Parashat Vayetzei 5763/2002
EJD
The Bagel: Jacob verses Laban. This week's reading is a study of contrasts. The contrast is between Laban and Jacob and can be seen in each portion: Parashah, Haftarah, and Brit Chadashah.
TORAH
Jacob Laban
honest cheating
faithful deceiving
trusting unbelieving
HAFTARAH
(Ephraim, an alternate for Israel, is like Laban)
(Judah is like Jacob)
Jacob (Judah) Laban (Ephraim)
honest 12:4-5a(3-4a) cheating 12:8(7)
faithful 12:1(11:12) deceiving 12:1(11:12)
trusting 12:5b-6(4b-5) unbelieving 12:9(8); 13:1-3
BRIT CHADASHAH
(a false teacher is like Laban)
(Timothy, Paul's companion in mission, is like Jacob)
Jacob (Timothy)
honest - "But you, Timothy, belong to God; so run from all these evil things, and follow what is right and good. Pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for what we believe. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses" (1 Timothy 6:11-12 NLT).
faithful - "And I command you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, that you obey his commands with all purity. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ returns" (1 Timothy 6:13-14 NLT).
trusting - (Timothy can exhort like this because he was trusting in God not riches) "Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment" (1 Timothy 6:17 NLT).
Laban (a false teacher)
cheating - "These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they don't tell the truth. To them religion is just a way to get rich" (1 Timothy 6:5 NLT).
deceiving - "Anyone who teaches anything different is both conceited and ignorant. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, fighting, slander, and evil suspicions" (1 Timothy 6:4 NLT).
unbelieving - "Some false teachers may deny these things, but these are the sound, wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are the foundation for a godly life" (1 Timothy 6:3 NLT).
Jacob built the house of Israel, while Laban attempted to deconstruct it. God intervened and Jacob returned to the land with all that was necessary for being a nation. The false teachers in Timothy's day attempted to distract true piety and godliness away from faith by turning members of the congregation to fortunes.
Cream Cheese: Will it be a Laban label or a Jacob justification?
The weekly reading for the week of 11 Kislev, 5763 - Nov 16, 2002 Torah: Vayetzei Genesis 28:10 to 32:3(2); Haftarah: Hosea 11:7 to 14:10(9)*
* There are differences between Sephardic and Ashkenazi readings, they are combined here into one mega reading. This devotional incorporates citations from both readings when contrasting Ephraim (like Laban) with Judah (like Jacob). The Ashkenzazi citation is below.
Ashkenazi version
Jacob Laban
honest 14:3-4 cheating 12:15(14)
faithful 14:5-8 deceiving 13:1-3, 6
trusting 14:9(8) unbelieving 12:9(8); 13:1-3
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