Parashat Vayechi -5785

10 January 2025

Week of 5-11 January 2025

Torah portion : Genesis 47 :28- 50 :26 Haftarah :1Kings 2 :1-12

Theme: We are instruments in God’s Will

Fox reminds us that the book of Genesis falls naturally into four sections: firstly, “Primeval History” – beginning with Creation, moving through the early generations of humanity and ending up in Mesopotamia, (chapters 1-11); secondly, chapters 12 – 25:18 – stories concerning Avraham, the father of the people of Israel; thirdly, chapter 25:19 to chapter 36 – dealing mainly with Avraham’s grandson, Yaakov; fourthly, chapters 37-50 – the great heartbreaking as well as hopeful story of Yosef and how the people of Israel came to live in Egypt – so paving the way for the next great step in their history with the LORD, the one, true God above all other gods –as demonstrated in the Book of Exodus.

     This parasha thus brings us to the close of the book of Genesis. ‘Vayechi’ means ‘he lived’ referring to Jacob’s time in Egypt which is now coming to an end but also opening up the future for his twelve sons. This parasha is thus both a conclusion to the patriarchal history and a foreshadowing of the great event of Israel’s liberation from slavery as narrated in the Book of Exodus.

     The following section is taken from my latest book: “Biblical Stories for Godly living”, chapter 6 ‘Stories of Peace’ pp.92-93:  

     “Jacob blesses his sons as the twelve tribes of Israel and bids them farewell and dies in peace (c. 48). His funeral was elaborate with Egyptian pomp and ceremony. The people of Canaan when they saw the funeral said: “this is a solemn funeral the Egyptians are having” (50:11).  Jacob’s sons buried him in “the land of Canaan in the cave in the field of Machpelah, facing on Mamre, the field that Abraham had bought for a burial ground from Ephron the Hittite” (50:13) This was the first piece of Canaanite land owned by Abraham, the father of the chosen nation of God (Gn. 23:16).

Joseph’s brothers are worried that he will take revenge on them now that their father is dead. They approach Joseph with a story that their father had asked as a request on his deathbed that Joseph should forgive his brothers for the evil, they had brought upon him to separate him from his family all those years ago. Joseph bursts into tears and his brothers throw themselves once again at his feet begging to become his slaves. Joseph assures them not to have fear because he cannot take the place of God as judge over their deeds. He lets them know that they meant to harm him but that God used it for the survival of so many people. He once again tells them not to fear and to know that he will provide for them and their families. “By thus speaking kindly to them, he reassured them” (50:21); and so, the brothers lived in peace.

     Joseph is about to die (50:24) and he assures his brothers that God will take care of them and eventually lead them to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. When they go, they are to take his bones with them (Ex 13:19).

Meditation

I came across the following in a book by Kay Lindahl: “The Sacred Art of Listening”: practitioners of dialogue have discovered three vital practices of listening to understand:

• The more we understand about one another, the less we fear.
• The less we fear, the more we trust.
• The more we trust, the more our hearts open to love one another.

We have observed this process in the ‘Joseph’ story as the family members became more trusting of one another and God; they became more open with one another and moved from the disappointments of life to compassion for one another and peace in their hearts and lives – a peace that only comes from God.”

For Reflection and Discussion:1) As we are at the beginning of a New Year, let us look at our lives in the light of Joseph’s story. Where do you see how God has worked in your life in spite of sin and disappointments? 2) What are your dreams for this year? Place them in God’s hands and be the instrument of the God of peace and hope.

Bibliography: Chellew B.T.: Biblical Stories for Godly Living (SA Catholic Online Books:2024); Eskenazi, T. C. Weiss, A.L.  A Women’s Commentary (New York: 2008); Fox, Everett. The Five Books of Moses (New York: 1997);

This week’s Parasha Commentary was prepared by
Bernadette Teresa Chellew, South Africa, Bat Kol Alumna: 2008

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