Vayetze

Parasha Vayetze

Genesis 28:10 – 32:4 OJB

Haftarah

Hoshea 12:13 – 14:10

Brit Chadasha

John 1:43 - 51

Please read this prayer

Before reading

In the name of Yahushua

Our Messiyah, (Jesus Christ)

I pray for the Spirit of Understanding

The Spirit if Knowledge and

 The Spirit of Wisdom

As I read through this Parasha

           

Vayetze, which translates into “and he left or he went out,”  is the Torah portion that tells the story of Jacob’s departure from the Holy Land after many years of living there with his parents.

This story depict our journey from the seventh Heavens to the first, where we begin to learn how to rule and reign in the World to Come. Jacob like all of us went out of the Seventh Heaven to earth and his journey back to the Seventh heaven is what his life story is all about.

Jacob spent the night at a place known as Beit El “House of God.” It was here that he had his famous ladder experiencing, where Angels were seen ascending and descending from the Heavens.

Who were these Angels? These Angels were sent to accompany Jacob after he left the house of his father Isaac. According to Torah, before YAHWEH TSEBAOTH destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomarroh, HE sent three angels to Abraham to warn him of the impending destruction. The Angels that Jacob saw in his dream ascending the ladder were the Angels sent to assist Jacob.

In Vayetze, we see that once a person decides to do the right things, to do whatever it take to connect to the Light of the Creator miracles will occur to support that person. But when the CREATOR saw that Jacob had awakened himself spiritually, He realized his mistake and would take unreasonable measures to correct it, the CREATOR sent miracles to assist him.

One of the miracles that awaits Jacob as it awaits us is love. The Torah says that when Jacob arrived in Charan, he met Rachel and he kissed her. This is one of exceptional moments in Torah where we find an man kissing a virgin before bethroal. It is the only time when we see a glimpse of true romance. Jacob after kissing her went to her father and say he would work seven years for Rachel. Can you ever imagine if we would give a father seven years wages for his daughter?

To many, it may have seen a very long time, but to most of us love is selfish; for it is based on “the desire to received” what in it for me? This is not a sign of true love. To Jacob and Rachel, the seven years that he had to work is similar to the price Messiyah Yahushua paid for our sins. It cost him something precious. If young woman these days would demand something valuable for their virginity, then maybe marriages would last a life time.

One of the gifts of Vayetze is that on this Shabbat, we can ask young men and women to pray for the assistance to achieve true love in our lives. In its ultimate form, the love Jacob and Rachel achieved is known as the Desire to share. Their love had nothing to do with what either one could received from the other.

The love they shared was an appreciation of what they were both capable of giving. Jacob would give her spiritual guidance, while Rachel would provide him sons to fulfill YAHWEH Will for Jacob. When He saw Rachel, Jacob saw her as a chariot for a Malchut, He saw her Anochi, her god-within, her soul. He recognized the Light that they could reveal together in the world.

Jacob’s love for Rachel was similar to the love Messiyah have for us. The Torah describe such love as yirat haramemut, love based on appreciation. When we appreciate someone, in this case Messiyah’s love for us and we for Him, this appreciation in and of itself awakens more of our love.

Many of us make a distinction between one kind of love and another, between the love we have for a acquaintance, between the love that we try to awaken for the Light of the Creator and the love we have for our friends or our relatives. But at their purest, all of this form of love are identical.

On this Shabbat, we have a special opportunity to ask the Holy Spirit to open our heart, to let us connect to the Light of the Holy Spirit that the first fruit of the Spirit may manifest in our lives.

The spiritual development of Jacob entered into another phase as it rightly should in the lives of all believers. Jacob had left his father’s house the seventh heaven, the upper world, on a pilgrimage to Laban’s country, the lower world, where he would find more than a wife, he would learn things about himself or should I say discovered himself.

It is always through our trials and testing, that we learn or discover who we truly are. It is when we are stretch to our breaking point that we learn our true capacity. Sitting at home will not do it! Venturing into the unknown with the aid of the Holy Spirit is where we will learn who we truly are.

