W A L K T H R O U G H T H E W O R D jkahu “and he sent” : Genesis 32:3[4 Heb]-36:43 : 1:1-21 B’rit Chadashah: Hebrews 11:11-20

Sunday (Rishon) Genesis 32:3-12[4-13 Heb] Returns Home (Sheni) Genesis 32:13-29[14-30 Heb] Faith Over Fear VaYishlach concludes the tol’dot of and next weeks portion begins the tol’dot of Jacob. Remember, tol’dot is “generation” or “account of.” So, the account of a father is primarily told through his children’s lives. Isaac’s tol’dot began in 25:19, has focused primarily on Jacob & and concludes this week. Next week’s portion will begin Jacob’s tol’dot by his life being lived out through his children, especially (37:2). This week’s portion concludes Jacob’s 20-year “boom-a-rang” journey back from Padaan Aram to the Promised Land. According to 27:41-43, why did Jacob leave Beersheva in the first place? Consider the fear with which Jacob must have been wrestling. According to 28:15 & 31:3, why is he returning home now? Consider the faith that must have been required for Jacob to overcome his previous fear. Jacob sends messengers ahead to test out his brother’s disposition (32:3-5). The messengers’ reply paints a picture of impending attack (v.6). While Jacob does respond to the situation with action (vv.7-8) he does not neglect the most important thing: prayer (vv.9-12). How easy it is to neglect prayer! Where do you need to grow in the area of prayerfulness? Pick one realistic and doable way that you can grow in this area and take a step out in faith! & Jacob sends his brother many gifts to assuage his wrath (vv.13-21) and then after taking his family and possessions across the Jabbok river, Jacob returns to the northern shore (vv.22-23). Is Jacob’s wrestling opponent human or divine according to v.24 (cf. Hos.12:4)? Who could have the power to wrench a hip with merely a touch (v.25)? A name is more than a title but represents someone’s character and destiny. Jacob’s opponent does not reveal his name but changes the patriarch’s name to “” in response to Jacob’s demand for a blessing (vv.26-29). Are you currently “wrestling with God” over something? Is it hard to submit to His will when your circumstances don’t measure up to your personal preferences? What is He trying to teach you? What are you afraid of? Consider where fear is a driving force in your life. Spend time in prayer getting your eyes off your self and your circumstances and back onto God, Who is powerful and loving. “Perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). How can you act on your faith instead of your fear and let God’s light shine through your choices?

Monday (Shlishi) Genesis 32:30[31 Heb]-33:5 Israel Wrestles With God (R’vi’i) Genesis 33:6-20 Jacob Reunites With His Brother Realizing that he had seen God’s face in human form, Jacob names the place, Peniel (32:30). Jacob’s limp reminds him of this divine encounter. Tradition has encoded this remembrance into the Jewish mindset by Jewish people not eating an animal’s tendon connected to the thigh (vv.31-32). After Jacob reunites with his family and sees Esau coming, he quickly divides his household into a long caravan with the most “precious” in the rear for safety (33:1-2). Jacob leads the way to reunite with his brother in a touching display of Jacob’s humility and Esau’s receptivity (vv.3-5). & Esau meets his brother’s family (vv.6-7) and eventually accepts Jacob’s generous gifts (vv.8-11). After they negotiate travel plans, Esau returns home to Seir (vv.12-16). Jacob travels first to Succoth (v.17) and then moves on to , the place where had lived (vv.18-20; cf. Abraham had moved from Shechem to , 12:6, 8; 13:3).

