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It’s All About Yeshua

Vayetze - ויצא : “And he went out”

Gen 28:10-32:3

One key requirement of a preacher is to feed his flock. I mention this for I have heard preachers go through an entire sermon, without once offering their flock any spiritual food to chew on.  They often read verses; they may even recite verses from memory to impress the congregation though, in doing so. They do so without explaining the verses spiritual meaning.  In place, they may tell some story that maybe humorous, but it doesn’t satisfy the soul, for in truth their story is irrelevant, to what they have read. Therefore, it is my desire to offer up a four course spiritual meal, from this week’s portion.

The name of this week’s torah portion “Vayetze” derived from the fact that Jacob fled from Esau.  You will recall this occurred, after Esau vowed to kill him, over the birthright.  As Jacob was fleeing to his uncle Laban’s, he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. {Gen 28:11}

Let me stop here and briefly expound on the phrase a “certain place,” whenever you see, a word or phrase repeated in the scriptures, then you should take note, for the scriptures is specking of something intangible, and vital.

Note how Jacob arrived at this “certain place,” as the sun was setting. Where was this place?    Well, here’s a hint, G-d informed the children of Israel, you shall seek the “place” where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place, where they shall take their offering. {Deut 12:5-6}  If you don’t know, where this “place” is, its Jerusalem where G-d chose to place His name.  Therefore “the certain place” Jacob lay his head was the future site of Jerusalem, where the temples will stand.

Apparently as soon as Jacob laid his head upon the “stone,” he fell asleep and witnessed, a ladder extending into heaven with angels ascending and descending on it.  {Gen 28:12} I will have more to say, about the angels and the ladder shortly. However it should be pointed out, when Jacob awoke, he poured oil on top of the “stone,” in essence “anointing it.”   {Gen 28:18} Having set the stage, what are we to make of this?

Yeshua stated, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.” {John 5:46} I mention this fact, because as incredible as it sounds Jacob’s dream is one of these events that specks of Yeshua. How so, you ask?

According to the sages, G-d caused the sun to set prematurely, so that Jacob would sleep over night, at this place. Normally I wouldn’t have mentioned this, but can you think of an event that is thematically related to this? Remember when Joshua was at war with the Amakites, and how the Almighty caused the sun and the moon to stand still. {Jos 10:13} Making this event thematically related to the rabbinic teaching, concerning Jacob’s ladder.

So, when the sun set prematurely, Jacob had a dream. He witnessed, a ladder set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” Gen 28:12

Note how in Jacob’s dream, he witnessed a ladder standing on earth, ascending into heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it why, is this significant?  Well, the ladder in Jacob’s dream signified, Yeshua the Messiah. For Yeshua said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” {John 1:51} Therefore, the ladder in Jacob’s dream is alluding to Yeshua the Messiah, because “He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.” Eph 4:10

Note how G-d stood “above” the ladder extending from earth, in Jacob’s dream. Why, is this significant?  Throughout the history of mankind, man has worshiped many pagan gods though, the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob “stands far above all of them.”  The fact is there is no other god but Him, for the rest is just a figment of man’s imagination.

Returning to the fact Jacob witnessed G-d “standing” above the ladder in his dream. {Gen 28:13}The original Hebrew version reads, “Adonai was “standing beside Him.” Hence just who was G-d “standing” by?

Well, can you think of an event in the Br’it Hadashah {New Testament} that is very eerie related to what Jacob witnessed in his dream?  Remember prior to being slain, how Stephen witnessed, Yeshua “standing” at the Father’s right hand.” Acts 7:55

Now, to carry this thought a step further, can you think of a verse in the book of Tehillim {Psalms} that is thematically related to what both Jacob and Stephen witnessed?  Remember how David stated, “The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”   Ps 110:1

Note how it was Stephen’s impending death that compelled Yeshua to “stand” up. Therefore, it must have Yeshua, who G-d was “standing by then.” Although, what compelled Yeshua to “stand” here? Yeshua did so, for Stephen’s impending death enticed Him to stand, in order descend the ladder so to speak and return.

Remember how Jacob witnessed angels, ascending and descending, on the ladder. According to the sages, the ascending and descending angels are symbolic of nations, who will raise and fall such as Rome.  Though, biblical just what do these ascending and descending angels represent?

Well, there is a verse in which Rabbis ignore, in truth they prefer not to even deal with it, for its answers, who is ascending and descending and its reads.  “Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, If you know?”   Prov 30:4

So, just who is it that these ascending and descending angels, are symbolic of?  More precisely just who was it that ascending and descending?  Well, upon Yeshua’s birth, “the Lamb of G-d,” descended from heaven and struck a tent in the flesh.  Likewise following the resurrection it was Yeshua, who ascended into heaven. {Acts 1:9-11}

Though, upon a closer look it does appear as the answer to {Prov 30:4} is two people in one.  How could this be? Well, remember how Yeshua stated, “I and the Father are one.” {John 10:30} Therefore, “the Lamb of G-d,” and the Almighty are one and the same.

Remember how I stated earlier that Rabbis prefer not to even deal with {Pro 30:4.}  Why is this?  Well, the reason why, they prefer not to, is the answer to this riddle {Pro 30:4,} is “G-d only begotten Son.” So, in order not to have to face the Truth, they prefer not to deal with the answer.

Now if you are a Christian and are saying, “I knew the answer to the riddle, its Jesus!” Well, think again! For it isn’t even debated in the Christian world that “G-d only begotten Son,” was of Hebrew origin.  Yet, the entire Christian world alludes to “G-d only begotten Son,” by a Roman word.  Why, is this? Well, it could be ask, do the Christian world really know, “G-d only begotten Son’s” name?  The answer is no, for if it did so, it would refer to “G-d only begotten Son’s,” by Yeshua, His Hebrew name.  Do, you refer to your best friend by a foreign name, no?

