Parashat Vayetzei 5764/2003
EJD
The weekly reading for the week of 11 Kislev, 5764 - December 6, 2003 Parashah: Vayetzei Genesis 28:9 to 32:3(2); Haftarah: Hosea 11:7 to 14:10(9); Brit Chadashah: John 1:35-51
The Bagel: Finding the ladder. One of the great events of the Parashat Vayetzei reading is the dream of Jacob. He saw a ladder from heaven and then the angels ascending and descending on it. He correctly identified its significance: "This is no other than the house of God!" He made a temple out of his stone-faced pillow. This visitation was necessary for Jacob's life was in danger by the slaying hand of Esau. There was also the future. For Jacob could be tempted never to return to the Land of the promise, because of his prosperity with Laban. He served Laban by keeping sheep for a wife and got two wives, children and many flocks. But instead G-d's ways meant hardship for Jacob in Syria with Laban. Laban cheated Jacob and this made him long to return. But the greatest reason was his desire to see Bethel (G-d's house) again. G-d also worked out of Esau his anger and wrath and changed the vengeful hand of Esau during the years of Jacob's sojourn and turned it into the hand of forgiveness. Jacob found the ladder and the G-d behind it kept him through it all.
The Haftarah recalls several events in Jacob's life as a model of the troubles in Hosea's day. Ephraim, a symbolic name for the northern kingdom of Israel, was treating the southern kingdom Judah in a bad way. The relationship between the two was like Jacob and Laban, with Israel playing the role of Laban and Judah that of Jacob. The prophet was reminding Judah of G-d's lawsuit against it. There were many sins in the land, but the greatest was in following Israel by not obeying the prophets. G-d's word was not heeded, so now judgement was near. The only way out was the finding of the ladder like Jacob did:
"Before Jacob was born, he struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with G-d. Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won. He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him. There at Bethel he met G-d face to face, and G-d spoke to him-- the L-rd G-d Almighty, the L-rd is his name" (Hosea 12:3-5 NLT). Judah's choice was either to follow the example of Jacob and live or to follow the cheating, stealing, idol worshipping ways of the North. Only by a renewed vision of the ladder and G-d could Judah be turned back.
The vision was not only renewed but found its permanent home in the person of the Messiah. This was Nathaniel's experience recounted in the reading of the Brit Chadashah. He saw the ladder, but this time on the Messiah. He found the true and everlasting temple. This event was just a few decades from the time when the Beit HaMiqdash Sheini (Second Temple) would be destroyed. This is a reminder that there still is a "Bethel" in the person of Yeshua. The promise is that when believers get together in His name He is in their midst. The house of G-d on authority of the finished work of the Messiah resides in the ordinary everyday setting of human lives. This is the house of faith where the ladder became the permanent bridge to heaven by the cross of Yeshua. May you also find that ladder and bridge.
Cream Cheese: We share the rungs with angels, and our Savior moves us along the narrow way to heaven by His life, death and resurrection.
The weekly reading for the week of 11 Kislev, 5764 - December 6, 2003 Parashah: Vayetzei Genesis 28:9 to 32:3(2); Haftarah: Hosea 11:7 to 14:10(9); Brit Chadashah: John 1:35-51
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