Why did Yaakov change the name Benoni?

Genesis 35:12(A), 14(S) – 36:19

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.

(Gen. 35:18 LBLA)

Why did Yaakov change the name Benoni?

Rachel died before time because of the curse that Yaakov pronounced against the person that took Lavan's idols. The power of words is great and we do well when we think before saying them.

In the moment of dying, Rachel named her son, who was being born, the name Benoni –בן-אוני – which means son of my sorrow. But Yaakov changed his name to Binyamin – בנימין – which means son of the right (side, hand).

In the geography of the Torah, the east is always on the front, not like nowadays, where maps place north ahead. Therefore, the right side also implies south. In Psalm 89:12 the Hebrew word yamin – ימין – appears as a reference to the south. That is why Rashi says that the name Binyamin is a reference to the place of birth of this son, he was the only one who was born in the land of Kenaan, south from Padan Aram, where all the other sons of Yaakov were born.

Yaakov didn't want to allow the sorrow of losing his beloved wife to prevent him from reaching the goal that he had set in his mind since leaving Lavan's house. He wanted to get to his father Yitzchak. Yitzchak was in the south, so south was the goal to reach for Yaakov at that time. That's why he changed the name of Rachel's second son, to note that sorrow would not characterize his son, but the vision of what was ahead. The change of name shows us how important this vision was for Yaakov.

There was only a small distance between him and his goal, where his father was. Chevron is not far from Bet-Lechem. And finally, Yaakov reached the goal and he could see his father. (35:27).

Don't allow sorrow and grief that come across your way to make you lose sight of the goals that the Eternal placed ahead of you.

May HaShem help us not to fall in the pit of bitterness but to you reach our goals,

When did Yaakov arrive in Seir?

When did Yaakov arrive in Seir?

Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir."

(Gen. 33:14 ESV)

When did Yaakov arrive in Seir?

Yaakov had to walk slowly because of his children and cattle. He had learned not to force things to prevent large losses.

When Yaakov left Lavan's house he had in his mind the intention of going to his father Yitzchak in Kenaan (31:18). But when he approaches the land of Kenaan, he doesn't go straight to his father, but stays a long time in many other places. Why didn't Yaakov go straight to his father Yitzchak? I don't know. What I know is that he wasn't in a rush to get to him.

When Yaakov worked with his uncle he didn't rush either. He offered to work seven years for a wife and then he worked another seven for her; then, he offered to work yet another six years for a payment.

This teaches us that a tzadik's – righteous person's – mind is programmed to think for the long run. In order to achieve lasting results we must work firmly and patiently. Fast achievements are short-termed as it is written in Proverbs 20:21: “An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.” (ESV)

Our father Yaakov had long term goals and he moved towards them without rushing. That's why his achievements were secure and long lasting.

But, when did Yaakov arrive in Seir as he promised his brother? Never. This promise seems to have been a lie to flatter his brother Esav. Yaakov didn't go to Seir but in direction to Kenaan. But then, was Yaakov dishonest when he promised his brother to go to Seir? No, his words are a prophecy for the future, as it is written in Obadiah 21: “Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s.” (ESV)

Eventually, the promise of our father Yaakov will be fulfilled, in relation to the return of the Messiah.

Usually, the things of the Eternal are achieved in the long run. Let's learn from our father Yaakov to go little by little, but firmly, to reach the goals that the Eternal has put in our hearts. Let's not get tired if we can't see short or mid-term results.

May the Eternal give us patience and strength to stay firm, constant, abounding always in the work of the Eternal, knowing that our work in the Lord Yeshua is not in vain.

Was Esav’s kiss genuine?

But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.

(Gen. 33:4 NIV)

Was Esav’s kiss genuine?

The Hebrew text shows a slightly different feature in this instance. The Hebrew word translated as “and kissed him” – vayishkahu וישקהו – has a small dot over each letter. The famous medieval commentator Rashi explains that when these kinds of dots are over a word it is a sign that the word must be interpreted in a special way. If there are more letters than dots, the word is interpreted as it is, but if there are more dots than letters, the letters under the dots count as a separate word from the one that is already there. In this text, the amount of dots and letter coincide and therefore, there are different interpretation opinions among the rabbis. Some say that the word must be interpreted as if it didn’t exist, that is, that Esav’s kiss was fictitious. Others think that it must be understood the other way around, that even if Esav hated Yaakov, he had compassion in that moment and that the kiss was really heartfelt.

Personally, I believe we must interpret the text according to the last opinion. Within Esav, there was both good and bad, as in anyone. In the moment of this encounter, the Eternal activated the positive emotions he had toward his brother and the miracle of that wonderful encounter between both just happened. This came as a result of the struggle that our father Yaakov had the night before. After having humbling himself and acknowledged his fault, he was lifted up and blessed. The Eternal took control of the situation and produced this divine encounter between them. Yaakov acknowledges that not only did he see the face of the Almighty in the angel that strove with him but also in the face of his brother who received him in such a wonderful way.

How great the Eternal is! He can change death into life. Certain death for Yaakov and his family was changed into life and peace. He who humbles before the Eternal will be exalted and see a radical change in his circumstances.

Yaakov’s experience is also a symbol that speaks of the death and resurrection of the Son of Man. He humbled himself to the greatest extent; he was hung and killed on the Roman execution stake. And due to that humble and obedience act, the Eternal rose him and lifted him up to the highest places, giving him a name that is above all names, so that he can now act as a governor of all creation in the Name of the Eternal.

May the Eternal help us humble ourselves before His powerful hand and experience those radical changes that we need to live a life in victory.

What happened to Yaakov in that fight?

Genesis 32:13 (14 Heb.) – 29 (30 Heb.)

And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day has broken." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." And he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed."

(Gen. 32:24-28 ESV)

What happened to Yaakov in that fight?

At last Yaakov was left alone. That was what the Eternal wanted. He wanted to deal with him alone and He sent a heavenly messenger to wrestle with him. This is the final fight to prepare our father for the entry in the promised land. The fight with the angel is a summary of the entire struggle between Yaakov and the Eternal along his 97 years of life. Yaakov wanted to get things done his way and on his own strength, but the Eternal wanted to weaken his trust in himself so He could manifest His supernatural strength and do things His way. The Eternal wanted to take Yaakov to a breaking point in which he would acknowledge and accept that he had been an impersonator, a deceiver, as his brother Esav had said: “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times.” (27:36a NKJV)

When the angel noticed that he couldn’t fight the strength of Yaakov’s ego, he gave him a blow in the strongest part of the human body. So Yaakov was left handicapped not being able to trust his physical strength anymore. Then, in order to receive a blessing he had to say his name out loud. It was necessary that he admitted that his name was “one who supplants or replaces” which implies that there was something in him that was not good before the Eternal, because it meant that he would be able to recur to lies, tricks, deceit and theft in order to achieve material and spiritual benefits.

