Commentary - Year 1 Sabbath 26

Genesis 27:30-28:9   -   Micah 1:1, 5:7-13   -   Psalm 23   -   Romans 10:20-11:36
 

Tishrei 5, 5762 / Sept 22, 2001 

Tishrei 3, 5765 / Sept 18, 2004 

Tishrei 3, 5768 / Sept 15, 2007 

Tishrei 3, 5771 / Sept 11, 2010 

Tishrei 3, 5774 / Sept   7, 2013 

Tishrei 6, 5777 / Oct    8, 2016

Tishrei 6, 5780 / Oct    5, 2019

Tishrei 6, 5783 / Oct    1, 2022

Yitzchak Barak / When Isaac had blessed   SCRIPTURES should be read first

Isaac was 123, and Rebecca was 97 years old.  Jacob and Esau were 63.  Leah and Rachel were just born – when Jacob was 63.

(From the Hebrew text:) Jacob had not finished leaving when Esau entered. Had Esau come any sooner, Jacob would not have received the blessing. Esau proceeded to prepare the meal. He then requested, in a rough manner, that his father rise up and eat; this is contrasted to Jacob’s manner – he had asked his father politely to be seated comfortably to eat. Esau requested that Isaac “eat of his son’s game” as though he were Isaac’s only son. Note the similarities of Roman (Edomite) theology today.

As Isaac realized that he had been deceived, he became overcome with anxiety. Who else would know to do what he had instructed Esau? Who could have found and prepared game faster then skillful Esau could get there? What had God brought upon him? Seeing God’s will in what was done, he confirmed, indeed the blessing would rest upon the one who came before. Isaac said, “Your brother came with cleverness” – which has dual meaning: Midrash renders it “wisdom of the Torah,” or it may be rendered “deceit,” (meaning permissible cunning, not malicious deceit).

The Midrash says that Jacob”s means of obtaining the blessing caused Esau to “cry out,” and therefore, Jacob’s descendants in Shushan (with Mordechai) were caused to “cry out – loudly and bitterly” (Esther 4:1) when they were destined to be slaughtered by Esau’s descendants (with Hamaan). The name “Jacob” (Ya’acov – heel) is the same as a word meaning “taking a circuitous route to achieve one’s goal.” It is ultimately best to rely upon God’s means of fulfilling His purposes!

When Esau asked his father if there was not a blessing left for him, Isaac answered that Jacob had been made a lord over him: if anything could be given Esau, it would ultimately revert to Jacob. Then Isaac said (not stated as giving a blessing) that Esau would dwell in fertile regions of the earth (while Jacob would dwell in Canaan). Also, Esau would be a successful hunter/warrior.

When Esau, in anger, plotted to kill his brother, Rebecca sent Jacob away for a few days, till his wrath subsided; Rebecca never saw her son again. “Edom’s . . . anger tore perpetually and he kept his wrath forever” – Amos 1:11.

Rebecca told Isaac that Esau’s Hittite wives were so troubling to her, that she wanted Jacob to take a wife from a different land. Thus, Isaac sent Jacob out to the land of Rebecca’s birth, to obtain a “pure bride.”

At the “Day of the Atonements,” Messiah’s bride must be pure, not idolatrous.

Esau, seeing his parent’s displeasure in his Hittite wives, took another wife: an Ishmaelite named Mahalath, meaning illness or disease. Thus, he added more displeasure.

Psalm 23 is the blessing for the pure bride. She is loved and enjoys comfort and full provision forever.

David wrote Psalm 23 when he was fleeing from King Saul, and living in a dry, desolate forest called “Ya’ar Cheret” – Forest of Baked Earthenware (1 Samuel 22:6) [Artscroll Tanach – Tehillim]. He writes concerning not only himself, but concerning Israel, the Bride of Messiah.

