Vayigash (He Approached) B’resheet/Genesis 44:18-47:27
Vayigash (And He Approached) B’resheet/Genesis 44:18-47:27
I want us to look at two dominate personalities in this Torah portion. I sent you a question earlier concerning these two men and I hope you have had the opportunity to consider my question?
Mikketz (It Came to Pass) B’resheet/Genesis 41:-44:17
Mikketz(It Came to Pass) B’resheet/Genesis 41:-44:17
Haftorah Reading: I Kings 3:15-4:1
Today our Torah portion continues with the story of Joseph in Egypt and his reunion with his brothers. We see his rise to power in Egypt after he was able to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh. In Genesis 42:7-8 we are told he was able to recognize his brothers when they came before him to request food for their families and flocks. Amazingly, he was able to control his emotions and allowed them to continue to explain their situation. They did not know before whom they had actually bowed down to make their petition for food. No doubt Joseph remembered the dreams he had shared with his brothers years earlier and was now seeing them actually happen. His brothers did attribute their present state to their actions against Joseph when they sold him into slavery.
Vayigash (And He Approached) B’resheet/Genesis 44:18-47:27
: Vayigash (And He Approached) B’resheet/Genesis 44:18-47:27
Haftorah Readings: Ezekiel 37:15-28
This week we read of the reunion of the sons of Jacob with their brother Joseph. We also read of the eventual settling of the people in Egypt. There they would spend hundreds of years as slaves before G-d would send Moshe to bring them out and lead them to Israel.
There are many questions that arise in our reading this week. However, we will look at only a couple. I pray we all can grasp how things unfolded in this family’s story and what we can learn from these events. When we read Genesis 45:5-7 we see how Joseph was able to see the hand of G-d in the things that had happened to him over the last years. He understood G-d had a plan and purpose to what he had suffered. G-d always has a purpose, a plan. That plan may involve discomfort or even suffering on our part. Our challenge is to hold on, to be faithful, to continue on and not give up or lose our faith.
Vayigash (He Approached) B’resheet Gen 44-47
Torah Portion: Vayigash (He Approached) (B’resheet) Genesis 44-47
Haftorah Reading: Ezekiel 37:15-28
This week we read of the meeting between Joseph and his brothers where he reveals himself to them after years of being separated. We read in Genesis 44:18 where Yehuda whispered in his ear and pleaded for his brother, even offering to take his place. Unlike years before when Yehuda came up with the idea of not killing Joseph but selling him into slavery. However, here we see Yehudah when faced again with such a choice, has a different reaction. He chose to basically give himself for his brother. This action by Yehudah had an immediate effect on Joseph.
Vayigash (He Approached) Gen 44-47
Torah Portion: Vayigash (He Approached) Genesis 44:18-47:27
HafTorah: Ezekiel 37:15-28
Tonight we read of the meeting between Joseph and his brothers, where Joseph reveals his true identity to them. Remember it had been more than 20 years since the brothers sold him into slavery. I am always struck by the question, “How could they have done such a thing to their own brother?”
Vayigash (He Approached) Gen 44-47
Torah Portion: Vayigash (He Approached) Genesis 44-47
HafTorah: Ezekiel 37:15-28
This week we read of a meeting between Joseph and his brothers as they were reunited. This was a meeting that had great spiritual implications for Israel and for us as well. In it we have for the first time in scripture true repentance. How are we to judge true repentance? We have all heard of others repenting or maybe even been in the place of repenting for our sins. How are we to tell if the penitent is sincere?
Vayechi Genesis 47
Torah Portion: Vayechi Genesis 47:28-50:26
HafTorah: I Kings 2:1-12
I Peter 1:1-19
Tonight we read the Torah section entitled Vayechi or “And he lived.” The Torah goes on to tell us that Jacob lived 147 years. The remainder of this section basically covers his death.
In my questions for the week I asked you to look back at Genesis 47:7-11 where Pharaoh asked Jacob how old he was. In Hebrew it comes out more, “Wow, how old are you!” Jacob answers that he is 130 years old and his days have been few and evil. He had not lived as long as his father, Isaac or grandfather, Abraham. He died 33 years younger than Isaac and 28 years younger than Abraham. When you look at his life would you summarize his days as few and evil? G-d watched over him all the time he was with Laban. He left Israel with nothing but the clothes on his back and the staff in his hand. G-d promised to be with him and bring him back which he did. He brought him back with riches and a family. He prospered in Israel. G-d provided for him in Egypt. Again, it might be how you look at things. Rabbis see this as one of Jacob’s problems to the point his life possibly ended prematurely.
G-d’s Plan – Vayigash Genesis 44
Torah Portion: Vayigash Genesis 44:18-47:27
HafTorah: Ezekiel 37:15-28
Ephesians 2:1-10
Tonight I want us to look at ways Joseph teaches us of the Messiah, those events in his life that find parallels in Messiah.
G-d’s Plan – Vayigash (To Approach) Genesis 44
Torah Portion: Vayigash (To Approach) Genesis 44:18-47:27
HafTorah: Ezekiel 37:15-28
Tonight I want to continue with the story of Joseph and his brothers and also to look at it again as a pattern of the Messiah. We, last week, talked about the fact of Joseph not being recognized by his brothers and how this was and is the state of many Jewish people today concerning Yeshua. Paul in Romans 11:25-26 talks of this blindness and how it has been during this time that we as non-Jews have had the opportunity to come into the faith.