Podcast: Play in new window | Download (9.0MB)
This week’s Torah portion is entitled Va-y’chee meaning “And He Lived.” Jacob lived an unsettled and storm-tossed life, but he’s aware that Adonai is always with him. His faith remained strong, and the blessing of his sons set the stage for the future of the Jewish people.
Chapter forty-seven describes the final years of Jacob’s life in Egypt. After seventeen years of prosperity and growth in the land of Goshen he died at the age of 147. Calling his son Joseph to his bedside, he gave specific instructions not to be buried in Egypt, but in Canaan, the land God had promised their ancestors. His request proved that he never wavered in his faith that God would bring them back to their land. So, Joseph swore an oath to honor his father’s request.
Chapter forty-eight opens with Joseph being told that his father’s health was quickly declining, therefore he took his two sons with him to Jacob’s bedside. In a debilitating state of health, Jacob adopts, and blesses his grandsons, placing his right hand on the head of Ephraim, the younger son and his left on the head of the older son Manasseh. He assures Joseph that, though he was breaking from tradition, both sons will be blessed, but the younger son will be greater, and will be the father of many nations.
Jacob remembered Adonai’s promise to make his descendants a great nation, and to give them the land of Canaan as an inheritance. Though Jacob, as Patriarch, had the authority to give preference to Ephraim over Manasseh, the reversal of that Patriarchal blessing is viewed as a prophetic act, foreshadowing the future prominence of the tribe of Ephraim in Israel’s history, and also signifies the importance Jacob places on his lineage, and their future roles in fulfilling God’s promise.
In Chapter forty-nine Jacob gathered his sons to his bedside before his death, to bless and to prophesy over them, revealing to each son his destiny. Reuben, his firstborn is denied the birthright because of his impulsive and immoral behavior with Bilhah. Simeon and Levi, who were next in line, forfeited the blessing because of their brutality against the men of Shechem. Judah, though not perfect himself, is distinguished from his brothers with special favor. His power will be like the strength of a lion, and his descendants will rule in Israel. His land will be highly productive, and his brothers will praise him. In addition, he will defeat his enemies, and establish a royal line. This prophecy refers to the future rise of the Davidic Dynasty, from which Messiah Yeshua would come.
Zebulun will prosper in seafaring trade and agriculture, which will extend to Sidon. Issachar’s descendants will be skilled laborers, working hard, but farming land not their own. Dan is likened to a serpent, having a cunning and destructive nature. Dan’s descendants will later welcome idolatry into northern Israel in the days of King Jeroboam. Seeing this in advance, Jacob cries out for God’s salvation. Gad will be blessed with great military expertise, and abundant prosperity. Asher will become an agricultural people, enjoying abundance in their fertile land. Naphtali is depicted as a female deer, set free to wander and reproduce beautiful offspring in peaceful surroundings. Jacob’s youngest son, Benjamin, is described as an extremely hungry wolf. His descendants will be known for their bravery. The Apostle Paul was from this tribe.
Now, Joseph was Jacob’s beloved son, therefore he received a greater blessing. He is compared to a fruitful vine, whose branches extend into distant lands. This prophecy foreshadows the future dominance of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, who will become powerful and influential in Israel’s history. Jacob’s prophecy about each son will ultimately shape the course of Israel’s history, as they become one people. The chapter ends with Jacob’s death.
Chapter fifty concludes the book of Genesis, and the life of Joseph. It’s filled with both sorrow and hope, describing the death of Jacob and Joseph, and their faith in God’s promise.
After Jacob died, Pharoh agreed to Joseph’s request to bury him in Canaan. He and his brothers honored their father’s instructions, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, where they mourned seven days. This action demonstrated his faith in God’s promise.
Fearing that Joseph might seek revenge for their past mistreatment of him, his brothers devise a story, that their father had commanded Joseph to forgive them. However, he reassures them that he harbors no resentment, and that God had used their evil actions to bring about good for many people.
When he himself was nearing death, Joseph reminded his brothers of God’s promise to bring their descendants out of Egypt, and return them to the promised land of Canaan. He instructed them to carry his bones up from Egypt, showing his faith in God’s promise to remember them and take care of them. Joseph was 110 years old when he died. His body was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt, until the time of the Exodus. His death marks the end of an era, but sets the stage for the next generation of Israelis, who will leave Egypt, and inherit the promised land.
In closing, the Patriarchs were great examples of genuine faith in God’s promise to lead them to that glorious Land He had prepared. They were strangers and pilgrims on the earth, full of faith and hope in the future. And they passed that vision to their descendants. As Yeshua’s followers we’re not quite comfortable in this world, because we know it isn’t our home; we’re just strangers passing through. Therefore, our hearts should be filled with great anticipation of Messiah Yeshua’s return. We aren’t yet what we will be, but one day we will be like Him, the One who made us in His image, and there will be no more wandering. SO, BE STRONG, BE STRONG, AND STRENGTHEN ONE ANOTHER!