Vayishlach: And He Sent Torah Parashah: Beresheit 32:4-36:43 Haftarah: Hoshea 11:7-12:12 & Ovadyah 1-21 Brit: 1 Cor.

5:1-13 Etz Chayeem Hoo (He Is a Tree of Life)

eshua is a tree of life to those who take hold of Him, and those who support Him are praiseworthy. His ways are ways of pleasantness and all of His paths are shalom. Bring us back YHVH to You, and we shall come, renew our days as of old.

On the Heels of Your Breakthrough

This weeks parashah reading is Vayishlach, and it means And He Sent. In truth it tells a much deeper story, but isnt that the case for all of Yahs Word? It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. (Pro 25:2 KJV) For all intent and purposes in its initial given context, it means sent. The first time we see this word used however, is in Beresheit 3:23 when GOD sends Adam and Chava out of the Garden of Eden, to work the land. Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. (Gen 3:23 KJV) 1

Much understanding of our current parsha and its main character Yaakob and of ourselves can be obtained from the account of the Fall of Adam and Chava in Beresheit chapter 3. I found it intriguing that this albeit small word possesses so much meaning and true to Hebrew form, owns both negative and positive connotations. The root word of our parashah comes from the three letter root word Shalach

= =

S#H7971; To send away, for, or out, forth; To put away, to

cast out, to stretch out, to depart, to sow, to let loose.

This two-letter root from the above word for sent is Shul. A

Shin and a Lamed and taken together it means To draw out; in the sense of something being drawn out of something else (Benner, A.H.L.). Both meanings of Shalach will be revealed in this weeks study as we take a closer look at Yaakob. But in Adam and Chava we see a clearer understanding of the consequences of operating in what Commentator Pink describes as a mercenary spirit, or a spirit of selfishness, a mind that chooses to believe Our Heavenly Father is holding back His best, and a will to think that it is our responsibilityand not His, to determine what is best for lives, as plainly spelled out in the book of Isaiah the prophet. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (Isa 59:2 KJV) If we introduce the Chet at the end of our word for our parsha it reveals an even more in-depth meaning.

=
Division

The letter Chet as depicted here in both modern and early

semitic pictograph symbolically representing a wallwhich can represent numerous things, but notably that of

To be divisive or Cut-off which relates that much of mans problem is that root of bitterness and strife the writer of Hebrews spoke about that separates us from our GOD and our fellow man. Wasnt it who said? "My spirit shall not always strive with man" (Gen 6:3 KJV) In the Brit Chadasha we read, And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.(2Ti 2:24-26 KJV) Shalach, read from a more pictographic perspective in light of why Messiah came reveals that

Yeshua was SENT to DRAW OUT, & REMOVE the DIVISION between GOD and the world so that right relationship could be restored with our Creator!
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And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. (Mat 17:11 KJV) It was our Mighty Savior who said, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. (Luk 4:18 KJV) In the Hebrew, if you trace its origin from the Greek using the Concordance to the Septuagint, you will discover that this word Shalach is where we get our Greek word for Apostle, or Apostolos, which is

A messenger, or one who has been SENT.

The point being is

To be Sent, IS to be Sown; and the faith in sowing is having the hope to bear much FRUIT!
Adonais purpose for creation and man was that we, in obedience to Him through His WORD (which is The Seed, Luke 8:11) would bear fruit bringing glory unto Him. Lets examine a a number a verses demonstrating our point

~Sent~
He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. (Mat 10:40 KJV)

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Mat 15:24 KJV) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Mat 23:37 KJV) Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. (Luk 9:1-2 KJV) How often we marginalize the verse following what many consider the most famous scripture of all.But Yeshua Himself, was SENT to Save the world For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (Joh 3:17 KJV)

We were Created to Bring Forth Fruit

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: (Mat 3:7-8 KJV) The Sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown [they= people]; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
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And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. (Mar 4:2-20 KJV) A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. 10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight,

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and glorified God.

