VAYESHEV – AND HE DWELLED

Torah Portion:  Genesis 37:1 through Genesis 40:23
Haftarah Portion:  Amos 2:6-3:8
New Testament Portion:  Matthew 27: 28-29, John 10:11, John 19:24

After devoting a mere chapter to the genealogy of Esau, the Torah returns to the object of its narrative, the called and chosen who are destined to become the Bride of Yeshua and the light of the world.

Jacob lived in the land of his father’s sojournings, in the land of Canaan. (Gen 37:1)

Unlike Esau, who departed Canaan and settled in the land of the Horites, Jacob dwelled in Eretz Israel, albeit as a sojourner, just like his father and grandfather.   No doubt, after all of Jacob’s trouble and turmoil, he is ready for peace and quiet.   But, it is not to be.   The family must descend to Egypt to fulfill the purposes of God.   Recall that God told Abraham his descendants would be in bondage for four hundred years.

Vayetse – and he left

Torah Portion: Genesis 28:10 through Genesis 32:3
Haftarah: Hosea 12:13 through Hosea 14:10
New Testament: Mat 21:42, Mat 27:57 through Mat 28:6, Luke 1:33, John 1:45-51

Rebecca Instructs Jacob to go to her brother Laban for safety.

Last week, in Toldot, after falling into Rebekah’s snare, Jacob was forced to flee for his life from his brother, Esau.  Before sending him away, Isaac granted the blessing intended for Jacob all along.

Toldot – Generations

Torah Portion: Genesis 25:19 through Genesis 28:9
Haftarah: Malachi 1:1-2:7
New Testament: Mat 25:31-46, James 3:6

Meeting of Isaac and Rebecca, by Friedrich Bouterwek (1841) – Rebekah will fall off that camel any minute!

We ended last week with a glorious love story. Abraham’s servant found the perfect bride for Isaac and she readily agreed to “come out from among them and be ye separate.”  (2 Co 6:17)  Rebekah fell off her camel when she caught sight of her betrothed and, as soon as the bride made herself ready, the captivated Isaac ushered the beautiful virgin into Sarah’s tent and made her his wife.  It was then that he loved her and was comforted after Sarah’s death.  However, it soon became clear that, like Abraham and Sarah, the couple would struggle with infertility.