RECOGNITION

2. RECOGNITION THE MESSIANIC PROPHECY BIBLE PROJECT http://www.messianicbible.com HEAR O ISRAEL www.hearoisrael.org SHEEPFOLD GLEANINGS WRITTEN BY JULIE PARKER www.sheepfoldgleanings.com MESSIANIC ISRAEL ALLIANCE http://www.messianicisrael.com AZAMRA TORAH FOR OUR TIME – RABBI AVRAHAM GREENBAUM http://www.azamra.org

3. VAYISHLACH “And he Sent” TORAH: Genesis: 32:3-36:43 HAFTORAH:  Hosea 11:7-12:12 B’RIT CHADASHAH: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, Revelation 7:1-12 All references: The Scripture 1998+ unless otherwise noted

4. I AM WITH YOU In Jacob’s life, we encounter both tragedies and triumphs. Both are necessary for him to be able to take 12 sons with distinct personalities and separate goals and mould them into the fledgling nation of Israel. To do this there is never a let-up in the challenges and dangers that face us. All of our experiences will teach us the importance of constantly clinging to the promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Bereshith 28:15 "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 spoken to you." Devarim/Deuteronomy 31:8 "And YHVH (Yahweh), He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed." Matthew 28:20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

5. BACKGROUND This weeks Parsha starts after Laban and his family left Ya’aqob, and made a covenant with him, on Har Gilead (Mountain of Witness). Laban (meaning white or pure), embraced Ya’aqob and brought him into the family only to use him. Laban really represented the “false chesed” or a spirit of false loving-kindness (the antithesis of Avraham’s attribute of loving-kindness) toward Ya’aqob. He was the white-washed sepulchres that Yahshua compared the hypocritical leaders of His day to. Laban represented the evil spiritual manifestations of this world toward YHVH’s chosen, Ya’aqob. As Rabbi AvrahamGreenbaum reminds us; “At Mount Gil'ad, Jacob made a ‘treaty’ with Laban demarcating the boundaries which they and their descendants were to observe: these are the boundaries that neither good nor evil may overstep in the unfolding drama of human history. In prevailing over Laban, Jacob demonstrated that he had made a complete acquisition of Abraham's quality of Chesed. It was Abraham who went to the Mountain, and thus Jacob's ‘treaty’ with Laban was struck at Mount Gil'ad.”

6. TWO CAMPS (32:3) When Ya`akov saw them, he said, "This is God's camp," and called that place Machanayim [two camps]. (Genesis 32:2 CJB) Machanayim means “two camps” and is the plural of the root word machanah(Strong’s H4264) meaning “encampment, camp, camp of armed host, army camp, company, body of people.”  We read of two camps again in Songs of Solomons: (7:1) [Chorus] Come back, come back, girl from Shulam! Come back, come back to where we can see you! Why are you looking at the girl from Shulam as if she were dancing for two army camps? (6:13 CJB) The Hebrew word m’kolah (Strong’s H4246) means “dance.” Dancing for two armies (“mahanah.“) There is a correlation between Song 6:13 and Genesis 32:2 since Mehanaim in Genesis and “Machneh” or “two armies” in the Song of Solomon are the same word; the former is the plural and the latter is the root.

7. MINISTERING SPIRITS Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation (deliverance)? (Hebrews 1:14). Mahanaim is on the Jabbok River, a tributary leading to the Jordan River in the Transjordan region. There was a double meaning in the name Mahanaim as his two wives and their children were also two camps. This was prophetic of the actual two camps or Houses that would come from Leah and Rachel called the House of Israel and the House of Judah. There was something still lacking in Jacob and he needed to deal with it before he could cross over to meet his brother Esau and more importantly before he could enter the land. Thus the angels served a duel purpose: First, preparing Jacob to meet his adversary and secondly, ministering to him the necessity of dealing with his heart before YHVH. "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, let not my will but yours be done." There appeared to him an angel from heaven giving him strength, and in great anguish he prayed more intensely, so that his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luke 22:42-44 CJB)

8. A WORD PICTURE - FISH .. passed over the ford [of the] Jabbok. (Genesis 32:22 AMP) Jacob’s time at the Jabbok River was a living parable and prophetic of how we are to give our lives over to YHVH following our deliverance/salvation. A word picture of this is that of catching a fish. Is a fish already gutted and cleaned when caught, or is the fish first hooked, reeled in, brought on board and then gutted and cleaned? Many people expect new believers to be squeaky clean when they come to YHVH because Yeshua’s blood covers them, making them automatically clean at that point. Many of us are in the boat but have not been gutted and cleaned yet. The Messiah died for us while we were still sinful (walking in unrighteous ways). Abraham was uncircumcised when he received the Covenant. So were we. We are not circumcised when we come to our Savior. Rather our hearts are circumcised AFTER we come to Him. By the process by progressive revelation and a walk of redemption in Yeshua, this leads to a circumcised heart, a heart that is no longer after self or blocked but totally surrendered to service in Yeshua.

