Parashat Vayetze

Parashat Vayetze (‘ and he went out’)                                                  By Shelley Wood Gauld

Gen 25:19-28:9, Hos 11:7-14:9, John 1:19-51

God the Father, Son and Spirit may be likened to the Hebrew patriarchs. Abraham, “the father of a multitude,” may be compared to God the Father. Isaac, offered as a sacrifice, is a picture of God’s son, Yeshua. Jacob, who wrestled with the ways of God versus the ways of the world, may be compared to the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) who empowers God’s people in this struggle each day.

This week’s parasha focuses on the flight of Jacob from his home in Beersheva, to his mother’s relatives in Haran; the establishment of his own family there; his work and relationship with Laban; and his return to Canaan. The Haftarah draws our attention to (the northern kingdom of) Ephraim -- another ‘second son’ who, contrary to tradition, received the blessing of the firstborn and whose waywardness led to exile, hardship and loss – and the promise of restoration.

A certain pattern is evident in the life of Jacob: ‘wrestling’ followed by blessing…Rebekah (Rivkah) had been barren for 20 years before falling pregnant with Esau and Jacob. While in her womb, they “jostled” each other -- and in answer to her question, HaShem blessed her with this prophecy: the older twin (Esau) would serve the younger (Jacob). Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, in his Toldot commentary, suggested that it was a lack of communication between Isaac and Rebekah that later precipitated the calamitous events concerning the selling of the birthright and Jacob’s acquisition of the blessing; that is, that Isaac was unaware of the prophecy.

Jacob was forced to flee from his furious twin brother and seek refuge amongst relatives in Haran. In a dream, shortly after his departure, Jacob saw angels of God (malakhei Elohim) ascending and descending on a ladder that extended from heaven to earth -- and then HaShem met with him and reassured this lonely fearful fugitive… There is no greater blessing than to have a personal encounter with the Living God… (In the Brit Khadashah portion we hear Yeshua telling Nathanael that He is the ladder between heaven and earth: the Sha’ar Hashamayim.)

While in Haran, Jacob experienced new kinds of wrestling and blessings. We notice that the encounter with HaShem had transformed him into a man of integrity. It was Laban’s repeated trickery and exploitation -- including ‘supplanting’ his younger daughter with his older daughter on Jacob’s wedding night – that became a thorn in Jacob’s side. Yet Jacob was greatly blessed: wives, concubines, children, servants, droves of livestock and abundant possessions became his in Haran.

In his home, Jacob had to contend with ‘wrestling’ of another kind; between his wives, Leah and Rachel. The meanings of the names of his children (born of his wives and two concubines) constitute a record of the struggle that took place between the sisters as they competed for his affection. But it was this very wrestling that produced the greatest of blessings; not simply the birth of many sons, but the birth a nation.

After 20 years in Haran, Jacob left with all that he had; without the consent of Laban, whose smooth tongue might once again have ensnared Jacob. Jacob undoubtedly hoped that his negotiations with that schemer were over, but Laban was soon in hot pursuit. Jacob ‘wrestled’ (verbally) with Laban one last time as he made his grievances known (Gen 31: 36-42.) and then a treaty was established between them and Laban departed. Once again, ‘wrestling’ was followed by an unexpected blessing: “Ya’akov went on his way and the angels of God [malakhei Elohim] met him…..” (Gen 32: 1-2 CJB)

In the following portion we read that, once alone, Jacob encountered an angelic being on the banks of the River Jabbok. After wrestling with him throughout the night, the angel attempted to leave as the sun was rising; but Jacob clung to him, demanding a blessing. It was then that Jacob’s name was changed: “Your name will no longer be Jacob [Ya‘akov: supplanter], but Israel [Yisra‘el: He struggles with God], because you have struggled [wrestled] with God and with men and have overcome.” (Gen. 32:28)

Those who, like Jacob, fear HaShem and ‘wrestle’ with Him as the old nature is being transformed by the Spirit, might be termed ‘Israel’ — but only in a metaphorical sense. The title ‘Israel’ can only refer, unequivocally, to the physical descendants of Abraham – and the Jews are the only clearly identifiable ‘B’ney Yisra’el (Children of Israel) among us.

The doctrine of Replacement Theology, claiming that Israel has been replaced by the Church, is increasingly regarded as erroneous. Believers in Yeshua are grafted into the olive tree of Israel. It is the sturdy ancient Jewish roots of the Faith that support ingrafted gentiles as Paul patiently explains in the book of Romans, chapter 11.