Genesis

בייה

What does it feel like to be stuck in neutral, frozen in time, needing a breakthrough on some level? People are feeling the grip of powerlessness closing in on them. It’s an awful feeling. Does anyone need a timeout from rising food costs, government spending into oblivion, or dwindling purchasing power? What can be done? Intelligent, skillful, and successful individuals with good instincts are experiencing what the homeless, disabled, veterans, seniors, singles, single-parent families, and many others feelings of: directionless like a wave sweeping across our universe.

(Genesis 41.55 – 57) says, ‘And the seven years of famine began to come, according as Joseph had said; and the famine was in all lands, but there was bread in all the land of Egypt. And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, ‘Go to Joseph; what he said to you, do.’And the famine was over all the face of the earth, And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians, and the famine grew severe in the land of Egypt. All countries came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain because the famine was so severe in all lands.’

(Genesis 42.5) says, ‘And the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who came; for הָרָעָב, the famine was in the land of Canaan. Food shortages were impacting everyone. Whatever the reason for food supply shortages, they are causing problems for individuals trying to live and provide for themselves and their loved ones. As the cost of food rises and shortages increase, what can we do? When hope appears to be in short supply, where does one find hope and encouragement? Like many of us, Jacob hunkered down and waited. (Genesis 43.2) says, ‘And it came to pass when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, [ Jacob ] their father said to them, ”Go again, buy us a little food.”’

Thousands of years ago, back in 2238 From Creation, Jacob was considering his options to the extent that his son Judah commented to him in (Genesis 43.10, ‘We could have been [to Egypt] and back twice [to purchase grain for our families] if we had not been indecisive.’

Jacob was hesitant to send his sons back to Egypt. Why? ‘The man, who is the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us and took us for spies of the country. And we said to him, ”We are honest men; we are no spies; We were twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan. And the man, the lord of the country, said to us,

”As a result of this shall I know that you are honest men; leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone, And [when you return] bring your youngest brother to me; then I shall know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men; so [then] I will [return to] you, your brother, and you shall trade in the land,”’ (Genesis 42.30 – 34).

Then Jacob said to them, ‘You have bereaved me of my children; Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and you will take Benjamin away; all these things are against me.’ Jacob carefully tallied the potential cost with the potential reward. This seems strange because Jacob dealt with his father-in-law Laban, his brother-in-laws, and his brother Esau. There is something more here. The first Hebrew Word in (Genesis 41.55) is וַתִּרְעַבVah Tee Rih Ahv – meaning ‘And when famine/famished.’ First, this is the only time the Word וַתִּרְעַב Vah Tee Rih Ahv is written in the Hebrew Scriptures. Second is the Letter תTav. We must ask what is the purpose for the Letter ת Tav being written immediately in front of the Word רַעֵב Rah Ahv Famine, meaning hungry/famished. The Tav is the final Letter of אוֹת Oht – meaning ‘sign.’ The Tav is also the last Letter of the Word אֱמֶת – meaning ‘Truth.’ At Jewishpath.org, we teach that when the Letter ת Tav appears in front of a word that it usually wouldn’t, it is a sign to mine. Look around. Try to find out the Tav’s purpose in front of a word. Here, the Tav in וַתִּרְעַב Vah Tee Rih Ahv – is a warning. Throughout the Torah Lord has placed signs to guide and warn us. Third, the first two Letters of רַעֵב Rah Ahv is ר Reish, and ע Ayin spell the Word רַע Rah – evil, wickedness, harm.

(Genesis 43.1) says,

וְהָרָעָב כָּבֵד בָּאָרֶץ: ס 

‘And the famine was severe in the land.’

The first word is וְהָרָעָב Vih Haw Raw Awv – which means – ‘And the famine.’ This helps us to understand Jacob’s hesitation in (Genesis 43.10) when Judah respectfully comments to his father, ‘We could have been [to Egypt] and back twice [to purchase grain for our families] if we had not been indecisive.’

Now we return to the question: When hope appears to be in short supply, where does one find hope and encouragement?

(Psalms 146.5-9) Reminds us, ‘Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in Lord his God; Who made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that is in it; who keeps truth forever; Who executes judgment for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. Lord frees the prisoners; Lord opens the eyes of the blind; Lord raises those who are bowed down; Lord loves the righteous; Lord preserves the strangers; He relieves the orphan and the widow.’

(Psalms 62.6-9) Boldly Declares, ‘My soul waits only for God in silence, for my hope is from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my refuge; I shall not be moved. God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength and my refuge is in God. [ I ] Trust in Him at all times; you people, pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.’

(Psalms 33.18-22) says, ‘Behold, the eye of Lord is upon those who fear Him, upon those who hope in His loving kindness; To save their soul from death, and to keep them alive בָּרָעָב in famine. Our soul waits for Lord; He is our help and our shield. Our heart shall rejoice in Him because we have trusted in His Holy Name. Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in You.’

We are approaching the season of return. We should not hesitate to reach out to our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with the message of Truth, Hope, and Return. This is how we repair our world and how we make our world a better place. May the Creator of all guide our message of return, blessings, health, prosperity, kindness, and peace.

May Lord Bless us in our daily walk, and may we stay within the 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 Gamliel Belk

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