9. SENT MESSENGERS Genesis 32:3 Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the field of Edom. The first verse of our Torah reading gives us clues that we are returning to the subject of the selling of the birthright: Seir –means “shaggy” or “hairy” and refers back to Esau’s appearance upon birth (Genesis 25:25) Field – Esau was described as a “man of the field” (Genesis 25:27) and Isaac sent Esau out to the “field” to get venison (Genesis 27:3) Edom –means “red” and brings to mind the “red, red” stew that Jacob used to purchase the birthright (Genesis 25:30-32). Jacob is fearful of a confrontation with his brother and confesses that fear to the Almighty in a plea for deliverance: (32:12) Please! Rescue me from my brother `Esav! I'm afraid of him, afraid he'll come and attack me, without regard for mothers or children. (Genesis 32:11 CJB)

10. WORD SENT (32:5) with these instructions: "Here is what you are to say to my lord `Esav: 'Your servant Ya`akov says, "I have been living with Lavan and have stayed until now. (32:6) I have cattle, donkeys and flocks, and male and female servants. I am sending to tell this news to my lord, in order to win your favor." ' “ (Genesis 32:4-5 CJB) Legends of the Jews: Jacob also sent word to Esau, saying: "Though I dwelt with that heathen of the heathen, Laban, yet have I not forgotten my God, but I fulfil the six hundred and thirteen commandments of the Torah. If thy mind be set upon peace, thou wilt find me ready for peace. But if thy desire be war, thou wilt find me ready for war. I have with me men of valor and strength, they have but to utter a word, and God fulfils it. I tarried with Laban until Joseph should be born, he who is destined to subdue thee. And though my descendants be held in bondage in this world, yet a day will come when they will rule over their rulers."

11. 400 (32:7) The messengers returned to Ya`akov saying, "We went to your brother `Esav, and he is coming to meet you; with him are four hundred men." (32:8) Ya`akov became greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people, flocks, cattle and camels with him into two camps, (32:9) saying, "If `Esav comes to the one camp and attacks it, at least the camp that is left will escape." (Genesis 32:6-8 CJB) Esau goes out to meet him, with 400 men. 400 is the numeric value of the letter “tav”, which is the “mark” or “sign” of the covenant and signifies the “end”. Just as “aleph” is the “beginning”, “tav” is the “end”. Rabbi Greenbaum calls these “the legions of death”. He points out that 400 signifies a complete array of numbers, 10 x 10 on all four sides. Esau came against Ya’aqob with the same envy and enmity of the serpent towards Adam. 400 also equals the phrase “la‟mishle” or “for a proverb” or “parable”; which is a story for us to pay attention to. 400 also equals “mishna‟i” or “for both” and “la‟shalom” or “for peace”. YHVH orchestrated this event in Ya’aqob’s life as a parable, a story for us to understand and heed. Also, “it‟s for both” houses and it’s “for peace”.

12. FEAR AND TORMENT Fear is rooted in unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment. Jacob had not surrounded his life and all that he had to YHVH yet. This report about his brother caused Jacob great fear and torment. Taking matters into his own hands, Jacob divided his people and animals with him into two groups, saying, “If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape.” Only after doing this did Jacob seek YHVH (32:10) Then Ya`akov said, "God of my father Avraham and God of my father Yitz'chak, Adonai, who told me, 'Return to your country and your kinsmen, and I will do you good': (32:11) I'm not worthy of all the love and faithfulness you have shown your servant, since I crossed the Yarden with only my staff. But now I have become two camps. (32:12) Please! Rescue me from my brother `Esav! I'm afraid of him, afraid he'll come and attack me, without regard for mothers or children. (32:13) You said, 'I will certainly do you good and make your descendants as numerous as the grains of sand by the sea, which are so many they can't be counted.' “ (Genesis 32:9-12 CJB)

13. THE STRATEGY (32:14) He stayed there that night; then he chose from among his possessions the following as a present for `Esav his brother: (32:15) two hundred female goats and twenty males, two hundred female sheep and twenty males, (32:16) thirty milk-camels and their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten colts. (32:17) He turned them over to his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, "Cross over in front of me, and keep a space between each drove and the next one." (32:18) He instructed the servant in front, "When `Esav my brother meets you and asks you, 'Whose servant are you? Where are you going? And whose animals are these?' (32:19) then you are to say, 'They belong to your servant Ya`akov, and they are a present he has sent to my lord `Esav; and Ya`akov himself is just behind us.' " (32:20) He also instructed the second servant, and the third, and all that followed the droves, "When you encounter `Esav, you are to speak to him in the same way, (32:21) and you are to add, 'And there, just behind us, is your servant Ya`akov.' " For he said, "I will appease him first with the present that goes ahead of me; then, after that, I will see him myself — and maybe he will be friendly toward me.“ (Genesis 32:13-20 CJB)

14. GIFTS Ya’aqob, in dealing with the evil material manifestation of this world, speaks to the materialism in Esau by offering him a very large gift, bribe. The first gift that Ya’aqob sends out in a drove (herd or group) is 200 female goats and 20 males. 200 is the numeric value of the letter “reish” which is the “beginning” and 20 is numeric value of “kaf” which is “palm of the hand” or “covering”. Ya’aqob to convey to Esau that this is only the first gift for covering his offense. He repeats these numbers again with ewes and rams. 200 is also the numeric value of the word “va‟ tzadik” which means “and is righteous” or “just”. 20 is also the numeric value of the word “haya” which means “has become”. In this second gift we see Ya’aqob also saying that “he has become righteous”.

