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.
Shoftim (Judges) Deut. 16
Torah Portion: Shoftim (Judges) Deut. 16:18-21:9
HafTorah: Isaiah 51:12-52:12
This Torah section occurs in the first Sabbath of the month of Elul each year. What do we know about the month of Elul? It is the month leading up to the High Holy Days of Rosh HaShana, Yom Kippur and Succoth. It is devoted to repentance and getting our lives spiritually in order.
Here we read about earthly judges and officers who were to administer justice. They were to administer justice using G-dly principles. Could they be swayed by anything like a person’s position in life, wealth or whom they knew? No, they had to administer Torah with no outside influence.