In that very moment Yaakov’s deceitful character was exposed to the light of that One who sees all, and Yaakov couldn’t but cry, broken, as it is written in Hosea 12:2, 3-4: “The LORD... will punish Jacob according to his ways; he will repay him according to his deeds. In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he strove with God. He strove with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought his favor. He met God at Bethel, and there God spoke with us” (ESV)

In that hurt the blessing and the victory were. Yaakov received a new name which implies a new way of being, a new identity. When one humbles oneself, one is also lifted up, and when our father Yaakov humbled himself as much as he could, the Eternal could finally rectify – make tikkun – of his character.

If He could do it with Yaakov at his 97 years of life, He can do it with us if we are humble and let Him mould us in liking of his great Model for men, the Son of Man.

May the Eternal take us to perfection,

Why did Yaakov swear by the Fear of his father Yitzchak?

So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.

(Gen. 31:53b ESV)

Why did Yaakov swear by the Fear of his father Yitzchak?

The oath between Lavan and Yaakov was meant to create a stop of violence in case anyone of them would have the intention of making war against the other. As a sign of that covenant, they gathered a heap of stones.

The Torah mentions that Yaakov swore by the Fear of his father Yitzchak. Why is this mentioned in relation to this covenant?

The awareness of the Eternal watching us all the time and searching the motivation of our hearts, and the awareness of the consequences of all our actions, produces fear of the Eternal in our lives. Yitzchak lived in that revelation and he transmitted it to his son Yaakov. That’s why Yaakov used this truth when making a covenant with Lavan. He promised not to hurt Lavan and his daughters and the Eternal was the witness. This was enough because Yaakov had learned to fear the Eternal from his father.

The Hebrew word translated as “fear” is pachad פחד. It is not the same as the word that is used in Genesis 20:11 – yirah יראה, that has to do with respect and reverence – as we commented before. The word pachad - פחד – is related with being frightened suddenly, by an alarm, for example. Therefore, the translation could be that: “Yaakov swore by the fright of Yitzchak”, but it doesn’t sound that well in English. Anyway, this can give us an idea of the meaning of the term used in this text.

Yaakov knew that the Fear that his father had toward the Eternal was going to keep him from harming his wives or Lavan.

Learn to fear and appreciate the fear of Heaven. This way, you will avoid many sins.

Shabbat shalom,

What consequences did the two thefts bring?

Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods. And Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended flee.

(Gen to. 31:19, 20 ESV)

What consequences did the two thefts bring?

Rachel stole the household idols – in Hebrew terafim תרפים – that belonged to her father. The Torah doesn’t reveal her motivation for stealing them therefore I won’t comment on that now. The truth is that The Torah says that she stole – in Hebrew ganav גנב. To steal is to seize something that belongs to someone else. It can be an object, but it can also be anything that belongs to another person, such as time, inventions, copyright, friends, etc. In the Decalogue it is clearly stated “You shall not steal”. Stealing brings consequences.

What consequence fell on Rachel for having stolen her father’s idols?

When Lavan mentioned that someone had stolen his gods, Yaakov pronounced a curse on the person who did it. He didn’t know that Rachel had them, and that’s why he rushed to speak. This brought severe consequences in her life, such that she died before time, when she was giving birth to her second child.

Yaakov also stole, when he tricked Lavan by not telling him that he was going to flee. The Hebrew text says literally that Yaakov stole the heart of Lavan – vayignov Yaakov et lev Lavan ויגנב יעקב את לב לבן – which indicates that it is possible to steal someone’s heart.

What does this expression mean? It means that when two people trust each other their hearts are given to each other. Lavan trusted that Yaakov wouldn’t hurt or deceive him and that’s why he left to shear his sheep believing that Yaakov would tell him everything that happened faithfully. But Yaakov didn’t respond faithfully to Lavan’s trust and fled without saying anything. The Torah says that what Yaakov did was a theft and all thefts bring consequences.

What was the consequence of this theft?

The short term consequence was that Lavan went out to pursue Yaakov with intentions of hurting him. But in spite of Yaakov not being clean, the Eternal helped him and rebuked Lavan so he wouldn’t hurt Yaakov.

However, what Yaakov did wasn’t good before the Eternal. There was still something in his character that hadn’t been submitted to the Spirit of the Sanctified one, blessed be him. Yaakov was still a deceiver. This black dot in his soul had to be corrected before Yaakov could enter the promised land.

That’s why the Eternal sent one of his angels to deal with this area of his life. Eventually, the angel was able to break Yaakov’s strength so he humbled himself and acknowledged that his name was Yaakov – supplanter. In that moment, his name was changed into Israel.

The consequence of Rachel’s theft was a premature death and Yaakov’s, a deep damage both emotional and physical – his hip was left hurt.

Dear disciple, do not steal.

Shalom uvrajah – Peace and blessing,

How to do the Eternal’s will?

Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, "Jacob has taken all that was our father's, and from what was our father's he has gained all this wealth. And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before. Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you."

(Gen. 31:1-3 ESV)

How to do the Eternal’s will?

The wish of a righteous man is to do the will of the Eternal. His constant prayer is: “Not my will be done but Yours”. The righteous person doesn’t live for himself but for the Eternal’s purpose be fulfilled in his life.

The Eternal’s will has been revealed in the Torah. The patriarchs had the oral Torah together with prophetic revelation and they were guided through them, as it is written in Genesis 26:5: “because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." (ESV)

We have the written Torah, given through Moshe in Sinai and we have the books of the prophets, the Writings and the Apostolic Scriptures. We also have the oral torah and we have the Spirit of the Messiah that teaches us all things. So the Eternal has provided us with enough information and equipped us spiritually so that we can know what He wants us to do in order to please Him; and how we have to behave to live a righteous and sanctified life; and, also what we have to do so His will is done at all times.

A righteous man’s passion is to fulfill the Eternal’s purpose in his life. However, we don’t always know what the will of the Eternal is in specific situations.