This pilgrimage would span a total of twenty years, in which fourteen years spend working for two wives. He would be living in Haran, among people who were spiritually challenged at best. This corrosive environment was to be the tool that cemented the principle of Torah in his life.  

      

Gen 28:10 And Ya’akov departed from Beer-Sheva, and went toward Charan. - The first action of Jacob, describe that he depart from Beer-Sheva. When a righteous man departs from a place it leaves a spiritual void, much like cutting a major limb from a fruit tree. A long as he lies in that city, he contributes to its glory, its splendor, and its beauty; when he departs, its glory, splendor, and beauty diminished.

Gen 28:11 And he reached a certain place, and tarried there, because the Shemesh(sun) was set; and he took of the Avanim(stones) of that place, and put them for his pillow, and lay down in that place to sleep. – That certain place was Mount Moriah, the site where his Grand fathering Abraham bound his father Isaac on the Altar, the future site of the Temple in Yerushalayim.

The place where a righteous man lay his head is his home, and where is home is, is sanctified. This was to be where Jacob encountered EL YAHWEH. It is also possible that the same stone his grandfather used to build his Altar were the same stone he was to use to build his pillar for the night.

What a refreshing story! Do we as believers use the spiritual achievement of our parents to be our resting place? Do we leave our spiritual Altar for our children to used? Do we leave our wood pile a little higher that we found it. As Jacob quite obviously started his evening prayer as he lay his head down on the Rocks which is a symbol of Massiyah. Is it possible that it was a group of 12 stones that Jacob formed into a pillow?

Gen 28:12 And he had a chalom(dream), and hinei a sullam (ladder, stairway) set up on the ground, and the top of it reached to Shomayim: and hinei the malachim(messenger, angels) of Elohim ascending and descending on it. -  Dreams in Scripture are usually vehicle of prophecy; otherwise the Torah which uses words very sparingly would not used them. Jacob’s dream at Mt Moriah symbolized the future of the Hebrew people and man’s ability to connect himself to EL YAHWEH master Plan.

The angels, who are EL YAHWEH’s messengers in carrying out HIS Will on earth, are constantly going up and down to receive His Commands and then come back to earth to implement them.

This Ladder is also the Ladder that link the First Heaven with the Seventh Heavens, the Ladder which all men who believe may climb at any time.

Gen 28:13 And, hinei (behold), YAHWEH stood above it, and said, I am YAHWEH ELohei Avraham thy av (father), and ELohei Yitzchak; ha’aretz (the earth) whereon You liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy zera (seed); - Scripture usually uses this word behold to introduce something significant. It’s frequent use in this vision emphasize the great significance meaning, we must take notice. The land upon which you are laying, to you will I give it.

Since the place where Jacob was, were to be the future Capital of the Land of Yisrael, it is the ideal spot for a prophecy such as this. This dream symbolized that as Jacob sanctified the land, the Temple would sanctify the entire land of Yisrael.

Gen 28:14 And thy zera (offspring) shall be as the dust of ha’aretz (the Earth), and You shall spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south; and in thee and in thy zera shall kol (all) hamishpochot ha’adamah (the families of the world) be blessed.  –

This verse seems to be a warning to Jacob, if Yisrael should sink to the level of the nations, Yisrael will be no more, they will be scattered across the whole earth. If Yisrael had not forsaken Torah, the nations of the earth would not be give the opportunity it now have, to be apart of Yisrael. The wild grape vine that was graphed in!

Gen 28:15 And, hinei, I am with thee, and will be shomer over thee in all places where You goest, and will bring thee back into ha’adamah hazot; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have promised thee. -  EL YAHWEH begins to assured Jacob after the warning on the last verse. Saying I am, I will always be with you, until you have reach maturity. Behold, pay close attention: I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you. He who starts a good work in us is faithful to complete. EL YAHWEH was reaffirming HIS faithfulness to Jacob, as He is doing for us today. I was telling someone the other day that I cannot die anytime soon. He taught that I was arrogant.  I told him that my EL YAHWEH had not finished HIS work in me; therefore I cannot die until HE had finished HIS work.

