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Parsha Page
Torah, Genesis 49:22-50:26
Joseph is a wild ass,
A wild ass by a spring – Wild colts on a hillside. We read the blessing of Ya’akov (Jacob) to the last two of his sons, Yosef and Binyamin. To both he foretold great vigor and power. Ya’akov instructs his sons to bury him the cave at Machpelah, where Avraham, Sarah, Yitzchak, Rebekhah and Leah are buried, and then he died. A large troop of Egyptian officials went with all of Ya’akovs household to bury Ya’akov. When the brothers return from burying Ya’akov in Kena’an, we see the lingering effects of sin, as the brothers go to Yosef and beg for forgiveness. He repeats that while they intended their actions as evil, Adonai turned it to good. Later, knowing they are only in Egypt temporarily, Yosef
reminds his brothers of the promise of God to take them to His promised land,
and in a foreshadowing of the Exodus, asks to have his bones carried out of
Egypt to Kena’an. He dies at the age of 110, leaving behind a great legacy of
descendants.
Eventually Yoseph’s bones
will be carried out by Moshe, and taken to Shechem, the same city where Yosef
had been sent to as a teenager to find his brothers.
Qeriath, Zechariah 14:1-11
This prophecy from Zechariah, one of the 3 last prophets of Isra’el,
begins with all the nations gathered together to make war against Yerushalayim.
The city will be captured, the women violated and most of the inhabitants will
go into exile. But always, there is a remnant, and Adonai will come and defend
Yerushalayim. There will be a cataclysmic rending of the Mount of Olives, with
the Mount splitting into two parts and a huge gorge in between. Yerushalayim
itself will be raised, and fresh water will flow from it.
In that day, Adonai will be recognized by all nations as Lord over all
the Earth, Yerushalayim will dwell in security.
Da'ath, Hebrews 11:11-22
The author continues his description
of the faith, the trusting, of the great people of old. Avraham trusted Adonoi,
going to an unknown place, but looking forward to a permanent city provided by
HaShem. Through his son, the promise was to be kept because Avraham (and
Yitz’chak!) had the faith to sacrifice Yitz’chak at Mount Moriah. Yitz’chak,
Ya’akov and Yosef all looked forward in faith, giving blessings to their sons
that trusted in the promises of HaShem.
Igarath, 1Peter 1:13-25
Kefa continues his message to Messianic Jews in the Diaspora; encouraging
them to keep themselves under control, ready to work, looking forward with their
hopes set fully on the gift that they will receive when Yeshua HaMashiach is
revealed. They, and we, are to become holy by following Adonai, turning from the
evil they did before they knew Yeshua as Messiah. We are to live out our lives on earth
with a fear of Adonai, with awareness of the great sacrifice that Yeshua gave on
our behalf. God knew Yeshua before the founding of the universe, but revealed
Him in this end of times for our sakes. Through trust in Yeshua, we have trust
in God. We now have been born of an eternal Word of God.
Conclusion
In Torah Yoseph looks forward to the Exodus, when Adonai will secure his
peoples safety from Mitzrayim (Egypt). Qeriath looks forward to a time of
security for Yerushalayim, provided by Adonoi. Da'ath shows the great men and
women of old looking forward to the blessings promised by Adonoi. Igarath
reminds us to maintain our purity, looking forward to receiving the promises of
HaShem.
At the end of each book of
Torah we say,
Barukh HaShem,
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Shalom