The timing factor is also important regarding the fulfillment of the Eternal’s will. There are things that He wants to happen in our lives and that we do, but even if there are some things that are His will, it is not always time for them.

It is very important to do the Eternal’s dealings in His time. If we do His will but not in His time, then we are not fulfilling His will. There are many good intentions and purposes that have been delayed or aborted because of initiatives taken according to His will but not in His time. It is important that these two factors go together.

The Eternal’s will was that Yaakov went back to Kenaan. He revealed this in that dream Yaakov had when fleeing from his brother, “I will bring you back to this land” (28:15). But Yaakov didn’t know when the time for going back would be. His mother had promised to send him a message when Esav’s fury had calmed down, but that day never came. So Yaakov couldn’t make his decisions based on what his mother had told him.

When the departure time came, the Eternal created adverse situations in Lavan’s house. The text we are working with reveals that there were three signs sent to our father Yaakov to indicate him that it was time for him to go back to the land. The three signs were:

- Yaakov heard negative words from Lavan’s sons.

- Yaakov saw that Lavan didn’t have a favourable attitude toward him.

- HaShem spoke to Yaakov and told him that it was time to go back.

After twenty years in exile, the time for Yaakov to go back to his land, had come. The Eternal wanted this period of time to pass because the twenty years are a prophetic sign for the last exile of the Jews. The twenty years correspond to 2000 years, as it is also written in Hosea 6:1-2: “Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.” (ESV) A day corresponds to a thousand years (Ps. 90:4; 2 Pet. 3:8). Two days correspond to 2000 years. The last Jewish exile will last 2000 years and then Yaakov will go back to his land.

Dear disciple of the Messiah, study and submit yourself to the Torah to know the general will of the Eternal for your life. Make your heart sensitive so it is guided by the Spirit of the Messiah that you received when you confessed Yeshua as your Lord. In that way you will fulfill the Eternal’s specific will for your life. Make your five spiritual senses sensitive to be guided by the Eternal in every moment, even in the most basic decisions in your day to day life. Walk in the Spirit and be guided by the Spirit,

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Rom. 8:14 ESV).

Grace and peace from the Almighty, our Father, and from Yeshua the Messiah, our Lord,

Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.

Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.

(Gen. 30:22 ESV)

Were the mandrakes effective or not?

Mandrakes – in Hebrew dudaim דודאים

– were considered efficient to help increase fertility. When Rachel saw Leah’s firstborn give her some mandrakes, she asked Leah to give them to her in exchange for a night with Yaakov. She believed that they might help her to be fertile and have children.

But we see that the Torah doesn’t say that the mandrakes made any effect in Rachel. Even if the Torah doesn’t show events in a successive way, it seems that in this case there was a period of time between the mandrakes episode and Rachel being healed from infertility.

Were the mandrakes effective or not?

No, they weren’t. The Torah doesn’t say that it was thanks to the mandrakes that Rachel was healed, but thanks to the Eternal who remembered her and listened to her.

But, can the Eternal forget anything so that He has to remember? No. This is an expression in the sacred Scriptures that indicates that there are moments when the Eternal, Who is outside His creation, considers, visits and intervenes in the life of an individual in a personal way.

The Eternal had remained passive regarding Rachel for years. She prayed a lot and for a long time without getting an answer. The Eternal opted to wait because He had a purpose. If the Eternal is quiet it is because He has a plan.

It is not good that a person gets what he wants immediately all the time. It is good that parents teach their children not to get all they want. It is good for the children to learn to wait for certain things because many times waiting produces positive traits in the soul. The modern culture of immediate and instant results creates characters with no patience and lacking inner strength to endure anything.

Yaakov worked hard for seven years before being able to marry the woman he loved. He didn’t suggest marrying first and working later, but he endured seven years of waiting in order to get what his heart yearned for. He is an example of an approved character who worked patiently in order to achieve long term goals. An immature person cannot wait but prefers a short term benefit even if it is smaller than a long term one. A mature person knows to deny receiving a short or mid-term benefit to achieve a bigger benefit on the long run.

HaShem wanted to produce something in Rachel’s character and that’s why He made her wait. And, eventually, He remembered her and listened to her prayers, pleads and tears that were kept in heaven until the proper time came.

Don’t think that the Eternal’s silence means He doesn’t listen to your prayers. If there is silence, there is a purpose for it. The Eternal is more interested in shaping your character than in giving you what you want. It is true that the Eternal’s plan was to give Rachel children but there were areas in Rachel’s character that needed some work and that’s why the Eternal preferred to wait with the answer so He could change her way of being before giving her children. What she was going to give of herself to her children became more valuable to the Eternal with the results from that period of silence from heaven.

May the Eternal grant you your heart’s desire in His time and His way,

How strong can love be?

How strong can love be?

How strong can love be?

In the past, one who wanted to marry a girl had to give her parents an amount of money in order to receive permission to marry her. But since Yaakov came empty-handed he couldn’t pay that dowry – in Hebrew mohar – to Lavan for his daughter Rachel. That’s why, instead of giving him the dowry for his daughter, he offered seven years of hard work in the fields.

According to the Torah, the price for a virgin woman was much lower than the labourer’s wage for seven years of work. Yaakov offered much more thus showing his appreciation for Rachel. Lavan accepted and Yaakov worked patiently in the fields for seven years and he experienced those years as if they were a few days because of the love he had for Rachel.

How strong can love be?

In Song of Songs 8:6b-7 it is written: “for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.” (ESV)

What happened to Yaakov is what happens to all those who love the Eternal; instead of perceiving His commandments as a heavy burden, they experience them as being light, because love is an inner force that compels you to do things without considering price, effort and costs. Obedience without love becomes legalistic. Obedience because of love becomes a privilege. He who obeys the Eternal out of fear has not really known His great love. He who obeys out of love has come to know him, because He is love.

May the Eternal help us let His love take more and more room to grow in our hearts through the Spirit that He has given us.

Kol tuv,

Why was Rachel a shepherdess?

Why was Rachel a shepherdess?

The Torah mentions in a specific manner that Rachel was a shepherdess. This is the only instance in which the Scriptures mention a shepherd woman. What is the reason for mentioning this fact?

Of course, it wasn’t to support the idea of those who think that women have the same right than men to be leaders of congregations of believers. There are other reasons for the Torah to mention this fact.