Remember how the angels in Jacob’s dream, were ascending and descending?  How are the angels actions, thematically related of Yeshua? I ask this question, for if the angels are symbolic of Yeshua and they are.  Then the angels actions, implies Yeshua will once again descend from heaven doesn’t it?

If so when will He descend once again? This will happen when “the Son of G-d descend from heaven, riding a White horse, {which alludes to His righteousness} fellow by a band of Saints.  {Rev 19:11-14} So, the angels in Jacob’s dream, are truly symbolic of Yeshua, who has descended and ascended and will ascend once again.

If you question this teaching, remember how Yeshua informed Nicodemus “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.” {John 3:13} Yeshua’s statement puzzled Nicodemus though, had Nicodemus discerned how the descending and ascending angels in Jacob’s dream are prophetic picture of Yeshua, it would have aided him in discerning just what Yeshua was saying to him.

Spiritual darkness: With that said, remember how Nicodemus approached Yeshua in the “dark,” at night. {John 3:2} Do you know, what is the “darkness” is symbolic of?  Nicodemus was spiritual blind in that he could not distinguish Yeshua was “the Son of G-d,” descended from heaven, which is a characteristic of the Hebrew people as a whole even to this day.  Therefore the “darkness” is symbolic of Nicodemus’ race, the Hebrew people.

Quickly can you think of another event in the Torah, in which the descending and ascending angels in Jacob’s dream are thematically related to?  In {Ex 19} we read of Moses ascending and descending Mount Sinai why, is this significant? Isn’t this a prophetic picture of how Yeshua descended and ascended?  For remember how Yeshua descended from heaven at birth, and ascended again following the resurrection.  Now I have already related to you, how Yeshua will descend once again in the future.

This is noteworthy when token in the context with the Almighty promise, to rise up a prophet liken unto Moses.  It was this prophet the people, were instructed to hear, {Deut 18:15} the One, who descended and ascended.

He looked, and saw a well in the field; and behold, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks. Gen 29:2

The hidden story of the well: When Jacob finely arrived at his destination, he witnessed “three” flocks of sheep, all lying by a well, with a large “stone” laying over the shift of the well. Why is this significant?

Often underneath the storyline, lies an even greater story than the story itself. The sages allude to this hidden story, as the “sod level.” I mention this fact, because below the surface of the story of the sheep, lying by the well, lays an even greater story that very few individuals discern, for example.

There were “three” flocks of sheep, all mixed up with each other at this well. How did the shepherds solved this dilemma, upon leaving? They simply called out to their sheep, for the sheep recognized their shepherd’s voice. How is this fact, thematically related to Yeshua? Remember Yeshua is “the good Shepherd.” And Yeshua said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27

Next remember how there were “three” flocks, lying by the well. How is this, thematically related to Yeshua? Well Yeshua said, “for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth,” {Matt 12:40} making the number “three,” related to Yeshua.

Speaking of the flock, remember there were “three” flocks of sheep lying by the “well,” desiring “water.” How is this fact, thematically related to Yeshua?

When a Samaritan woman came to Jacob’s “well, for water,” {John 4:6} Yeshua responded by saying, “give me a drink.” To which the Samaritan woman said, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman, for Jews had no dealings with Samaritans? To which Yeshua replied, “if you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, give Me a drink. You would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” {John 4:7-10

So like the sheep, centuries later a Samaritan woman came to the very same “well in search of water.” The only deference being, Yeshua provided her, with “living waters,” whereas the sheep were provided with ordinary water.

Returning to Jacob, note how he inquired of the shepherds, why they haven’t watered their flocks yet? For it was high non, when their flocks should have been in the field grazing, not waiting on water. To which they replied, “We cannot, until all the flocks are gathered, and they roll the stone from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.” Gen 29:8

So, the “stone” then was so massive that it required all of the shepherds to roll it away. Which I find interesting, for in building the temple a group of men were required, to lay the cornerstone in place, making the “stone” laying on the well’s shift, thematically related to Yeshua, who is “the Chief Cornerstone,” the builders rejected. Eph 3:20

That said remember how no one could roll away “the rock,” laying on the well’s shift. Though, as soon as Jacob witnessed Rebecca, coming with Laban’s sheep, he rolled the stone, away himself. {Gen 29:10} How is Jacob’s action, thematically related to Yeshua?

Note we aren’t told, how Jacob “rolled the stone away” however, we can assume that he did so himself.  Now fast forward in time, remember how mysteriously “the stone was rolled away, from Yeshua’s tomb.” {Luke 24:2} How was it rolled away? While the text doesn’t provide us with an answer, it does give us a hint. The hint being that not one of the Roman soldiers, were executed for “the stone having rolled away.” Why, was this?

Well, if this massive “stone,” was rolled up the hill. It would stand to reasoning then the “stone” was rolled away, supernaturally. This would explain why, not a single soldier was executed, for it was physically impossible.

If this is what happened and I believe it is, then how is this logic, thematically related to the “stone,” which covered the well shift? Remember how no one could “roll the stone away,” except for Jacob. Therefore “the stone alludes to Yeshua, the Chief Conner Stone” that no man could move in place.

If you doubt me, from the crucifixion, man has attempted to remove Yeshua’s from history though, man’s efforts has been in vain.  Hence akin to the removable “stone” covering the well, Yeshua cannot be removed by man’s efforts.

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: May the LORD bless you and keep you. May the LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you. May the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” Num 6:22- 26