Passing on a Blessing
For Parasha Vayechi By Lovingneighbor 1-14-06
In this weeks parasha we see a lot of similar themes, about birthrights, blessings, and passing on. In our modern times we may largely overlook the importance of birthrights. Usually they came with lands, which in the time along with the flocks was their wealth. How would such a custom apply to us today? What birthright do we have to pass on to our children and what birthright was passed on to us if any?
Death is a tough subject to handle, but it is a part of life. When the Father took the children of Israel out of Egypt he took them from all they knew but also gave them an inheritance. That was their birthright from their father Avraham. Avraham was told he will be a Father of many nations. He wasn’t called the ruler or starter, or even king of many nations, but the father. Isaiah 56 clearly shows there will be other people that are drawn to YHWH and given names better than sons and daughters. Avraham was to be a father to more then just his children. And in doing so he would pass on a birthright and an inheritance to all those who would take hold of the Covenant, not pollute the Sabbath, and do things that please the Father.
His obedience gave him a birthright with the Father. And so our obedience to the Father will give us an inheritance through the promises made to Avraham. This promise of the blessing is what many people hold on to and hope in today. The Jews hold to this promise. Many times I’ve heard it been said the Jews are God’s chosen
people, the people of his covenant. But this is a misunderstanding. They are people taking hold of the covenant made with Avraham as are all 12 tribes and any stranger that wants to take hold of it. Through obeying the Torah we can all receive an inheritance.
Just as our natural father’s will die, so too have many Torah observant fathers died. The difference for many of us who may be first generation Torah keepers in our families is that we will have an inheritance and a blessing to pass on to our children that we never got from our natural fathers. Our Heavenly Father has welcomed us in to his family Like Ya’akov does with Efrayim and Menasheh. Not regarding just the natural born but also bringing in the fruitful (meaning of the name Efrayim), and those who were forgotten (meaning of Menesheh) by their natural fathers. The great gift our Father in Heaven gives us is the chance to be his sons through obedience to his authority. This is manifest by obedience to his Torah (instruction).
From this we are commanded to keep his commandments and to diligently teach them to our children. This is our chance to pass on a blessing to our children through living and teaching them the Torah. We must do better than our fathers. Giving a large inheritance to our children. Teaching them from our testing, our life and our learning.
Pure religion is defined in the new testament as helping the fatherless and the widow. These are people who in a spiritual sense may not have an inheritance. They don’t know their Father in heaven. They have no husband (Messiah). We are to visit them in their time of affliction. Let us all thank YHWH for the greatest blessing he has given us. The right to be called his sons and daughters. Not everyone realizes the blessing and inheritance they could have. We should be thankful and generous in the gift that has been given to us. Thank you Father for your Torah. And My children thank you for giving me an inheritance to give to them before I pass on.
Shalom!