Gen 28:16 And Ya’akov awoke out of his sleep, and he said, Surely EL YAHWEH is in this place! And I had no da’as(know) of it. -  When Jacob spiritual eyes was closed, he returned to his body, he realizes that his spirit was in communication with EL YAHWEH. Dreams are nothing more than a spiritual communication with the spiritual realm.

Jacob said in this place he had experienced a prophecy, he had seen into the future without having prepared himself for it, he realized that the place was so holy that it was a magnet for prophecy. It was a good thing that he did not know or else he would have tried to help. When we rest our head on the Solid Rock called Yahushua, we will be in the realm of the prophetic, since He is the giver of the Holy Spirit. The spirit of prophecy is a correcting spirit, given to us to show the way back to Torah, back to the land.

Because man is in the flesh, his spiritual sixth sense is turned off, he can only sense his surrounding with his five limited senses. Man has to turn of his five natural sense as when he is asleep, before his sixth sense can be used.

Gen 28:17 And he was afraid, and said, How nora (awesome) is this place! This is none other than the Beis Elohim(house of the gods), and this is the Sha’ar HaShomayim(gates of the Heavens). – This is not an ordinary place, but the Temple of EL YAHWEH. Therefore, it was the Gate of Heavens right here on Earth. Today that Temple is El Yahushua, no man come to His FATHER except through Him. John 14:6 Yahushua said to him, “I am the Way, theTruth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Gen 28:18 And Ya’akov rose up early in the boker(morning), and took haeven (the stone) that he had put for his pillow, and set it up for a matzevah (pillar), and poured shemen(oil) upon the top of it. – Another example of a mature believer, he rises early in the morning to perform service to EL YAHWEH.

It seem like in Vayetze, that once a person decides to do the right thing, to do whatever it takes to connect to the Light of the CREATOR, miracles will occur to help that person do what is necessary. The CREATOR saw that Jacob had awakened spiritually; he had realized his past mistakes and took the necessary steps correct them.

Seeing this, we are awaken by this Torah Portion to an alarming implication. If Jacob had not left his birth home, his spiritual eyes would not be open for him to see the ladder that were there all along, he would have simply carried on with all his daily spiritual works; he would continued to pray and study all day doing everything correctly. Why are my actions not working? Why do I not feel YOUR assistance? He would never have known that it was because he did not have the Consciousness of the CREATOR while he was still at home. He had to experience his spiritual journey.

Gen 28:19 And he called the shem (name) of that place Beit-El; but the shem of that ir (city) was called Luz at the first. – He gave a new name to the place. It had been called Luz, an almond-tree; but he will have it henceforward called Beth-el, the house of EL. This gracious appearance of YAHWEH to him put a greater honor upon it, and made it more remarkable, than all the almond-trees that flourished there. This is that Beth-el where, long after, it is said, YAHWEH found Jacob, and there (in what he said to him) HE spoke with us, Hos. 12:4. In process of time, this Beth-el, the house of EL, became Beth-aven, a house of vanity and iniquity, when Jeroboam set up one of his calves there.

Gen 28:20 And Ya’akov vowed a neder (vow), saying, If Elohim will be with me, and will be shomer over me in this derech (way, journey) that I go, and will give me Lechem(bread) to eat, and beged (clothes) to put on, -  Good Hebrew is poor English, and good English is poor Hebrew. When Jacob made that vow, it implies that it was to be repeated by all believers saying that if, we remain in EL YAHWEH, HE will guard us on our journey to perfection, and give us the bread and the wine and cloth us in HIS Glory; meaning that poverty will not cause us to act against our own sense of propriety and EL YAHWEH’s Will.

Gen 28:21 So that I return to bais avi (house of my father) in shalom; then shall YAHWEH be for me Elohim (my EL). – So that I finish my spiritual journey and find spiritual peace, then my Father and I will be Echad (One). This is the position of full maturity This should be everyones spiritual (Kavanah) Intention.

