A Struggle That Still Shapes Us

If we let the world define truth for us, we will inherit its confusion. God’s Word reminds us that today’s struggle is not new. Jacob’s wrestling reveals something essential about the spiritual conflict shaping our reality & the hope God gives in its midst.

Inherited Enmity

Parashat Vayishlach (And He Sent)Beresheet (Genesis) 32:3 (4 in the Hebrew Bible) – 36:43Haftarah: Obadiah 1:1-21 As we reflect on Parashat Vayishlach, its messages feel strikingly relevant to the realities Israel faces today. The tension … Read More

Edom’s Hatred of Israel

Parashat Vayishlach (And He Sent) Beresheet (Genesis) 32:3 (4 in the Hebrew Bible) – 36:43 Haftarah: Obadiah 1:1-21 In this week’s Parashah, we read a well-known story that once again reminded me of our current … Read More

The Ancient Root of a Modern Problem

Parashat Vayishlach (And He Sent) Beresheet (Genesis) 32: 3 (4 in the Hebrew Bible)-36:43 Haftarah: Obadiah 1:1-21 In my most recent commentary I referred to Jacob’s dream and the fact that when he woke up … Read More

Judgment On the Spirit of Esau

Parashat Vayishlach (And He Sent) Beresheet (Genesis) 32:3 (4 in the Hebrew Bible) – 36:43 Haftarah: Obadiah 1:1–21 As I wrote in my commentary last year, I was puzzled by the extreme differences between the … Read More

Generational Hatred

Parashat Vayishlach (And He Sent) Beresheet (Genesis 32:3 (4 in the Hebrew Bible) – 36:43) Haftarah: Obadiah 1:1–21 As I was preparing to write this week’s blog entry, I was puzzled by the extreme differences … Read More

God’s Perfect Timing

Parashat Vayishlach (And He Sent) Beresheet (Genesis) 32: 3 (4 in the Hebrew Bible) – 36:43 As we previously studied in the account of Jacob and Esau, Jacob ran away from Esau after stealing both … Read More

Being Made Small

Parashat Vayishlach (And he sent) Beresheet (Genesis) 32: 3 (4 in the Hebrew Bible)–36:43 We have some very special verses in this week’s Scripture portion (parasha) that I will translate directly from the Hebrew: And … Read More

Parashat VaYishlach (And he sent)

Beresheet (Genesis 32: 3 [verse 4 in the Hebrew Bible] to 36:43) In my study of the weekly Scripture portion this past week, I must admit that I have been wrestling with the text and … Read More

Parashat Vayishlach (And He Sent)

Beresheet (Genesis 32: 3 (4 in the Hebrew Bible)-36:43) Has the Lord ever asked you to do something that terrified you, or that seemed bigger than you? In our parasha this week, God commands Jacob … Read More