Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.7MB)

The Tora reading for this week’s Parasha, is entitled Vayetze which means “He Went Out”. It is taken from the book of Genesis 28:10 –32:3.
In obedience to his father’s command, “Jacob went out from Beer-sheba and went toward Haran to seek a wife.”
He also went out to comply with his mother’s counsel to escape the wrath of his brother Esau. In doing so, Jacob would never see his mother again.

Jacob had traveled a distance when he came to a certain place and stopped for the night, He used a rock to lay his head on and sleep.

That night Jacob dreamed a dream of angels ascending and descending on a stairway on the earth extending to heaven.

Above the stairway stood the Adonai, which said: “I am the Lord, The God of Abraham and Isaac. Adonai reiterated to Jacob the covenant which He had made with Abraham and Isaac.

Now promising Jacob, the land and that his descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth, that through him all the family of the earth will be blessed.

This promise would include the gentiles. As we will see later in Scripture. God also promised to be with Jacob until all was accomplished. The next morning Jacob said surely the Lord is in this place.” Jacob took the stone that was used for his pillow, poured oil on it, and use it as an altar. He then made an oath to Adonai.

Chapter 29, Jacob has reached the end of his long journey. The most remarkable things about Jacob’s arrival in Haran was the Providence of God. Providence led him to a well where he obtained needed information and met Rachel.

This was probably the same well where Eliezer found Rebekah for the young Isaac. When Rachel approached with Laban’s flock, Jacob stepped forward to remove the big rock, to provide water for the thirsty sheep. Then he kissed his cousin and told her who he was. Rachel ran to tell Laban that his nephew had arrived.
Rachel was unusually beautiful and attractive; Jacob was quickly smitten by her. The Scripture says, Jacob loved Rachel. Jacob agreed to work for Laban seven years for Rachel’s hand in marriage.

After laboring seven years for the younger daughter Rachel, Jacob was deceived and tricked into marriage with the elder sister Leah.

On the eve of the wedding, Laban secretly substitutes Leah for Rachel. After the wedding festivities Jacob would awaken the next morning to realize that he had laid with Leah.
Laban also gave Zilpah his handmaid to Leah.
Furious Jacob agrees again to work yet another seven years for his beloved Rachel. And when Jacob agreed, Laban gave Jacob, Rachel to be his wife also. Laban also gave Rachel his handmade Bilhah.

At first neither Rachel nor Leah bore Jacob children. In those days, to be barren was regarded as a pathetic situation. However, in time, Adonai came to Leah’s rescue and healed her barrenness. Leah would birth four son’s one after another, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.
It would be Leah’s son “Judah” who would be chosen to take his place in the Messianic line.

Chapter 30, Rachel being barren gave her handmaid Bilhah, to give birth, she birth two sons Dan and Naphtali. Leah reciprocated by giving, Zilpah her handmaid and she bore Gad and Asher.
Leah bore two more sons, Issachar, and Zebulun. Rachel would finally birth to her own son, Jacob’s beloved Joseph.

Jacob’s family now consisted of eleven sons and one daughter Diana who Leah, birth. Rachel would latter give birth to Benjamin.

After Joseph was born, Jacob said unto Laban, send me away, that I may go … to my country. Jacob had worked out in full his debt to Laban. Laban didn’t want to lose his valuable servant.

Jacob agrees to continue working for Laban under certain conditions. Jacob asks that he be allowed to keep all the speckled and spotted animals from the flock.

Jacob then did something clever. Using selective breeding techniques, he made sure that more streaked, speckled, and spotted animals were born.

He also made sure that the stronger animals became his, and that the weaker ones went to Laban. Jacob becomes a very wealthy man!

The Lord tells Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers. Jacob tells Rachel and Leah how the Lord is leading him.

Jacob’s wives encourage him to follow what God tells him to do.
Jacob knows Laban has deceived him by changing his wages on ten occasions.

“It was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.

During his ride to overtake Jacob, God warns Laban not to harm Jacob.
After overtaking Jacob, Laban asks, “Why did you slip away secretly? … Why have you stolen my household gods?”

Jacob replies that Laban’s dishonesty caused him to leave but insists that he did not steal Laban’s gods.
Both men agree to an uneasy truce, building a pile of stones to serve as a visible reminder.

The next morning Leban kissed his children and departed to his home.

Chapter 32, Jacob goes on his way, when he left Beer-sheba. Now on his return, angels are there again. It’s as if they were saying you are protected.

In closing, the presence of the Lord was with Jacob, blessed him in every area of his life. Appeared to him, guided him, prospered him, protected him, and brought him back to his homeland. We should seek the presence of God all the days of our life. Then thank, praise, and glorify Him for what he has done.