THEY STRUGGLED
In last weeks Torah portion entitled "Toledoth"
which means "generations or history,"
we read about Yitzchak (Isaac) entreating
the Lord on behalf of Rivkah (Rebekah) for
a child, the confrontation between Isaac and
Avimelech's servants for room in the land
of Gerar, a covenant made with Avimelech,
Isaac's resettlement in Beer-Sheva, the struggle
for the birthright between Esau and Jacob,
and the sending of Jacob to Paddan-Aram with
the commandment to only marry within his mother's
father's house.
We find from the beginning of Genesis 25:19
until the closing words of this Parsha, in
Genesis 28:9 one prevailing theme: Struggle.
We read about the struggle between Esau and
Jacob in Rebekah's womb. Then we light upon
the struggle between Avimelech's and Isaac's
heardsmen for control over the land and then
control over the water supply. This is followed
by the continuing struggle between Esau and
Jacob for the birthright and patriarchal blessing.
The parsha ends with Jacob fleeing to Laban's
house; beginning a whole new set of struggles.
Yet, sandwiched in the midst of these struggles
Avimelech makes a covenant of peace with Isaac-why?
In the first ensuing struggle we learn that
two nations are inside the womb of Rebekah.
The two nations within the womb of Rebekah
are revealed to her when 'she went to inquire
of the LORD.' How did Rebekah inquire of the
LORD? This phrase, which is used numerous
times throughout the Bible, is a technical
term for 'seeking an answer from a Divine
Source.' According to the Midrash commmentaries,
she went to the School of Shem, where the
knowledge of God was taught. It is very probable
that she went to 'inquire of the LORD' through
Abraham, who was still alive at this time.
The prophecy of the birth of these twins tells
us that the struggle will end in the submission
of the elder to the younger.
The words "struggled together" found
in verse 22 is one word in Hebrew, "Raatsats."
"Raatsats" means, "to crack
in pieces, to break, to bruise, crush, discourage,
oppress, struggle together." Although
the word "struggled together" is
mentioned in English only once, the Hebrew
equivalent is used again in Isaiah 58: 6,
"letting the oppressed go free."
Therefore, "struggled together"
and "oppression" are equivalent
in meaning. So, let's ask the question, "what
does the "struggle together" have
to do with "being oppressed?"
Esau is a type of carnality and/or flesh and
Jacob represents a type of the Spirit. When
there is an ensuing battle between carnality
and flesh be it personal or corporate the
result is oppression. The wounds that result
from carnality and fleshly works are known
to embitter a soul. The dictates of what rules
you, determines the level of your liberty
and freedom. Sin produces bondage, while righteousness
produces peace and life.
You may recall in the book of Acts this passage,
"Yeshua healed all that were oppressed
of the Devil." Yeshua, the Messiah, was
born during a time period of Roman rule in
the land of Israel. The Romans used unjust
means to control the land and the Jews living
there. Because of their tyrannical government,
the people were oppressed and needed healing.
Even today, when men leave off God and His
ways for the appetites of the flesh and what
appears to be "higher wisdom" the
results are disastrous.
It is best explained in a simple acronym formed
by using the Hebrew letters. To understand
the acronym there are a couple of rules in
the Hebrew language that we must first learn.
Every Hebrew word is made up of what is called
a root word. This root word usually consists
of three consonants. These three consonants
form a word that has a generic definition
and becomes the building block for all words
that have anything in common with that basic
or generic definition. For example, the word
for "peace" in Hebrew is "Shalom"
and it uses the three consonants SLM. You
will find these same three letters in the
names "Jerusalem" and "Solomon."
Jerusalem means "city of peace,"
and "Solomon" was a "king of
peace." Hence, you can see that any Hebrew
word that contains an SLM will have something
to do with "peace."
Now, back to our acronym. In Hebrew the word
"King" is "Melek." "Melek"
comes from a root word called "Malak"-which
means, "to rule." This root word
is also seen in the Hebrew word for "Kingdom"
which is "Malkut." In examining
these words you will see three common letters
used in each one-M,L, and K. The acronym for
Melek (One who rules) is as follows:
- M stands for "Moach"
which means "brain or intellect."
- L stands for "Lav"
which means, "heart" and
- K (Ch) stands for "Kaved"
which means, "liver." The term
liver not only represents the body part
and cleansing, but it also represent the
"appetites" or "lusts"
of the flesh.
The sages teach us that a
man who is a Melek (a king or a leader) is
a man whose brain or intellect controls his
heart and his heart controls his fleshly appetites.
This type of man is not ruled by his appetites
or the deceit of his heart, but by Godly wisdom
that descends from above.
When considering relationships the above holds
true. Adam is equated with intellect, while
Chave (Eve) is a considered a type of the
"heart" or "understanding."
Children are known as the flesh of their parents.
They can represent the "liver" or
the "appetite" of man. When a family
is in order according to the dictates of God
and the Holy writ, the man is the king or
LORD of his house. A husband is the head of
one wife. She is the heart of their home.
And their children represent their flesh that
needs to be consistently disciplined and raised
to submit to the laws and ways of God.
MeLeK spelled backwards is KaLeM. KeLeM (KLM)
means, "shame or embarrassment-calamity."
The sages say that if the appetites control
the heart, and the heart controls the brain,
that person is of little value to society
and will never attain to kingship or leadership.
His life will be an embarrassment and full
of calamity.
God's word teaches us that all 'born again"
believer's are considered "kings and
priests." Therefore, we need to endeavor
in our daily living to leave off the appetites
of this world and learn the Godly principles
that enable us to effectively lead ourselves,
and others in all areas of righteous living.
Hence we can conclude that the "struggle
together" that causes oppression is the
struggle between two forces-good and evil,
carnality and spirituality, sin and righteousness.
The answer to this struggle is allowing the
younger, the spiritual man to rule over the
elder the fleshly man.
Yochanan 3:3 says, "you must be born
again of the Spirit." It is in the second
birth that one gains the authority and power
to overcome the control of the elder, the
old man or fleshly nature. And it is through
prayer (and fasting-Isaiah 58), that one ascends
spiritually and overcomes temptation. For
it is written, "watch and prayer that
you enter not into temptation, for the spirit
is willing, but the flesh is weak"
Through the "born again" experience
we have received power to be witness of God's
Oneness and righteousness. He upholds us with
his righteousness and has given us the Law
of the Spirit, a law that enables us to transcend
the works of the flesh and live after the
dictates of the fruit of the Spirit.
Surely victory comes when the younger, the
spiritual man rules over the elder, the fleshly
nature.
As for Abimelech, who we noted in the beginning
of this Torah Insight as a peacemaker, the
reason he is mentioned is this portion is
because he represents carnality and ends up
submitting to Isaac to make peace. When Isaac
submitted to God and did what was right, it
resulted in his enemy submitting to him, which
resulted in peace. Proverbs 16:7 says, "When
a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even
his enemies to be at peace with him."
The end result was water flowing from a newly
dug well-the wells name was "God's fortune."
(Read more about this is this week's Torah
Insight.)
Kola Kavod Adonai Elohim (All of the Glory
be to our LORD GOD)
