Post by alon on Jan 2, 2020 14:20:39 GMT -8
Name of Par’shah- Vayigash, He Approached
Par’shah- Gen 44:18 – 47:27
Haftara- Ezekiel 37:15-28
D’rash: We are continuing to look for actual commandments in
. Genesis is a bit light on those, however I want to caution everyone that commandments are not the only thing in we are supposed to be following.
, while it does have some laws, is mostly stories with meaning and lessons for us, as well as God’s instructions for holy living. This seems to me it would apply to all Gentiles, even Christians who come to faith in Yeshua. Shemot 12:49 תּוֹרָ֣ה אַחַ֔ת יִהְיֶ֖ה לָֽאֶזְרָ֑ח וְלַגֵּ֖ר הַגָּ֥ר בְּתוֹכְכֶֽם. Note the terms תּוֹרָ֣ה אַחַ֔ת echat, one , and הַגָּ֥ר ha’ger, the nations, Gentiles. אַחַ֔ת echat is the feminine form of one (אַחַ֔ד echad) as a composite unity, which points to the Ruach/ Holy Spirit who works within us to understand and act. Exodus 12:49 (CJB) The same teaching is to apply equally to the citizen and to the foreigner living among you.” It sounds as if we (gerim) are responsible for the whole when we accept Yeshua. Not talking about the 613 Mitzvoth of so called “Rabbinical Judaism,” but what it actually teaches- the laws, the instructions, the lessons, and the principles.
There are many principles in this par’shah. But I want to focus on one that is especially applicable to us today:
Genesis 47:13-16a (ESV) Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe, … And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought. And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, … Joseph answered, “Give your livestock, and I will give you food …
It is interesting to note that Joseph, acting on behalf of Pharaoh was selling the Egyptians grain taken from the Egyptians in previous years. Those people could have stored some of the excess themselves. But like human nature dictates, they wasted their windfall on fine living. And there was plenty, so who cared that the government was taking a large portion?
Genesis 47:20-22 (ESV) So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for all the Egyptians sold their fields, because the famine was severe on them. The land became Pharaoh's. As for the people, he made servants of them from one end of Egypt to the other. Only the land of the priests he did not buy, for the priests had a fixed allowance from Pharaoh and lived on the allowance that Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their land.
And in the end, they became slaves to their leaders. As always, the religious leaders who had a stake in maintaining the status quo were spared enslavement. But they were used to help keep the people in line:
Exodus 7:5, 8-12 (NASB) The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst.” … Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Work a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’” So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and thus they did just as the Lord had commanded; and Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers, and they also, the soothsayer priests of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts. For each one threw down his staff and they turned into serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.
Egyptian religious leaders were used to oppose Moses and show the people his God was no match for theirs. That they failed does not change their message, “Fear Pharaoh, not the God of Israel."
Genesis 47:23-24 (ESV) Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have this day bought you and your land for Pharaoh. Now here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. And at the harvests you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and as food for yourselves and your households, and as food for your little ones.”
And now the people are told to work the land, and told what they can keep from their labors on land no longer theirs. The Pharaoh’s who came after did what all entitled leaders with unbridled wealth and power did; they decided since they were themselves gods, they were above any laws. They owned Egypt, after all! So they had monuments and entire cities built in their name, each outdoing his predecessor.
It is however interesting to note that the Egyptians became slaves before the Hebrews did:
Exodus 1:8-11 (NASB) Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we. Come, let us deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply and in the event of war, they will also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us and depart from the land.” So they appointed taskmasters over them to afflict them with hard labor. And they built for Pharaoh storage cities, Pithom and Raamses.
I want to posit the real reason for their enslavement. Every oppressed people needs someone to look down on themselves, someone who can do the hard work they know would be theirs were it not for this lower class. And every despot instinctively knows the people must fear this group. Often it is a group he fears himself. The Hebrews multiplied better than the Egyptians because they were free! Free men always fare better. And this was an example the Pharaohs could not tolerate before their own people, who might want freedom themselves and rise up. That is who Pharaoh feared the Hebrews would join with in overthrowing himself!
What about the Hebrews multiplying after they were enslaved? Those who serve El Elohe Yisroel are free, regardless their circumstances. They enjoy God’s favor. Their lives may be hard, and they may be bitter, but they still find joy in serving the Lord.
But how did this happen? Why didn’t the Egyptians revolt early in the process?
Genesis 47:15-17 (NASB) When the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food, for why should we die in your presence? For our money is gone.” Then Joseph said, “Give up your livestock, and I will give you food for your livestock, … So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food …and he fed them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year.
Note the pride in their voices. They first bought grain with money they’d earned. Then they traded for things they’d worked hard to acquire and care for. So they are now used to buying back their own grain, then the money and possessions run out:
Genesis 47:18-19 (NASB) When that year was ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is all spent, and the cattle are my lord’s. There is nothing left for my lord except our bodies and our lands. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we and our land will be slaves to Pharaoh. So give us seed, that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate.”
And slowly their tone changes. They are now desperate, and of the opinion they cannot provide for themselves. And it is they, not Pharaoh who barters away their freedom. They gave themselves over willingly, exchanging security for their and their children’s future:
Genesis 47:25 (NASB) So they said, “You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s slaves.”
And so it was. Odd as it seems, Joseph almost certainly laid the groundwork for the later enslavement of his people. He probably accepted the offer of the Egyptian people to become slaves because he was acting in the best interest of his position. And Pharaoh still could have acted harshly towards him and his family had he not. But from there the slide of all Egypt (other than the privileged classes) into slavery was inevitable.
Those who do not prepare for the future are slaves already. On earth, the unprepared become refugees, then slaves. In the kingdom of heaven, those who do not prepare now will later face eternity in torment, without God and without hope.