The job of a shepherd was considered the lowest in societies of the time of our patriarchs. If a family had servants, they would do that work. If the family didn’t have enough resources, normally it would be the younger children who were left with this task, and many times, the daughters. King David was the youngest child in his house and he was in charge of working as the shepherd of his father’s sheep (1 Sam. 16:14).

Then, we can conclude that when the Torah mentions that Rachel, the youngest of Lavan’s daughters, was a shepherdess, it was to indicate that Lavan wasn’t a rich man. He didn’t have servants that could do that job. Later on, Yaakov confirms that Lavan didn’t have much when he came (30:30).

Lavan was very interested in possessions; he was into occultism and loved dishonest earnings. Yaakov was a very responsible man and was careful to differentiate possessions that belonged to one or the other. He didn’t take advantage at all of the freedom that Lavan had given him as an employee. He didn’t eat from Lavan’s herd and made himself responsible for damage made to his employer’s herd, and paid for what was stolen (31:38, 39). When Lavan checked Yaakov and his family’s luggage, he couldn’t find anything stolen (31:37).

But Lavan wanted to take advantage of others as much as he could. The difference in attitude and conduct between them was huge.

Lavan had the opportunity of his life to be blessed permanently by the presence and example of Yaakov in his house. While Yaakov worked for him, his goods increased considerably (30:30). Lavan could have remained a rich man if he had repented of his greediness and dishonesty. But the Eternal didn’t want to bless Lavan if he continued to be so stingy. He has created a spiritual law for the greedy, according to Proverbs 28:22: “A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.” (ESV)

The Eternal eventually showed Yaakov a prophetic method so through miracles in breeding Lavan’s cattle, the healthier, more robust ones, would become Yaakov’s. The Eternal didn’t want to make Lavan rich in his state of sin and that’s why he helped Yaakov to take away his riches in an honest way.

Lavan was poor when Yaakov arrived and was left poor again when Yaakov left. How sad it is to see the curse coming upon a greedy person. How different would the world be if there was no greediness, everyone could be rich.

Dear disciple, run away from greediness, a form of idolatry, and be faithful in taking care of others’ possessions. In this way, you will be in conditions to receive many riches.

May the Eternal bless you and keep you,   www.messianictorah.org

What happens when the Eternal promises to be with you?

Genesis 28:10-22

Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.

(Gen. 28:15 ESV)

What happens when the Eternal promises to be with you?

At 77 years old, Yaakov was running from his brother. His mother had told him to go to his brother Lavan’s house, more than 650 km from there, for a few days; so he could go back when Esav’s fury had calmed down. Yitzchak had also told him to go there to marry one of the daughters of Lavan.

Yaakov was alone, travelling abroad for the first time in his life. He didn’t know what to expect or for how long he would have to be away from home. His future was uncertain. In that moment, the Eternal revealed himself to him in a wonderful prophetic dream saying that he was with him wherever he would go. He knew what was awaiting Yaakov and that is why He gave him this revelation so his courage wouldn’t fail in the moments of deep crisis that he would have to go through during the twenty years he would have to be in Charan.

One of the most powerful blessings that you can receive is when the Eternal tells you that He is with you. His presence in your life is more important than anything else. If he is with you, you have the source of everything on your side. You only have to consult with Him to know what to do at all time. If the Almighty is with you, who could be against you?

This fact doesn’t mean that Yaakov didn’t have to go through problems. All the contrary. He needed this revelation precisely because he had to go through tremendous and very difficult situations. In moments of great darkness, Yaakov had to remember the promise that the Eternal had given Him. If He had told him that He would keep him wherever he went, and that He would bring him back to the land that He had given him and his offspring, who would be like the dust of the earth, then He had to help him in difficult times. This promise helped him not to dismay when he was deceived so badly by his uncle.

When the Eternal is with you, you might not have everything under control but He does, and He will eventually change situations and move them around so that His eternal purposes are fulfilled. When the Eternal is with you, you won’t do as you please, but you will be able to ask Him to know what to do in moments of trial. When the Eternal is with you, you might not always feel his presence, or listen to his voice, but He will lead you in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. When the Eternal is with you, you might not know what will happen to you, but you will know that even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you will fear no evil.

Shavua tov, good week,

Why didn’t Esav notice before?

...and when Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan did not please Isaac his father

(Gen. 28:8 MKJV)

Why didn’t Esav notice before?

Esav was a profane man, who didn’t look much further than material things of this world. He didn’t care for his right to be the firstborn, which implied a double portion of the material inheritance at the time of his father’s death. He cared more for satisfying his hunger momentarily than to think in the future. He wasn’t interested on knowing the story of his ancestors either. He didn’t care that the people from whom the women he married came was a cursed people. He wasn’t concerned about the consequences of that curse because his sight was fixed on instant pleasures not in the consequences of his conduct.

Even though he got really upset for having lost his father’s blessing, it wasn’t because of a spiritual cause but because he wanted to take most advantage of whatever that could satisfy his selfishness. It is obvious that he didn’t care for the calling of his family since Avraham his grandfather.

It is true that he wanted to honour his father, and that is a merit. When he said he didn’t want to kill Yaakov until his father died, he shows some of the respect he had for him. He didn’t want to make him further suffer. Due to his respect for his father, his offspring were numerous and important for the development of world history.

The Torah reveals that Esav didn’t notice for a time that his parents didn’t like his women and that they didn’t want Yaakov to marry daughters of Kenaan. That is why this question arises: Why didn’t Esav notice these things before? Obviously Esav couldn’t discern what the will of his parents was, nor did he know the reason for their high morale that he had been taught since childhood. His senses for the things of the Eternal were not open. His spiritual eyes and ears were blocked and his heart was insensitive to divine hints, even if these came from his parents.

A very serious thing had to happen for him to find out what displeased his parents, not to mention what displeased the Eternal, something totally unimportant for Esav. Since his life only revolved around what he could take advantage of, he only found out when it was too late.

He went and married a daughter of Yishmael to, somehow, calm his parents down. But nothing improved with that because there was no radical change inside of him. He only wanted to cover up, but not to step down from the throne in his heart.

Dear disciple of the Messiah: lift up your eyes and see what is in heaven and what will come in the future. Don’t live for the moment. Don’t seek your own pleasure. Don’t try to please your parents or others only because you want them to notice you. Humble yourself and ask the Eternal to reveal to you what is important for Him and for life. Then you will follow the line of blessings of the saints that will inherit the world to come.