(V.1) The first word is “Yahweh” – the Gracious, Merciful God. Yahweh is the shepherd, providing all her needs, as we also read in Genesis 48:15 (Joseph representing Israel) and Psalm 80:1. Those who are purified will forsake worldly desires, and rejoice in God’s provision for doing His work. Messiah’s betrothed bride will be focused on desires of the world to come. “I shall not lack” is seen as a reference to the world to come – no present condition should turn us away from our goal of eternal reward.

(V.2) As in the wilderness, Yahweh – as a shepherd – provided lush meadows, tranquil waters, and continual leadership, so will be the case in the new world, when Messiah shall dwell with His Bride.

(V.3) For the overcomers, He restores the soul, and leads in paths of righteousness – to the glory of His Name.

(V.4) While David may be thinking immediately of the Wilderness of Zif (1 Samuel 23), where he was looking at death at the hands of Saul, the ultimate picture is of the end of this world – whether that be our individual death or the end of the age – when God in His grace will be with us.

(V.5) In the wilderness, Israel was given food in full view of her tormenters, who predicted starvation. To “saturate with fat” (translated “anointed my head with oil) may refer to the quail: they were a curse to the lustful, but a blessing to the righteous [Midrash Shemot Rabba 25:7]. An overflowing cup refers to generous provision, beyond basic requirement.

(V.6) While Saul was pursuing David, God was working all things together for his good. Though situations in this life may seem as evil upon us, we must remember that . . . this life is just a test, a preparation time; it is all for our eternal good!

Romans 11:26

“All Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob."

“You shall call His Name Yeshua, for He shall save His people from their sins” – Matthew 1:21. “All Israel (Jacob)” that shall be saved (Romans 11:26) is a reference to people all twelve tribes, meaning not only Judah (Jews); “the world” that God loved (John 3:16) refers to people of all nations, meaning not only the physical descendants of Jacob.

The above statements mean neither that every descendant of Jacob will be saved, nor that every person of the world is loved* by God. Rather, a remnant – chosen and called and faithful – will be saved. “In the same way then (as in Elijah’s day), there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to election by grace” (v. 5) – a remnant which includes Paul, a Benjaminite (of Jacob, but not Judah). When Yeshua said, “Salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22), He was explaining that Messiah must be through Judah – which He was.

Many descendants of the twelve tribes of Israel fall into unbelief. Many Gentiles are graffed into Messiah. We must be sure that we are not in unbelief. Fallen Israelites can be graffed back in through repentance and faith. We have no basis for pride: God has chosen a remnant from the whole world – by His grace, not based on any good or evil we would do. When we receive faith, by grace, we turn around with desire to follow Yeshua.

“To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”

Readings:

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Who chose us from among all peoples by giving us Your Torah.

Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the Torah."

Vayhiy ka-asher kilah Yitzchak barak (It came to pass, when Isaac had blessed)

Reader 1* Amen ³⁰ Now it came about, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had hardly gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. ³¹ Then he also made savory food, and brought it to his father; and he said to his father, "Let my father arise and eat of his son's game, that you may bless me." ³² Isaac his father said to him, "Who are you?" And he said, "I am your son, your firstborn, Esau." ³³ Then Isaac trembled violently, and said, "Who was he then that hunted game and brought it to me, so that I ate of all of it before you came, and blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed."

Reader 2* Amen ³⁴ When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, "Bless me, even me also, O my father!" ³⁵ And he said, "Your brother came deceitfully and has taken away your blessing." ³⁶ Then he said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob, for he has supplanted me these two times? He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing." And he said, "Have you not reserved a blessing for me?"

Reader 1* Amen ³⁷ But Isaac replied to Esau, "Behold, I have made him your master, and all his relatives I have given to him as servants; and with grain and new wine I have sustained him. Now as for you then, what can I do, my son?" ³⁸ Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father." So Esau lifted his voice and wept. ³⁹ Then Isaac his father answered and said to him, "Behold, away from the fertility of the earth shall be your dwelling, And away from the dew of heaven from above.

