Parsha Page
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to you,
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Rick Wills - Messianic Elder,
Mishareth@TorahWellsprings.org
Sidra
Overview
The Ancient Triennial Sedarim
Sidra 30
Beith-El, House of God
Torah, Genesis 35:1-29
God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel (Beith El) and remain there;
and build an altar to the God who appeared to you when you were fleeing from
your brother Esau."
Chapter 35 shows God telling Ya'akov to return to Beth-el, the place where he
had his vision of the angels going up and down the ladder to heaven. There, Ya'akov has the people discard
all of their foreign gods and purify themselves, as he planned to build an altar
to recognize that Adonai has been with him wherever he has gone. As they travel,
God caused a terror to fall upon those nearby so they would not attack Ya’akov.
Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried at Beith El.
Adonai appeared to Ya’akov, blessed him, assigning the promises made to Avraham
and Yitz’chak to Ya’akov, and changed his name to Isra’el.
As they again travel, this time to Bethlehem, his last son, Benjamin, is born,
and Rachel dies during childbirth.
Perhaps this a fulfillment of Ya’akov’s oath to Laban, that the one that stole
his idols would not live. At the end of Yitz'chaks life, his sons reunite to
bury him.
Qeriath, Isaiah 43:1-21
Adonai promises that He will deliver Isra’el, the people that are the
promise to Ya’akov, even though they have sinned against Him. The exiles are
comforted, but they still do not understand their part in bringing glory to
Adonoi. Adonai goes on to promise that He will always be with them, as Ya’akov
discovered.
Da'ath, James 1:19-26
Ya'akov continues his letter to the Jews in the Diaspora, encouraging
them to persevere under temptation. We must recognize that God never sends that
temptation, but instead the temptation comes from our own desires. That desire
entices us, then gives birth to sin, which gives birth to death. We are told to
see that all good things come from God, including Yeshua, His perfect Word. We
are commanded to rid ourselves of all our vulgarity and evil, accepting the Word
in our lives. And Ya'akov tells us to act upon what we have been told; doing the
good that is part of our observance of Torah.
And Igarath tells us to faithfully follow Torah, turning our faith into
action performing the commands that give us freedom and fulfillment. Then we
will be in a full, joyful relationship with Adonoi, in His presence, praising
Him through our actions.
Igarath,
Hebrews 12:18-28
The author has been instructing the people how to live holy lives. Now he tells
them to seek Adonai's grace, for they have come to Yerushalayim, the City of
God. He contrasts the light and peace of the Kingdom of God with the fire,
murkiness and thundering sounds that accompanied the giving of the Ten Words on
Mount Sinai. Then, the people were filled with dread, afraid to hear more. Now,
after the sacrifice and resurrection of Yeshua, we should not reject the grace
of Adonoi, who will shake the earth one more time, and heaven along with it! But
His Kingdom is unshakeable! We are to seek His grace, through which we may offer
service that is pleasing to God. This is through Yeshua, the mediator of this
new covenant.
Conclusion
Torah shows Ya’akov acknowledging the provision of Adonai, and Adonai blessing
Ya’akov, and providing a Land for Isra’el.
In Qeriath Adonai promises to continue protecting and providing for the people
of Isra’el. Da'ath tells us that we are to act upon the mitzvoth contained in
Torah, and we will be blessed with Adonai’s prescence. Igarath tells us to
accept the grace of Adonoi, and enter His unchanging Kingdom, with Yeshua as the
mediator of this new covenant.
Barukh HaShem,
George Robinson