Toledot- Generations

[alon]

Next week’s reading schedule:

Date of reading- 25 Nov 2017/7 Kislev 5778

Name of Par’shah- Vayetze “He Went Out”

Par’shah- Gen 28:10-32:3(2)

Haftara- Hosea 12:13(12)-14:10(9); 11:7-12:12(11)

Brit Chadashah- John 1:43-51

This week’s readings:

Date of reading- 18 N0v 2017/29 Cheshvan 5778

Name of Par’shah- Toledot “Generations”

Par’shah- Gen 25:19-28:9

Haftara- Malachi 1:1-2:7

Brit Chadashah- Romans 9:6-16, Heb 11:20, 12:14-17

D’rash:

Genesis 25:25,27 (ESV) The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. … When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents.

Ancient Hebrews would have seen Esav’s hairiness and later the fact he was a hunter as being blunt, crude and unrefined; even dangerous. It may have suggested a degree of impulsivity, which does show up in this story as he sells his birthright for a pot of red soup.



Ya’akov on the other hand was a more quiet man as the ESV says. The word used is Strong's H8535 “tam” תם tâm, tawm; from H8552; complete; usually (morally) pious; specifically, gentle, dear:—coupled together, perfect, plain, undefiled, upright. Those are a lot of traits implied in the Hebrew word whose meaning is not evident in the English translations.

Malachi 2:7 (ESV) For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

Ya’akov’s character would therefore best represent the Elohim of the people his lineage would become.

Hebrews 12:14-17 (ESV) Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

There is a business principle that the value of a service is greater before it is rendered than afterwards. In other words, they’ll pay more if you bargain before you fill the need than afterwards. What Esav demonstrates here is a corollary to this principle: we want what we don’t have now, placing lesser value on what we might receive in the future. He was probably very hungry, but he wasn’t going to die before dinner time. But he gave up the greater blessing which, after all wouldn’t come for many years in order to receive instant gratification now.

This is our evil inclination as humans. But the price always comes due, and though we may weep bitter tears over our choices or the perceived injustice of the bill collector it must still be paid. Esav lost the blessing as was prophesied. But not because a just God demanded it without reason. He lost it due to his own nature which he did not control.

There is a warning here for fathers as well in how we should influence our children. Apparently Yitzak encouraged Esav in his wild ways. Perhaps if he had instead asserted more discipline and control over a younger Esav the man he later became would not have held his birthright so lightly.

Dan C

[alon]

From Mark:

Tol’dot

Here, we have in this reading the account of Esau and Jacob from birth through the time they lived together as a family. A common perception of their story is that Jacob is depicted as a deceiver who swindles Esau out of his birthright and blessing. Their mother, Rebeccah, during her pregnancy sought G-d for the reason why the two were fighting within her womb. The Divine answer replies, saying that the brothers represent two nations that will be rivals. One will be stronger than the other and the older will serve the younger. Ultimately, Jacob is the chosen son, but not for the reasons generally believed.
Let’s begin by comparing the two individuals and see how their characters are shaped during the course of their lives. Esau is a skillful hunter and Jacob is a plain, or, as sometimes translated, quiet man living in tents. On the surface, this describes the brothers as having opposite personalities, but let’s look deeper into the meaning of the word “plain.” In Hebrew it is pronounced tawm, with definitions that include complete, pious, gentle, dear, coupled together, perfect, plain, undefiled, and upright. As we look more carefully in the scriptures we will see that the stronger definitions such as undefiled and upright will more accurately describe Jacob.
In Genesis 25:29, Jacob is cooking some lentil stew which is customary for Yitzchor, a remembrance of righteous individuals that have passed on. This was the responsibility of the firstborn, that is, Esau, but here it is performed by Jacob.

Esau takes two wives for himself from the pagan Hittites which embittered his parents greatly. Certainly, he must have been aware that his father Isaac married within the family at the command of Abraham. Later, Jacob, after receiving the blessing from his father, obeys his instruction and takes a wife from within his mother’s side of the family.

Esau surrenders his birthright quite readily, whereas Jacob wrestles with a man to obtain a blessing, even at the expense of personal injury (Genesis 32:23-29). He recognizes the value of the things of G-d and pursues them passionately.

Even the words of some of the prophets reveal G-d’s attitude towards each man, even when they became nations. In Malachi 1:2-4 and later mentioned in Romans 9:10-13, Adonai states, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” Note also that Jacob’s name is honored when Adonai identifies Himself to Moses as the G-d of Abraham, the G-d of Isaac, and the G-d of Jacob (Exodus 3:6).

Now back to the birthright: Esau comes in from hunting feeling exhausted and winds up selling his birthright to Jacob, even swearing it to him, in exchange for some lentil stew and bread. Note very closely—the birthright, which includes being part of the line that the Messiah was to arise from, was not stolen but was a legal transaction, freely given up by Esau. One may argue that Esau was taken advantage of in a moment of weakness, but that’s what happens when a heart and mind is set on worldly matters. Spiritual things are not highly valued. Emissary Sha’ul sums it up well when he writes in Philippians 3:17-19---“Brothers, join in imitating me, and pay attention to those who live according to the pattern we have set for you. For many—I have told you about them often before, and even now I say it with tears—live as enemies of the Messiah’s execution stake. They are headed for destruction! Their god is the belly; they are proud of what they ought to be ashamed of, since they are concerned about the things of the world.” Interestingly, this scripture could be applied to Esau both literally and figuratively. In Hebrews 12:16-17, the writer exhorts the believers not to be godless like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.

