Musing – Since when has Israel been home for the Jews?

Hebraic Musing – Since when has Israel been home for the Jews?

Our recent Torah study looked at three of Israel's leaders preparing to sleep and looking to the future of the land. From Genesis 47:29–30   When the time drew near for Israel (a.k.a. Jacob) to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried."  NIV   Notice that Jacob (Israel) wanted to be buried at home, not in Egypt, because he foresaw that since his children were getting so comfortable in Egypt they could easily forget that Israel was their true home, their promised land.

Likewise, Jacob’s son Joseph died in Egypt and was embalmed, but he too had asked that when the family of Israel left Egypt that they take his bones him with them. Joseph also wanted to return home.

When the time drew near for King David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.   "I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, show yourself a man,  and observe what the Lord your God requires: .... that the Lord may keep his promise to me: 'If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.'” 1 Kings 2:1-4   David clearly foresaw that his people had the right to have rule over their land, Israel, forever.

On Jewish Heritage Day in 2010, Helen Thomas, a member of the White House press corps, was caught off camera saying that the Jews should “get the hell out of Palestine” and “go home to Germany and Poland.”  She should have known her history better, but the anti-Semitic flavor of even high level leaders demonstrates the lack of knowledge and appreciation of Israel’s history in the land of Israel.  BTW, does the word Israel refer to country or the man?

The Cave of Machpelah (Tomb of the Patriarchs) where Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca and Leah are all buried lies just 25 miles south of Jerusalem. The only matriarch missing is Rachel who was buried near Bethlehem when she died giving birth. The Tomb of the Patriarchs, and matriarchs, is an everlasting testimony to the fact that Israel is home to the children of Israel (Jacob’s other name). It always has been and it always will be.  

We need to tirelessly share this truth with the world.

Point to ponder

Is there any people group that existed before Jacob (a.k.a. Israel)
that can lay claim to the land of Israel and Jerusalem?
(Consider that Jacob made Israel home for himself and his family in 1700BC)

And in circa 1015BC David called for an Israelite king
to be on the throne in Jerusalem, forever.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; and for Irene and I.  We will be there next week!

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                             December 24, 2013

Author of two books “Hebraic Insights” and  “Biblical Marriage”

And weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings”  Yosef1@cox.net  or  www.InsightsByYosef.com

Musing – The Jewish Family

Hebraic Musing – The Jewish Family**

There is no Hebrew word for "bachelor". (Not in the NIV, CJB or NKJV)  Marriage was looked upon as a covenant and patterned after Elohim's own covenant with Israel.  The marriage covenant is to be a lasting one.  Love was something expected to grow in a marriage relationship. 

The Jewish home has traditionally been a place of refuge, a little sanctuary from the storms and pressures of life.  The family was multi-generational, with great respect for the elderly.  Weekly the family would gather around the Sabbath table and reinforce their family ties.  As the head of the house and spiritual leader of the family, the father blesses each child then publicly blesses his wife.  As opposed to our culture where the only thing we bless is a sneeze, in the Hebrew culture washing hands is blessed along with seeing a rainbow, hearing it thunder, hearing good news or bad news.  The family was also welcoming to outsiders; hospitality was done graciously and cheerfully. 

I searched and cannot find the word parent used in reliable Bible translations; but did find some translations (and won’t say which ones) have blatantly translated ba , which is Av or ‘Father’, into ‘Parent’. Biblically, the father is responsible for raising the children in spiritual things and also a trade, so they would be prepared for adulthood. 

Re spiritual matters – God, speaking through Moses, said to the men in Deut. 6:6-7 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when…..” NKJV

Re teaching a trade – Jewish tradition says "It is a father's duty to teach his son a trade" and "He who does not teach his son a trade teaches him to steal".

God’s word does an excellent job of distinguishing between the roles of men and women, father and mother; however, even some of the Bible translations are missing that point.  Yes, mothers spend the most time with the children and typically do a lot of teaching.  But God holds the Dad responsible to make sure it is done, even if Mom is doing it.

Point to ponder

What can each of us do to restore the traditional Biblical Jewish Family structure?

Shalom

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                             December 17, 2013

Author of two books “Hebraic Insights” and  “Biblical Marriage”

And weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings”  Yosef1@cox.net  or  www.InsightsByYosef.com

** This Musing was inspired by Johanna Hocker; parts reprinted with her permission. Too good not to share!

Musing – Why did Jacob say “Now I am ready to die”?

