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Parshat Vayechi

Genesis 47:28-50:26

1 Kings 2:1-12

1 Peter 1:1-9

 

Summary:  Genesis 47:28.

        “Jacob lived in the land of Egypt for 17 years, and the days of Jacob - the years of his life – were 147 years.  The time approached for Israel to die, so he called for his son Joseph…”  Now as the family history shows in the Torah, Jacob goes on to bless Joseph, his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim (to this day, all Jewish people who follow tradition, bless their sons every Shabbat evening with the blessing, “May HaShem make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.”).  Jacob then not only blesses Joseph’s sons, but adopts them as his own and continues on later by blessing each and every one of his (Jacob’s) sons with a prophetic word.

        As I read this, I am amazed at how this fits into our time.  How we all have been blessed as sons, and also how G-d chose to reconcile or adopt those who are not appointed with our family (the Jewish people) by grafting them in (adopting) those who are separated from the covenant, and brought in to that special relationship.  Romans 11:17.  “A wild olive wood [the people of the nations who accept Messiah Yeshua, the king of Israel] were grafted in among them to share the richness of the root and sap of the olive tree.”

        At his time of death, Jacob stated that Judah would lead the way, and through his family line, would one day come the one from whom the scepter shall not depart (Gen 49:10).  As we end the book of Genesis, may all of us receive the result, the outcome, the consummation of our faith, the salvation that we all have longed for. 

 

“Chazak! Chazak! Venish Azeik!”  “Be strong! Be strong! And may we be strengthened!”

 

Shavua Tov

Rabbi Z.

 

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