15. GIFTS CON’T 30 milk camels with their colts (30, as one each, is typical). 30 is the numeric value of the letter “lamed” or the “shepherd‟s staff” which signifies “learning”. 30 also equals the words “b‟chai” or “in life” and “va‟cheetah” or “and is purified”. Here, he has not separated the nursing from their mothers. We see two 30’s, saying that he’s “learned the lessons of life”and his intentions are pure. He follows this gift with another of 40 cows and 10 bulls. 40 is the number of “learning” or “testing” and 10 is the number of the “fullness of something”, as in the “fullness of time”.40 is also the numeric value of the letter “mem” which is “water” or “washing” and 10 is the numeric value of the letter “yud” or “the hand”; perhaps to say that “his hands are now clean”. 40 is also the numeric value of “b‟levo” or “from the heart” and 10 equals “va‟avo” or “I come”. Together, we see the theme of “completing the time of learning and testing” and “from the heart I come”.

16. GIFTS CON’T Ya’aqob sends 20 female donkeys and 10 foals. 20 represents the “palms” and 10 the “hands”. When you come showing the palms of your hands, what are you saying? I surrender. I submit to you. Ya’aqob was coming not only in fear, but in true humility and showing respect to his elder brother. The groupings of each of these droves, were male and female or mother and child; the continuation of life. These animals would, reproduce and build wealth, they were truly the “gift that keeps on giving”. There were five droves, or divisions, of these animals. Five is the number of “chen”, which is Hebrew for “favor” or “grace”. It also represents the Torah in Hebrew thought is all about “favor” and “grace”. The fifth Book of Torah, Deuteronomy, is all about YHVH’s “favor” and “grace” toward Yisra’el, even in their failures, as it speaks of their turning away and exile and ultimately their teshuva, redemption and return to Elohim and to the Land of their inheritance.

17. EMPTY OUT (32:23) He got up that night, took his two wives, his two slave-girls, and his eleven children, and forded the Yabok. (32:24) He took them and sent them across the stream, then sent his possessions across; (Genesis 32:22-23 CJB) He passed over the River “Yabboq” (Yud-bet-kuf). “Yabboq” means to “empty out” or to “be poured out”. Ya’aqob was indeed “poured out” and at the “end of himself”. Having come through all that he had, being what amounted to an indentured servant for over 20 years; Torah says that now he stood alone about to face his past and his future. Legends of the Jews: The servants of Jacob went before him with the present for Esau, and he followed with his wives and his children. As he was about to pass over the ford of Jabbok, he observed a shepherd, who likewise had sheep and camels. The stranger approached Jacob and proposed that they should ford the stream together, and help each other move their cattle over, and Jacob assented, on the condition that his possessions should be put across first. In the twinkling of an eye Jacob's sheep were transferred to the other side of the stream by the shepherd.

18. POURED OUT (32:25) and Ya`akov was left alone. Then some man wrestled with him until daybreak. (Genesis 32:24 CJB) Here we have a most interesting use of Hebrew to describe what went on between Ya’aqob and this “man” that he wrestled with. The common Hebrew words used for “wrestled” in Scripture are “pathal” and “naftul”. When Rachel says in B’reshith 30:8 that she wrestled Leah with great wrestling's, she uses both of these terms. And, you’ll find both of these elsewhere in Scripture. However, a different word is used in both verses 24 & 25 and it only appears here. According to Strong’s Concordance, the word is “abaq”, word #079. meaning to “wrestle” or “grapple with” from the context of “kicking up dust” or “getting dusty”. Gesenius’ Lexicon states the meaning as “to pound” or “make small”, as used to describe a fist fight. In verse 24 “and wrestled”, the word is rendered “va‟yaboq”. It is a variation of, and has the same pronunciation as the river “Yabboq”, which means “poured out”. From our context, it is obviously talking about a great struggle, as in an intense wrestling match that exhausts both parties. So, they are both “poured out” or “emptied”.

19. FACING EL (32:26) When he saw that he did not defeat Ya`akov, he struck Ya`akov's hip socket, so that his hip was dislocated while wrestling with him. (32:27) The man said, "Let me go, because it's daybreak." But Ya`akov replied, "I won't let you go unless you bless me." (32:28) The man asked, "What is your name?" and he answered, "Ya`akov." (32:29) Then the man said, "From now on, you will no longer be called Ya`akov, but Isra'el; because you have shown your strength to both God and men and have prevailed." (32:30) Ya`akov asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he answered, "Why are you asking about my name?" and blessed him there. (32:31) Ya`akov called the place P'ni-El [face of God], "Because I have seen God face to face, yet my life is spared." (Genesis 32:25-30 CJB) Having struggled with both man (Esau and Laban) and Elohim (Yahshua), Ya’aqob is given a new name, Yisra‟el; because he has “overcome” or “prevailed with El”. And, he names that place “Peni‟el” which literally means “facing El”; because he has seen Elohim and lived.

