Vayishlach/And He Sent
Genesis 32:3-36:43
HafTorah Obadiah 1:1-21
Brit Chadasha Matthew 26:36-46

    Worldly affairs, people, culture and customs morph myths into facts. Facts become obscure, while myths become the truth. The definition of a myth: “A myth is a genre of folklore or theology consisting primarily of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. For folklorists, historians, philosophers or theologians this is very different from the use of "myth" which simply meaning something that is not true. Instead, the truth value of a myth is not a defining criterion. Myths are often endorsed by secular and religious authorities and are closely linked to religion.” 
    As Torah observant believers in Yeshua, we rely on the Torah, the written word of God, to reveal and delete the myths in our lives.  We lean not on our own understanding: Proverbs 3:5-6, therefore trusting and cleaving to the truth: Psalm 119:160 and John 17:17. 
     Today, more than any other time, we are living in a world of myths to the degree of insanity. Good has become evil, and evil has been forced upon us as something good, something true and something proper. The myths of evil have morphed into a sense of logic, however unrealistic it truly is. 
    This Torah portion begins with very realistic emotions from Jacob. He was about to come face to face with his brother, Esau, whom Jacob had deceived, knowing that Esau had vowed to kill him. Jacob is responsible for his entire camp; servants, women, children and livestock, which he divides and separates before he encounters Esau and his men. 
    In Genesis 32:9-12 Jacob reminds God of His promise to him, meanwhile showing extreme humility regarding the gifts of kindness and prosperity that God has bestowed upon him. The Scripture in Genesis 32:7 states that Jacob was in distress and fearful. 
    In the rest of chapter 32, Jacob overcomes again as he wrestles with an unknown source. His name at that very moment is changed to Israel, Genesis 32:28. 
   The facts are that Jacob, as the man was in distress to encounter Esau. But moments later, he wrestles with the Messenger who changes his name to Israel after he overcomes and he is stronger for it. His name is changed to represent the land, the dust, the rocks, the water, the people, the Word, and the very ground of El Shaddai. No one else ever had their name changed to represent that piece of earth, the place that God chose, the place and the people of God. No one has ever been named Mr. Gaza, or Mr. United States. No man ever wrestled with The Messenger and had their name changed to Canada or Iraq or Palestine.  Except for the man Jacob, one of the three patriarchs, undeniable and factually had his name changed to Israel by the Creator of the Earth, YHWH. 
    In Genesis 33:4, the two brothers meet. It states that Esau embraced his brother and kissed him on the neck. However, that Hebrew word for kiss in the Torah has six dots above each Hebrew letter.  These dots represent the teeth marks of Esau: the hate and the evil towards his brother Jacob.  Esau made a vow to kill Jacob in Genesis 27:41, a vow which he never rescinded. 
    In Genesis 35, Dinah is assaulted by Shechem, a Hittite, who later claims he loved her, and asks for her to be his wife. Is rape a form of love? The Scroll of Yasher states that Shechem’s soul became ‘fixed upon Dinah’. It states that he seized her forcibly, violated her, then placed her in his house’.  Was this love or a trophy for Shechem.  Jacob sends twelve of his men to retrieve Dinah, but ‘Shechem drove them away and would not suffer them to come get Dinah, but Shechem was sitting with her kissing and embracing her before their eyes.’ The myth would be that he loved her, but we see from the Scroll of Yasher he was parading her in front of her family as his trophy. 
    In Genesis 34, God again reiterates the Name Israel: ‘Then God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Padan Aram, and blessed him. 10 And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.” So He called his name Israel. 11 Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. 12 The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land.” 13 Then God went up from him in the place where He talked with him. 14 So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it. 15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel.’ Genesis 35:9-15.
    Vayishlach ends with the history of Esau’s lineage. The very last sentence, Genesis 36:43, states that Esau was the father of the Edomites. 
   Some very popular myths from religions have been taken as the truth for centuries are:
    1. Yeshua was born in a barn and slept in a manger in the winter on December 25. Truth:  It was fall, Sukkot. December 25 was settled upon by Church officials at the end of the third century because they wanted the date to coincide with existing pagan festivals honoring Saturn (the Roman god of agriculture) and Mithra (the Persian god of light). Thus, making it easier to convince Rome’s pagan subjects to accept Christianity as the empire’s official religion. 
    2. The Christmas Tree represents the cross upon which Jesus was crucified, also a symbol of good will and love. Truth: The Christmas tree began as a pagan tradition as early as the fourth century C.E. European pagans were largely responsible for dressing their homes with the branches of evergreen fir trees in order to bring color and light into their dull winters. But pagans weren't the only people to do this. Romans also used the branches for decoration during the festival of Saturnalia, which took place from December 17 to December 23 in honor of the god, Saturn. During the time of Jeremiah, trees were decorated, which the prophet warns against in Jeremiah 10:1-5.
    3. Eve ate an apple. Truth: Genesis 3:6 states simply fruit, probably a pomegranate. 
    4. The Trinity. Truth: The word Trinity is never mentioned in Scripture.
    5. Love the sinner; hate the sin. Truth: This phrase is never mentioned in Scripture.
    6. The phrase “God won’t give you more than you can handle” is not in Scripture. Truth: In fact, in 
2 Corinthians 1:8 Paul states: ‘For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.’ Paul goes on to say he lived because he didn’t trust in himself, but God who delivered him.
   7. Easter is the resurrection day of ‘Jesus’. Truth: Yeshua rose after the Sabbath, (Saturday Eve). Easter has roots in ancient pagan traditions that date back thousands of years. One central theme of Easter is rebirth and renewal. In ancient pagan traditions, the spring equinox was a time for celebrating the return of the sun and the renewal of life on earth. Many cultures held festivals and ceremonies to mark the arrival of spring, involving offerings to gods and goddesses associated with fertility, growth, and abundance.
    8. The Sabbath was changed to Sunday. Truth: several verses in the Brit Chadasha validate Shabbat. One such verse is Luke 4:16. Sunday was implemented by Constatine on March 7, 321 AD.
    9. The ‘Old Testament’ was done away with. Truth: the Tanakh is often quoted in the Brit Chadasha especially by Yeshua and Rabbi Shaul.
    10. Once saved, always saved. This quote is not in Scripture. Truth: John 3:15, 5:24, Romans 8:1, etc. state that Yeshua gives us eternal life. However, nothing can force us to separate ourselves from God except us. HaSatan suggested to Eve. He didn’t make her; she choose. The Book of Hebrews debunks this myth: Hebrews 6:4-6, 10:26-47, and Hebrews 10:38-39. 
    Myths can easily become the truth. Only through The Truth of Scripture can we debunk the myths and lies that may hold us captive.  

