Torah Trails
Rabbi Yehudah “Tochukwu” ben Shomeyr
Kristopher Shoemaker
#12 Vayechi
Gen. 47:28-50:26
I Kings
2:1-12
Hebrews
11:21-22, I Pet. 1:3-9, 2:11-17
Memory
Verses: Gen. 49:1, I Kings 2:12, I Pet. 1:9
Gen. 49:33
Jacob came into
this world clasping the heel of his fraternal twin brother Esau. In mid-life he
likely grabbed the foot when he wrestled with God and won. In the end he grabbed
his own feet as he, “gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the
ghost.”
Jacob’s life
was marked with grabbing and fighting for virtually everything he had from Esau
and Laban. Crossing land and river it was marked by feet, which, like ones
shoes, tells a lot about a person, about their journey in life.
Jacob
grabbed, fought and wandered right up until he through his life was over. Then
he was returned with Joseph his son whom he long thought he lost his grip on
and it invigorated him and gave him new life. After which you never hear of
Jacob grabbing, fighting or wandering ever again, except when he, “gathered up
his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost.”
Jacob’s life
began with a struggle but ended in peace. It began with getting a blessing and ended
up with giving a blessing. Jacob ended his life giving his sons all he spent
his lifetime getting and finally gave his blessing to each and every one of his
sons, even to two of his grandsons that he adopted as his own.
Jacob
entered the world with one hand full of the fleshy heel of another and ended
with both his hands full of his own fleshy heels.
He began
insecure, grabbing for another and ended secure content and at peace embracing
himself. He was now complete, full of years and at peace surrounded by his
family. May we be so fortunate.
I Kings 2:1
David on the
other hand left some unfinished business for his son Solomon, but because it
was a Kingly dynasty it was more like the passing of the torch, the transfer of
a mantle or a calling. For us who have children or even folks whom we’ve
mentored, what do we have to pass on to the next one in line? Wisdom, a legacy,
a ministry? Like a will, something to think about and settle today because
tomorrow is not a given.
Heb.
11:21-22
What Jacob
gave his sons was something he actually didn’t have. It was a blessing, a prophetic
gift for the future. He evaluated their character and talents and prophetically
blessed them to give them a direction, a course for a successful future. He
gave them what he wished for them to have in the form of a blessing. He gave
the children of Israel his very soul.
It’s vitally
important that we are prepared to bless our children and these we mentor before
we die. When we know they are ready to leave the nest and start a life or
ministry of their own.
“Abba YHWH
Elohim, bless us with wisdom to be content with what we have yet strive for
Your blessing so that we may in turn are able to bless the next generation. In
Yeshua’s Name we ask and give thanks, Ameyn!”
