This is an overview of the 30th Reading of our 3-year Torah Reading Cycle. It is found in Genesis/Beresheit 31:3-32:2.
I use the Hebrew names of the patriarchs throughout this post. And just to familiarize you with the names so as to not cause any confusion:
Ya’achov=Jacob
Yitschaq-Isaac
Avraham=Abraham
Beresheit=Genesis
Devarim=Deuteronomy
Y’shua/Yeshua/Yahoshua=Jesus
Yah/Yehovah/El/Elohim/Abba Father=God, the Creator of the Universe
Halachah=Torah living; walking out the Creator’s instructions in righteousness
Teshuvah=Repent and Return to the Father and His Way of Life
Yehudah=Judah
Mishkan=Temple
Ruach HaKodesh=Holy Spirit
The Command is Given for Ya’achov to Return to His Father’s House–As we too are called to return (Teshuvah) to our Father’s House
31:3–Yah instructs Ya’achov to return to Canaan-the land of his fathers. And in him doing so, Yah declares that He would be with Him. Now, this hearkens back to Genesis/Beresheit 28:10-15–Ya’achov’s dream at Bethel as he journeyed to Laban’s place where he’d ultimately meets and marries his uncle’s two daughters. But in that dream at Bethel, Ya’achov receives a vision of heavenly things: Angels ascending and descending a stairway with Yehovah positioned at the top of the stairway. And it is here in this vision that Abba reaffirms with him that same covenant He’d made with his father (Yitschaq) and grandfather (Avraham): Ya’achov being given the land in which he rested upon that night. The giving of the land upon which he slept to him and his offspring; his offspring numbering as the dust of the earth and covering the whole of the earth (not just his biological descendants but those who would be grafted into the commonwealth of his covenant blessings through the Person and Ministries of Y’shua Messiah and Abba Plan of Salvation-Restoration-Redemption). And Abba declares unto Ya’achov His divine protection and oversight–behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land as He would not leave him until He’d done what He, Yah, had promised him. So then, the Avrahamic Covenant is perpetuated in this least likely of a soul–Ya’achov. And this just goes to show us that Yah chooses those with whom He will establish His covenant. In this particular case, one of the most important covenants to have ever been established between Yah and His human creation, the Avrahamic Covenant, Yah chose of Yitschaq’s two sons, Ya’achov.
In honor of that encounter, Ya’achov took the stone upon which his head rested as he dreamed, anointed it with oil, and set it as a pillar unto Yah. And it was then and there that Ya’achov vowed to serve Yah from that point forward in his life. He affirms the name of the place as Bethel (aka, Beit-El–House of God) as the place where Yah’s house stood and that he would tithe unto Yah all his increase (Beresheit 28:20-22).
Ya’achov Convenes a Family Meeting to Discuss His Need to Return to His Father’s House
So, Ya’achov is being sent back home by Yah, along with all that he had received and been blessed with. And he is being sent home in the midst of relational stresses that had grown between him and his uncle Laban. So, in 31:4 Ya’achov calls a family meeting, and he regales to them his experiences under Laban’s roof: The tables being turned, the once conniving Ya’achov recalls how his uncle has mistreated him over the years through cheating and deception. Yet, he recognizes how Yah was with him throughout. Yet, throughout Ya’achov’s difficult years under Laban’s mistreatment, Yah turns Laban’s foolishness around, only to expand Ya’achov’s material blessings.
Yah Will Flip the Script in Order to Fulfill His Will and Perpetuate His Plan in the Earth
This is a key principle that carries over to all of Yah’s people. As noted by Yosef to his once conniving brothers: “ye thought evil against me, but Yah meant it unto good…” (Gen. 50:20). Rav Shaul wrote to the Messianic Assemblies in Rome that “all things work together for good to them that love Yah, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (8:28). He also wrote similarly to the Messianics in Philippi that: “…the things which happened to me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel” (1:12). Of the captive Babylonian Jews, Yah, through Yermiyahu wrote: “…Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Yehudah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. For I will set My eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: And I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up” (24:5-6). Indeed, as mentioned by Moshe to the second generation of Hebrews who would enter the Promised Land: “Who (Yah) led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was not water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that He might humble thee, and that He might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end” (Devarim 8:15-16). Yah may allow certain tumultuous events to overtake us in order to humble us and prepare us to receive His Kingdom. So, we must meet affliction when it comes with the understanding that it serves a divine purpose in our lives. Whether that purpose is to humble us, teach us principles and ways; or to correct, reprove and instruct us, Yah ultimately has our backs, and He will ultimately deliver and prosper us.
