Parasha 27: Behold, I AM with You

Behold, I AM with You

-- T O R A H   P O R T I O N --

Introduction:

How does it feel to know God is with you?

Last parasha, Isaac discovered that he gave his blessing to his younger son Jacob instead of Esau. When Esau heard it, he bitterly cried and begged his father to bless him too. So he bore a grudge against his brother Jacob because of the blessing which Isaac gives. Because of what happened, Esau planned to kill Jacob as soon as his father died. To escape from his angry brother, Jacob went to Paddan-aram, the place of his uncle Laban.

Our parasha starts with Jacob who was in a certain place to spend the night. From there he dreamt. There was a ladder set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven, and Adonai YHVH’s angels were descending and ascending on it. There was a midrash that says the ladder leads to the Temple altar and the angels of Adonai are the high priests. Some Rabbis understood the ladder as Mount Sinai.  

I believe this ladder foreshadows the Messiah Yeshua. In Genesis 22:18, Adonai said to Abraham that “In his seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed”, and this time, Jacob also received the same promise( V.14). Yeshua is the seed, the ladder and bridge to Adonai to restore the broken relationship between Him and mankind because of sin.

Now in verses 13-15, Adonai promised some important things to Jacob. As we can see, everytime Adonai calls someone to serve Him, it requires a separation from loved ones. When Adonai called Abraham in Genesis 12, He told him to leave his country, his family, and the house of his father. This time, Jacob must leave his family because of what happened and Adonai allowed it to fit in His plan and He wants Jacob to rely on Him. Twice the word “Behold” was used here. In verse 13, behold, Adonai stood above the ladder and said to Jacob that He is the Lord God of his father Abraham and Isaac. He mentioned these names because He made a covenant with them, and Jacob will continue to fulfil it. He promised to Jacob that his descendants will be numerous and shall spread to the four corners of the earth and in his seed

(that is Yeshua in Gal.3:16), all the families of this eretz will be blessed.

The second behold is in verse 15. Adonai promised to Jacob that He would be with him and keep him wherever he goes. Since Jacob departed from his family, this promise was very comforting. He will be Jacob’s companion and guidance. Hebrews 13:5b-6 “For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” For Jacob, these promises render more encouragement as he becomes a traveller and leaves his comfort zone.

When he awakes, Jacob is amazed because he recognized Adonai’s presence in the place he claimed as the house of God and gate of heaven. He took the stone that he had put at his head, made a pillar and poured oil on it. After that, he called the place Bethel which means “House of God”. Then he told himself that if Adonai will be with him and provide food and clothes, then He shall be his God. What a wonderful transformation of Jacob, a supplanter but now a believer of Adonai YHVH. Eventually, his name will be changed from Jacob to Israel which means “God prevails.”

In chapter 29, Jacob reached his destination, and we can see five pieces of evidence here that Adonai YHVH is with him like what He promised in 28:15.

1. Jacob meets shepherds from Haran vv.1-4

It would be easy for Jacob to know the place of his destination because of these shepherds from Haran. Surprisingly, they knew Laban the son of Nahor, for he was actually Nahor’s grandson. In our lives, God sends people to help, guide, and sometimes use them as blessings for us.

2. Rachel came with the sheep v.6

What a coincidence! While Jacob was asking the shepherds, they pointed out Rachel, his cousin, and the daughter of his Uncle Laban. Because of Jacob’s excitement, he kissed Rachel, lifted up his voice and wept( tears of joy). if it is truly God's will to happen, He Himself will make a way. It is no coincidence that Rachel was also on her way to Jacob's place so that their paths would meet. I remember when God changed my life from twelve years of drug addiction. I prayed to Him that if I ever had a girlfriend again, it would be someone I could marry and help with the ministry. And when I went to a bible school, God introduced me to the woman I had prayed for.

3. Laban heard the news about Jacob vv.13-14

Upon meeting his nephew, Laban shows hospitality by bringing Jacob into his house. He stayed there for a month and Jacold told Laban everything. Laban offered him wages maybe because he knew that Adonai will bless Jacob, so he could be a blessing to him as well.

4. Jacob was with Leah in the morning vv.23-25

Since Adonai YHVH told Jacob that his descendants shall be as the dust of the earth(Gen.28:14), Leah will be the mother of Levi(Priesthood), and Judah (The line of King David and Yeshua Ha Massiach). Again nothing is an accident God allows all events to happen for a purpose and to fulfill His plan.

