Toldot | תולדות | "Family history "

The sixth reading from the book of Genesis is named Toldot (תולדות), which means “generations.” It is so named because the Torah portion begins with the words “Now these are the records of the generations of Isaac” (). Toldot tells us the story of the birth of Jacob and Esau and their struggle for the birthright and blessing of their father, Isaac. We also learn about Isaac’s trials and difficulties in the land of Canaan. The portion concludes with Jacob’s deception of Isaac in order to procure the family blessing.

The sixth reading from the book of Genesis is named Toldot (תולדות), which means “generations.” It is so named because the Torah portion begins with the words “Now these are the records of the generations of Isaac” (Genesis 25:19). Toldot tells us the story of the birth of Jacob and Esau and their struggle for the birthright and blessing of their father, Isaac. We also learn about Isaac’s trials and difficulties in the land of Canaan. The portion concludes with Jacob’s deception of Isaac in order to procure the family blessing.

Genesis 25

And this is the genealogy of Yitsḥaq, Aḇraham’s son. Aḇraham brought forth Yitsḥaq.

Genesis25:19 And this is the genealogy of Yitsḥaq, Aḇraham’s son. Aḇraham brought forth Yitsḥaq.

20 And Yitsḥaq was forty years old when he took Riḇqah as wife, the daughter of Bethu’ěl the Aramean of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laḇan the Aramean.

21 And Yitsḥaq prayed to יהוה for his wife, because she was barren. And יהוה answered his prayer, and Riḇqah his wife conceived.

22 And within her the children struggled together, and she said, “If all is right, why am I this way?” So she went to ask יהוה.

23 And יהוה said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples shall be separated from your body. And one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older serve the younger.”

24 And when the days were filled for her to give birth, and see, twins were in her womb!

25 And the first came out red all over, like a hairy garment, so they called his name Ěsaw.

26 And afterward his brother came out, with his hand holding on to Ěsaw’s heel, so his name was called Ya‘aqoḇ. And Yitsḥaq was sixty years old when she bore them.

27 And the boys grew up. And Ěsaw became a man knowing how to hunt, a man of the field, while Ya‘aqoḇ was a complete man, dwelling in tents.

As we read these scriptures one can see the beginning of a conflict that will stretch for centuries to come. Rather than concentrate on that let us look at how this might be a mirror for us, inside our own hearts and minds. How many of us have felt like we have been at war with ourselves? Paul sure did. He writes in Romans 7

As we read these scriptures one can see the beginning of a conflict that will streach for centuries to come. Rather than concentrate on that let us look at how this might be a mirror for us, inside our own hearts and minds. How many of us have felt like we have been at war with ourselves? Paul sure did. He writes in

18 For I know that in me, that is in my flesh, dwells no good. For the wish (desire) is present with me, but to work (do) the good I do not find.

19 For the good that I wish to do, I do not do; but the evil I do not wish to do, this I practise.

16 But if I do what I do not wish, I agree with the Torah that it is good.

20 And if I do that which I do not wish, it is no longer I who work it, but the sin dwelling in me.

17 And now, it is no longer I that work it, but the sin dwelling in me.

21 I find therefore this law, that when I wish to do the good, that the evil is present with me.

18 For I know that in me, that is in my flesh, dwells no good. For to wish is present with me, but to work the good I do not find.

22 For I delight in the Torah of Elohim according to the inward man,

19 For the good that I wish to do, I do not do; but the evil I do not wish to do, this I practise.

23 but I see another law in my members, battling against the Torah of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

20 And if I do that which I do not wish, it is no longer I who work it, but the sin dwelling in me.

24 Wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this body of death?

21 I find therefore this law, that when I wish to do the good, that the evil is present with me.

25 Thanks to Elohim, through יהושׁע Messiah our Master! So then, with the mind I myself truly serve the Torah of Elohim, but with the flesh the law of sin.

22 For I delight in the Torah of Elohim according to the inward man,

What is being expressed here by Paul is the desire to do good clashing with the instinct or desire of our fleshly or SINNFUL natures. In other words We all want to be better people, yet who holds us back the most? Ourselves, we hold ourselves back from being the best person we can be.

23 but I see another law in my members, battling against the Torah of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

So with that established let us use this story of Jacob and Esau to mirror ourselves to better understand the battle of 2 people with in ourselves to do good.

24 Wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this body of death?

Notice the difference a the beginning of their life. Esau leading the way charging out of the womb. Jacob is coming afterward seizing Esau’s heel. Think of how strange this is. Those of us that are parents know that even newborns will grasp anything in their hands. It is sweet to see them hold our fingers or to grasp a toy. The strangeness is not in the grasping but what is grasped. Why the heel? Why not the hand? Or as many of us may have experienced the hair? Esau is seen to have lots of hair even at birth so why the heel? Was Jacob trying to avoid being stepped on? Was he trying to restrain his brother? Was he trying to keep up? They are babes and so even Jacob could not explain it. Even so what about their appearance? How is it that Esau has hair that is like a coat while Jacob did not? YHWH had already told Ribqah that she had 2 nations at war with in her. Already at birth these 2 twin brothers are as different as can be.

