Vayyeitzei – ויצא – “And he went out”

Torah reading: B’reishyth 28:10-32:3

Haftarah reading: Hoshea 12:13-14:10

Talmidym reading: Yochanan 1:41-51

Shalom aleykhem, achym, b’shem YHWH Tiqvateinu, uphachad Yitzchak ~ Peace to you, my brothers, in the name of YHWH our hope, and the fear of Yitzchak.

Vaya’an Ya’akov vayomer L’lavan, ki yareitiy ~ “And Ya’akov answered and said to Lavan, ‘Because I was afraid...’”

Throughout his youth, Ya’akov’s biggest problem was that he constantly feared. And he feared all the wrong things. He feared financial loss and exclusion, he feared his brother and his father-in-law, he feared both the present and the future. Because of his fear, he acted with guile and deceit, seeking to manipulate others in order to get his way and what he wanted. Does this sound like anyone you know?

The one person Ya’akov did not properly fear, until later in life, was the one and only Person who deserved that fear: YHWH Shadday. He even attempted to manipulate YHWH to obtain his own desires, – and YHWH graciously but temporarily allowed this for His own purposes. Does this also sound like anyone you know?

Fear of anything or anyone besides YHWH is misplaced and unproductive. Yehoshua our Messiah said, “But I shall show you whom you should fear: fear the One who, after killing, possesses the authority to cast into Gehinnom.” Of other persons and things, he only said, “And which of you by worrying can add one amah to his lifespan? If then you are unable to affect the smallest thing, why do you worry about the rest?” He also said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of YHWH and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” We who have the blessings and promises of YHWH, whether through birth or by adoption and ingathering, have no right to fear anyone or anything else. He has promised to be our strength and our shield, as well as our provider. As occurred with Ya’akov, fearing anything or anyone besides YHWH will only prevent or delay us from becoming who we are truly meant to be and truly realizing our hopes, blessings and dreams.

What do you fear? Poverty? Hunger? Pain? Death? Or maybe something so petty as public opinion of you or rejection by others? Whatever it is, this fear stands between you and your relationship with YHWH. It is only when you lay down these worldly fears and embrace the true awesomeness of YHWH Shadday, trusting completely in His best intentions and promises for your life, that His plans for you will become fulfilled.

“Let us hear the conclusion of the matter: fear Elohym and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” That is what you need to concern yourself with, and YHWH will take care of the rest. May you be fearless, my brethren, before everyone and everything but YHWH.

B’Shalom, Ovadyah