Shemot "These are the Names...”

Today’s parasha portion is Shemot, which is the Hebrew name for the

book of Exodus, and with it we begin studying the book of Exodus,

chapters 1.1-6.1. This is a large portion for one week’s study, but it does

get the narrative going, "firing on all of its cylinders”. This well-known

story gives me encouragement, particular given what we share about

our trip below. Israel, with her covenant promises, was encountered by

an Egyptian potentate who "did not know Joseph” (Ex. 1.8). This is a

Hebrew idiom for a king who changed his foreign policy towards the

tribes of Israel from one of acceptance to one of open hostility with an

attempt to commit genocide.

In spite of the hellish existence that he created for the tribes of Israel:

"…as much as they (Egypt) would afflict them (Israel), so did they

(Israel) multiply and so did ...

>> full

Miketz "at the end of”

This week’s parasha reading is entitled ‘Miketz’, meaning ‘at the end

of [two full years]…’, and consists of Genesis 41.1-44.17.

It is one of the most heart-rending parts of the Bible. Our highlight is

when Joseph reveals who he is to his brothers, and finds out more

information about his estranged but beloved father, Israel. It is here

where we powerfully see that although God did not interfere with the

family’s history as it developed, even through the times of incredible

darkness (such as when Joseph was in a mud-pit prison), He brought

things to an incredible conclusion. Joseph was happy, the brothers

were happy, and Israel (that is, Jacob) was restored to life. (And he

was able to know his grandchildren Ephraim and Manasseh, whom he

adopted).

I was impressed by following Joseph’s attitude in our reading. When

he was set free from prison, he went ...

>> full

Vayeshev "and He lived”

Today’s Torah portion is "Vayeshev” ("And he lived”), comprising

Genesis 37.1-40.23. It is a portion in which there is a lot going on

underneath the surface. We encounter God working in history, while

doing so through the complicated and even quite painful dynamics of

His chosen family’s life. I have previously mentioned how the

language of the opening verses is a puzzle: "This is the account of

Jacob. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks

with his brothers…” (37.2).

As students of the Bible, we should ask, "Why does Jacob’s

‘account’ [‘family history’ in Hebrew] start with a description of

Joseph’s role and position in the family? The next verse notes: "Now

Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had

been born to him in his old age; and he made a striped robe for

him” (37.3). Why does ...

>> full

VaYishlach "and He sent”

Today we will study "VaYishlach”, (and He sent), which is Genesis

32.3-36.43.

While reading our portion this week, I was impressed with the

courage of Jacob. He recognized that he would have to risk

everything: his family, his wealth and their very lives, to enter the

region where the promises of God waited fulfillment for him. Yet he

agreed never to return to the land of Laban, where he had just been

for 20 years. Instead, he pushed on, through the danger and fear,

into his homeland, where God’s promises could take place for he and

his family (cf. Gen. 12.1-3). But to do this, he had to pass through

Edomite territory, where his insanely jealous brother Esau ruled. In

32.9, while crying out to God about the danger that awaited him, he

said:

"Then Jacob prayed, God of my father Avraham, and God of my

father Isaac, ...

>> full

Chayei Sarah "The Life of Sarah”

This Sabbath’s parasha portion is entitled "Chayei Sarah”, and

consists of Genesis 23.1-25.18. Our reading begins with the death of

Sarah, but focuses on the way in which a wife was found for Abraham

and Sarah’s special son, Isaac. We can understand what a crucial

choice this wife would be, in the day and age when parents arranged

marriages between families. Isaac did not choose a wife for himself.

He didn’t date young women, hoping to find his right match. The

responsibility to find a woman who could share the incredible

covenant promises given to Abraham and Sarah belonged to

Abraham; it was he who had to someway find a partner for his son,

to whom he could pass on the promises that God gave to him. The

value of the covenant promises make it easier to understand the

urgency that Abraham had in finding ...

>> full