TROOPS, we are at war against HaSatan, and his unholy fallen angels, it is spiritual warfare, and our weapons are the WORD of God, His Holy Spirit, and HIS holy angels, and our prayers, we have been BLESSED with a new relationship with our creator and redeemer, and we will receive WAGES for our good works, (mitzvoth) in form of rewards in heaven, as “gold, silver, precious stones”

Our future hope is one day, to DWELL WITH OUR HUSBAND, who is Messiah Yeshua, who loves us as his “bride”. Every time a lost person is “born again” a SON IS ADDED, to God's redeemed family of believers. We are sons of Adonai's RIGHT HAND, who is Messiah Yeshua, who stretched out his HANDS to receive the nails. We can forget our TOILS, rest from them on the Sabbath, Every Sabbath day is our time to rest from our TOILS and to be in OUR FATHER'S HOUSE. Someday, we will have our permanent “Sabbath rest”.

We must not forget that one of the blessings of Judah is the coming forth of SHILOH, who is Yeshua, who will have the ruler's scepter, who will be “king over all the earth” to him will gather ALL nations.

The book of Genesis ends with the word “Egypt” yet begins with “B’Reisheet” (in the beginning)
Do you think there is a sort of symbolism here? Could we perhaps say; Israel had its “Beginning” in “Egypt” when they began their 400-year sojourn, to become a “multitude?” something to think about.

1 KINGS 2:1-12

King David is on his death bed and calls his son Solomon, and tells him “what it is to be a MAN!” so here's the truth to all “macho guys out there who just THINK they know what it is to be a real man. Melech David tells the truth through the Holy Spirit who guides his words;

” Keep the charge of YHVH thy God, Walk-in HIS ways, Keep HIS commandments as they are written in the Torah, SO THAT, you may prosper in ALL you do. So, there you have it, what it is to be a man, (or a woman) of God, Trust in Yeshua as LORD and Savior, Depend of HIS righteousness through his blood and sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, which will lead us to a right relation with HIM and with his written word, to put into practice as our way of life. But always remember that salvation is through FAITH, and by FAITH only, and never depending on works! (mitzvoth) the “works” are an “aftermath” of our faith experience.


MATT 22:1-23:39

Yeshua tells the story of a king who invited guests to his son’s wedding feast. Yet those who were invited did not show up, so he called others, who DID attend the wedding feast. He says that the “Kingdom of Heaven” is similar to that situation. He ends by saying; “Many are called yet few are chosen.

How do we relate that to ourselves? We are part of the human race. The perfect will of Adonai is that ALL come to repentance and accept the free gift of “Yeshuah” (Salvation) which was provided through “Yeshua” (no play on words). The gospel message has gone out to all, which means ALL people on this planet called earth. The great Wedding Feast of the “Son” is in the making. His bride is in the making. Yet many do not heed the calling, they are those who love the world, love darkness, these are the lost and unsaved people of humanity. We ask how can one refuse such an invitation? Perhaps because the things and enjoyments of this world are too appetizing, and they would rather live for the moment, instead of eternity’s bliss.

Then there are those who DO accept the wedding invitation. Those of us who accept will be part of the wedding feast. We are part of the bride, the “Kehilah” the “Adat” (Congregation of the redeemed). No matter what name a church is called by, we are all part of “One Assembly” we are all part of “B’nei Elohim” (sons of God) includes women too.

There is mention of one who was not properly dressed for the wedding, yet in ancient times, those who did not come with wedding attire were usually provided clothing by the bridegroom, so there is no excuse for not being in proper attire.
Yeshua also talks about our relationship with others in heaven. Specifically, our marriage partners. Unlike on earth, where we relate with our partners both emotionally, sexually, and spiritually, in heaven, it will not be so. Of course, we will recognize each other, but we will be like “brothers and sisters” since our “Husband” will be “Yeshua.”

There is the question; “What is the greatest commandment?” and Yeshua quotes Deut 6; “You shall love Adonai your God with all of your heart, soul, and strength” and He adds “and love your neighbor as yourself.” This is interesting. The word “Torah” in gematria adds up to be 611. (Tav, vav, resh, Hey) and when we add this Commandment in Deut 6, and “love your neighbor” these are “2”, when we add “2” to “611” we get “613” which are the total amount of commandments in the entire Torah (first 5 books).

To make it very simple, the whole Torah is condensed to “loving God” and “loving your neighbor” That is the gist of ALL the commandments. Our love and devotion to our God, and our love and respect towards our fellow man. Guess that includes animals. He made the animals and we need to respect and treat them also with loving-kindness because they are part of Elohim’s creation. (you may want to exclude cockroaches) Yes, they were created, but to serve as a curse, not a blessing.


Shabbat Shalom…… Ben Avraham

 

pic:   Tower of David,   Jerusalem,