Parsha Page

  Shalom
  to you,

Wellsprings of Torah,  www.TorahWellsprings.org
Rick Wills - Messianic Elder,  Mishareth@TorahWellsprings.org

Parsha 7:  Wayetze - And He Went Out


Torah:  Genesis 28:10 - 32:3

    Genesis 28:10-12, "Ya’akov went out from Be’er-Sheva and traveled toward Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed the night there, because the sun had set. He took a stone from the place, put it under his head and lay down there to sleep. He dreamt that there before him was a ladder resting on the ground with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of Adonai were going up and down on it."

    As this Parsha begins, we find Ya’akov (Jacob) going into exile because of the troubles between him and Esau. He is heading towards Haran to stay with his uncle, Laban. On the way, Adonai brings him to a particular place in order to have a particular meeting.

    The sages teach us that this is the same place where Abraham years earlier had bound Isaac, Mt. Moriah. This is also where, even later, the temple would stand. It would later become the site where Yeshua’s (Jesus) sacrifice paid the price in full for all of man-kind.

    There are a number of interpretations of Ya’akovs dream. They all have in common, however, the implication that this ladder represents God’s provision for man to connect with Him. The angels are God’s agents, descending the ladder to carry out His will on earth, and then returning to receive His directions. Ya’akov and the Jewish nation, however, are under the direct guidance of God, Who is atop the ladder.

    The next verses are Adonai communicating with Ya’akov, reiterating the promise that was made first to Abraham, then to Yitzchak, (Isaac) and now to Ya’akov. He also promises that He will be with Ya’akov wherever he goes, and He will bring Ya’akov back to this land.

    In Chapter 29, we witness again a meeting at a well that results in a marriage. As Ya’akov approaches a well, three flocks of sheep are already there, but they will wait until all the flocks are gathered before moving the rock off the mouth of the well to water the sheep. And Rachel, the daughter of Laban, Rebecca’s brother, approaches with Labans flock.

    Eventually, Laban and Ya’akov arrange for Rachel to be given to Ya’akov in marriage, after Ya’akov works for Laban for seven years. But, Laban tricks Ya’akov into marrying his older daughter, Leah instead! Because he loves Rachel, Ya’akov agrees to work for another seven years to marry her.

    Leah soon has four sons by Ya’akov, while Rachel is barren. In chapter 30, we see the two wives giving their maidservants to Ya’akov to have more children. In this way, four more of the sons of Ya’akov are born. Following that, Leah has two more sons and a daughter. Finally, Rachel is remembered by God, He opens her womb and she bears Yoseph and Benyamin.

    After Yosef is born, Ya’akov asks his leave of Laban. He desires to return to his fathers' home. He asks for his wives, children, and compensation for all the work he has done for Laban.

    Laban acknowledges that he has been blessed because of Ya’akov, but continues to try to cheat him out of his fair share of the flocks that prospered under Ya’akovs care. Arrangements are made, but ultimately Ya’akov flees from Laban. Just prior to leaving, Rachel takes the idols from her father’s tents, which she has to lie about later.

    Eventually Laban pursues Ya’akov, but God warns Laban not to harm Ya’akov. After a tense confrontation, they form a treaty and Ya’akov heads toward home.


Haftarah:  Hosea 12:13-14:10

    In Hosea, the prophet reminds the people of Israel of their Patriarch, Ya’akov, and how he had to flee from Esau. He also reminded the people of the faithfulness of God.

    In a connection with to Torah reading, Hosea reminds us that Adonai punished Ya’akov for his misdeeds, but also remembered him during his ordeals. He was also with the people while they were in Egypt, and He brought them out.

    Ephraim committed bitter sins, and provoked God to anger. The judgments described in Chapter 13 are terrible. However, Chapter 14 verse 2 we read “Return, Israel, to Adonai your God, for your guilt has made you stumble”. This is followed by assurances that if they would repent, they would be restored with God.

    The return of the Jewish people from exile will be a beautiful sight, and is the subject of chapter 14. In another connection with the Torah reading, we see the reestablishment of the connection of man to God, in the form of the Jewish nation.


Chadasha:  John 1:19-51

    Here we read of Yeshua finding Philip and Nathaniel, and calling them to follow him, to become His disciples.

    Yeshua declares to Nathaniel, in verse 51 “Yes indeed! I tell you that you will see heaven opened and the angel of God going up and coming down on the Son of Man!”

    In Genesis, the connection of God with Man is shown by a ladder with angels ascending and descending. In the Haftarah we see the reconnection with the Jewish nation through their repentance and turning to God. In the Brit Khadasha, we see Yeshua as the arbiter of that connection. Indeed, He is the only way for us to approach Adonai, and even then it must be through repentance, just as Hosea told the Jewish nation.


Baruch Hashem,
George Robinson