20. PENI’EL (32:32) As the sun rose upon him he went on past P'ni-El, limping at the hip. (Genesis 32:25-30 CJB) The Torah states that “the sun rose on him as he passed over Penu‟el”. The Hebrew word in Scripture for “dawn” or “sunrise” is “shachar”. But here, we have the phrase “Va‟eetzerachli ha shemesh” as he passed over Peni’el. The implication is that the sun (shemesh) rose because of him. It’s a word-play, or Hebrewism, denoting that he “walked in the light” as in the light of the sun. Today, Jacob (Israel) still struggles with this Divine Man who is Yeshua (Jesus). The Messiah was “In the Beginning,” according to John 1:1. The Jewish people (Israel) do not believe that the Messiah is part of the Oneness of God, and therefore they struggle with the belief that God could appear as the Messiah. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”  (Proverbs 3:3-5)

21. JOB - WRESTLING Scripture tells us that our wrestling matches are not with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers of darkness. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against the rulers of the darkness, and against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) One reason why our struggling can become so painful: we are sometimes not quite sure what (or whom) we are wrestling with! This was Job’s dilemma, Satan was causing his trouble, but did so with God’s permission, and his pain was compounded by the insistence of his friends that he must have sinned for God to be punishing him so terribly and telling him that if he would only confess his hidden sin, everything would be okay. Although Job was a righteous and blameless man, even in God’s sight, Job wrestled on several fronts – with God, man, and with Satan – and even his wife! “His wife said to him, ‘Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!’”..“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God.” (Job 2:9… 19:25-27)

22. GETTING BACK ON OUR FEET “For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground.”  (Psalm 143:3) A wrestling match is lost when one of the wrestlers is pinned to the ground and cannot get up again. Likewise, we have not lost if we become weary or discouraged, or even feel like giving up, but only if we fail to rise up again. We are not faulted for struggling with God, man, or Satan, or for even falling down to the ground time and again.  It doesn’t matter that we have fallen. We have not lost until we simply refuse to get up again. “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.”   (Proverbs 24:16) It’s God who will raise us up, dust us off, and set our feet back on solid rock. “The Lord upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down.” (Psalm 146:14)

23. CORRELATION Genesis 32 is a prophetic shadow-picture of how Jacob’s descendants will come back into the land of their inheritance prior to Yeshua’s return. They will be divided into two camps and will have to confront Esau, Edom (modern Palestinian-Arabs who will be blocking the way. Both camps (Judah and Ephraim, currently represented by the Jewish and Christian peoples) are returning out of spiritual Babylon (as per Rev 18:4) where they have been in servitude to the Babylonish world system even as Jacob was a servant to Laban (who lived in the area of ancient Babylon). They will not defeat Esau through appeasement (Gen 32:20) as Jacob tried to do with Esau and the modern state of Israel is dealing with the Palestinians by giving land for peace. Messianic Israel/Ephraim will also go through the same process. Jacob will get transformed into Israel. The two houses of Israel will learn to dance with each other so that they can dance on their wedding day with King Shlomo (or Solomon derived from the Hebrew word shalom)/Yeshua Sar Shalom (Prince of Peace)—their Bridegroom.

24. OUR DESTINY As Jacob did, so we too will have to wrestle with man and El (Gen 32:28) to return to the Promised Land. We must prevail with YHVH and demonstrate to him that we are serious about wanting to possess our promised inheritance. When we die to self as a people-group (both Judah and Ephraim), this will please the Father and he will make even our enemies (i.e., modern Esau) to be at peace with us (Prov 16:7). As with Jacob, we as collective Israel need to spend a dark night of the soul wrestling with YHVH, get a good look at his face to see who he really is, which will in turn help us to understand who we really are. Then we will be humbled, will learn to place our trust in the promises and protection of YHVH resulting in our being transformed from being a Jacob (meaning “heel catcher, supplanter, a deceptive sneak thief”) into an Israel (“a prince of El or prevailer with El”) with a new name and identity.

25. THREE SECTIONS Ya`akov raised his eyes and looked out; and there was `Esav coming, and four hundred men with him. So Ya`akov divided the children between Le'ah, Rachel and the two slave-girls, putting the slave-girls and their children first, Le'ah and her children second, and Rachel and Yosef last. Then he himself passed on ahead of them ... (Genesis 33:1-3 CJB) Instead of two camps Ya’akov divides his family into three camps. The first camp sees him setting out of the maids first in a prophetic message. The two sons of Bilhah are namely Dan (Judge, vindicated) and Naptali (Prevailed) and the sons of Zilpa, Gad (Fortunate) and Asher (Happy). That the servant is fortunate and happy because he had prevailed. He was judged for his actions and was vindicated. Following them we get the two camps Judah and Ephraim with Josef the only son mentioned last.

26. BOWED 7 TIMES Bereshith 33:3 … and (Jacob) bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. Jacob bows seven times, fully prostrating himself to the ground, and this is followed by his wives and their children also bowing before Esau. Next we are told that four times, Jacob will call Esau, “my adonai” (33:8,13,14,15). Twice he will call himself “Esau’s servant” (33:5,14). What’s up with this apparent reversal of Jacob’s blessing (Bereshith 27:29 – be master over your brothers and may your mother’s sons bow down to you), and can we connect these details with the wrestling match of the night before? A logical conclusion after the wrestling match would be that Jacob was now in a position to overcome whatever situation he may be in with his brother, Esau. Why then, do we not see him asserting the authority he was given over his brother? Are we disappointed that we are not seeing a “new and confident” Jacob?

