He Lived

Torah Portion: Genesis 47:28-50:26

Vayechi (“He Lived”). This is the last Parashat of the book of Genesis. He lived. The claim is one of interesting and thought provoking reality. Have you, have you; truly thought about the millennia of human experience we have to meditate on; in regards to our faith and its working in this world? These figures, lived. They were here, as men and women of old. They lived and their lives tell us a story that we, even today, experience with those who came before. We share in their life stories through learning of themmeditating on them, and also experiencing the same God they did!

Jacob waited in Canaan a broken man. He had lost his son Joseph to wild animals. He had lost his wife, and his land has ceased to supply for their sustenance. The promise God had made him was in danger of failing and the lord of Egypt, their only hope for life sustaining food, did not believe that the sons of Jacob had good intentions for the land of Egypt. Jacob was forced to send Joseph’s brother, the last son of his dear deceased wife and all he had left to Egypt where only uncertainty awaited. If he did not, death awaited. He lived.

He lived what was left of his life waiting on the possibility of losing it all. he lived trusting God to keep His promise and deliver his family. He risked everything to bring food back to sustain his family, waiting in a land that could not provide, because God told him that Canaan would be the place Jacob was to possess. He lived, a man of faith.

Jacob came to Egypt a man blessed of God, he knew his son Joseph was alive and it was through Joseph, just as the Lord God had shown Joseph; Israel would be blessed; serving Joseph the lord of Egypt! As Joseph’s tragedy was turned to triumph so Jacobs tragedy was turned to triumph and life. Jacob lived seventeen years in the land of Goshen in Egypt and like Isaac he made a pact; hand under his thigh. Like Isaac he blessed the lesser son. Jacob, lived a man following his God and his father until his death.

Joseph lived as a favored son blessed of his God only to be betrayed by his own brothers who sold him to slave traders. He lived as a servant, as a prisoner, and then as the highest of the mighty nation of Egypt. He lived in the shadow of the God, most high, who brought him to the place where Joseph would instrumental in God’s covenantal working to keep His people toward the prosperous future God had intended and blessed the patriarchs saying, Canaan shall be their inheritance. Joseph lived to love after having been betrayed even his own brothers despite having the power to destroy them; in revenge. Joseph lived until he died, in the shadow of God trusting the Lord, most high, to accomplish all he desired in this world through even the suffering Joseph was to endure. His last words were assurance that God would accomplish His purpose returning all of the Hebrews to the promised land. Joseph lived a humble yet incredibly strong man in service to the Lord of hosts!

They lived. Are you willing to live like they did and in their legacy? Their lives are a lesson, the way, that shows us how to live triumphantly.