Par’shah- Gen 44:18 – 47:27
Haftara- Ezekiel 37:15-28
D’rash: We are continuing to look for actual commandments in
. Genesis is a bit light on those, however I want to caution everyone that commandments are not the only thing in we are supposed to be following., while it does have some laws, is mostly stories with meaning and lessons for us, as well as God’s instructions for holy living. This seems to me it would apply to all Gentiles, even Christians who come to faith in Yeshua. Shemot 12:49 תּוֹרָ֣ה אַחַ֔ת יִהְיֶ֖ה לָֽאֶזְרָ֑ח וְלַגֵּ֖ר הַגָּ֥ר בְּתוֹכְכֶֽם. Note the terms תּוֹרָ֣ה אַחַ֔ת echat, one , and הַגָּ֥ר ha’ger, the nations, Gentiles. אַחַ֔ת echat is the feminine form of one (אַחַ֔ד echad) as a composite unity, which points to the Ruach/ Holy Spirit who works within us to understand and act. Exodus 12:49 (CJB) The same teaching is to apply equally to the citizen and to the foreigner living among you.” It sounds as if we (gerim) are responsible for the whole when we accept Yeshua. Not talking about the 613 Mitzvoth of so called “Rabbinical Judaism,” but what it actually teaches- the laws, the instructions, the lessons, and the principles. There are many principles in this par’shah. But I want to focus on one that is especially applicable to us today:
Genesis 47:13-16a (ESV) Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe, … And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought. And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, … Joseph answered, “Give your livestock, and I will give you food …
It is interesting to note that Joseph, acting on behalf of Pharaoh was selling the Egyptians grain taken from the Egyptians in previous years. Those people could have stored some of the excess themselves. But like human nature dictates, they wasted their windfall on fine living. And there was plenty, so who cared that the government was taking a large portion?
Genesis 47:20-22 (ESV) So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for all the Egyptians sold their fields, because the famine was severe on them. The land became Pharaoh's. As for the people, he made servants of them from one end of Egypt to the other. Only the land of the priests he did not buy, for the priests had a fixed allowance from Pharaoh and lived on the allowance that Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their land.
And in the end, they became slaves to their leaders. As always, the religious leaders who had a stake in maintaining the status quo were spared enslavement. But they were used to help keep the people in line:
Exodus 7:5, 8-12 (NASB) The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst.” … Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Work a miracle,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a serpent.’” So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and thus they did just as the Lord had commanded; and Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers, and they also, the soothsayer priests of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts. For each one threw down his staff and they turned into serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.
Egyptian religious leaders were used to oppose Moses and show the people his God was no match for theirs. That they failed does not change their message, “Fear Pharaoh, not the God of Israel."
Genesis 47:23-24 (ESV) Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have this day bought you and your land for Pharaoh. Now here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. And at the harvests you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and as food for yourselves and your households, and as food for your little ones.”
And now the people are told to work the land, and told what they can keep from their labors on land no longer theirs. The Pharaoh’s who came after did what all entitled leaders with unbridled wealth and power did; they decided since they were themselves gods, they were above any laws. They owned Egypt, after all! So they had monuments and entire cities built in their name, each outdoing his predecessor.
It is however interesting to note that the Egyptians became slaves before the Hebrews did:
Exodus 1:8-11 (NASB) Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we. Come, let us deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply and in the event of war, they will also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us and depart from the land.” So they appointed taskmasters over them to afflict them with hard labor. And they built for Pharaoh storage cities, Pithom and Raamses.
I want to posit the real reason for their enslavement. Every oppressed people needs someone to look down on themselves, someone who can do the hard work they know would be theirs were it not for this lower class. And every despot instinctively knows the people must fear this group. Often it is a group he fears himself. The Hebrews multiplied better than the Egyptians because they were free! Free men always fare better. And this was an example the Pharaohs could not tolerate before their own people, who might want freedom themselves and rise up. That is who Pharaoh feared the Hebrews would join with in overthrowing himself!
What about the Hebrews multiplying after they were enslaved? Those who serve El Elohe Yisroel are free, regardless their circumstances. They enjoy God’s favor. Their lives may be hard, and they may be bitter, but they still find joy in serving the Lord.
But how did this happen? Why didn’t the Egyptians revolt early in the process?
Genesis 47:15-17 (NASB) When the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food, for why should we die in your presence? For our money is gone.” Then Joseph said, “Give up your livestock, and I will give you food for your livestock, … So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food …and he fed them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year.
Note the pride in their voices. They first bought grain with money they’d earned. Then they traded for things they’d worked hard to acquire and care for. So they are now used to buying back their own grain, then the money and possessions run out:
Genesis 47:18-19 (NASB) When that year was ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is all spent, and the cattle are my lord’s. There is nothing left for my lord except our bodies and our lands. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we and our land will be slaves to Pharaoh. So give us seed, that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate.”
And slowly their tone changes. They are now desperate, and of the opinion they cannot provide for themselves. And it is they, not Pharaoh who barters away their freedom. They gave themselves over willingly, exchanging security for their and their children’s future:
Genesis 47:25 (NASB) So they said, “You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s slaves.”
And so it was. Odd as it seems, Joseph almost certainly laid the groundwork for the later enslavement of his people. He probably accepted the offer of the Egyptian people to become slaves because he was acting in the best interest of his position. And Pharaoh still could have acted harshly towards him and his family had he not. But from there the slide of all Egypt (other than the privileged classes) into slavery was inevitable.
Those who do not prepare for the future are slaves already. On earth, the unprepared become refugees, then slaves. In the kingdom of heaven, those who do not prepare now will later face eternity in torment, without God and without hope.