27. FACE OF ELOHIM And Jacob said, .. receive my present (mincha) from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of Elohim, and you were pleased with me. "Please, take my blessing (bracha) that is brought to you ... Bereshith 33 10-11 Why would Jacob say it is as if he is seeing the Face of Elohim? The clue to the face drama is the blessing been presented, namely the “bracha” blessing he stole: Bereshith 27:28 Therefore may Elohim give you Of the dew of heaven, Of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and wine. 29 Let peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you. Be master over your brothers, And let your mother's sons bow down to you… This blessing is about wealth and power and not the birthright or “bechira” blessing of personal destiny received in: Bereshith 28:3 "May El Shaddai bless you, And make you fruitful and multiply you, That you may be an assembly of peoples; 4 And give you the blessing of Abraham, To you and your descendants with you, That you may inherit the land In which you are a stranger, Which Elohim gave to Abraham."

28. JACOB A MAN OF TRUTH Micah 7:20 You will give truth to Jacob … “Truth” is what Jacob wrestled for. It was a “truth” about identity. Jacob needed to come “face to face” with that reality. He needed to look in a mirror. James says the “mirror” is the Torah, the “perfect law of liberty”. Yeshua is the “Word made flesh” and thus by reading YHVH’s Torah (instructions), we can see “His face”, and we can see ourselves in the mirror as well: James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect Torah of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. In his wrestling, Jacob came “face to face” (like looking in a mirror) with this Torah of liberty, whom we know as Yeshua the Messiah. He came away from it with a new identity reflected in his new name. He also received a blessing of destiny.

29. SUMMARY Jacob was attempting to give back the blessing (bracha) he had stolen from Esau 20 years prior. Not the birthright blessing (bechira) which was rightfully his. The herds and flocks he set apart for Esau represented wealth (dew of heaven and the richness of the earth). The 7-fold bowing, calling Esau “my adonai”, and himself “your servant” represented the hand-over of power (be master over your brethren and let your mother’s sons bow down to you). Jacob understood that the sustenance of the Almighty was sufficient and wanted to make things right with Esau. He expresses his newly found truth in these words to his brother: Bereshith 33:11 "Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because Elohim has dealt graciously with me, and because I have all . Jacob understands that he is complete in all he has. He wants Esau to take not only the gift of his animals, but the blessing that was never meant for him. In order to “have it all”, he must “give away”. These are the “truths” that Jacob learned in the wrestling match.

30. OVERCOMER The wrestling match was the birth of “Israel”. Jacob learned that his “wealth” and “power” came not from the earth, but from the One who transcends this earth. Jacob struggled and prevailed to gain this “truth”; and in the same way, we also must strive to be “overcomers”. Like Jacob, we must learn that no matter what the odds are, no matter how much it hurts, we cannot let go of the “man” that has so much power in our lives. Yeshua “overcame” the world, and through faith, we can follow in His footsteps: John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." 1 John 5:4 For everyone born of Adonai overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith. There is a special position promised to those who “overcome”: Revelation 3:12 "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My Adonai…"To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

31. THE WELCOME EMBRACE `Esav ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him; and they wept. (Genesis 33:4 CJB) Legends of the Jews: In the vehemence of his rage against Jacob, Esau vowed that he would not slay him with bow and arrow, but would bite him dead with his mouth, and suck his blood. But he was doomed to bitter disappointment, for Jacob's neck turned as hard as ivory, and in his helpless fury Esau could but gnash his teeth. The two brothers were like the ram and the wolf. A wolf wanted to tear a ram in pieces, and the ram defended himself with his horns, striking them deep into the flesh of the wolf. Both began to howl, the wolf because he could not secure his prey, and the ram from fear that the wolf renew his attacks. Esau bawled because his teeth were hurt by the ivory-like flesh of Jacob's neck, and Jacob feared that his brother would make a second attempt to bite him.

32. SE’IR `Esav said, "Let's break camp and get going. I'll go first." Ya`akov said to him..I will travel more slowly, at the pace of the cattle ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Se`ir." …So `Esav left that day to return to Se`ir. Ya`akov went on to Sukkot, where he built himself a house and put up shelters for his cattle. This is why the place is called Sukkot [shelters]. (Genesis 33:16-17 CJB) Many teachers say that Ya’akov went in the opposite direction to decieve his brother again. This “Se‟ir” is not Mt. Se’ir, the area of Edom. We read later that Esau moves to Edom and Mt. Se’ir after the death of Yitzaq. At this time, Esau was still living in Kena’an. There is a Mt. Se’ir in Yisra’el and it is located in Northern Judea (Yehudah), northwest of Yerushalayim, not far from Beit El. It lies just south and west of Beit El. Ya’aqob did not misdirect Esau into going to Jordan and then take off in another direction. He was heading toward the area of his brother’s home and then on to his father’s. It was Esau who named Mt. Se’ir in Edom as “Se‟ir” means “hairy goat” in Hebrew and is represented by the two goats of Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement.

