Gen. 47:28-50:26; I Kings 2:1-12; Acts 7:9-16
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This week's Parsha speaks to us of the impending death of Israel/Yaacov. As his death was approaching we read the following verses, beginning with verse 29 of Genesis: 29 The time came when Isra'el was approaching death; so he called for his son Yosef and said to him, "If you truly love me, please put your hand under my thigh and pledge that, out of consideration for me, you will not bury me in Egypt. 30 Rather, when I sleep with my fathers, you are to carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried." He replied, "I will do as you have said." 31 He said, "Swear it to me," and he swore to him. Then Isra'el bowed down at the head of his bed. As we read these verses we cannot help but notice a few things; first, that it was clear to Israel that his children and their descendants would one day leave Egypt. These verses do not let us know anything about time periods but there is a clear expectation that the children of Israel would be leaving. Second, we find that it is very important to Israel that his remains would be taken from Egypt when they leave. In studying these verses we also find that in this case, as in many others, Josef�s father is called by his new name, �Israel�. As we read through the Torah we find that at various times even after the name change was made by G-D Israel is called by the name of his birth, Yaacov. If you make note of this you will find that whenever Israel is doing something righteous he is called Israel but whenever he is doing something that could be unrighteous he is referred to as Yaacov. In this case it is clear that Israel is requesting something righteous from his son. Knowing that the body after death becomes dust and is seemingly unimportant in relationship to the Soul and Spirit, why is it so important that Israel's bones be carried out? I believe it is so that the desire to ever return to Egypt would be removed. If the location of Israel�s grave was in Egypt then it might be that his sons would want to travel back and visit. With the promise of the removal of even the bones from Egypt then this desire to return would not be there. How does this relate to us today? As believers in Messiah Yeshua we know that we have been delivered from sin just as Israel was delivered from Egypt. However many times, even though our Spirit and Soul have been removed from Egypt, our bones have been left there. The desire to return to the life we lead before Messiah is still there. It is for this reason that when we leave the things of this world we need to make sure we take everything with us; our hearts, our minds, strength, and our souls. This is how we truly fulfill the words of Deut 6: 4 "Sh'ma, Yisra'el! ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad [Hear, Isra'el! ADONAI our God, ADONAI is one]; 5 and you are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart, all your being and all your resources. Also the words of Yeshua in Matthew 22:36 "Rabbi, which of the mitzvot in the Torah is the most important?" 37 He told him, "`You are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.' 38 This is the greatest and most important mitzvah. 39 And a second is similar to it, `You are to love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All of the Torah and the Prophets are dependent on these two mitzvot."
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This week’s Parsha contains the request and then promised oath given to bury Yisrael in the cave at Machpelah and to carry Yosef’s bones to the Promised Land when the Children of Israel return to the Land of the Promise. Every year around this time, I get to attend the annual IAMCS Rabbi's conference. This conference is basically continuing education courses for Rabbi's as well as times to fellowship with other leaders, meeting some new Leaders and getting to see old friends again. One of the things that I do at this time of year is to reflect on the promises G-D has made to His people. Throughout the Holy Scriptures G-D has given promises to those who would be grafted into the Olive Tree of Israel including the words "All Israel Shall be Saved". These many promises are called prophesies and may be found throughout both Tanach and Brit Chadashah. Each year I look to see if any seemed to have been fulfilled during the year between these conference times. Each year I see glimpses of the completion of G-D’s promises especially as they relate to His Messianic Community. As our congregation grows and more and more people, both Jew and non-Jew, come into our synagogue by expressing faith in Yeshua and His promises to those within His kingdom, I as Yisrael of Old, am reminded that G-D is now and will always be Truth and His Word will come to pass. We will see many people come to faith in the Messiah of Israel, serving G-D cheerfully out of love and longing to walk as sons and daughters of the King of all Kings. Walking in those things commanded within the words of Torah, Tanakh and Brit Chadashah not to be saved but because we have been.