Hebraic Musing – Why did Jacob say “Now I am ready to die”?

Jacob made this statement in Genesis 46:30 after seeing Joseph alive and well; for 22 years Jacob thought Joseph was dead.  Israel said to Joseph, "Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive." NIV   It is significant that the Torah refers to Jacob as Israel in this passage because Israel was the ongoing spiritual name of the family. Israel’s family was complete again – all 12 sons had learned lessons and were now reconciled to each other as a functioning family, ready for their future role.  After this, Israel arranged his burial and blessed each of his sons; then he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.

How about you?  Are you ready to die?  Could you make the same claim Israel did – “Now I am ready to die”?   If not, why not?

Suppose you were given a month to live. What then?  This might typically occur if a doctor told you of a terminal illness. Would your life change?  How would your life change?  What would you do different?

Points to Ponder

Do you know how much longer you will live?

What would you do different if you only had a month to live?

Rabbi Eckstein concluded that Israel made that profound statement because ‘Upon seeing Joseph and realizing that his son was still righteous and obedient to God, Jacob understood that he had accomplished everything he needed to in life. He had brought twelve God-fearing sons into the world and now they were united. Jacob’s life was complete. He may not have done everything that he had wanted to do in life, but Jacob had succeeded in doing everything that truly mattered to him’.

The real issue here is whether we have succeeded in doing the things that really matter.  If your pondering has been successful, the next step is to make a list to live by of the things that really matter to you; and do those things this month just in case…   

Here are examples of things that mattered to Jacob, David, Yeshua, Paul and others:  Striving to achieve Righteousness; Reconciling with someone; Setting house and estate in order; Reuniting Family; Apologizing, Forgiving; etc.

With those things done and behind us, we can proceed to truly enjoy life!

Another Point to Ponder

What really matters to you?

If you take this seriously, you will be truly living for the next month, instead of merely existing.  Is it possible that we are not really living until we are ready to die?   As Tevye sang in “Fiddler on the Roof” –  ♫  L'chaim, l'chaim, to life!  A gift we seldom are wise enough,    Ever to prize enough,  Drink l'chaim, to life! ♫

L’Chaim!

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                             December 10, 2013

Author of two books “Hebraic Insights” and  “Biblical Marriage”

And weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings”  Yosef1@cox.net  or  www.InsightsByYosef.com

Musing – How to win by smothering them with kindness?

Hebraic Musing – How to win by smothering them with kindness?

Jacob had an adversary, his brother Esau. The last he heard from his brother was Esau’s vow  "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob." Gen 27:41   Chapter 32 of Genesis tells of Jacob going to meet his brother and wanting, or needing, to reconcile with his ‘enemy’.  How will he accomplish this task?  Have you ever had an ‘enemy’ situation that needed resolution?

Jacob heard that Esau was approaching with 400 men, not a good sign! So Jacob employed three strategies to protect himself and to reconcile with Esau:

First, he prayed.  Then Jacob prayed, "O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac…“ Gen. 32:9 

Second, he strategized protection in case of failure. Realizing he would have to confront his brother, he split his family, servants, animals and goods into two camps. If one camp was attacked, maybe the other would survive.  In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well. He thought, "If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape." Gen 32:7-8

Third, he ‘smothers Esau with kindness’ in two ways. Is there a lesson here for us?

1. Gifts – A series of groups each led by a servant going on ahead with many animals as gifts and each servant is instructed to say to Esau “They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau, and he is coming behind us.”  Genesis 32:18    And note that the gifts are spaced out over time so that Esau’s revengeful attitude would be softened with each round of gifts.

2. Humility – Jacob acted with humility by bolstering Esau’s self-esteem and honor by calling him Servant, Master and Lord, while Jacob and the servants, women and children were all bowing to Esau.

Thus by ‘smothering his enemy’ with kindness Jacob teaches us a valuable lesson in how to deal with our enemies.  As a result of facing this encounter and settling the issue, we hear a beautiful reconciliation -- But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. Gen 33:4-5   And another sign of reconciliation occurs later at their father Isaac’s funeral -- …and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. Gen 35:29

Point to ponder

Who do know that needs to be smothered in kindness? (after prayer)

Go forth humbly with prayer and kindness – but not just for friends

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                             December 3, 2013

Author of two books “Hebraic Insights” and  “Biblical Marriage”

And weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings”  Yosef1@cox.net  or  www.InsightsByYosef.com