33. PROPHET OBADIAH Eventually “Jacob will come to Seir.” The prophet Obadiah was from the tribe of Judah, and pronounced YHVH’s judgment against Edom, the descendants of Esau. The ultimate destruction would come from the House of Jacob, repaying the years of destruction exacted by the Edomites ruling the world. The House of Jacob will be a fire and the House of Joseph a flame; the House of Esau will be stubble, and they will set it on fire and consume it. There will be no survivors from the house of Esau. YHVH has spoken. People from the Negev will occupy the mountains of Esau, and people from the foothills will possess the land of the Philistines. They will occupy the fields of Ephraim and Samaria, and Benjamin will possess Gilead. This company of Israelite exiles who are in Canaan will possess the land as far as Zarephath; the exiles from Jerusalem who are in Sepharad will possess the towns of the Negev. Deliverers will go up from Mount Zion to govern the mountains of Esau. And the kingdom will be YHVH’s (Obadiah 1:18-21).

34. WHOLE OR COMPLETE Having traveled from Paddan-Aram, Ya`akov arrived safely at the city of Sh'khem, in Kena`an, and set up camp near the city. From the sons of HamorSh'khem's father he bought for one hundred pieces of silver the parcel of land where he had pitched his tent. There he put up an altar, which he called El-Elohei-Yisra'el [God, the God of Isra'el]. (Genesis 33:18-20 CJB) Now, here is something that you just don’t see in our English translations. Verse 18, reads, from the ISR Scriptures; And Ya‟aqob came safely to the city of Shekem, which is in the land of Kena‟an, when he came from Paddan Aram. And he pitched his tent before the city. Now, from the King James Version it reads a little differently; And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which [is] in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city. In the Hebrew, it reads; Va‟aboYa‟aqobshaleme‟yrShekemasherb‟eretzKena‟anb‟voPaddan Aram va‟eechan et paneyha‟eyr and translates as; And came Ya‟aqobwhole or complete to the city of Shekem that is in the land of Kena‟an and having come from Paddan Aram and encamped before the city.

35. SHALEM Ya’aqob did not arrive in Shekem “safely”; nor did he come to the city of “Shalem”. Shalem is not a city of Shekem. The city of “Shalem” was the city/kingdom where the MelekTzadik, Shem, was the King. Contrary to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and Dictionary, it does not mean “peace”. It does not mean the same thing as “shalom”. “Shalem”, although spelled the same as “shalom” (“shin-lamed-mem” - except for the vowel markings), is a variation of the root word that means “whole”, “complete”, “unified”, “finished” and “restored”, according to Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, Klein’s Etymological Dictionary of the Hebrew Language and Brown, Driver, Briggs. Now, there are no vowel markings in the Hebrew Scriptures. How do we know that YHVH did not intend to use the word “shalom” to say that Ya’aqob arrived in “peace”? Had the intent been to say “And came Ya‟aqob in peace to the city of Shekem….”, it would read in the Hebrew “b‟shalom” (in peace). There is no letter “bet” as a prefix. So, “shalem” would be the proper word to use here. The MelekTzadik might be the “Prince of Shalom” (Peace); but also, He is the “King of Shalem” (“Wholeness” or “Completeness”).

36. PADDAN ARAM Ya’aqob was returning home from “Paddan Aram”. This is a very special place. It was the birthplace of his wives and his mother, Rivka, and where Avraham lived just prior to his call to leave Babylon and sojourn in the Land. “Paddan” (pey-dalet-nun) in Strong’s Concordance, means “field” or “plain”. Gesenius’ Lexicon and Klein’s Dictionary, indicates that “paddah” (pey-dalet-hey) which means to “ransom”, “deliver” or “redeem”. In Hebrew thought, a “field” or “plain” coincides with a “plane of existence” or a “dimension” that is outside of us. It is a “plane of existence” or a “dimension” where “redemption” takes place. “Aram” (aleph-reish-mem) is that area of Mesopotamia where the Arameans came from, “Aram” means “exalted” or “lifted up”. “Paddan Aram” (Pey-dalet-nun and Aleph-reish-mem) equal the number 375, which equals the word “shalemah” (Deut. 25:15) meaning “perfect”. This place, this “exalted field of redemption” was the place of Ya’aqob’s “perfecting”.

37. SHEKEM When Ya’aqob crosses the Yarden, after he leaves Sukkoth, he arrives “restored” and “whole” at Shekem. “Shekem” means “shoulder” or the “upper back”; where the load carried or the “burden is shouldered”. The Kohen ha Gadol (the High Priest) would later wear onyx stones engraved with the names of the twelve tribes “upon his shoulders” to bear the physical burden of Yisra’el. He bore the stones of each tribe in the breastplate to bear the spiritual burden of Yisra’el. And, the prophet speaks of Mashiach in Isaiah 9:6-7; For a Child shall be born unto us, a Son shall be given unto us, and the rule is on His shoulder. And His Name is called Wonder, Counselor, Strong El, Father of Continuity, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His rule and peace there is no end, upon the throne of Dawid and over His reign, to establish it and sustain it with right-ruling and with righteousness from now on, even forever. The ardor of YHVH of hosts does this. Shekem is the city that lies between Mt Gerizim and Mt. Eybal. It was here that Yehoshua (Joshua) and the Children of Yisra’el would later come to declare the “blessings” and the “curses”.

