בס”ד

Parashat Vayechi (And he lived) Genesis 47:28-50:26

Haftarah: I Kings 2:1-12

A very important question that one has to answer each day is “Do I really believe in G-d?” You might think that such a question is not at all relevant for you, after all you believe in Yeshua as Messiah. My point is that even though many people acknowledge faith in G-d, their behavior is often times in sharp contrast to this. Take for example Joseph’s brothers. In this week’s Torah portion Jacob blesses his sons and then dies. Joseph and his brothers buried their father, according to his instructions, at Hebron. It is immediately after that the brothers fear that now that their father is gone, that Joseph might take revenge upon them.

Such a thought reveals that the brothers did not comprehend that HaShem would not use a man, as He was using Joseph, if such a man was given over to revenge and his own interests. It is also inconsistent with faith in G-d for the brothers to think there is safety in deceit. Because they feared Joseph’s revenge they conspired to lie and say,

“And they commanded Joseph saying, ‘your father commanded before his death saying: “Thus you shall say to Joseph, Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they repaid you evil and now forgive their transgression.”‘” Genesis 50:16-17

This lie reveals what so many people believe, namely, that at times it is in the best interest of an individual to tell a lie. Such a belief is incompatible with faith in G-d. True faith in G-d believes that the purposes of HaShem are not advanced with deceit nor does one find blessings in the telling of lies. Many believers are simply too carefree with their words. We must remember that our G-d is a G-d of truth (Deut. 32:4) Who lives in the truth (Jeremiah 4:2) and Whose works are true (Daniel 4:34). In regard to our Messiah we read,

“And we know that the Son of G-d has come and He gave to us understanding that we might know the truth that we are in Him that is the true One even in His Son, Messiah Yeshua, this is the truth of G-d and the eternal life.” I John 5:20

Let us therefore strive to guard the things that come forth from our mouth and make sure that our words reflect the truth that our G-d defines.

Shabbat Shalom