Yehovah is the Elohim that Sees
I personally found 31:12 particularly interesting. Ya’achov tells his wives that in addition to Yah protecting and prospering him against all human odds, Yah also told him that “He’d seen all that Laban was doing to him.” Upon reading this verse, I was immediately taken back to Hagar’s, Sarai’s handmaid’s story, whereby after she has a run-in with her mistress, runs away into the wilderness. She is confronted by the Angel of Yah who comforts her, tells her about the child she was bearing, and ultimately instructs her to return to her mistress and submit to her. Amazed by this miraculous event, Hagar referred to Yah as El Roi (aka, “the Elohim of seeing”), and the place where the encounter occurred as Beer-lahai-roi. And this just goes hand-in-hand with Yah’s sovereign and capable protection of those whom Yah loves. For He sees what His chosen ones are going through and in accordance with His Will and Plans, He protects and delivers them.
Now, that protection and deliverance may not be in the manner in which we would expect or envision. But He does ultimately see us as His chosen ones, and He does have our backs in one form or another.
Ya’achov’s Family is Unified, Furthering the Perpetuation of the Covenant
In 31:14, the sisters, Rachel and Leah, Laban’s only children that are mentioned here: He has no sons in which to pass on an inheritance, acknowledge unto Ya’achov that their father had indeed married them off to him, forfeiting any inheritance they’d be entitled to. However, as it stood, all the wealth that would have been Laban’s, their father, miraculously and serendipitously went to Ya’achov their husband. So, they rightly reasoned that their secure and prosperous future rested with him. And thus, they encouraged Ya’achov to obey Yah’s instructions that he return to his homeland of Canaan (31:16).
An Excellent Lesson on Marriages in the Midst of Being in Covenant with Yah
The thing about this section of the reading that resonates with me is the example that Ya’achov provides those of us who are married while walking out this covenant relationship we have with Yah. Ya’achov received instructions from Yah to return to the Land of his Father Yitschaq and Avraham. By all convention, Ya’achov could have done a number of things to follow suit. But he chose to do the right thing. He called a family meeting and laid the situation out to his wives, involving them in the decision making process. It wasn’t that Ya’achov was handing over to them the power to make the ultimate decision as to whether he would obey Yah. But rather, Ya’achov chose to involve his wives in his covenant relationship with Yah. This is huge. For it tells us that, even though we may be in covenant relationship with the Most High, we still have natural responsibilities that we must attend to. In this case, he had to make sure that his wives were onboard with what he was about to do in connection with the covenant he had with Yehovah. Ya’achov didn’t only have his wives to deal with in connection with the covenant requirements that stood before him. He also had 12-sons through Rachel and Leah that would become inextricable elements of the covenant that had to be brought into his decision to leave Laban’s house for the Land of his fathers.
I guess this story, in many ways, should serve as a reminder to each of us, that the covenant relationship we enjoy and possess with Father Yah, at any given time may only be between Yah and us as individuals. However, the mantle–the burden–the responsibility–the function–the capacity of that covenant relationship often extends over to our spouses and our children. For the sanctity of marriage and the family is not abolished when we enter into covenant relationship with Yah. In fact, our marriages and families become all the more relevant and significant elements of our lives and walk with Messiah that we must always pay close attention to.