(Luk 13:6-13 KJV) I would just like to interject here we have a direct cause and effect in the above transaction. This woman had suffered 18 long years bent over. Yeshua SPOKE the Word to her, laid His hands upon herand she was suddenly healed and set free from her infirmity; at which point she stood straight up and gave Glory to GOD! This is a very clear picture of what The Word of Truth sown into a heart of faith will do! It heals, and brings forth more FRUIT. John 12:24-26 The Seed must die to bear fruit Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 6

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He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. (Joh 12:24-26 KJV) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (Joh 15:2-5 KJV) What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (Rom 6:21-22 KJV) We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: (Col 1:3-6 KJV) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Heb 12:11 KJV)

By way of these verses we can see that GOD IS OUR Husbandman. He has created us, and sown His Word into the soil of heart that it would reap fruits of repentance unto Eternal Life! So that we can then be SENT to sow His Word into all the world! Jacobs story is our story. His life, chronicled in Beresheit, introduces us to our selffor it is our self that we need to connect with. Because its in connecting with Jacob, that we learn what kind of character we are operating in. Weve established that Jacobthe chosen son, raised from birth learning that he would become The Firstborn, given the blessing and the birthright from his father Isaac, as we observed in last weeks portion had fled Canaan and his parents home, now an Exile! He was a Wanted Man; a man who had acquired his blessing by his ability to trick, to deceive. And we watched him with heaviness lift his feet as he began the long and winding journey to that dark and wicked place in Padan-Aram, only to have the sun go down upon him as if to poetically imply, Is the sun setting upon my life? Now we are witnessing Yaakob beginning the journey back to his parents home, back to The Land of Promise, Canaan that has commanded him to return to. We read in Bresheit 32:1 after parting ways with Laban, while on his way home he is met by two companies of Angels. We know this because Yaakob calls the place of their meeting Mahanaim, which means two camps. This was none other than providing Yaakob with Divine favor and comfort. GOD is aware of what is stirring through Yaakobs mind. Some commentators ascribe belief one company stayed at his rear to guard from the potential threat of Laban and his brethren, and the other marched out in front to protect him from his more fearsome opponent, his elder brother Esav. So now as they say, is where the rubber meets the road. Commentator Arthur Pink contends as far as reflecting back on the predominant characteristics of The Patriarchs that Jacob is typically recognized as the servant. There is a great parallel between Yaakob and Messiah as well see momentarily. But he goes on to say, Abraham, the chosen object of Gods sovereign purpose, necessarily comes first, then Isaac, the son born supernaturally, the heir of the fathers house, followed by Jacob, the servant(Gleanings, vol. II, p.45). 8

This is verified in numerous places in Scripture, but one of many is found in Yeshayahu, Isaiah which reads, Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. (Isa 44:1-2 KJV) Unfortunately, our beloved Patriarch still isnt behaving like oneyet.

Finding Acceptance in the Right Face

The Sages claim Yaakob did three things to prepare for his eventual meeting with Esav. First he prepared for battle, which is in reference to when he splits the camp in two and separates them in the hope should Esav attack, if one come under siege the other may be able to escape and survive. Second, he prayed; And Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who didst say to me, 'Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you,' 10 I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which Thou hast shown to Thy servant; for with my staff only I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies. 11 "Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me, the mothers with the children. 12 "For Thou didst say, 'I will surely prosper you, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.'" (Gen 32:9-12 NAS) Here we see the heart of our Patriarch revealing itself with this truly heartfelt beautiful prayer. What we learn of it is he did not pray his words, rather he prayed GODs Word back to him! Much like The WORD of GOD functions in our life, so praying HIS promises does in our lives. HIS WORD was written to change our lives, and when we pray HIS Word, it reminds us and changes us. 9

The problem however persists. Why is it that Yaakob would first charge his own Angelic messengers to speak in a manner of servitude in the hopes to find favor in Esavs eyes? There is honest reason why Jacob is attempting to appease Esavbecause Jacob is greatly afraid and distressed. (Gen 32:7 NAS) You who fear the LORD, praise Him; All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel. (Psa 22:23 NAS) Jacob was still battling between believing in The Promise of and devising clever schemes in his mind. This is where we oftentimes find ourselves. He had the Birthright He had the Promise of GODs presence and protection He still allowed fear of his brother, and fear for his wives and children to interfere with his faith He chose to attempt to win Esavs favor, or mercy by lowering himself to him. In droves he sent Esav presents to appease him, so that by the time of his arrival Jacob thought afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me. (Gen 32:20 KJV).

