Genesis

בייה

Genesis 27 – Obey My Voice

This Study is in the Loving Memory of Martha Leah Reynolds ז”ל.

The perception I received from Ha Torah is Jacob was an obedient son who enjoyed learning Ha Torah. (Genesis 25.27) says, ‘Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents.’ As we have discussed in the past, Jacob tussled with Esau in the womb of their mother. Thus far in Holy Scripture, Ha Torah gives us the impression Jacob was nearly perfect. He was a good decent obedient son.

There is a unique thread among the Patriarchs, and Matriarchs mentioned in (Genesis 26.5). ‘Abraham obeyed My voice, kept My charge, My Commandments, My Statutes, and My Torahs.‘ The common thread is שְׁמַע בְּקֹלִי – Shih Mah Bih Qoo Lee is obedience to Lord’s Voice / Sound. For example (Genesis 3.8) says, ‘They heard the וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ Vah Shih Mih Voo – אֶת־קוֹל the sound of Lord God Moving about in the garden at the breezy time of day, and the Human and his wife hid from Lord God among the trees of the garden.’ The Contemporary Torah, JPS 2006.

The same root Words were used here as in (Genesis 26.5). But the intention was different. Adam and Chavah hid. At the time of their creation, they were genuinely perfect. They were flawless. However, there was a point when they were going in the opposite direction of Abraham. Immediately after their trip stumbling and falling, they did not take ownership of their sins. Adam blamed Chavah, and Chavah blamed the serpent. Even though Adam and Chavah were righteous, their evil inclination temporarily drove them. They were experiencing a period of teetering and toughening. What’s the point? We must be careful. After a while, they set their lives in order and returned to obeying the Voice of Lord God. Each of us is between these two bookends. (Proverbs 24.16) says, ‘For a צַדִּיק Tzah Deeq – a just individual falls seven times and rises; but the wicked stumble into calamity.‘ The tzaddik and the Rasha / the wicked have a special night and day difference. Please! Please! We MUST be careful not to torment ourselves when we make mistakes and get tripped up.

Let’s put this in perspective. We must learn how to be good to ourselves. (Genesis 17.1) says, ‘When Abraham was ninety-nine years old, Lord Appeared to Abraham and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before me, and be perfect.” Abraham was a tzaddik, yet he was not perfect. Ha Torah Informs us that Abraham desired to be perfect. He put forth the effort to be perfect. He did not live in defeat or hopelessness. Trying to improve is not an all-or-nothing proposition. It is normal to have daily Spiritual, mental, and physical confrontations with our evil inclination/nature.

Why did Rivkah, the mother of Jacob, say (Genesis 27.8), ‘Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command you. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from there two good kids of the goats; and I will make them into savory food for your father, such as he loves; And you shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, and that he may bless you before his death. And Jacob said to Rebekah, his mother, Behold, Esau, my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man; My father perhaps will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. And his mother said to him, Upon me be your curse, my son; only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.

We could argue that Jacob was strict, disciplined, and unwavering regarding his Torah Observances. It is good to be serious, Yet, not to the degree of fanaticism. It is good to be steadfast, But at the same time, not to the place of being a zealot, an extremist, or a dogmatist. Judaism is a way of life that must include others. There must be a balance between being pure, holy, and dedicated to accepting other views. There is only truth, but there are many definitions of truth. The fact that Rebecca stressed to Jacob ‘obey my voice.’ hints at Jacob being perhaps A little beyond what was required. Our goal is to be perfect, not extreme. Perfect is a warm, welcoming, measured goodness seasoned with genuine Lovingkindness.

I am referring to the beauty between Chesed and Gevurah. His interaction with others seems a bit extreme, like in (Genesis 29.7) when he came upon shepherds he did not know. Jacob said, ‘It is yet high day, nor is it time that the cattle should be gathered together; water the sheep, and go and feed them.’ Later Jacob said to his wife Rachel (Genesis 30.1-2), ‘And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, Am I in God’s place, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?’ Jacob mourned for his son Joseph for 22 years. He hid Deena from his brother Esau. He placed his granddaughter Asnat under a bush with an amulet around her neck because he and his sons did not want to give the impression of being sexually permissive.

Isaiah wrote, ‘Your people are all righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified’ (Isaiah 60.21).

(Pirkei Avot 5.19) reminds us that ‘Whoever possesses these three qualities, a good eye, a humble spirit, and a moderate appetite is a disciple of Abraham, our Father. They will enjoy this world, and inherit the world to come, as it is said: “I will endow those who love me with substance; I will fill their treasuries” (Proverbs 8:21).

Ha, Torah Shares many Scriptures where we observe Isaac following in Abraham’s footsteps and Jacob (Israel) following in their footsteps. These are the goals we should endeavor to reach. As we journey towards Erev Shabbat, may we feel the Lord’s comfort and the love and comfort of others. May we have rest, unity, peace, Lovingkindness, good health, and financial success. May each of us enjoy a wonderful Shabbat with much beauty. May we have a successful week as we study Ha Torah, follow Derek Ha Mitzvot, pray, and assist others.

Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

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