5. Jacob married Rachel vv.28-30

First, it was only seven years of service for Rachel because Jacob loved her. But after he awakes one morning with Leah, Laban told him that it should not be done in their country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Another seven years of service must be completed, and he loved Rachel who became the mother of Benjamin and Joseph which Foreshadows the Messiah Yeshua as the suffering Servant.

These five pieces of evidence show us that Adonai YHVH is with Jacob, always available to help him and fulfil His promises.

“I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your descendants. Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 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.”

In fact, this promise is already a third generation of a covenant Adonai made with Abraham and with Isaac. After Jacob's incident with his brother, he will experience more suffering and trials, but it's just the beginning of his calling. Just like Jacob, some of us expect that an encounter with Adonai will make our life better and prosperous. The experiences of Jacob shows us that God wants to meet us in our darkest hour when it seems that we already wanted to give up. But that's the time that He will communicate with us.

-- H A F T A R A H P O R T I O N --

The haftarah from Hosea 12:12–14 connects to Jacob’s story by mentioning that he fled to Aram and worked hard for a wife.

However, the main point Hosea makes is about how the nation that came from Jacob turned away from God. Judah (the southern kingdom) and Israel (the northern kingdom) are both guilty, and God promises to judge them for their wrong actions.

Israel was arrogant because of their status as the chosen people of Adonai, and they relied and sought help from other nations including Egypt instead of relying on Adonai who brought them out of slavery. Even though Jacob personally encountered God—wrestling with Him and speaking with Him—the generations after him broke their covenant with God. Hosea even shows that the "Angel of the Lord" Jacob wrestled with is actually God Himself.

The worst sin was Ephraim’s idolatry, which included terrible practices like child sacrifice.

So through prophet Hosea, Adonai reminded them of their beginning. He recalls how Jacob served for a spouse, and how Israel was brought out from the land of Egypt. This should cause them to be humble, and must recognize that only by the grace and power of Adonai YHVH they became a great nation. The lesson here for us is very obvious. Sometimes when we forget what Adonai has done in our lives and seem to rely on our own abilities, He will suddenly remind us so that we can continue to trust Him.

-- APOSTOLIC P O R T I O N --

In Apostolic, Paul reminded the believers in Ephesus to walk in love (vv.1-7), that fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, and idolatry should not be seen in them. Paul reminds them also not to be deceived by anyone of empty words (kenois logos in greek) which means “without the substance of truth or reality.”

Next, Paul reminds them to walk in light (vv.8-10). He mentioned what light produces in the life of a believer. These are goodness, righteousness, truth, and finding out the acceptable things to Adonai YHVH.

Because we have come to know God through His Messiah, Yeshua, and have received the gift of His Spirit, we should not be fooled by empty talk. We are called to live as children of the Light, always seeking to understand what pleases the Lord (vv. 8–10).

We must live as people who have truly encountered the Holy One of Israel—just as Jacob did—because we have met Him and come to know Him in a real and personal way.

The connection of our parasha is about the continuous presence of God in the journey of His people. In the Torah, Adonai assured Jacob that He will be with him and won't leave him. In the Haftarah, in spite of Israel's reliance on other nations including Egypt, Adonai recalls how He was with Jacob in Syria, and how He brought Israel out of slavery. In Apostolic, Paul reminded the believers in Ephesus that if Adonai is already with them, they should no longer live in darkness but walk as children of light and find out what is acceptable to Adonai YHVH.

Returning to my introduction…Adonai YHVH promised to Jacob that He will be with him. Yeshua also promised to His disciples that He will be with them always, even to the end of the age

(Mat.28:20). Baruch Hashem we have a God who is always with us, an ever present help! Yes He is, and He does!

"God’s promises are not bound by time or circumstance; they are anchored in His faithfulness. Just as He was with Jacob, He is with us, guiding us through every twist and turn of our journey."

Psalm 145:18

"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

Psalm 16:8

"I know that the Lord is always with me.”

Isaiah 41:10

"I am with you; I will strengthen you and help you.” 

Shabbat Shalom,

Topher

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-- S O U R C E S --

Myjewishlearning.com

Jtsa.edu

Schechter.edu

Hoshanarabbah.org

Torahclass.com

torahresource.com

Learnreligions.com

Hebrews12endurance.com