¡Shabat shalom!

Why did Yitzchak tremble so violently and Rivkah had doubts about her life?

Why did Yitzchak tremble so violently and Rivkah had doubts about her life?

Genesis 27:28 – 28:4

Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, "Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed."... Then Rebekah said to Isaac, "I loathe my life because of the Hittite women. If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women like these, one of the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?

"

(Gen. 27:33, 46 ESV)

Why did Yitzchak tremble so violently and Rivkah had doubts about her life?

The patriarchs and their wives dedicated their lives entirely to serving the Eternal. Their whole lives were dedicated to do the will of the One who called them. The more they were faithful in the tests before them, the more the Eternal trusted them with more blessing and responsibility. He who is faithful over a little will also be faithful over a lot. Learn to be faithful over a little and the Eternal will give you a lot. If He is not giving you much, check your life to see if there is an area in which you are not being faithful to the Eternal. Correct that and be faithful in everything. In this way, He will be able to give you more and more.

One of the things the Eternal had given our fathers was the ability to pronounce prophetic blessings over others and especially over their children. When Yitzchak pronounced a prophetic blessing over his younger son thinking that he was the firstborn, and found out that he had made a mistake, he feared a lot. The Hebrew text uses five words to express the dread that came over him in that moment. Why did our father Yitzchak fear so much?

He knew that his life was meant to be a means for transmitting to his children what the Eternal had given to his father Avraham. He understood that this choice held the whole redemption plan. When he thought that he had little time left before dying, he wanted to pass on the final blessing to his firstborn so that the redemption plan and the Eternal’s promises would go on in his son. The problem was that the Eternal didn’t want Esav to be the chosen one but Yaakov, and seemingly Yitzchak didn’t have that clear and acted according to tradition and not to the prophetic spirit, something easy to do.

Now, the responsibility that he held on his shoulders was such that when he found out that he had blessed the person he thought at the beginning to be the wrong one, he had a terrible tremor. He feared to have failed the Eternal in one of the most important moments in his life. Not only the future of redemption and the promises were at stake with this blessing but also the Name of the Eternal could be desecrated if he made a mistake in this. Yitzchak took his role seriously and he didn’t want to fail the Eternal. When he thought he had failed in such a critical moment, he was filled with fear.

Our mother Rivkah had that same feeling regarding her life’s purpose. She knew that she had been chosen by the Eternal to be a part of a very important prophetic plan and she didn’t want to fail in her calling either. She knew that her children were the hope of fulfillment of the Eternal’s plans for her life. If her children failed, her life made no sense because they were the reason she was involved in the divine plan.

Esav had deviated from the plan by marrying the daughters of Kenaan. That’s why he couldn’t be the bearer of the redemption promise for the world or inherit the promised land. The only one left and the one qualified for this was Yaakov. That is why it was important that he didn’t marry anyone from a cursed people. He had to find a wife that could follow the divine plan and calling of his family. If Yaakov failed, Rivkah felt that she had also failed in her calling and that her life wasn’t worth of having been lived.

How important is to take life seriously. Each one of us has an important role in the world’s redemption program. Yitzchak’s fear and Rivkah’s concern are normal in people that live for the Eternal. Yitzchak’s fear impressed Yaakov so much that further on he mentions it specifically (31:42).

May the fear of Yitzchak and Rivkah be with us all the days of our lives so that we make the right decisions and never let He who called us down,

Can the end justify the means?

Genesis 26:30 – 27:27

Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me."

(Gen. 27:19 ESV)

Can the end justify the means?

Rivkah had more revelation than Yitzchak about what the Eternal thought of her two sons. She knew that no matter how much Esav was honouring his father, there were very unpleasant things within him from the Eternal’s perspective and he was not the heir of the promises. (Gen 25:23, 34; Mal. 1:2-3; Heb. 12:16; Rom. 9:13). She knew that Esav’s offspring were not going to be the bearers of the spiritual inheritance of the family, because he had married women form the people of Kenaan (26:34-35).

Therefore, when she found out that Yitzchak wanted to give Esav the blessing of the spiritual inheritance reserved for the firstborn, she plotted a plan so that Yaakov received the blessing by deceiving his father. Yaakov accepted his mother’s plan because he sought spiritual matters with all his heart (25:27). Eventually, the Eternal allowed Yitzchak to be deceived and Yaakov to be blessed instead of Esav.

The question that arises now is: Did Rivkah and Yaakov do the right thing by deceiving Yitzchak that way? Can the end justify the means?

Rivkah had said that if her husband found out that Yaakov was trying to deceive him, and Yitzchak cursed him, the curse would fall on her. But, Yitzchak didn’t find out and didn’t curse Yaakov, so Rivkah didn’t get any curse either.

Then, was there only blessing in Yaakov’s life for having deceived his father? Certainly not. The consequences of that deception were very grave for the whole family. First, this event brought hatred and homicidal thoughts in Esav against his brother. To cause discord between siblings is one of the sins that the Eternal hates most (Prov. 6:16, 19). This deception also caused twenty years of suffering in the galut – diaspora in Greek, exile in English – to our father Yaakov. Yaakov not only had to suffer the traumatic experience of losing contact with his family – not to mention his parents’ grief – but also the big deception he was subject to by his uncle Lavan, who made him marry a woman he didn’t want and changed his salary ten times.

It is true that Yaakov kept the blessing but he, as well as his mother, had to undergo the serious consequences of having deceived Yitzchak. Only after being psychologically broken and physically harmed by an angel could he reconcile with his brother and receive the blessing legally.

But if the Eternal didn’t want Esav to receive the blessing, what Rivkah and Yaakov did wasn’t right after all? No, it wasn’t. The Eternal is very wise and powerful enough to be able to change circumstances so His will is fulfilled on earth according to His eternal purpose. He could have fixed the situation in a different manner so that Yaakov received the blessing instead of Esav, which was His plan.

But one who tries to help the Eternal through dirty, deceitful and tricky means, brings upon himself His displeasure and will have to pay a high price until he humbles himself and learns the lesson of never doing that again.

No end can justify illicit means. All that a man sows he will also reap.

Be honest and love truth and never try to receive spiritual blessings through dirty means. In this way you will avoid many years of exile, deception and hard work.

Why do the enemies make covenants with the blessed of the Eternal?

Why do the enemies make covenants with the blessed of the Eternal?

They said, "We see plainly that the LORD has been with you. So we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD."