38. RAPE OF DINAH One time Dinah.. the son of Hamor the Hivi, the local ruler, saw her, grabbed her, raped her and humiliated her. .. he fell in love ... spoke with his father Hamor and said, “..I want her to be my wife." When Ya`akov heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter, his sons were with his livestock in the field; so Ya`akov restrained himself until they came. .. The sons of Ya`akov said to them.. Only on this condition will we consent .. that you become like us by having every male among you get circumcised. Then we'll give our daughters to you, and we'll take your daughters for ourselves, and we'll live with you and become one people. ..Hamor and Sh'khem his son came to the entrance of their city and spoke with its leading men: "These people are peaceful toward us.. Won't their cattle, their possessions and all their animals be ours? ..On the third day after the circumcision, when they were in pain, two of Ya`akov's sons, Shim`on and Levi, .. killed Hamor and Sh'khem his son .. Took Dinah out of Sh'khem's house.. Then the sons of Ya`akov entered over the dead bodies .. and plundered the city in reprisal for defiling their sister. ..Their children and wives they took captive, and they looted whatever was in the houses. .. (Genesis 34:1-31 CJB)

39. BAAL HERMON We read that they plundered the city of all its wealth and took, as captives, the women and children of the Hiwwites of Shekem. “Why are we told this here?” “Shekem” we know is “shoulder”. “Hamor” has two meanings; the first being “ass” or “male donkey” and the second is “heap” a “memorial”. People of that day would pile stones or rocks into a “heap” as a remembrance or memorial to treaties, covenants, graves or whatever they wanted generations to come to see and remember. That is exactly what Elohim is doing with this story, this “parable”, this “mishle”. He wants us to take note of it and remember it. Now, the men of this city were “Hiwwites” Strong’s #2340, meaning “dwellers of the high place”, whose capital was on Mt. Ba’alHermon (#1179, meaning “lord of destruction”). So, we have a city of pagans, who worship the “lord of destruction”, whose leader represents a memorial or historic event and his son Shekem.

40. DESTRUCTION OF THE LORD Prophetic picture: Yahshua, the Son having the “reign of the Kingdom” on His shoulders. Shekem, as Hamor’s son, is a picture of “anti-messiah” who has the reign of his father on his shoulders. He kidnaps and defiles “Dinah”, whose name means “Judgment” or “Justice”. Again, in our time, we will see the Land invaded by the forces of the “lord of destruction” (anti-messiah) and we’re already seeing the raping of “Dinah”, “Justice”. Only this next time, YHVH will fight for Ya’aqob and defeat the “lord of destruction” and his armies and cleanse the Land. And, a “shalem” Ya’aqob, a “whole”, “unified” and “restored” Yisra’el will bury the dead of that war, as Ezekiel 39:11-13; “And it shall be on that day that I give Gog a burial site there in Yisra‟el, the valley of those passing by east of the sea, and stopping those passing by, because there they shall bury Gog and all his crowd, and shall call it the Valley of Hamon Gog. And the house of Yisra‟el shall bury them for seven months, in order to cleanse the land. And all the people of the land shall bury them, and it shall be for a name to them on the day that I am esteemed,” declares the Master YHVH.”

41. MEMORIAL HEAP God said to Ya`akov, "Get up, go up to Beit-El and live there, and make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled `Esav your brother." Then Ya`akov said to his household and all the others with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods that you have with you, purify yourselves, and put on fresh clothes. We're going to move on and go up to Beit-El. There I will build an altar to God, who answered me when I was in such distress and stayed with me wherever I went.“ ..He built there an altar and called the place El-Beit-El [God of Beit-El], because it was there that God was revealed to him, at the time when he was fleeing from his brother. (Genesis 35:1-7 CJB) YHVH calls Ya’aqob back to “Beit El” (the House of Elohim). Elohim calls Ya’aqob back to where He visited him, back to the “roots of his faith”, in order to give praise to the El of his deliverance.

42. BREAD OF LIFE God said to him, "Your name is Ya`akov, but you will be called Ya`akov no longer; your name will be Isra'el." Thus he named him Isra'el. God further said to him, "I am El Shaddai. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation, indeed a group of nations, will come from you; kings will be descended from you. Moreover, the land which I gave to Avraham and Yitz'chak I will give to you, and I will give the land to your descendants after you." ... Ya`akov set up a standing-stone in the place where he had spoken with him, a stone pillar. Then he poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. (Genesis 35:10-14 CJB) The Covenant YHVH set up with Abraham and Isaac was now passed on to the next generation. In response to YHVH, Jacob set up a stone pillar and poured out the drink offering and oil on it. The offerings were not separated, so when we see a drink offering in scripture we look for the grain offering called minchah in Hebrew. Stone (as in the stone pillar) is a reference to the Messiah; Yeshua is the “Bread of Life,” He is the bread offering! That is why Jacob poured out the drink offering and oil on the Rock, Yeshua, the Bread of Life.

43. DEATH OF RACHEL .. Rachel went into labor, and she had great difficulty with it. While she was undergoing this hard labor, the midwife said to her, "Don't worry, this is also a son for you." But she died in childbirth. As she was dying she named her son Ben-Oni [son of my grief], but his father called him Binyamin [son of the right hand, son of the south]. .. Ya`akov set up a standing-stone on her grave; it is the standing-stone of Rachel's grave to this day. (Genesis 35:16-20 CJB) The truth was Rachel “died” when she stole, hid and lied about her father’s idols (Genesis 31:32-35). Her early death was set in motion when Jacob pronounced a death sentence over her by saying to Laban, “If you find anyone, who has your gods, he shall not live.” This is a story about taking every thought captive and being very careful with the words we speak. Our words can literally lead to death–spiritually and eventually physically–in ourselves, plus effect a lot of other people, as we have seen in this story.

