Genesis

בייה

Genesis 37 – Isaac the Stranger

Dear family and friends, (Genesis 37.1) say’s, ‘Jacob dwelt in the land that his Father was a מְגוּרֵי Mih Goo Ray a stranger, The Land of Canaan.’ Isaac lived in The Holy Land of Israel before the land was separated unto the Lord. That was before the People of Israel cast out the seven sinful pagan idolatrous nations, the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and the Jebusites (Deuteronomy 7.1 -6). He lived in the land his entire life because God prohibited Isaac from leaving. He was מְגוּרֵי Mih Goo Ray – a pilgrim, a pioneer, a sojourner. Isaac was a stranger because he was not an idol worshipper. He did not serve idols! Isaac served the Lord like his father, Abraham. That made him odd, unusual, different, weird, peculiar, an outsider, a newbie even though Isaac was the willing sacrifice on Mount Moriah. He was a stranger who had permission to live on the land and to use it. Years later, Eretz Canaan was named after Isaac’s son Jacob/Israel. His progeny would inherit the land he was a stranger in.

Let us bring our discussion into a realm that may be easier to understand. Moral modest ethical God fearing Bible believing pro-life conservatives are strangers to the people of this planet. The violators are like the evil, wicked Esau. There is a BIG difference between them and us. People must choose holiness and righteousness. Our Governments cannot legislate righteous living. The Torah prohibits unrighteous living.

With Esau, it was different.

(Genesis 36.6) says, ‘Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his wealth, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went to another country, away from his brother Jacob.’ Esau did not contribute to the land of Israel. (Genesis 26.34 – 35) informs us that he married two Canaanite women who were idolaters. They burned incense to idols near Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and other monotheistic people who believed only in the God of Jacob. Jacob experienced these idol worshippers near his father’s household for twenty-three years until Isaac sent him away from Esau in (Genesis 28.1 – 5). WHY WAS JACOB SENT AWAY instead of Esau? Why was it necessary for the righteous God fearing son to flee? Esau was the wicked disobedient son!! Esau was the reason why Abraham did not bless Isaac prior to his death. Notice that the narrative of Isaac ends when Jacob departs Eretz Canaan.

Esau took all that he had and left with his wealth. In contrast, Jacob brought all his wealth and all his gains and came to the land of Israel.

When Jacob returned to Eretz Canaan the Holy Scripture informs us that Esau ‘went to another country, away from his brother Jacob.’

There are two different paths. One is moving away from The Holy Land, and the other is moving into The Holy Land. Rabbi Eliyahu E. Dessler writes in his book, Strive For Truth, that There are two types of people in our world. There are givers, and there are takers. What kind of individuals are we? Are we givers, or are we takers? Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were givers. Esau was a taker. Sharing loving-kindness is the act of the giver. With takers, it is all about what is in it for me. It is not wrong to want to know what one benefits. Many givers ask the question, what is in it for me. Then they decide the extent of their involvement.

Abraham stood at the door of his tent, watching for travelers so he could invite them for a meal and share The Torah with them. Isaac willingly offered his life as a sacrifice. Jacob humbly and faithfully served a wicked relative for 20 years. Being a giver is often strange to those we come in contact with. Being a giver can be strange to other individuals. Why would being the right kind of a person make us strange.

Being a giver is not about being forced to pay taxes, which the government uses to provide services to others. It is not about paying congregation memberships or dues. A giver opens his or her hand, willing to help others. It is a voluntary action. Being a giver is one of The Observances of Ha Torah. Each of us should do our best to develop a charitable attitude. Being charitable is not always about giving Tzedakah/money. Sometimes it is as simple as sharing some time with a lonely individual.

May we be loving, kind, compassionate, forgiving, and willingly givers of Tzedakah.

May The Lord Bless us in our daily walk, and may we stay within Torah’s guidelines. May we bring peace and healing to our world. May this coming Sabbath and every Sabbath be a blessed Day.

Good Sabbath!

Dr. Akiva George Belk

Author