(Gen. 26:28-29 ESV)

W

hy do the enemies make covenants with the blessed of the Eternal?

The philistines expelled Yitzchak from their region. He put up no resistance but walked away further and further until he reached Beer Sheba. There, the Eternal encouraged him so he wouldn’t be afraid, telling him that He was with him. The best medicine against fear is to know that the Eternal is with me.

When Yitzchak was among the philistines they were very blessed because the purpose of the Eternal by blessing Avraham and his offspring is to bless all the others. When the blessing came upon Yitzchak when he acted faithfully according to the promise in order to reap a supernatural crop, the philistines also received many blessings. But when Yitzchak was expelled, the blessing left them.

This story has been repeating thousands of times since the creation of the chosen people. All those who have treated the Jewish people well have been blessed, and all those who have mistreated the Jewish people have been cursed by the Eternal. This is a law that the Eternal has set regarding the Jewish people. This law also applies to those who are not necessarily physical offspring of Avraham but that follow his faith. These are counted as offspring so the rule also applies to them.

Now, the king of the philistines found out that he had lost the blessing and only the curse remained. He made a wise decision and went back to Yitzchak to make a covenant of peace with him. He didn’t want to lose the benefits that come with a good relationship with those who are blessed by the Eternal.

Nowadays, the exact same thing is happening, Those Arabs that have befriended with the Jewish people and the state of Israel, have been very blessed. I personally know hundreds of them that are not interested at all in fighting against Israel because they understand that they would lose the great blessing they are enjoying because of the Jews who give them jobs, medical care, financial subsidies, education, modern technology, subsidized housing and other material benefits.

On the contrary, those Arabs who have chosen to go to war against Israel and the Jewish people are suffering the consequences of the curse sent from heaven to them. Unfortunately, they don’t understand these spiritual laws and keep on blaming Israel for their problems, when they could also receive benefits from the blessed ones of the Eternal.

Avimelech knew how to take advantage of this law and reconciled with Yitzchak again because he didn’t want to lose the blessing he was receiving through this heavenly channel.

Each one has to choose between blessing and curse. If you are for Israel and the Jewish people you will be blessed; but, if you are against them, you will be cursed. Now, it is your turn to choose...

May the Eternal grant us understanding and discernment to avoid being fooled by the media, may we never believe the lies that they vomit against Israel everyday and may we never give room to anti-Semitism, anti-Judaism, anti-Zionism or judeophobia. www.messianictorah.org

How to get, endure and keep so much wealth?

And the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy.

(Gen. 26:13 ESV)

How to get, endure and keep so much wealth?

The Torah says that our father Avraham was very rich in livestock, gold, silver, male and female servants (13:2; 24:35). His riches were one of the results of the divine blessing. Scarcity is a result of the curse. The Eternal’s blessing frees from poverty.

Now, Avraham was very rich and at the end he gave all his riches to Yitzchak (25:5). Yitzchak was blessed after his father’s death and he kept getting richer and richer until he got so powerful that the philistines envied him and expelled him from their land. Then, how wealthy was Yitzchak! How is it possible that the Eternal trusted him with so many riches if the love of money is a root of all evils? (1 Tim. 6:10)

It is obvious that Yitzchak had such a character that he could be a good administrator of material riches in such a way that the Eternal had no problem with enriching him so. Yitzchak could endure a rich man’s life because he was trustworthy.

One of the conditions that he fulfilled to be able to endure such wealth is that he didn’t love money. He loved the Eternal more than anything. That one who loves money cannot be a good manager.

Another condition he fulfilled is that he didn’t put his trust in his wealth but in the One who gave him all that wealth. That one who trusts his possessions cannot be a good manager of many riches.

Another condition that helped Yitzchak endure such wealth is the way he treated his fellowman. In this text we see that the philistines were envious of his many riches. And instead of defending himself or fighting them and use all his power to crush them, he walked away humbly. Even though he had dug the wells, the philistines said that the water was theirs. Yitzchak could have used his power to face them and take the water by force from the wells he had dug. He could have even faced them in war and expel them from the land. But he didn’t; instead, he moved to a different place to solve the problem. How noble was our father Yitzchak’s character!

Water is essential for the existence of life on earth. The well represents prayer in our spiritual lives. In order to be rich with the Eternal we must know how to bring water from the well. If there is no water, we die and if there are no wells we have to dig and dig until we find water. We see again the importance of being strong in prayer to reach water in the spiritual depths. If you can’t find spiritual water you die and if you cannot maintain the wells that give you water, you die. Don’t give up until you find water. Be strong and courageous, take time, search, move from one spot to another until you find those waters that will quench your spiritual thirst. This is the only way of prospering spiritually.

The philistines represent all those enemies that want to impede our prayer life. If the enemies have blocked a well in your life, dig there again. Don’t allow your wells to be blocked. Keep your intimate relationship with the Eternal alive always. In this way, you will get, endure and keep wealth, both spiritual and material.

May the Eternal help us have clean water abundantly and always, in order for our lives to be powerful for His glory, www.messianictorah.org

How to reap miraculous crops?

How to reap miraculous crops?

Yitzchak was a man of miracles. His birth was a miracle, his wife was a miracle, his wife’s pregnancy was a miracle and now he reaped a miraculous crop of a hundredfold and he got very rich during time of famine (26:1). What was the secret for the crops to yield a hundredfold? Let’s analyze some of the most important facts of Yitzchak’s life that conditioned this wonderful phenomenon against all natural laws as we know them:

- Forgiveness and love

- Faithfulness and respect

- Sacrifice and surrender

- Meditation and prayer

- Obedience and faith

When Yitzchak’s older stepbrother, Yishmael, mocked him, he could have been emotionally affected. Young children are very sensitive and can be emotionally affected for the rest of their lives, this can happen even before birth. This traumatic experience that Yitzchak went through with Yishmael made him learn to forgive those who hurt him. It was one of the most important lessons of his life. When his father, Avraham died, Yitzchak and Yishmael came together to bury him, a sign that Yitzchak had learned to forgive and love that one who had hurt him.

In order to reap miraculous crops we have to know how to forgive and love in a practical way, those who had hurt us.

When Yitzchak’s father received the order to sacrifice him in the altar, he accepted faithfully what his father was doing. Even if he didn’t receive the divine command himself, he trusted the spiritual authority that the Eternal had placed upon him. His faithfulness and respect toward his father is one of the most impressive examples in the whole Scripture.