44. DEATH OF ISAAC Yitz'chak lived to be 180 years old. Then he breathed his last, died and was gathered to his people, an old man full of years; and his sons `Esav and Ya`akov buried him. (Genesis 35:28-29 CJB) And then, we see at the death of Yitzaq, things change. All things written in Torah are significant at Yitzaq’s age of 180 at his death, we see a deeper meaning. 100 represents the letter “kuf” which means to “surround” or “touch” and 80 is the letter “pey”, which is the “mouth”, which is part of the “face”. So, it reflects “touching the mouth” or “speech”. “Face” in Hebrew is “paniym” and also has the numeric value of 180. There are several instances referring to “the face”, as well as “nasah” or “to go out” or “to journey” which also equals 180. These were all connected to “going out” or “journeying before” (in the face of) Elohim; being sent out to hear His speech, His words and to understand one’s destiny and calling. Yitzaq’s life journey was constantly “before” (paniym) YHVH, as His purpose and plan were being brought to fruition. The same is certainly true of Ya’aqob, Yah’s circumventer, who was in the palm of His hand always.

45. GENESIS 36 - GENEALOGY OF ESAU Just looking at three of Esau’s descendents we get a picture of history, past and future. In verse 12, we see Esau’s grandson “Amaleq”, who is the historical counterfeit of Yisra’el. Then, in verses 11 & 15 we’re introduced to Esau’s grandson “Tsepho”, who according to history, and confirmed by the Dead Sea Scrolls, was made king of Rome, and then made king of “Chittim” (which included Cypress) during the reign of King Hizqiyahu (Hezekiah) of Yehudah. Rome is Esau. In verse 43, we’re introduced to “Magdi‟el”. Strong’s has one meaning for this name; but, in Hebrew, his name is from the same root as “Migdol” which means “high tower”. The rabbis teach that this too is a reference to Rome, in that when Romulus (the king of what was about to become the Roman Empire), united all Italy under his flag, he began to build a “tower” like the Tower of Babel. But, like those in Nimrod’s day, he never finished it.

46. SONG OF MOSES Then Moshe spoke in the hearing of the whole assembly of Isra'el the words of this song, from beginning to end: (Deuteronomy 31:30 CJB) The Song of Moses is important why? I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire. Those defeating the beast, its image and the number of its name were standing by the sea of glass, holding harps which God had given them. They were singing the song of Moshe, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: "Great and wonderful are the things you have done, Adonai, God of heaven's armies! Just and true are your ways, king of the nations! Adonai, who will not fear and glorify your name? because you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.“ (Revelation 15:2-4 CJB) It is the song that we will be singing when we get to heaven

47. SEA OF GLASS The “sea of glass mixed with fire” is us. Seas are a scriptural metaphor for peoples. What is glass? It is sand (as in sands of the sea – the seed of Avraham, Yitzaq and Ya’aqob) heated very hot with the “fire” of the furnace, Yahweh’s refining furnace. "Look, I have refined you, but not [as severely] as silver; [rather] I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my sake I will do it, for my own sake. I will not let [my reputation] be tarnished; I will not yield my glory to anyone else. "Listen to me, Ya`akov; Isra'el, whom I have called: I am he who is first; I am also the last. (Isaiah 48:10-12 CJB) Silver is heated and refined until the refiner’s reflection can be seen in the molten metal. However, glass is heated much hotter (affliction, persecution) until the sand becomes clear, so that Yahweh is not just reflected (as a reverse or mirror image); but clearly seen through us, the glass.

48. COMMANDED Moshe was commanded by Yahweh to write this second song down: "Therefore, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the people of Isra'el. Have them learn it by heart, so that this song can be a witness for me against the people of Isra'el. (Deuteronomy 31:19 CJB). That’s right, we are commanded to learn this song. It is to be in our mouths, so as to be a witness against us. We learnt last week’s parsha that these “closing words” from Moshe were not only for our forefathers who were there; but, also for those who were to come, specifically, the “Last Generation”. So, Yahweh instructed Moshe to write down this “song” as a “witness to” B’neiYisra’el in the “Last Generation”.

49. HEAVEN AND EARTH "Hear, oh heavens, as I speak! Listen, earth, to the words from my mouth! May my teaching fall like rain. May my speech condense like dew, like light rain on blades of grass, or showers on growing plants. (Deuteronomy 32:1-2 CJB) Why would He call the Heavens and the Earth to hear and be witnesses? Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud ( י ) or a stroke will pass from the Torah — not until everything that must happen has happened. (Matthew 5:18 CJB) Yahweh made us to dwell in this realm, under heaven and on the earth. All that we do and experience in this life is between heaven and earth. And, this realm will not pass away and Torah will not pass away until all the Torah is fulfilled. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer there. Also I saw the holy city, New Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. (Revelation 21:1-2 CJB)