I will see his faceits not a stretch to imagine Jacob obsessing,

feeding his fear as he possibly dwelled upon the lines of his brothers face, perhaps contorted in some angry expression with a sword in full swing and a rowdy bloody mob in tow. Two things are for certain, Jacob is obsessed with finding favor in the wrong face, and he is still wavering between serving an arm of flesh, and The More than capable Living Elohim. Look at this verse with me: And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: (1Ki 18:21 KJV) This of course is in reference to Elijahs confrontation with the 400 prophets of Baal, 400 prophets of Baal, and Esavs 400 mennot a coincidence. In my humble opinion the gematria can reflect numerous facets and meanings, but if viewed in light of what these 400 mens motivation was then it is possible that 10

the product of the two numbers 40 x 10 are congruent with their meanings. 40 is the number associated with Mem, or Water; of which specifically refers to chaos, might, and blood. The number 10 is the number associated with Yod, or hand, meaning to work, to throw, or to make, energize or worship. 400 in light of an adversary suggests simply these are people drawn to obtaining and worshipping of power through bloody chaotic hands. The number 400 is also associated with the letter Tav, which means sign, seal, mark, and covenant, but because these men were not in covenant with YHWH, it could only mean they were in covenant with the seed of the serpent, the father of lies, death, rebellion and pridehasatan. In first Kings 18:21, as an opportunity for the prophets of Baal to concede defeat, and admit their pride and rebellion and turn from their wickedness, Elijah asks them to consider, how long halt ye between two opinions? The word there for halt in Hebrew is

=paw-sakh: meaning to hop, to skip

over, to hesitate, to limp, to pass over, become lame as one who hops on one leg.
We shall revisit this in a moment, dont forget it And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. 23 And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. (Gen 32:22-24 KJV) Night settles in, and so does Yaakobs great distress. As a precautionary measure he sends his family and ALL he has over the ford Jabbokwhich means emptying, and was left all alone. Perhaps this was the absolute best thing for him, as prior to now Jacob was surrounded with nothing but the people he dearly loved, and the things he had 11

worked so hard to earn, and now all so vulnerable to destruction at the murderous hands of Esav and his 400 men. But lo and behold, we read almost matter-of-factly that then, in the solitude and loneliness of Jacobs biding, he then wrestles a man til daybreak. In Hosea 12 we read, Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial. (Hos 12:4-5 KJV) And after Yaakob let him go we read, for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. (Gen 32:30 KJV) The word there in Hosea for Angel is Malak, and it can mean Angel, messenger, ambassador, or representative. This was none other than the preincarnate Yeshua. It was He who said Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father (Joh 14:9 KJV) Giving thanks unto the FatherWho hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature (Col 1:12-15 KJV) It is here, in the darkness Jacob has his altogether life-transforming encounter as he grapples with Messiah. Interestingly we should observe it does not say Jacob wrestled with a man, rather the man wrestled with Jacob. Jacob was not wrestling with this Man to obtain a blessing, instead, the Man was wrestling with Jacob to gain some object from him (Pink, vol.2 p.88) 12

What was it then? I submit to you it was to bring Jacob to the end of Jacob. No more fearing manNo more trusting in your own wits and arm of fleshno more looking for favor in the face of those who long only to cause you harm. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. 31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. (Gen 32:25-31 KJV) Notice how easy it is for Yeshua to put an end to all our endless obsessing over our own schemes. He touched the hollow of his thigh and it was knocked out of joint. The word there is

=Yaw-rawke: meaning euphem. The

generative parts.
The thigh stands for mans foundation (e.g. the place for girding on ones sword), and for the source of life (Theological Wordbook of the O.T. 916a, p.408) I appreciate the way Bible expositor and renown Bible commentator Arthur Pink articulates it, This was a new era in the supplanting, planning, of Jacob. Up to this point he had held fast by his own ways and means, but now he is brought to say I will not let thee go. But mark carefully, it was not until the hollow of his thigh wa touched that Jacob said this; and, it is not until we fully realize our own helplessness and nothingness that we are brought to cling to GOD and really seek His blessing, for not, not only did Jacob say I will not let Thee go, but he added except Thou bless me. (Gleanings, vol.2,p.89). 13

