CONGREGATION
MELECH YISRAEL OF TORONTO
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WEEKLY TORAH PORTION |
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CONGREGATION
MELECH YISRAEL OF TORONTO |
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I read and reread this passage because I wanted to get a glimpse into Yehudah’s (Judah’s) mind and his heart. Why did he do what he did? Why did he come forward to defend his youngest brother Benyamin (Benjamin), the son who had taken the place of Yoseph in his father’s heart? Was there not still rivalry amongst the offspring of Yaacov (Jacob)? Finally, at my last reading of this passage I came to the conclusion that Yehudah did not have a clue about what he was doing, he just did it! Let us face it; Yehudah could not have anticipated what Yoseph (Joseph) was going to do. I am sure the thought never occurred to Yehudah that Benyamin would be incarcerated and the other brothers set free. What took place must have come as a complete shock and a surprise to him. However, faced with this unacceptable situation, having made a vow to his father to bring Benyamin back and being in a very disadvantaged position, Yehudah laid aside his fear of imprisonment and perhaps even death at the hands of this Egyptian to defend and rescue his brother. Where did Yehudah’s sudden reversal come from? As I said, he could not have planned it; he could not have anticipated it, it just happened! I am certainly not a hero. In fact, I have never, even in my youth, taken unnecessary chances. My friends used to kid me about it because like all kids, they did some very risky things and placed themselves in jeopardy of life and limb. Yet there were times when other people were in danger or in desperate need of assistance, and without thinking I placed myself in harms way to help them; why? I am sure we have all read or heard about stories of people who were injured and even died trying to save, in some cases, perfect strangers; why? Canada is now deeply embroiled in the conflict taking place in Afghanistan. Weekly we read about roadside bombs killing our young men and women. Remember, now, that we do not have conscription in Canada. These young men and women were not drafted into the armed forces against their will and in protest against the conflict; they joined, they enlisted and they went willingly. Yet, these young men and women are risking their lives each and every day to defend liberty for the Afghan people and freedom for us (As I see it we either fight the Islamic extremist there now, or we will be fighting them here in the future; however, that is not the point here). These soldiers are voluntarily risking and in some cases laying down their lives for us. They are making split second decisions to put themselves in harms way to save others. That is how you tell a good soldier from a bad one. The bad ones put themselves first and their buddies and the mission second. You never know what is in you or what you are capable of or how you will react until you are placed in a compromising situation. A situation where you have to make a decision as to whether it is going to be your life or someone else’s that will be taken, and sometimes that situation requires a split second decision. Then and only then, I believe, can you really see what is in a person’s mind and what is in their heart. Our soldiers are making those types of decisions every day for each other and for us, yet many of them are not believers, they do not know Yeshua HaMashiach as their L-rd and Saviour. Some of us, believers, fail when we are faced with the prospect of death or harm. We choose, instead, to save our own necks and turn away from danger rather than choosing to help and save others. That, I believe, was the choice Yehudah was faced with when he was confronted by this Egyptian viceroy who asked him to give up his brother Benyamin. There is no indication from this week’s Parasha or from last week’s Parasha that would make us believe that Yehudah even hesitated in his decision to sacrifice himself. Immediately he placed himself in jeopardy for the sake of his brother. In that way he proved to us, he proved to himself and he proved to G-d that he was made up of the right stuff. I think that as believers in Yeshua HaMashiach we will all be tested in this area. Will we blindly lay down our lives for another or will we turn and walk the other way? It has nothing to do with whether you are a hero or not; it has to do with whether or not you are made up of the right stuff! Think about it! Are you made up of the right stuff? Do not answer that question now, unless, of course, you have already been tested in that area. What is the right stuff? It is having the heart of G-d! What is the heart of G-d? Here is the heart of G-d: Yochanan (John) {13:34} A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, you also love one another. How did Yeshua HaMashiach love us? Yochanan Alef (1 John) {3:16} Hereby perceive we the love of G-d, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. So then how do we demonstrate that we have the love of G-d in us, the right stuff? Yochanan {15:13} No greater love has a man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. Before you think to yourself, “I am off the hook, I do not have to lay down my life for my enemies, only my friends and brothers,” read this Scripture: Mattityahu (Matthew) {5:44} But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Our love is to extend beyond just loving each other. We are to love our fellow human beings and we are to demonstrate that love as Yehudah did with Benyamin! Baruch HaShem Rabbi Ya'acov Farber |
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