Vayeitzei

06 DEC 2008

Genesis 28:10-32:3

Hosea 12:13-14:10

John 1:19-51

Genesis 28:10 opens, “And Jacob departed from Bersheva and went toward Haran.” Jacob now has begun a journey of exile from his parents and homeland fleeing from his brother Esau. Twenty years later, his exile ends, and again he is fleeing, but this time from an angry father-in-law (Laban).

Bereshit 28:12 begins with Jacob dreaming about a ladder where angels ascend and descend. While viewing this, HaShem speaks to him and gives him a prophetic promise. He first introduces himself, stating, “I am the G-d of Abraham, your father, and G-d of Isaac. The ground upon which you are lying, to you will I give it, and to your descendents. (14) Your offspring shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall spread out powerfully westward, eastward, northward, and southward. And all the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you and your offspring. Behold I am with you, I will guard you wherever you go, and I will return you to this soil, for I will not forsake you until I will have done what I have spoken about you.”

As we see in this Parasha, Jacob, running in fear from his brother, is about to meet his greatest challenge, Laban, his uncle. This night, indeed, was a night of discovery in which G-d began to bring about events in which Jacob would trust in G-d and be used as a vessel to bring blessings not only unto himself and his family, but for world redemption.

As I look at this reading, I see many of G-d’s children today acting and feeling as Jacob, not sure of the promises that G-d gave us. Here we have seen that G-d is telling Jacob that where he is, the land will be his. His descendents will be as the dust of the earth, and they will be a blessing to the nations.

We, who are called by His name have been given promises of never being forsaken. ‘I will not in any way fail you, nor give you up, nor leave you without support. [I will] not [I will] not [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax my hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]’” (The Amplified Bible-Hebrews 13:5, see also Joshua 1:5).

So beloved of G-d, the one who has given us life eternal, the one who will not forsake us, the one who will not give us scorpions (Luke 11:12), but will give us instead the power to trample (authority over) serpents and scorpions, and nothing in any way shall harm you.

G-d’s words say to all who would hear, trust G-d and lean not on your own understanding, stand back and see the salvation of the Lord

Shavua Tov

Rabbi Z.

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