vaYigash (And 'Judah' Drew Near)
11) Genesis 44:18-47:27
On this morning especially, how’s your sense of “wonder” doing? This past Shabbat, God impressed upon my heart to exhort one of my children toward the power of wonder. My daughter has a rigorous intellect and can get caught up in her head. Wonder can stoke the flames of the heart.
The incarnation is a truly a wonder.
As a Jew, I strain every year to see through the commercialized and gentilized trappings to wonder afresh at the miracle of the Creator of all coming into flesh to be one of us. The Messiah entered the world as a Jewish baby. This is simply wonder-full. So simple and yet so confounding.
The name of the portion this week is vaYigash, meaning “and he drew near.” Emmanuel is a wonder inviting us to remember a different son of Judah/Israel drawing near to us through the incarnation.
In vaYigash, Israel’s children begin to get reconciled through the wonder-filled act of Judah’s self-sacrifice. In the portion this week, Judah draws near to Joseph and it triggers an emotional and relational revival destined to trigger events that would save the lives of millions, even billions of people.
May you be filled with wonder on this special Messiahmas morning (and the week ahead) as you follow in the self-sacrificial, others-oriented and obedient steps of Judah and Yeshua and come under the soul-satisfying blessing of the Father of all Creation, through intimacy with the Son of the Living God, in the power of His Holy Spirit.
Readings for the Week:
Torah: GENESIS 44:18–47:27
Prophets: EZEKIEL 37:15–28
Apostolic Writings: LUKE 6:12–26
Click HERE for the online Parashah commentary.
Shalom,
Thomas