In order to reap miraculous crops we have to be faithful and respect the authorities that the Eternal has placed upon us.

When Yitzchak found out that he was going to be the sacrifice, he didn’t resist nor did start an argument, but just surrendered voluntarily.

In order to reap miraculous crops we should not argue or oppose resistance before the sacrifices the Eternal asks from us.

When Yitzchak was feeling sad because of his mother’s death, he went out to the field to deepen in his relationship with the Eternal. When he saw that his wife was barren her didn’t get discouraged in his prayers, but continued fervently and insistently for twenty years until he saw the answer to his pleads.

In order to reap miraculous crops we have to live an intimate live with the Eternal in constant prayer.

When Yitzchak wanted to travel down to Egypt during the famine, the Eternal didn’t allow it and He told him to stay in the land. He obeyed in spite of the risk of suffering a big loss and he acted with a bold faith and sowed during a year of draught. The Eternal honoured his obedience and faith and yielded a miracle of a hundredfold crop that year (mea shearim מאה שערים “a hundred measures” in Hebrew), in such a way that this man got extraordinarily rich.

In order to reap miraculous crops we should follow the voice of the Eternal that sometimes goes against human logics, and act daringly according to His promises.

May the Eternal help us understand the way of a supernatural life.

Shalom uvrachah – peace and blessing,

For how long do we have to pray before getting an answer?

Toldot 6-1

Generations

Genesis 25:19 – 26:5

And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived... Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

(Gen. 25:20-22, 26b (ESV)

For how long do we have to pray before getting an answer?

Yitzchak was a man of prayer. When Eliezer came back from his mission of finding a wife for him, Yitzchak was in the field meditating (24:63). He wasn’t doing yoga, transcendental meditation, or anything like that. Even if those practices may have something positive, they come from the evil one and we have to reject them completely. Yitzchak went out to the field to be alone with the Eternal and to ponder over the things in life that are really important.

The fact that the Torah mentions that he went out toward evening, has created the idea that he established the afternoon prayer, minchah. The Torah says that Avraham woke up in the morning (Gen. 19:27; 21:14) from which the morning prayer shacharit comes. Further on, it talks about Yaakov who fought with the angel at night, from where the evening/night prayer arvit comes.

Prayer is our means of communication with the Eternal. It is the way to bless Him, to unburden ourselves, to renew strength, to gain balance, to intercede on behalf of others, to ask for help, etc. There are many types of prayer and we must learn to develop a life of multifaceted prayer so the Eternal can do His will, through us, on earth as He does in heaven.

Yitzchak is an example to us of a man that knew how to pray. His wife Rivkah, was barren, and it was impossible from the human point of view, for her to have children. How could the promises to Avraham be fulfilled if the only son of the promise had a barren wife? The only way to solve this crisis was to pray.

Instead of sitting idly to wait for the promise to be fulfilled, Yitzchak prayed for his wife. The Hebrew text uses an interesting word here: vayeatar ויעתר which means “and he prayed intensely, insistently, abundantly, vehemently”. This teaches us that the promises from the Eternal are not easy to be seen fulfilled. There is always a price to pay and a sacrifice to make. Childbirths in this fallen world are accompanied by pain. The pain experienced in intense prayer and the temptation to give in to impatience, when not receiving an immediate or short term answer, can abort many interventions from heaven.

Our Rabbi’s instructions and example about prayer teach us that in order to get an answer from heaven, we have to pray intensely, surrender and, many times, with pain and anguish. Why is this so? I really don’t know. But I do know that this is the way of prayer. I think it has to do with the situation in which the world is at the present time, with spiritual, psychological, physical and material obstacles.

Since the energetic and fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (Jacob 5:16-18), Yitzchak’s prayer was successful after twenty years of insistence. He started praying at forty and didn’t see the results until being sixty.

Dear disciple, don’t become discouraged when you pray. If you are praying according to the Eternal’s will and promises, you will have an answer, even if it takes long. Don’t think that the Eternal didn’t listen or that He doesn’t want to help you. Keep insisting according to what he revealed to you in His Word and you will eventually have what you asked for, even if you have to pray for twenty years, like our father Yitzchak.

Shavua tov – good week,  www.messianictora.org

What will be Yishmael’s final cry?

What will be Yishmael’s final cry?

These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes.

(Gen. 25:13-16 ESV)

What will be Yishmael’s final cry?

Yishmael was blessed in such a way that he begot twelve princes, each one with a tribe. This fact confirms the promise given to Avraham and Hagar about their future, as it is written in Genesis 17:20: “As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation.” and Genesis 21:13: “And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring." and Genesis 21:18: “Rise up, lift up the boy and hold him up with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.” (MKJV)

Three times did the Eternal promise that He would make of Yishmael a great nation, and in the text we are dealing with now, we can see that the Eternal is faithful to fulfil His promise.

The blessing over Yishmael does not only involve his offspring’s multiplication so they are many and prosperous in the world, but also in a spiritual dimension. That blessing is reserved in a special manner for the end of times when the Islam is broken.

The name Yishmael, which was given by the Eternal to this son of Avraham, means “the Mighty One will listen”. Hagar’s affliction cry was heard by the Eternal and precisely because of that the boy received the name Yishmael (16:11). Then, the Eternal heard the voice of the boy when he was crying and about to die (21:17).

Yishmael knows how to cry out. His descendants, the Arab people, shout a lot. The Eternal gave him the ability to cry out. The name Yishmael contains a prophesy about his ending; he will cry out and the Mighty One will hear his shout. It will first be a cry for help, like that time when he was about to die, because many grieves will fall upon the Arab countries in the last days, as it is written in Daniel 11:40-44: “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south (Egypt) push at him: and the king of the north (Syria) shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon (The actual Jordan). He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many (KJV)

The Arab countries, especially Egypt, will undergo many sufferings due to the wars that will come at the time of the end. This will produce a strong cry among them. But the cry will change in tone and a very different cry will finally come out from Yishmael’s mouth. Instead of shouting with hatred against his brother Yitzchak and blame him for all that he himself is going through, or shout because of the wars he is suffering, he will start crying out to Heaven – not to Islam’s false god – but to the Mighty One of Israel. And then He will listen and respond, as it is written in Isaiah 19:22: “And the LORD will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the LORD, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them.” (ESV)

