Vayechi (And He Lived) B’resheet/Genesis 47:28-50:26
Vayechi(And He Lived)B’resheet/Genesis 47:28-50:26
Today I would like us to look at the last Torah portion of Genesis. In this portion we read of the death of both Jacob and Joseph. This portion, like Chayai Sarah in Genesis 23:1, follows an interesting thought. Even though both are called by a name meaning life, they include the death of the main character.
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.
Ekev (Because) D’Varim (Deut.) 7:12-11:25
Mikketz (It Came to Pass) B’resheet/Gen 41:1-44:17
: Mikketz (It Came to Pass) B’resheet/Genesis 41:1-44:17
Haftorah Readings: I Kings 3:15-4:1
Today I have two points for us to ponder. I have read the weekly portions of Torah every week for years and both of these points I have never noticed before so I look forward to sharing these with you today. It will be new for me and I hope for you also.
I would like to start with Genesis 42:1. In this verse we read of a conversation between Jacob and his children. “And Jacob saw that there was food in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, Why are you looking at each other.”
B’Har (On Mount) Leviticus 25:1-26:2, B’chukkotai (By My Commandments) Leviticus 26:3-27:34
Torah Portion: B’Har (On Mount) Leviticus 25:1-26:2, B’chukkotai (By My Commandments) Leviticus 26:3-27:34
Haftorah Readings: Jeremiah 32:6-27, Jeremiah 16:19-17:14
Tonight, we finish the book of Leviticus by studying the final two portions. We begin by looking at the Shmita year found in Leviticus 25:1-7. This commandment says that the Land of Israel is to lie fallow on the seventh year. It is not to be worked and what grows on its own is to be left for whomever needs food. It is as if every seventh year the owner of the land relinquishes his ownership and the rights to the food that grows there on its own. He, as well as anyone else, can take of what grows for their immediate needs. What is the reason for G-d giving such a commandment? Also, we read where in the year before the Shmita, the Land will produce double for the owner.
Ki Tisa (When You Take) Exodus Sh’mot 30-34
Re’eh (See) D’varim 11-16 Deut
Torah Portion: Re’eh (See) D’varim(Deut.) 11-16
Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 54:11-55:5
Tonight we read a Torah portion that has as its theme the creation of a central place of worship that G-d chooses. We see this in the warnings about idolatry, the holidays mentioned, the sacrifices to be brought and food to be eaten – all things that guard the people against idolatry. Israel was to be different, a people reflecting G-d, not themselves. An unseen G-d, who had no form, was to be the goal of everything they did. The emphasis was on rejecting the easy path and being about building a close relationship with Him.
Ki Tavo (When You Come) Deut. 26
Torah Portion: Ki Tavo (When You Come) D’Varim, Deut. 26:1-29:8
HafTorah: Israel 60:1-22
This Torah section covers the blessings and curses that await the people depending on how they relate to the Father in the years ahead. I purpose that we can somewhat apply this to ourselves as well. What does G-d require of us in our walk with Him? In my first question this week I quoted Deut. 28:47. I asked you to tell me what this means to us and how do we acquire this joy in our lives. I got some very good answers to this and I appreciate them. Is joy or gloom a thermometer of our general situation in life? Does it measure our emotional feeling at any given time? What does scripture have to say? Read James 1:2. The real question comes in how we see G-d in the world around us. Do we see everything around us as an opportunity to express our joy for what He has done in our lives? Now in the good things this is usually no problem. But in those things that come to us that are difficult it is more difficult. Even in the good times we can get caught up in what we’ve done or we think we have to protect what we have by worrying or working harder and harder. In fact this verse says exactly that. They did not serve Him with joy when they had everything.
Ki Tize (When You Go Out) Deut 21
Torah Portion: Ki Titze (When You Go Ou) Devarim (Deut.) 21:10-25:19
HafTorah: Isaiah 54:1-10
NT Matt. 5:31-32; 19:3-12; 22:23-32 Mark 10:2-12; 12:18-27; Luke 20:27-38, I Cor 9:3-18; Gal. 3:9-14.
This Torah section takes place on the east bank of the Jordan River before the people cross over. Moses reiterates the commandments to a new generation. More than 70 of the 613 commandments are covered in this section, several of which we see expounded on in the New Testament.