At this point Jacob is no longer depending upon himself, rather hes placed all his weight upon Yeshua Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. (1Pe 5:6-7 NAS) He clings to Yeshua, and refuses to let go unless He bless him. He asks him, what is your name?Yeshua knew Jacobs name, this was a teaching moment in Jacobs transformation. Here we have Jacob who is finally at the end of himself, powerless, weak, unable to stand and I humbly believe it was at the putting of this question we see Jacob coming to the full realization of himselfbecause a name is more than a nameits a character. And when he answered Yeshua, in all humility Jacob was aware of all his deceit, all his trickery, all his impatience and unwillingness to allow GOD to reveal Himself in His own wayand it had to be a most repentful and yet revolutionary moment. Jacob knew who he was supposed to be, but what he had been and what he was supposed to be were worlds apartand at that moment he knew itand thats when Jacob had his breakthrough! More than anything else, nothing else mattered except clinging to Yeshua in that moment suspended in time. His refusal to let go was testimony that he had truly come to the end of himself and was now ready to trust in YHWH Elohim, Mighty GOD, Redeemer, Shield, Provider, Covenant Keeper, Father and King! Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. Jacob had prevailed. To prevail we learn it means,

yakol: to be able, literally (can, could), endure, might,

overcome, have power, prevail Overcome does not necessarily mean conquer All Yaakov did was hold on and NOT LET GO And that is all we are called to do sometimes as well. 14

We read that Yeshua told Jacob to release him, because the day was breaking. Before, when Jacob was fleeing for his life toward Babylon the sun was going down upon him, with nothing. Now Jacob has experienced a Name and Status changehe is now called

Yisrael, or GOD Strives, or more accurately, GOD Commands! As Yisrael, a changed, obedient servant now is walking obediently and trusting in His Heavenly Father, serving Him in all things. Within the name we see Sar-El, or Prince of El, namely Prince of GOD. YHWH has taken Jacob from a deceitful tricksterto humble prince relying upon and resting in His Creator who has given him all things! So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, "I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved." 31 Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh.(Gen 32:30-31 NAS) Now, with Status change, a new identity and fully aware of who he is in YHWH, Yisrael is prepared to meet his brother Esav. He passes over Penuel, which means Face of GODYisrael is no longer obsessed or concerned with appeasing Esav out of fear, because he now realizes his place is to be seeking the face of YHWH, which means more literally, the presence of YHWH! Exodus 33:18-20 But Moshe said, "I beg you to show me your glory!" (19) He replied, "I will cause all my goodness to pass before you, and in your presence I will pronounce the name of Adonai. Moreover, I show favor to whomever I will, and I display mercy to whomever I will. (20) But my face," he continued, "you cannot see, because a human being cannot look at me and remain alive. Psalms 27:8 "My heart said of you, 'Seek my face.' " Your face, Adonai, I will seek.

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"But for you who fear My name the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. (Mal 4:2 NAS) The word there for sun is shemesh. The name for servant is shemash, both words are spelled almost identical.

In Vayishlach we read Yeshua, our Suffering Servant, commanded Yisrael to let him go as it was daybreak, the sun was rising. This prophetic verse in Malachi reveals itself as played out in this rising of our Redeemer, Yeshua, with healing in his wings, of which we can with surety say Jacob had been touched, and healed by Yeshua. And yet its interesting when we read in the Brit Chadasha of another healing done by Yeshua. And a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, 26 and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse, 27 after hearing about Jesus, came up in the crowd behind Him, and touched His cloak. 28 For she thought, "If I just touch His garments, I shall get well." 29 And immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My garments?" 31 And His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude pressing in on You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'" 32 And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your affliction." (Mar 5:25-34 NAS)

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S#H3671 (kanaph) (489b)

Meaning: wing, extremity Usage: bird*(1), corner(1), corners(4), covering(1), each other(1), edge(5), edges(1), ends(3), fold(m)(2), garment(m)(1), kind(m)(3), skirt(3), skirts(1), sorts(m)(1), wing(14), winged(5), wings(59), wingspan(1). Notice, one of the meanings here for wing as it is used in Malachi, refers also to the edge of a garment. What did the men wear of particular interest? A Tallitand upon the corners of the Tallit what are there?