A second major theme of the story is the blessing that would be spoken by Isaac and is usually reserved for the firstborn. The common perception here is that, once again, Jacob is viewed as a trickster who stole the blessing from Esau. However, it was his mother Rebeccah who insisted on getting the blessing for Jacob; and though he did not actually disagree with her plan, he was concerned about the repercussions resulting from the deception. Observe that the blessing is tied closely to the birthright. It says: “So may G-d give you dew from heaven, the richness of the earth, and grain and wine in abundance. May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be lord over your kinsman, let your mother’s descendants bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you and blessed be everyone who blesses you.” (Genesis 27:27-29). From the word of Adonai spoken to Rebeccah during her pregnancy—the older shall serve the younger—Jacob was certainly meant to have this blessing. True, the method of obtaining it seems underhanded, and perhaps they should have waited for Adonai to intervene on their behalf. Recall how Sarah tried to bring about an heir for Abraham by her own plans, namely through her slave girl Hagar. The only difference is that Sarah’s plan produced the wrong heir, but Rebecca’s plan got the blessing to the right person.
An alternative consideration is that Rebeccah may be commended for her quick thinking and intervention to get the blessing for Jacob. The obstacles she had to overcome were Isaac’s “on the spot” decision to pronounce the blessing and the fact that Esau was his favorite son. Did he forget the words of Adonai regarding Jacob spoken long ago, or just insisted on giving the blessing to Esau? A similar situation occurred at the end of King David’s reign. His son Adonijah began to declare himself the next king when in fact, Schlomo, his younger half-brother, was to inherit the throne. Nathan the prophet devised a plan by first sending in Bat-Sheva, David’s wife, to speak to King David regarding this matter, then he himself would enter in to confirm her words. This collaboration was meant to appear unplanned. This same quick intervention got the right man sitting on the throne and possibly preserved the life of Bat-Sheva and Shlomo (1 Kings 1:5-40). Likewise, Jacob was the chosen son to inherit the blessing.

In summarizing, we can see from Adonai’s words to Rebeccah that it was G-d’s sovereign will for Jacob to be the next-in-line in His plan to create a nation set apart to Himself. This is also stated in Romans 9:12-13 when Emissary Sha’ul equates “the older will serve the younger” in Genesis 25:23 with “Jacob I loved and Esau I hated” in Malachi 1:2-3. This may not sound fair but Sha’ul further explains in Romans 9:22 that G-d patiently puts up with those whom he uses to demonstrate His anger and make known His power. Esau was not chosen but he was given his chance to live righteously yet failed. There are other examples in Scripture of individuals who had the opportunity to receive great blessings yet failed because of disobedience: King Saul was stripped of receiving an everlasting kingship over Israel for offering a sacrifice that he was not qualified to perform (1 Samuel 13:8-14); Judas had a tremendous opportunity as one of Yeshua’s twelve talmidim but ended up betraying Him.
So, what can we learn from these examples? Obviously, the person who lives an upright and devoted life to G-d puts himself or herself in a position for His blessings. 2 Timothy 2:20-21 says, In a large house there are dishes and pots not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. That is, some are meant for honorable use and some for dishonorable. If a person keeps himself free of defilement from the latter, he will be a vessel set aside for honorable use by the master of the house and ready for every kind of good work.

We can also observe from our scriptural examples how some choices result in irreversible consequences. A few examples of today could include the drunk driver who causes an accident and winds up in a wheelchair for the rest of his or her life, or kills or maims someone else and has that permanently on his conscience. A young teenager, both guy or girl, who engages in premarital sex may have to deal with an unwanted pregnancy. According to Proverbs 6:32-33, those who commit adultery, will never have their disgrace wiped away, not to mention other consequences. A one-time forbidden sexual encounter could result in AIDS.
So, in closing, if you want to be successful in life, fear G-d and keep His commandments (Ecclesiasties 12:13) and enter in by the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14). It will be hard at times but in the end, you will have no regrets.

MRD

[Elizabeth]

And the L-RD said to her "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger."
Genesis 25:23

When Esau was forty years old, he took Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hitite to be his wife, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hitite, and they made life bitter for Issac and Rebekah.
Genesis 26:34-35

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth. I have not come to bring peace in the earth, but a sword.  For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household." 
Mathew 10:34-36

Once Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!" (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright now." Esau said, "I am about to die, of what use is my birthright to me?"

Then Yeshua was led by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, "If you are the Son of G-d, command these stones to become loaves of bread. But he answered, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of G-d."
Matthew 4:1-4

"I am coming soon.  Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My G-d, and the name of the city of my G-d, the new Jerusalem, which came down from my G-d out of heaven, and My own new name."
Revelation 3:11-12

Consider the episode where Isaac pretends to be his brother Esau and in so doing secured the blessing for us from someone who would have squandered it. Is it alright to consider that this kind of parallels Yeshua taking on our sinful human form to secure G-d's blessing and inheritance that belong to Him because we squander it?

Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the L-RD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and as one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised and we esteemed him not.
Isaiah 53:1-3