#7 — Parshat Vayetze
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Unexpected
Imagine yourself suddenly forced into homelessness and reduced to sleeping with a stone as a pillow. In Parshat Vayetze, we find Jacob in this exact situation. Nevertheless we hear him express words of joyful amazement. Listen to what Jacob exclaims with deep awe.
“Surely the L-RD is in this place, and I did not know it. How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of G-d, and this is the gate of heaven.” (Genesis 28:16-17)
What happened? And How did Jacob get here?
Blessed?
Jacob is on his way to Haran, fleeing from his brother Esau whom he has angered terribly. Even though Jacob stole the blessing of the first-born, all he now has in his hand is a staff (Genesis 32:10).
Sin and misery are two different things. Not all misery is a result of sin. But crooked behavior often results in misery. And such a stew of misery, salty with sin, is what is left to deceitful Jacob – far from home and family.
Before Jacob departed on his journey, the father he had deceived still came to say goodbye. More than that, Isaac speaks words of blessing to his younger son. “May G-d almighty…give you the blessing of Abraham.” (Genesis 28:3-4).
True, Isaac said it – but will G-d really give the blessing?
Personal Conformation of the Promise
Amazingly, He does! The G-d of Abraham looks after Jacob in a special way.
In a dream Jacob sees heaven opened. Angels ascend and descend a stairway that reaches heaven (Genesis 28:12). G-d now personally confirms to Jacob the blessing previously given to Abraham and Isaac – with an added special promise of protection.
He said:
“I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.
I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.
Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth,
and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.
All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.
I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go,
and I will bring you back to this land.
I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (Genesis 28:13-15)
Where the L-RD is Standing
Now something truly amazing is found in this text. Many translations translate the beginning of verse 13 as “And behold the L-RD stood above it,” indicating God stands above the ladder or stairway.
But a better understanding likely is “And behold the L-RD stood above/by him” – God is standing next to Jacob! [1]
HASHEM is not at the top of the ladder but at the bottom. He is standing protectively next to him.
Because that’s what truly happens in a house of G-d on earth. G-d comes to dwell with us – just as we find later in the Tabernacle and Temple.
This marvel of G-d descending and looking after undeserving people is at the heart of the Tanakh. G-d Himself stepping in, stepping down to us when we have hit rock bottom.
The G-d of Beth-el and Peni-el
One other important detail deserves our attention. Toward the end of this parsha Jacob has another dream. The Angel of the L-RD appears in this dream. [2] The angel of the L-RD that’s not just a regular angel. Listen to how he identifies himself: “I am the G-d of Bethel,” He says. (Genesis 31:11-13). So He the Angel of the L-RD is the same as the L-RD who comes down and confirms His promises . [3]
In our next parsha we will meet this Angel of the L-RD who is the L-RD Himself, again. Then at a place which gets the name Peni-el – “Face of God.” We will look at that more next week.
Fast Forward
But for now, let’s fast forward about 1500 years, and let’s move from Beth-El to the Galilee. Here we meet again this same ultimate delegate of God, the Angel of the L-RD, the G-d of Beth-El. He has come now in human flesh as the Son of Man, Jesus the Messiah. [4]
An Israelite has just confessed Yeshua (Jesus of Nazareth) to be the King of Israel. Now listen to Yeshua’s response, “Truly, truly I say, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of G-d ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:51).
Think of it. Angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man, Yeshua the Messiah. This takes us back to when G-d stood next to an undeserving Jacob, confirming His promises and offering His protection.
The message is clear: He, Israel’s Messiah, is the very presence of G-d with His people – and G-d’s presence gives us ultimate Shalom. Jacob’s dream becomes full reality when we meet the Messiah, Yeshua.
Such is the G-d of Jacob and such a G-d He wants to be for all of us.
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[1] The Hebrew alav (variously translated: above, with, around, on, by) ends with a masculine pronominal suffix, “him.” This “by/near him” understanding of the verse is also found in Rabbinic literature (See Chullin 91b, Genesis Rabba 69:3).
[2] See discussion in Parshat Chayei Sara.
[3] The prophet Hosea later makes the same connections; see Hosea 12:3-5.
[4] Compare Daniel 7:14.