 

Vayishlach/And He Sent
Genesis 32:3-36:43
HafTorah Obadiah 1:1-21
Brit Chadasha Matthew 26:36-46

    Vayishlach is rich in events that have a common theme, which seems to be a conflict of good versus evil, light versus dark and flesh versus spirit.
     In the beginning of this parsha, Jacob is about to meet his brother Esau. Genesis 32:7 says, “Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed...’ He was afraid of Esau and distressed for Esau.  He prays to God for deliverance from the hand of his brother. That night as he was alone his name and life were forever changed from the man Jacob to the entity of Israel.  From fleshly to spiritual, saying in verse 30 that his life was preserved. 
     Chapter 33 contains the interactions between Esau and Jacob.  Reading carefully, we see aggression from Esau, even his kiss was aggressive and is taught that it was the kiss of death. Esau wants to give the gifts back and to take the journey with Jacob, intertwining his life with that of Jacob’s. Why? Did he have ulterior motives? Did he recognize the strength from Jacob’s camp? Finally, Esau wants to leave some of his people with Jacob, which Jacob declines.  For Jacob, throughout this chapter, we see steadfastness towards the God of Israel. Jacob also shows servanthood towards his brother, bowing, offering gifts and giving all credit to God.  ‘Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” So he urged him, and he took it.’ Genesis 33:11. At the end of chapter 33, Jacob erected an alter and called it ‘El Elohe Israel.’
    In Genesis chapter 24 Dinah is defiled by Shechem, although he greatly desires her and asks for her to be his wife.  Genesis 34:13-17 reveals the hearts of the sons, ‘But the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father, and spoke deceitfully, because he had defiled Dinah their sister. 14 And they said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a reproach to us. 15 But on this agreement, we will consent to you: If you will become as we are, if every male of you is circumcised, 16 then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us; and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. 17 But if you will not heed us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and be gone.”
     The men agree, not knowing the deceit. Then come the end. Genesis 34:25-29 ‘Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males. 26 And they killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and went out. 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled. 28 They took their sheep, their oxen, and their donkeys, what was in the city and what was in the field, 29 and all their wealth. All their little ones and their wives they took captive; and they plundered even all that was in the houses.’
     This act leaves Jacob greatly troubled, and in Genesis 35 God tells him and his household to go to Bethel. In Genesis 35:2-4 we see an interesting concept happening with the household of Jacob.  ‘And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. 3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone.” 4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree which was by Shechem.’ 
     Interesting that his people were worshiping foreign gods.  Rachel dies after giving birth to Benjamin, ‘And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.’ Genesis 35:18-20. In Genesis 35:22 Reuben lies with his father’s concubine, and chapter thirty-five ends with the death of Isaac.
     Genesis 36 is devoted to the lineage of Esau and ends with; ‘Esau was the father of the Edomites.’
     In every chapter and in every incident, the recurring themes of flesh verses spirit, evil verses good, and dark verses light.  This is an ongoing occurrence in our lives, with the influences circling around us.  It is our choice to make, and it seems like an easy choice, yet so many fail at the choice.
     Psalm 34:14 ‘Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.’
     Proverbs 15:3 ‘The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good.’
    Proverbs 17:15 ‘He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.’
     Joshua 24:15 ‘If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” 
     James 1:13-15 ‘Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.’
     Isaiah 5:20 ‘Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
     Isaiah 60:1-3 ‘Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.’
     Isaiah 9:2 ‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.’
     1 Peter 2:9 ‘But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.’
     John 3:19-21 ‘And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.’
     Galatians 5:16-17 ‘I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.’
     Romans 8 ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who  do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the Torah of the Spirit of life in Messiah has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the Torah might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the Torah of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.’

Psalm 19

The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork.
2 Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.
In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
6 Its rising is from one end of heaven,
And its circuit to the other end;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.’