The weekly reading for the week of 16 Tevet, 5764 - January 10, 2004 Parashah: Vayechi Genesis 47:28 to 50:26; Haftarah: 1 Kings 2:1-12; Brit Chadashah: Luke 24:36-53


The Bagel: In good hands. Parashat Vayechi displays several vignettes involving the use of hands. Jacob wanted the assurance from Joseph that his burial would be properly administered. Joseph put his hand under Jacob's thigh and promised. Jacob was in the good hands of Joseph. Later, Joseph delivered on his promise and buried Jacob in the Land.

Then Jacob laid his hands on his grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh. The blessing was placed on Ephraim over Manasseh. Joseph had pre-positioned Jacob's hands in the order of the firstborn. The right hand of blessing was supposed to go to the firstborn. But G-d had moved the nearly-blind Jacob's heart to favor the second born over the first. Jacob switched his hands and the order of blessing. The second born received the greater blessing reserved for the firstborn. Those boys were in the good hands of their grandpa and of the greater good hands of Adonay.

Even the Land is said to be in good hands. Jacob had obtained a portion of the land from the Amorites by martial means: "And now, I assign to you one portion more than to your brothers, which I wrested from the Amorites with my sword and bow" (Genesis 48:22 Tanakh JPS). Jacob gave this land to Joseph. The land was in the good hands of Joseph.

Can enemies be said to be in good hands when defeated? Only if they are opposed to G-d and His ways. Judah, according to Jacob's blessing, is decreed to be the victor of his enemies. "His hand shall be on the neck of his enemies" is a statement of the triumph of good over evil. When Judah has control over his enemies justice will be done. The world will be in good hands at that future time.

Jacob's blessing on Joseph speaks of the future of that tribe as being one of victorious overcoming. The picture is one of Joseph in the midst of battle and of Joseph's near defeat. But G-d. Joseph thus strengthened turned into the mighty warrior: "But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob...." (Genesis 49:24 KJV). Joseph's life was in the good hands of G-d throughout his lifetime and now the tribe of Joseph is promised the same holding of G-d's good hands.

In the Haftarah reading, David placed the welfare of his kingdom into the good hands of Solomon to preserve and uphold it. The first order of business for Solomon directed by David's "last will and testament" while still alive was to avenge David of the injustices done to him by his enemies. Solomon ruled the kingdom with good hands and furthered it: "Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly" (1 Kings 2:12 KJV).

In the Brit Chadashah, the talmeedim (disciples) of Yeshua had thought that the post-resurrection appearance was a ghost. But Yeshua reassured them by asking them to feel his hands and feet. They could see in those good hands the holes where the nails had been. Ghosts or spirits don't possess bones, but Yeshua had been risen from the dead after He had made redemption possible. The resurrection of Yeshua means that the material world is also redeemed, which is evidenced by those resurrected nail-pierced hands.

Those disciples could touch the nail-pierced hands because they also possessed the good hands of faith that could touch and know the reality of Yeshua. Those trusting hands came from their fledgling heart of faith. Likewise, reader your heart-faith will determine what kind of touch your hands will possess. Your situation will always be in good hands when faith is applied to it.

Lastly, there is the good hands of blessing. Yeshua was leaving His ministry behind in the capable hands of His disciples. But He wanted them to receive one last blessing. He gave them His greatest gift, the Holy Spirit: "And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven. Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them" (Luke 24:49-50 NLT). The good hands of Yeshua bestowed the promise of the Holy Spirit on those disciples. He departed leaving them in good hands.

Cream Cheese A good heart makes good hands.


The weekly reading for the week of 16 Tevet, 5764 - January 10, 2004 Parashah: Vayechi Genesis 47:28 to 50:26; Haftarah: 1 Kings 2:1-12; Brit Chadashah: Luke 24:36-53