Tzit-Tziot! Tassels!
So here we have a beautiful picture of Yeshua, in the flesh demonstrating the same healing power to the woman with the issue of blood by way of his Tzit-tziot which also means wing that he also demonstrated to Yaakob, who was healed as he came to the end of himself and finally trusted YHWH to do what He promised He would do all along! Chapter 33: But he himself passed on ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. (Gen 33:3 NAS) Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. (Gen 33:4 NAS) But Esau said, "I have plenty, my brother; let what you have be your own." (Gen 33:9 NAS) The teaching here is that Esau although complicit with Yisrael, is still unchanged and still governed by his appetites, as revealed in the Hebrew. Here we read Esav says he has plenty, and in the English so does Yisrael. But in Hebrew Esavs word for plenty is rab, meaning great or much; which is a lot like, I have plenty, but I have room for want. Whereas with Yisrael, his word for plenty is kol, which means ALL. Yisrael no longer is trying to seek Esavs favor out of fear, for he now knows full well the meaning of striving in a good way as expressed in Hebrews that says

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Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; (Heb 12:14-15 NAS) Esav and Yisraels meeting goes well, although Esav desires to further meet with him on mount Seir, Yisrael says he will go, and then does not. Some contend that this was not lying in the fact that Yisrael knew prophetically that the next time the House of Yisrael goes to Seir, it will be not to make peace, but rather to judge the Edomites. Yisrael and all his family instead march onward and lodge in the land of Sukkot, in the city of Shechem. In the book of Josephus, a historian in the first century provide some good historical data on what happened with Jacob s daughter Dinah. We read, Now as the Shechemites were keeping a festival, Dina, who was the only daughter of Jacob, went into the city to see the finery of the women of that country. But when Shechem, the son of Hamor the king, saw her, he defiled her by violence; and being greatly in love with her, desired of his father that he would procure the damsel to him for a wife. (The Works of Josephus, p. 51) First of all, why did Dina go to a pagan festival that is clearly not one of the appointed Moedim of YHWH? Stepping outside the protection and teachings of YHWH is sure to bring unwanted company. And so we read how Shechem defiled the bride by raping her, and then to so boldly ask of her hand in marriage? What Shechem did was punishable, morally it was grievous and personally I initially appreciated the revenge gained for her by way of Levi and Simeon. The problem as we learn here is that these two sons, without seeking the counsel of their father, proceeded to spin a yarn if you will, convincing Hamor that if he and his son Shechem and all the Shechemites would circumcise themselves, then they would be able to inter-marry and share one others wealth and do business together. As it turns out, on the 3rd day of the healing, all the Shechemites were sleeping and Levi and Simeon entered the town and slaughtered all of the men of Shechem and looted the entire town. Fighting for your family is paramountbut not at the expense of using something Holy and Sacred for something profane which is what they did. Simeon and Levi took the outward sign of The Covenant, a Holy seal that marked a man as belonging unto YHWH, and used it in a profane waywhich is why we see them both being overlooked after Reuben lost his opportunity at the birth right. 18

God instructs Yisrael to move back to Beit-El and Yisrael realizing he has all of these items of idolatry in his camp is instructed by YHWH to purify yourselves and to change your garments. He instructs everyone to bring them, and he buries them under an oak tree in Shechem. Its also at this time he finds Rachels fathers teraphim and buries them as well. But this is important, The Father is telling Yisrael the camp is unclean, and an unclean camp is susceptible to attack and even worse, defeat. As we read in Joshua, Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you. (Jos 7:13 KJV) When was the last time you did and inventory of your home? How about your heart? Is it possible we could be clinging to an accursed thing and not even know it? If we desire real victory and healing in our lives we must purify ourselves (mikveh) and change our garments! Leviticus 11:44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Leviticus 20:7-8 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. (8) And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you. And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned. 28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years. 29 And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.(Gen 35:27-29 KJV) Here we read Isaac was old and full of days when he diedso what happened back there when we read of him being dim and giving the blessing to Jacob? Some suspect that Isaac was losing his ability to spiritually discern at the that time, but is something worth considering. We read of Yisraels offspring and Esavs offspring, and specifically what we are seeing in Esav is a multiplication of people raised in the way of Esav, these 19

are people that will continue on down through time be at odds and forever look to destroy the tents of Jacob. But, we read in Obadiah the prophecy that perhaps Yisrael was already aware of when he elected not to go to Seir yetand ventured rather to Sukkot.
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And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it. (Oba 1:18 KJV)

So here we conclude our teaching as we learn after much personal struggle, Jacob has grown and become Yisrael, prevailer with God and men, Prince of El, and rather than cower in fear to the Esavs of the world, we also know, as we have been grafted into the commonwealth of Yisrael that we too will perhaps one day play a role in the justice our Heavenly Father will bring upon thembut keeping in step with His way, as He is longsuffering, not willing that ANY should perish, let us continue to learn to live at peace with all men For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Eph 2:14,17-21 KJV)

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