The Director's cut (Dakaru)

The saga of Ya'acov continues in Parsha Vayeshev as we are told his toldot (generations). In last week's Parsha, Vayishlach, we saw that Yoseph (Joseph) was the only son mentioned when the brothers greeted their uncle Esav at the Yabbok (Jabbok) River. This was a biblical hint that Yoseph would be the next focus in the toldot of Ya'acov. Sure enough Yoseph now emerges as the main character in Parsha Vayeshev. We can clearly see HaShem's divine choosing of Yoseph as the brothers once again are set up to divide along the lines of the sons of Rachel and the sons of Leah. This of course is a preview of divisions to come; the Northern Kingdom from the Southern Kingdom and the Assyrian exile from the Babylonian exile. Only through Yeshua HaMashiach (Messiah) can all men be united as one, it is through Him where old feuds can be laid to rest and all generational curses eliminated!

Throughout the Bereshit narrative we see the divine hand of HaShem as he directs the events of history. Ya'avcov's encounter with HaShem at Bethel, His wrestling with Him at the Yabbok, his encounter with him at Shechem and his second meeting with him on his return to Bethel. Without a doubt HaShem is intimately involved in the lives of the patriarchs, leading them from behind the scenes, watching over them and encouraging them. Now as Parsha Vayeshev opens before us, once again we see HaShem's divine presence as he directs Yoseph.

Bereshit {37:14} He said to him, "Go now, see whether it is well with your brothers, and well with the flock; and bring me word again." So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. {37:15} A certain ish (man) found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field: and the ish asked him, saying, "What are you looking for?" {37:16} He said, "I am looking for my brothers. Tell me, please, where they are feeding the flock." {37:17} The ish said, "They have left here, for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan.'"

What do you think the odds are of Yoseph going to Shechem to find his brothers, remember for the purpose of reporting back to his father Ya'acov, not finding them but instead meeting a stranger while wandering around in a field, who knew exactly where his brothers were and where they are now? Pretty slim I would think! However his brothers being in Dothan and not Shechem was necessary and crucial for this particular encounter, because meeting them there will set into motion a whole chain of events which will ultimately lead to the Israelite exile in Mitzrayim (Egypt).

So who was this man who just happened to be in the right place at the right time? How come Yoseph does not approach him for information concerning his brother's whereabouts but he comes to Yoseph and asks him what he was looking for? Remember now they were both in a field, more than likely in the middle of nowhere, yet this man had all the information Yoseph needed to accomplish his task. The man could not have been a theophany, a physical manifestation of HaShem because in all previous physical encounters where it was HaShem who appeared, we are told it was Him. For example when Ya'acov met HaShem at Bethel:

Bereshit {32:30} Ya'akov called the name of the place Peniel: for, he said, "I have seen G-D face to face, and my life is preserved."

This is not the case with this encounter, we are given no such clue that it was HaShem. Still this mysterious person just happened to be in the field, approaches Yoseph and knows all the information he needs to locate his brothers. May I suggest that this was an angel? After all without this encounter Yoseph may have returned to Ya'acov and history would have been altered forever. However, as we know, that was not the case! Yoseph met this man and the man had the necessary information for a seamless continuation of history, G-d style. HaShem was obviously in total control of the entire situation. Yoseph was sent to Shechem to find his brothers feeding Ya'acov's sheep there; however Shechem was not remote nor was it along the route travelled by the Midianites, in order to necessities for the future toldot. So HaShem moved the brothers to Dothan and then dispatched an angel to insure that Yoseph found them.

What I would like you to understand from this, is that just as HaShem was in total control of the life and history of Yoseph, so it is He also who is in total control of the life of everyone who belongs to Him. Although you and I have free will and free choice, and even though we do make our own decisions, HaShem is in total control of every circumstance in our lives. He will accomplish what needs to be accomplished with us in order to fulfil our calling according to His will. He does this for our benefit and His glory. It is for this reason Shaul (Paul) told us:

Romim (Romans) {8:28} And we know that all things work together for good to them that love G-d, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Who knows how many times you have unknowingly encountered an angel! Someone who in some way directed you and guided you to where you needed to be, so as to accomplish what you needed to accomplish for the L-rd and for your benefit. I am sure we all have a story we could tell along this line. Well then, all the more reason we should take this Scripture very seriously:

Ivrim (Hebrews) {13:2} Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Now to another point! Many people who read my D'var Torahs do not believe that Yeshua is the promised Maschiach. To them I sadly say, that although HaShem is indirectly involved in your destiny, after all He is the supreme G-d creator of all beings both physical and spiritual, Satan is directing your life! You may think you are the finest person on the face of the earth, you may be the most religious and Torah observant person on the face of the earth, but if your sin has not been atoned for by the once and for all kaporah (draw near/sacrifice), Yeshua HaMasciach, the suffering servant, you cannot call yourself a ben El-him (child of HaShem). No! You are a child of the one who controls you!

As everyone knows, Yeshua's hands and feet were pierced when he was hung on the tree; Well Scripture tells us that He will return the same way He left:

Ma'asei Hashlichim (Acts) {1:11} Which also said, You men of the Gallil (Galilee), why are you standing gazing up into heaven? this same Yeshua, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven.

Now read this Scripture from the book of Zecharya (Zachariah):

Zecharya {12:10} And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Yerushalyim, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

There is no mistaking the translation of the Hebrew word used for pierced is DAKARU which unmistakably means PIERCED. This Scripture passage is talking about Yeshua's second coming. If you are a skeptic I urge you to search the Scriptures. Yeshua is your Mashiach, He came first to deliver you from the curse of your sin; He is coming again either to judge you, or to welcome you into the Kingdom of G-d, which will it be?

Rabbi Jack "Yaacov" Farber is the spiritual leader of Congregation Melech Yisrael in Toronto, Canada.

Copyright 2004