Parsha Page

  Shalom
  to you,

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

Parsha 11:  Wayigash - And He Drew Near


Torah:  Genesis 44:18-47:27

    44:18 "Then Judah came near to him and said: “O my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s hearing, and do not let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even like Pharaoh."

    Last weeks Parsha ended with Joseph's pronouncement that he was keeping Benjamin as a slave for stealing his wine goblet. Judah steps forward and offers himself as a slave instead of Benjamin, for the benefit of his father.

    In chapter 45, Joseph could no longer contain himself. He clears the room of all Egyptians and reveals his identity to his brothers. His first questions are about his father. But he quickly reassures them, and perhaps helps allay their quilt concerning their actions when in verse 5 he tells them not to be distressed, but that it was God’s plan to send him ahead to prepare a way for his family.

    Pharaoh joins Joseph in sending the brothers back to bring Jacob and the entire household to Egypt, promising them the best of the land.

    Initially Jacob could not believe that Joseph was still alive, but eventually travels to Egypt. As chapter 46 begins, Jacob stops at Beer-sheba to sacrifice to God in thanks. There, God speaks with Jacob, telling him not to be afraid to go to Egypt. Hashem promises to be travel with him, and to surely bring him out again.

    All those that traveled are listed, 70 in total. When Jacob arrived in Goshen as Joseph arranged, the father and son are united amidst great tears. The family stays in Goshen as shepherds, who were abhorrent to the Egyptians. This provided them a sense of isolation, and they believed that would reduce the amount of influence the Egyptian culture would have on them during their stay.

    The last verse of the reading is 47:27 “Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt in the region of Goshen; they acquired property in it and they were fruitful and multiplied greatly.” During this same time Joseph acquired all the property of the Egyptians for Pharoah.


Haftarah:  Ezekiel 37:15-28

    In the Torah reading, we have seen tears shed when Joseph and Benjamin were reunited. In the Haftarah portion, we hear Ezekiel, one of the main prophets of the Destruction, assuring the people of the eventual unification of the entire nation of Israel.

    Joseph was the father of Ephraim, leader of the Ten Tribes that became the northern nation of Israel. Benjamin’s descendants remained loyal to the Davidic dynasty of Judah and stayed with them in the southern nation known as Judah. So, the family, or nation, was divided.

    We now see that their reunion in Egypt had been a precursor to that reunification of the divided nation foretold by Ezekiel.

    Verse 16 tells us "Now you, son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, 'Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.' Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, 'Ephraim's stick, belonging to Joseph and all the house of Israel associated with him.' 17 Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand.

    The Israelites ask Ezekiel what this means. Verses 21-23 tell us 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. 23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

    Verse 27 – 28 give us the final words of this reading; 27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.'"


Chadasha:  Colossians 1:1-29

    In this chapter, Rav Shaul writes as an emissary of the Messiah Yeshua, to faithful brothers in the Messiah. He is encouraging them to live lives worthy of the Lord, pleasing to Him. To be fruitful in good works, and to persevere, and in verse 12 “…giving thanks to the Father for having made you fit to share in the inheritance of his people in the light. He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.”

    Verse 21-22 say “ In other words, you, who at one time were separated from God and had a hostile attitude towards him because of your wicked deeds, he has now reconciled in the Son’s physical body through his death; in order to present you holy and without defect or reproach before himself…”

    So we see in Torah a separation of Joseph from Jacob because of sinful deeds of the brothers. Followed by a reunion provided by Hashem.

    In the Haftarah, division of the nation of Israel, because of the sinful deeds of the people. Followed by a glorious reunion provided by Hashem.

    In the Khadasha, our separation from God because of our sinful deeds. Followed by a reconciliation provided by Hashem through the faithfulness of Yeshua HaMasheach.

    God would have us unified and reconciled to Him. He has provided the only way –for Joseph and Jacob, for the nation of Israel, and for us - through belief in Yeshua.

    Only from God can this come ... and it has.

    Are we truly united in thought and deed? Are we each truly reconciled to God Himself?


Baruch Hashem,
George Robinson