Vayishlach, Torah Portion, 10 Dec 2022

 

Torah Portion, 10 Dec 2022, Vayishlach

Gen 32:24 "And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day."

In the pictures I found, it's always an angel, but a later passage:

Gen 32:30 "... for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."

He was alone, he was worried, and found himself wrestling with God. And I know I have wrestled with God over direction, purpose, choices. I wonder if this is why some people are afraid to be alone? Afraid of the silence?

Gen 33:4 "And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him; and they wept."

Jacob had seperated his wealth and family in two, he sent I think it said four advanced parties ahead of him to send gifts to his brother, and his brother didn't want the gifts but quite clearly was happy to see his brother again. So, all that time in worried preparation, for nothing. I see so many, spend so much time worrying about what might happen, and not take the time to enjoy today.

Folks, planning is okay, preparation for the future is not a bad thing, but fret, worry and fear, that's not what He wants of us. Enjoy today.

Vayetze (Gen 28:10-32:3) Torah portion, December 3, 2022.

Vayetze (Gen 28:10-32:3) Torah portion, December 3, 2022.

I knew I was behind, but it appears I'm farther behind than I thought. Finals took up a lot of my time.

Gen 28:12 "And he [Jacob] dreamed, and behold a ladder [stairway] set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it."

I didn't find any cross references for this ladder/stairway, but it does my heart good knowing that it's there. And though I'm not ready to see it for myself, I rest in the knowledge that I will some day.

Gen 30:14 "..and found mandrakes..."

Mandrakes were believed to be a stimulant to help with fertility and conception in barren women.

It was used as a soporific (sleep inducing) and pain-killing plant for many hundreds of years. Mandrake is a powerful narcotic, emetic, sedative, and hallucinogen; its poisons can easily lead to death.

People take European mandrake root for treating stomach ulcers, colic, constipation, asthma, hay fever, convulsions, arthritis-like pain (rheumatism), and whooping cough. It is also used to trigger vomiting, cause sleepiness (sedation), reduce pain, and increase interest in sexual activity.

It has a large, brown root, somewhat like a parsnip, running 3 or 4 feet deep into the ground, sometimes single and sometimes divided into two or three branches. Immediately from the crown of the root arise several large, dark-green leaves, which at first stand erect, but when grown to full size a foot or more in length and 4 or 5 inches in width - spread open and lie upon the ground. They are sharp pointed at the apex and of a foetid odour. From among these leaves spring the flowers, each on a separate foot-stalk, 3 or 4 inches high. They are somewhat of the shape and size of a primrose, the corolla bell-shaped, cut into five spreading segments, of a whitish colour, somewhat tinged with purple. They are succeeded by a smooth, round fruit, about as large as a small apple, of a deep yellow colour when ripe, full of pulp and with a strong, apple-like scent.

Gen 32:1 "And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him."