Tuesday (Chamishi) Genesis 34:1-35:11 Shame! (Shishi) Genesis 35:12-36:19 The Land Heritage While in Shechem, the prince of the land defiles Jacob’s daughter (34:1-3). This prince wants his dad to go and make things right (v.4). So, father Hamor goes to Jacob (vv.5-7) and speaks to him and his sons (vv.8- 10). Prince Shechem speaks up for himself and pleads for them to give him for a wife (vv.11-12). With insincere motives, Jacob’s sons set as the condition (vv.13-17). When the Shechemites submit (vv.18-24) Dinah’s brothers execute revenge (vv.25-29). Think about what must have motivated and to act in such a passionate way on behalf of Dinah. According to 30:19-21 & 35:23, how exactly are these siblings related in the bloodline from Jacob via 4 different women? While defending Dinah’s honor, they also disqualify themselves for paternal blessings due to their vengeful ways (vv.30-31; cf. 49:5-7). At God’s instruction, Jacob leads his family to meet with God back in the place where God had first met Him: Bethel (35:1-7). Isaac’s wife’s nurse dies there (v.8; cf. 24:59; perhaps Deborah had traveled to Haran to tell Jacob to come home, 27:45) and God shows up (vv.9-13). God confirms Isaac’s previous blessings (cf. 28:3-4) as well as His previous promises (cf. 28:13-15). Jacob responds in worship (vv.14-15). On the way to , is born (vv.16-18) and beloved dies (vv.19-20). With Rachel out of the way, perhaps hoped to finally gain her husband’s affections and the corresponding familial status. , Leah’s firstborn son, probably slept with , Rachel’s maid, to defile & disqualify her from robbing his mother of this cherished opportunity (vv.21-22a). It also may have been a challenge against his father’s authority that disqualified him also from receiving paternal blessings (cf. 49:3-4; 1 Chr.5:1). Jacob’s family line is listed (vv.22b-26) and then he reunites with his father who eventually dies and is buried by his two sons (vv.27-29). After Jacob’s lengthy life history and concise family line (from the end of ch.25 through the end of ch.35), Esau’s condensed history and family line are recorded in ch.36 to close out father Isaac’s tol’dot. Specifically, Esau marries and has kids in (36:1-5) and then moves eastward and settles in Seir (vv.6-8) where his family grows (vv.9-14) with “chiefs” as political leaders (vv.15-19).

Wednesday (Shvi’i) Genesis 36:20-39 Seir’s Land First () Genesis vv.40-43 ’s Land Next The lived in the land of Seir before Esau moved there. The Horites had “chiefs” as well (36:20-30; cf. Deut.2:12). Kings came from the line of Esau (vv.31-39) before they did from the line of Jacob (cf. God’s promise of kings immediately after Benjamin was born, 35:11, and the beginning fulfillment when Saul, who is from Benjamin’s line, becomes king, 1 Sam.9:1-2). While Esau’s land was ruled by kings, they also had local “chiefs” according to regions (vv.40-43).

Thursda (Haftarah) Obadiah 1:1-21 Israel Will Prevail Obadiah means “servant of the Lord” and is the shortest book in the (a.k.a. Tanach, or “Old Testament”). While there is ambiguity regarding when Obadiah lived and preached God’s rebuke to Esau’s descendents, the reason for the rebuke is clear (v.10). The children of Esau have not blessed the children of Jacob, but instead have treated them with contempt (cf. Ps.137:7). God’s promise to “bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you” was given to Abraham (Gen.12:3) and then passing from father to son, rested on Jacob (Gen.27:29). The nation of Edom would have done well to heed this warning. The nations of the world would do well to heed the same warning today. Read vv.11-15 and consider what national response God is looking for toward Israel (i.e. Jewish “seed” both in the promised land and scattered abroad) today? Why? (cf. Ro.11:12, 15, 30-32)

Friday (B’rit Chadashah) Hebrews 11:8-20 Israel Will Develop Faith That Saves Hebrews 11 is often called the “Hall of Faith.” While much is said of Abraham’s faith (11:8-19) little is said of Isaac’s faith (v.20). The writer of Hebrews mentions only one thing from the life of Isaac to stand out as a role model for saving faith: Isaac’s blessing over his children. I wonder if Rebekkah had told Isaac what God said to her regarding Jacob’s future (Gen.25:23) but he just didn’t get it until after the “deception” had occurred. When his firstborn came to him to rectify the misplaced blessing, Isaac did not relent. Was this the faith choice referred to here? What faith choice is before you currently? In what area of your life is God calling you to exercise your faith? What does obedience in that area look like?

Saturday: Shalom!!