Parashat Vayechi 2025

Torah: Gen 47:28-50:26

Haftarah: 1 Kings 2:1-2:12

Brit Chadashah: Heb 11:21-22, 1 Pet 1:3-9

Main Points:

Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh and his sons.

Jacob dies at 147 years old and is buried.

Joseph reinforces his forgiveness and goodwill towards his brothers.

Joseph dies at 110 years old.

Jacob was at the end of his life. For one hundred and forty-seven years he had endured many problems, made his share of mistakes, and also witnessed great blessings. Now it was time for his part of the story to end. Though his life was coming to a close, the work that God was doing through him was going to continue in his children. Jacob called his children together and began to prophesy about those things that would unfold in their lives. He issued both rebuke and blessing and did not mince words. His devotion and wisdom would characterize the people of God for ages, but all of that came with a price. His heart was broken constantly. He had experienced much despair, and he had been deceived many times over. In the end, he still proclaimed that God was his shepherd throughout his entire life.

That type of faith is astounding! It is a generational faith that stretches across time. Scripture symbolically pictures our faith being tried as gold is smelted and purified in the fire (1 Pet 1:7, Zech 13:9, James 1:12). We can’t just talk about what faith is, we have to pay the price. The price is paid when we believe God through discouragement. It is paid when we exhaust our patience, waiting and praying through feelings of doubt and abandonment. It is consistent and it helps us to walk through our frustrations, fear, and failure. Paying the price is a process where our motives and thinking are sifted to get self out of the way and we are left with a pure, tried faith that pleases God and is free from selfishness. The will and purpose of God ultimately comes in the middle of many things we struggle with. When we choose faith, it will always shine brighter than our struggles.

Sometimes the ability to endure is the gift of faith we need and can be the validation we need to keep walking. One way to know God's will is to realize there are some things he will not let us quit. When we feel like quitting and the enemy pounds our hearts and minds with accusations, discouragement, and every reason we should stop doing what God called us to do, the love of God upholds us, and faith is empowered to stand. One of Jacob’s redeeming qualities is that he would not quit. He was human and was by no means perfect, but he would not quit. Someone who has walked difficult paths will be reading this, and you are wondering whether the purpose that God spoke over you is still relevant. Don’t quit! Pray harder and stay focused. Take the small steps needed to participate in birthing the will of God. Begin your day with the prayer that God put you in the middle of what he is doing for that day.

Another redeemable quality in Jacob’s life was his ability to rebound and continually engage God’s purpose. We need to learn how to reignite and reinvigorate our faith. We live in an entertainment culture where we socialize and entertain ourselves in a way that can be very shallow. The work that God calls us to do takes time. Prolonged prayer is needed, fasting is vital, and time is important. It takes continual investments. Cultures need to change, spiritual strongholds need to be destroyed, and hearts need to be opened for the Gospel message. Pursuing God’s purpose is a journey that can span multiple people over multiple generations, like the patriarchs. Praise and worship keep our faith sharp. Continual prayer and small steps advance the will of God in faith. Don’t let the enemy steal your fire. Shout and proclaim the veracity and surety of what God has spoken and everything that is needed for it will be continually given by the Almighty.

Yeshua is coming! When he does, we will not be found empty-handed because we chose to bury our gifting. Neither will we allow the enemy to force us out of our calling. Push on the door of faith again. Stand your spiritual ground and never quit!

Rav Calev

Apostolic Messianic International

Next feasts:

Purim begins sundown on March 2nd and ends at sundown March 3rd.

Hebrew words to know:

Elders- Zekanim

Emissaries- Sheliach

Emotionally Overwhelmed- Verklempt; A Yiddish word for feeling overwhelmed with emotion.

Evil Inclination- Yetzer Harah

Evil Speech- Lashon Hara

Equanimity- M'nuchat Hanefesh, calmness of soul