Our Master, Yahoshua, strongly upheld the sanctity and importance of marriage, even in the life of a disciple (Matthew 19:8). Rav Shaul, wrote a great many things about this particular situation, encouraging his reader’s wives to submit to their husbands as fitting in Yah, and husbands to love their wives as they love their own bodies, treating them with all due respect (Ephesians 5:22-28; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Timothy 3:11). Shimon Keefa (aka Peter) likewise admonished his readers wives to be subject to their own husbands and husbands to be understanding and honoring to their wives (1 Peter 3:1-7). All the while, Rav Shaul reminds us that ultimately, we have a responsibility to uphold our part of the covenant relationship we enjoy and hold with Abba Father. We have to be subject to Yah in every respect and in every aspect of our covenant relationship with Him (1 Corinthians 7:29-40). Shaul emphasizes in this particular passage that we are not ruled or influenced by our spouses as it relates to our covenant relationship with Yah. However, we must learn how to put our married lives in proper, Godly perspective. We are compelled to do the right thing as it relates to our marriages in association with our covenant relationship with Yah. Yah must come first. But we must also respect our marriages for what they are: Yah-sanctioned institutions that must be dealt with appropriately and respectfully.
In the case of our reading today, Ya’achov illustrated this very understanding by bringing his wives into his decision to obey Yah. He loved and respected them such that he involved them in his determination to obey Yah. In other words, Ya’achov laid out to Rachel and Leah Yah’s instructions to them, and he left it up to them to fall in line with his intent to obey. Ya’achov put the situation of his wives in the hands of Yah, and everything worked out the way Yah intended it to work out. As did Ya’achov, we are compelled as covenant keepers, to operate in covenant within the framework Yah has placed us, doing everything therein decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40). If by chance our spouses refuse to get onboard, we have to obey Yah in the end. So, we first take the situation to Yah and petition Him to intercede. If things don’t go as they should–that is, our spouses refuse to come around, then we walk on in obedience unto Yah, and leave the fallout in Yah’s capable hands to sort out and to properly direct our paths. For if we acknowledge Yah, He will direct our paths accordingly (Proverbs 3:6).
Ya’achov’s Family Flees Laban’s House with Laban in Hot Pursuit
And so, when Laban had left his home to shear his flocks, Ya’achov collected all that Yah had blessed him with, including his wives Rachel and Leah, his sons, and his livestock and headed back to Canaan (31:17-20).
And we find as this Reading progresses forward that indeed, Abba Father did have Ya’achov’s back. For Ya’achov faced at the time of his return to Canaan, two formidable foes he had to contend with: Laban his uncle, who would not be the least bit happy that Ya’achov had stole away from his home along with his married daughters and grandsons and Ya’achov’s material possessions. And secondly, Ya’achov knew he’d have to contend with his brother Esav, whom he had previously taken his birthright and blessing.
Laban’s people informed him three-days into Ya’achov’s flight that he’d departed Laban’s home, which prompted Laban’s pursuit of him (31:21-27). Laban caught up with Ya’achov seven days later, but not before Yah warned had warned him of his behavior towards Ya’achov (31:24). So then, at their meeting, we find two-tricksters coming to terms with their respective hijinks. It’s quite a scene to behold to say the least.
Laban Confronts Ya’achov
Laban proceeds to tell Ya’achov of his encounter with Yehovah, whom he described as the “El of your father” (31:29). This I found interesting, but not surprising. All along there was this false sense that maybe Laban feared the Elohim of Avraham and Yitschaq. But we find in 31:19 that while Laban was away back at the ranch, shearing his sheep, that Rachel stole her father’s idols. And so, we find clearly spelled out here in this section of our Reading that Yah will deal directly with those who are not His; who are not in covenant with Him. And He does so in accordance with His Will and Plan. Yet, we have no indication that Laban even honored the El of Avraham and Yitschaq. But Laban certainly recognized and respected Yah enough to heed Yah’s warning that he, Laban, not harm Ya’achov.
Evidence of a Pantheon of Gods in Ya’achov’s Day
And this just cements further in my mind the reality of the pantheon of gods that the ancients recognized back in their day. The spiritual side of life was just as real to them as the physical side. And they lived their lives within the framework of that reality. Today, as it relates to us, the vast majority of folks in this world are insensitive to the realities spirit realm, including denominationalists. Most of them have absolutely no thought as to the entities that populate the spirit realm, much less acknowledge and fear the El of Avraham, Yitschaq, and Ya’achov. Which in and of itself is a very dangerous place to be found in. For when one is oblivious as to the realities of the spirit realm, he or she is effectively subject to the whims and controls of the spirit realm. In particular, the whims and control of the bad side of the spirit realm. Of this, Rav Shaul wrote:
(1) And you were dead in the trespasses and sins (2) in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience, (3) among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind (Ephesians 2).