After receiving this wonderful healing from the Elokim of the Jews, Yishmael’s sons will lift up their voices with a different kind of shout, as it is written in Isaiah 42:11-12: “Let the desert and its cities lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits (the second son of Yishmael); let the habitants of Sela sing for joy, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory to the LORD, and declare his praise in the coastlands.” (ESV)

Yishmael’s last shout will be a shout of praise to the Eternal, the Elokim of Israel, who didn’t put His Name in Mecca but in Yerushalayim. And it is to Yerushalayim that the sons of Yishmael, in a near future, will come to offer sacrifices in the third temple, as it is written in Isaiah 60:7: “All the flocks of Kedar (the second son of Yishmael) shall be gathered together to you (Yerushalayim); the rams of Nebaioth (Yishmael’s firstborn) shall minister to you. They shall come up on My altar pleasing Me, and I will glorify the house of My glory.” (ESV)

In this way, the purpose of Yishmael’s name will be fulfilled in his descendants. The Mighty One will listen and will make them a great people that will bring a big blessing, both material and spiritual, to the world. May that day come soon and in our days, Amen!

Shabbat shalom,

Can the truth be a way?

Can the truth be a way?

When Avraham avinu’s servant saw that the Eternal had guided him exactly to the home of the woman that was destined to be the wife of his master’s son, he wasn’t ashamed of bowing down to the floor and worshipping the Eternal in front of everyone there. His boldness and courage came from the spiritual atmosphere in the house of Avraham where he had been raised.

This servant was very careful to tell only the truth about Avraham with no exaggeration and exactly what happened before his trip and his encounter with Rivkah (Rebecca). It is obvious that he was a man that loved truth and righteousness. It’s not surprising that Avraham trusted him completely. His honesty is clearly seen in this chapter. He was a man that not only knew the Eternal’s grace but also His truth (24:27) and he expected men to reflect these two very important aspects of the Eternal’s character (24:49).

Now, Eliezer said that the Eternal had led him in a way of truth (derech emet דרך אמת) according to the Hebrew text. An angel was sent before him to prepare circumstances so that the divine encounter between Eliezer and Rivkah could take place beside the well.

We can learn two important things from the expression “way of truth”; first, that the truth is a way. A way in the Scriptures symbolizes the life style. There are those who walk the way of lies and others that walk the way of truth. There are those who think that white lies are not serious and don’t know that any lie belongs to the way of lies and are the product of the influence of the father of lies of this world (Juan 8:44). Anyone who resorts to lies and falsehood connects with the enemy of the Eternal, the satan. It is true that we don’t always have to say the whole truth, but it’s not the same to say part of the truth than a lie. A lie is a distortion of the truth and that comes from the evil one.

The Elokim of Avraham is the Elokim of truth as it is written in Psalm 31:5: “Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.” (KJV) and Jeremiah 10:10a: “But HaShem Elokim is truth”. (Darby revised) If He is an Elokim of truth, there is no room at all for lies in Him. So, too are His true children, as it is written in Psalm 51:6a: “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts” (MKJV) Eliezer loved the truth and walked the path of truth.

The second thing we can learn from this text is that the way of truth takes us to a destination prepared by the angel of the Eternal. If we walk around in lies thinking that it is the way to solve problems, we won’t reach the destination of the Eternal. We will only be successful in the way of truth.

Dear disciple of the Messiah. Since our Rabbi is the way and the truth (John 14:6), we can only walk with him and through him if we love truth in our inward parts and we hate every false way, small as it may be (Psalm 119:104, 128). “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John v.4 ESV)

Peace upon all who walk in truth with love,  www.messianictorah.org

How are Avraham’s followers?

How are Avraham’s followers?

Avraham’s most trusted servant went to Mesopotamia to look for a wife for Yitzchak. He carried with him ten camels loaded with all kinds of goods. With Yitzchak’s birth, Eliezer had been displaced from Avraham’s plans. Before Yitzchak, Avraham was planning on leaving him all his possessions (15:2) but the Eternal changed Avraham’s plans and said that Yitzchak would be the heir (15:4; 21:10,12). The inheritance included not only material goods but also something much more important, an immovable faith and eternal promises and blessings.

Eliezer had grown up with the faith and within the spiritual atmosphere of his master. Avraham trusted him completely because he knew that he was absolutely loyal. This servant wasn’t after his own interests while serving in his mission as a shaliach – emissary. The only thing he cared for was to fulfill the will of the one who had sent him, and in this particular case, he knew that it was not just a regular mission but an important part of the divine plan for the world’s future redemption. It was very important that Yitzchak had a heavenly sent wife. That’s why the servant didn’t trust his own discerning abilities but he trusted the Eternal and acted by faith, as he had learned from his master.

When he arrived in his destination, he made the camels kneel by a well (24:11). Camels need to kneel in order to rest. The fact that the Torah mentions this can teach us something in an allegoric manner. The Hebrew word for kneeling is barach, ברך - which is related to berech ברך – knee. The word barach also means “to bless” (24:1). It is the word we use when we bless the Eternal: “Baruch HaShem”. Baruch means blessed. The interesting part is that blessing is closely related to knee. Avraham had learned this truth and had also taught it to those who lived in his household. He who knows to bend his knee is able to receive blessings; the one who humbles himself will be lifted up.

The fact that Eliezer made the ten camels kneel teaches us, in allegoric form, about what Avraham had been teaching his followers. The same way Eliezer had his servants, the camels, kneel, so Avraham had been teaching his followers to humble themselves and to kneel before the Eternal. Avraham was the friend of the Eternal and he knew what the Eternal liked and what He wanted most from men. He knew that The Eternal is seeking for worshipers as is it written in John 4:23: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to worship Him.” (MKJV)

Avraham had won many souls (12:5) and he taught all of them to be worshippers. The only desire in his soul was to satisfy the desires of his Lord and that’s why he took time to teach his people to become worshippers that knew how to incline their hearts and bend their knees before the Eternal.

When Avraham’s servant had received a clear answer to his mission of taking a wife for Yitzchak from among his master’s relatives, he bowed down to earth and worshipped the Eternal.

Be a worshipper of the Eternal. Get used to bend not only your knees but also to incline your heart before Him. In that way, you’ll be a son, follower of Avraham who follows his faith because it is those of faith who are sons of Avraham. (Rom 4:12; Gal 3:7).

May you be blessed together with Avraham your father,  www.messianictorah.org