Reader 4* Amen ⁴⁰ "By your sword you shall live, And your brother you shall serve; But it shall come about when you become restless, That you will break his yoke from your neck." ⁴¹ So Esau bore a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob." ⁴² Now when the words of her elder son Esau were reported to Rebekah, she sent and called her younger son Jacob, and said to him, "Behold your brother Esau is consoling himself concerning you by planning to kill you. ⁴³ "Now therefore, my son, obey my voice, and arise, flee to Haran, to my brother Laban! ⁴⁴ "Stay with him a few days, until your brother's fury subsides, ⁴⁵ until your brother's anger against you subsides and he forgets what you did to him. Then I will send and get you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?"

Reader 5* Amen ⁴⁶ Rebekah said to Isaac, "I am tired of living because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth, like these, from the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?"

^28:1 So Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and charged him, and said to him, "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. ² "Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father; and from there take to yourself a wife from the daughters of Laban your mother's brother.

Reader 6* Amen ³ "May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. ⁴ "May He also give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your descendants with you, that you may possess the land of your sojournings, which God gave to Abraham." ⁵ Then Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Paddan-aram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.

Reader 7* Amen ⁶ Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take to himself a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he charged him, saying, "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan," ⁷ and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and had gone to Paddan-aram. ⁸ So Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan displeased his father Isaac; ⁹ and Esau went to Ishmael, and married, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth.

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Who in giving us Yeshua, the Living Torah, has planted everlasting life in our midst.

Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the Torah."

______________________

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Who selected good prophets, delighting in their words which were spoken truthfully.

Blessed are You, Yahweh, Who chose the Torah, Your servant Moses, Your people Israel,

and the prophets of truth and righteousness."

Micah 1:1, 5:7-13

Reader 8* Amen ¹ The word of Yahweh which came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

^5:7 Then the remnant of Jacob will be among many peoples like dew from Yahweh, like showers on vegetation which do not wait for man or delay for the sons of men. ⁸ The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, among many peoples like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which, if he passes through, tramples down and tears, and there is none to rescue. ⁹ Your hand will be lifted up against your adversaries, and all your enemies will be cut off. ¹⁰ "It will be in that day," declares Yahweh, "that I will cut off your horses from among you and destroy your chariots. ¹¹ I will also cut off the cities of your land and tear down all your fortifications. ¹² I will cut off sorceries from your hand, and you will have fortune-tellers no more. ¹³ I will cut off your carved images and your sacred pillars from among you, so that you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands.

Psalm 23    (To be sung.)  A Psalm of David.

¹ Yahweh is my shepherd, I shall not want. ² He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. ³ He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. ⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. ⁶ Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of Yahweh forever.

Romans 10:20 – 11:36

Reader 9* Amen ²⁰ And Isaiah is very bold and says, "I was found by those who did not seek me, I became manifest to those who did not ask for me." ²¹ But as for Israel He says, "All the day I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people." ^11:1 I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. ² God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew.

Reader 10* Amen Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? ³ "Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life." ⁴ But what is the divine response to him? "I have kept for Myself seven-thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." ⁵ In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice.  ⁶ But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. ⁷ What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; ⁸ just as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes to see not and ears to hear not, down to this very day." ⁹ And David says, "Let their table become a snare and a trap, and a stunblingblock and a retribution to them. ¹⁰ "Let their eyes be darkened to see not, and bend their backs forever."

Reader 11* Amen ¹¹ I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. ¹² Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! ¹³ But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, ¹⁴ if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

Reader 12* Amen ¹⁶ If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. ¹⁷ But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. ¹⁹ You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." ²⁰ Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; ²¹ for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.

Reader 13* Amen ²² Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. ²³ And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? ²⁵ For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery-- so that you will not be wise in your own estimation-- that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; ²⁶ and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "The deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob." ²⁷ "This is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins." ²⁸ From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; ²⁹ for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Reader 14* Amen ³⁰ For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, ³¹ so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. ³² For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. ³³ Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! ³⁴ For who has known the mind of Yahweh, or who became His counselor? ³⁵ Or who has given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? ³⁶ For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.