Furthermore, this passage reveals to us that Yah will directly intercede in the affairs of those who seek to harm His covenant-people. Today, such encounters may not be evident to those affected. But Yah will do what He needs to in order to protect His chosen ones and further His will and purpose in the earth. Let us not be blind to that truth.
Laban Seeks to Gain an Upper Hand Against Ya’achov
So, knowing that Yehovah had restricted him from dealing harshly with Ya’achov regarding his abrupt departure from his home, Laban chooses to deal with Ya’achov from the perspective of the idols that he believed Ya’achov had stolen from him. We know, however, that it was Rachel who stole those idols. (31:30). And so it was under this pretense that Laban invaded the privacy of Ya’achov’s camp, searching for the stolen idols. But to no avail did Laban find the idols. And it is as a result of his failure to prove the accusations Laban leveled at Ya’achov that Ya’achov berated his uncle’s intrusive and malicious behavior toward someone who had served him and his household for twenty-years (31:38).
Ya’achov Justifies Himself Before Laban
Despite Ya’achov being a trickster or fraudster in his own right, Ya’achov regaled his 20-years of service to Laban’s house. And during those 20-years, Ya’achov rightly asserted to Laban that he served him with honor and honesty and truth, despite Ya’achov himself being abused and mistreated by Laban (Gen. 29; 31:41). All virtues consistent with the ideals of one who is in covenant with the Most High El (31:38-42).
Yah’s Covenant-Will-Plan Always Prevails
Stymied by the hand he’d been dealt by Ya’achov’s Yah-ordained situation–Ya’achov being blessed with family and material wealth that originated from Laban starting 20-years prior–Laban invites Ya’achov, his son-in-law, to enter into a covenant with him (31:44). And that covenant would serve as a sign of peace between he and Ya’achov. And so, in memorial of this event, Laban and Ya’achov gathered stones and erected a mound and ate a covenant meal at the place they vowed the covenant. The name of the place Ya’achov called “Galeed” and “Mizpah” (31:48-49). And these two swore peace towards one another to the names of their respective elohim (31:53). I find it interesting and telling that Laban swore to the God of Avraham and the god of Nahor, Avraham’s father, and the gods of their fathers. Again, evidence of the pantheon of gods that were worshiped by the ancients of that day.
And true to Ya’achov’s upbringing, he offered a sacrifice to commemorate the covenant between he and Laban (31:54). And the next morning, Laban blessed his grandson and kissed his daughters, and departed.
Also, Ya’achov broke camp and departed Galeed, arriving next at a place with angelic activity (32:1-2).
Practical Messianic Halachah
From a practical, Messianic, halachic sense, I find this Reading to be illustrative of the lifestyle and behavior that we who are in covenant with the Almighty are called to. Each of come into covenant with Yah with a ton of personal baggage that Yah has to strip away in order to make of us any true value to Him in His work and plan and will in the earth. In Ya’achov’s case, Yah had to humble Ya’achov. And it took 20-years to humble him. In that 20-years, Yah blessed him materially and family-wise. Most importantly, Father Yah officially declared to him that He was chosen to perpetuate the covenant that He’d made with his father Avraham and Yitschaq.
In our respective walks in Messiah, we are similarly called to a process of humbling. That humbling is what we could refer to as the sanctification process. The sanctification process may take a lifetime in which to be completed. But it is a process that each of us must go through in order to enter the Kingdom of Yah an to receive Yah’s eternal blessings. Because of Yeshua’s sacrifice and intercessory ministry in the heavenly mishkan, we can now answer Yah’s call to enter into covenant with Him and to have a true and substantive relationship with Him. His Holy Spirit (i.e., His Ruach HaKodesh) will humble us and over time, inscribe Yah’s Words–His Torah–upon the fleshly tables of our hearts, so that we will walk in Yah’s Ways without reservation or inhibition. We learn to love Yah and His Ways. And we see the world around us, as Yah sees it. And we effectively image Yehovah, Creator of the Universe, in view of the pantheon of gods that rule over this earth and that enslave the hearts and souls of humanity. Yah be praised and receive the glory and honor He so justly deserves!
Shabbat Shalom. Shavu’atov. Take care beloved.