Beware of Complacency - NCCG.ORG Ning Network Archive 2008-10

Shabbat Shalom Kol Yisrael. It is our pleasure to present this week's Torah Parsha commentary by Nazarene Yisraelite Rabbi T. (Mordecai) Mitchell, Rabbi and Rosh Zaken of B'nai Yeshurun Nazarene Yisraelite Synagogue, Kittanning, Pa., and board member of the Union of Nazarene Yisraelite Congregations. It is our sincere hope and prayer that these commentaries encourage, inspire, and strengthen the body of Messiah in Kol Yisrael. This week our Parsha is Vayeshev (And he dwelt) Bereshith 37:1 – 40:23. Our Haftarah portion is Amos 2:6 – 3:8. Our suggested Brit Chadasha readings are: MattithYahu 19 and 20 and Acts 7:9—16. Please read Tehillim (Psalms) 106.

Our Parsha begins in Bereshith 37:1 with a seemingly simple statement: And Ya'aqob dwelt in the land of Kenna. (All Scripture quoted from the ISR Version)

Form this we may draw a lesson from a subtle inference. Ya'aqob's struggle with his brother Esaw was over, he had wrestled with a supernatural being and was not overcome, and his 20-years of servitude to Laban was also ended. Now Ya'aqob dwelt at ease. He had son's to tend to the somewhat rigorous duties of tending his vast flocks and herds. All seems well.

However, the lesson we may draw is that we must never become complacent. When things are going well and we are at ease is a time when we are most likely to let our spiritual guard down.

The genealogy of Ya'aqob strangely enough begins with Yoseph, who at that time was the youngest of Ya'aqob's children. The Scriptures plainly tell us that of all Ya'aqob's children, Yoseph was the most loved and favored.

As parents (or grandparents) we must realize that we can do great harm by showing obvious favor to one child over the others. By doing so we may be guilty of creating a spirit of jealousy among the affected children, which can lead to great animosity or resentment in later life.

Be that as it may, we may assume that Ya'aqob's obvious favor toward Yoseph did indeed create jealousy toward Yoseph among his older brothers.

Perhaps because of Ya'aqob's complacency he was not aware that his sons by the two concubines, Bilhah and Zilpah were not doing the job with which they were entrusted. Therefore we read: 37:2b “...And Yoseph brought in an evil report of them to his father.”

What exactly was the “...evil report...” that Yoseph brought? While the inspired Scriptures are silent on this matter, the Zohar does shed some light on the issue.

In Vayeshev 72, the Zohar suggests that: “...he told his father that they ate raw meat cut from a living animal.”

But in Vayeshev 73, Rabbi Yehudah offers the suggestion that “...they cast their eyes upon the daughters of the land...”

Whichever of these two explanations, or theories, we may chose to believe (if either) suffice it to say that evil was being perpetrated within Yisrael and now Ya'aqob, upon learning of the situation, was forced to deal with it in someway.

Strangely enough, we are not told if he did take action on the matter, or what action was taken if any.

However, we may make several observations from this incident.

For one, we must make our children aware that once they have “left the nest” so to speak, and are out on their own, working to furthering their education, they will face numerous allurements and temptations. Once our children reach adulthood, we have no right to attempt to control their lives, but we can be an influence for good by raising them in Torah while they are in our care. We can always be there for them, ready to offer righteous advice or guidance.

Another observation is that even when we may think we are “out of sight,” as were the sons of Ya'aqob, we can be sure that if we sin, our sins will find us out.

Luke 12:2--3

2. “And whatever is concealed shall be revealed, and whatever is hidden shall be known.

3. So, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in The Light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.”

Also, by revealing his brother's sins to his father, Yoseph was doing the right thing. If he had failed to do so he would have been partaker of their sins. However, when we have a part in exposing sin, we must realize that more often then not we will be hated rather than honored. In the parlance of today's common street lingo, “Nobody likes a snitch.” Nevertheless, we must understand that by making known the evil activities of his brothers, Yoseph not only did the right thing, but demonstrated his loyalty to his father.

For the sake of time and space we must end our commentary on this Parsha at this point. However, in closing let us consider the following: There is little doubt that for a variety of reasons that “seemed right” to his brothers, the brothers' hatred for Yoseph served only to blind their eyes to the prophetic “big picture.”

It is obvious that Yoseph's character and commitment to what was right was above reproach. Because of that, and because of his unswerving loyalty not only to his earthly father, but also to Almighty Yahweh, Yoseph came to a position of unparalleled power against impossible odds. Because of this, he was able to save the lives of his family, to save the lives of those who hated him. Hatred blinded the brothers' eyes to this fact.

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