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VAYISHLACH
GENESIS
32:4--36:43
OBADIAH
1:1-21
MATHEW
26:36-46
This week we
continue as Jacob returns from his long stay in Charan with his uncle
Laban. As he was on his way back, he sent messengers before his family to
his brother Esau.
As he stopped
to prepare himself and sent his family on ahead, he had an encounter with
the “Angel of the Lord.” He wrestled all night. Jacob prevailed and his
name was changed to Israel. So he would not forget this encounter with
G-d, Jacob had his hip dislocated, and limped for the rest of his life.
This event
brought about a change in Jacob. He now knew his G-d. He had a personal
relationship with G-d, who no longer was just the G-d of his fathers but
was Jacob’s G-d, as well.
This event is
thought to be so important, that even today the Jewish people do not eat
of the gid or loin of any kosher animal. This is in remembrance of
the dislocation of Jacob’s hip.
The sages of
old declared that Jacob’s battle was not just with an angel, but that he
was battling his own inner self. He was struggling with the battle
between the yetzer harah, evil inclination, and yetzer hatov,
good inclination.
In the book
of Romans (chapters 6-8) this inner battle is discussed. We were slaves
to sin, just like Jacob. We need to be broken and healed. Jacob had his
name changed to Israel because his nature had changed. We must choose to
change and let G-d have His way in our lives, too. We are no longer
slaves to sin. We are now set free from the law of sin and death and are
alive in Messiah Yeshua. We are to serve G-d with newness of life.
SHAVUA TOV
Rabbi Z.
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