25 Thanks to Elohim, through יהושׁע Messiah our Master! So then, with the mind I myself truly serve the Torah of Elohim, but with the flesh the law of sin.

Let us look at Verse 27 of Genesis 25. 27 “And the boys grew up. And Ěsaw became a man knowing how to hunt, a man of the field, while Ya‘aqoḇ was a complete man, dwelling in tents.”

What is being expressed here by Paul is the desire to do good clashing with the instinct or desire of our fleshly or SINNFUL natures. In other words We all want to be better people, yet who holds us back the most? Ourselves, we hold ourselves back from being the best person we can be.

This short little sentence also contains a lot of information and we shall pull several questions out of it. Esau became a man knowing how to hunt. Why this statement? At this time surely all the people new how to hunt. Esau was exceptionally good at it or spent a lot of his time at it. Why? They had plenty of herds, why did he need to hunt? I am not speaking against hunting this is fine, but why is this what he is known for? Esau is the type of person that made his life hunting. How much of it was hunting for sport rather than sustenance? How much of it was hunting because he desired to end or kill a thing rather than for need? Then let us look at the phrase a man of the field. Now anyone that has spent time in a tent can tell you, when living in a tent only a thin cloth separates you from the outside. So this is not a phrase that means he was just outdoorsy. This most likely is a reference to being away from everyone. He would go out in to the fields to wander. What work was their to do out wandering? What skill or craft was to be learned wandering? How was he benefiting the family out wandering? Most likely Esau was restless, refusing to be satisfied or content. He may have been the type of person that is always looking for that next thrill.

So with that established let us use this story of Jacob and Esau to mirror ourselves to better understand the battle of 2 people with in ourselves to do good. Notice the differnce a the beginning of their life. Esaw leading the way charging out of the womb.

Next we see Jacob. He is described as a complete man dwelling in tents. Some may have a translation that says peaceful man. Usually with words so close in meaning I would not draw a difference but I want to make a point in this so I am going to. The word used for peace here is תָּ֔ם tam. It can mean healthy; complete, perfect; well-behaved, civilized; guiltless, without sin; upright, and honest. While all these things may bring about peace it is not the same word as Shalom. In the 15 times this word is used in Hebrew in the scriptures only 1 is it used as peaceful and that is in this verse. All the other times it means healthy, complete, and perfect. Again one could see how those things could bring about peace but they are slightly different. With that said look at the difference. Esau wandering the fields and hunting. Jacob complete at the homestead. Jacob found satisfaction and contentment at the home. This is not to say one should never leave or go anywhere quite the opposite our Heavenly Father created a world for us to experience but we should never think that world will bring us contentment or completeness. That is found where we are and with him. How much is this like us? How often do we feel that tug to go hunt and wander the world? How often does the enemy whisper to us that contentment and satisfaction are just over the the next hill, or just around the corner? Really it is just a ploy to lure us away from the safety and instruction we already have.

Let us look at Verse 27 of “And the boys grew up. And Ěsaw became a man knowing how to hunt, a man of the field, while Ya‘aqoḇ was a complete man, dwelling in tents.”

So when we look at this story of Esau and Jacob we can identify with the idea of being at war with ourselves just as Paul was. If one keeps reading in Genesis we see in chapter 26 verse 5 that YHWH tells Issac that Abraham his father and their Grandfather obeyed YHWH voice and guarded his charge: his commands, laws and Torot (plural for Torah). These men had Abraham as an example on how to live and still one chose to wander and the other to be complete. Yet is it any different with us. We have more than Abraham as an example we have the Messiah in Yeshua as our example. The perfect one who kept all of the Torah through whom all things came to be. Yet we too struggle with being complete.

So how can we use this as we are ministering to a family and communities? Let us just try to use this in 2 ways. 1st If we are liable to wander and resist being complete, let us also recognize others maybe liable to wandering as well. That does not excuse it but perhaps acknowledgment of this can help us all to be more patient with each other. When you brother or sister are not content with you or think they deserve more of you or feel slighted perhaps we can serve them that they may find contentment. 2nd When we are feeling restless and not complete, let us just stop and recognize what we have. Esau was always hunting for the next thing always seeking a thrill. Do not be an Esau. Take time to stop and be thankful for what you have. Find contentment with where you are. Pray with thanksgiving for all that you have for it is more than what someone else has. Recognize that our Heavenly Father has blessed us with far more than we ever deserve.