Gen 28:22 And this even (stone), which I have set for a matzevah (pillar), shall be Beis Elohim: and of all that You shall give me I will surely give the aser (tenth) unto Thee. – When all the sons reach maturity and posses their inheritance, he Jacob like all the other Mature Sons will give a tithe unto EL YAHWEH. Jacob’s tithes included not only a tenth of all earnings, but also his pledge to dedicate a tenth of his children to EL YAHWEH’s service. Giving a tenth in this life time is in preparation of the world to come.

Chapter 29

The life of all believers should be a journey, a journey to perfection. Along that journey awaits certain experiences: the experiences that solidify our strength and develop our weaknesses. Those who are called to walk with us permanently, and those who are called to be temporary accompaniment.

Too often in the believer life those who are called to be temporary associates, we turn them into permanent associates. They are associates that are like leaves they are only for a season; there are friends who are like limbs they are attach to us, but when a strong wind comes and tear them off they are gone. Some are like roots they are with us permanently. Do not turn what is meant to be only a leaf into a root.

Even Though Jacob and Esau were brothers, in order for Jacob to continue his spiritual development, a parting of ways had to happen. The next step in Jacob life was about to play itself out. We cannot get to the next stage of our development if we continue to keep the old acquaintance. 

Gen 29:1 Then Ya’akov went on his journey, and came into the eretz (Land) of the bnei kedem. Been assured by the prophetic dream, - Jacob with a lifted spirit he continued on his spiritual journey. When we are assured that our success is guarantee, we walk with a certain swagger, a certain spiritual boldness, or authority so to speak. Paul says that he leave those experience that are behind and look forward to a new one.

Gen 29:2 And he looked, and hinei (behold) a be’er (well) in the sadeh (field), and, hinei, there were shloshah edrei tzon (flocks of sheep) lying by it; for out of that be’er (well) they watered the edarim (sheep): and a great even (stone) was upon the mouth of the be’er.  – The Torah narrates this incident at length to illustrate how those who trust in EL YAHWEH shall renew their strength; they shall walk and not faint. How then was Jacob able to role away that large stone by himself? Jacob saw a well, a ministry in a field with a flock of sheep laying around it, with a great stone, the stone of unbelief blocking its entrance.

Gen 29:3 And to there were all the edarim (flocks) gathered: and they rolled the even (stone) from the mouth of the be’er, and watered the tzon, and put the even (stone) again upon the mouth of the be’er (well) in its place. – Compare the stone of the believer to the stone of unbeliever. The stone of the believer, Yahushua produces living water, while the stone of religion will stop anyone from getting water without permission.

Gen 29:4 and Ya’akov said unto them, my brethren, where are you from? And they said, Of Charan is we. – By asking where they were from, he discovered where they were going; No-where spiritually. Too often we meet believers yet we never ask each other where they are spiritually. When we know where someone is spiritually, we can expect certain actions or certain fruit of the spirit from them.

Gen 29:5 And he said unto them, Know ye Lavan ben Nachor? And they said, We know him. – Therefore they must know Laban and they confirmed it. To often the origin of a Sheppard determine where he is taking the flock. One cannot take the sheep where they have not been spiritually. He will not be able to take the sheep to different plateau on the mountain of spiritual development. For the higher we progress up the mountain is the more our spiritual eyes can see.

Gen 29:6 And he said unto them, is the shalom (Peace) with him? And they said, Shalom; and, hinei(behold), Rachel his bat (daughter) cometh with the tzon (flock). – One of the hallmarks of a believer is to ask about the safety of an individual. Kindness being one of the fruit of the Spirit. Realizing that Jacob wanted to know more about Laban’s personal life than they could tell, they pointed out his daughter a sheppardest come their way.

Gen 29:7 And he said, Look, the sun is still high, neither is it time that the flock should be gathered together; water ye the tzon(sheep), and go and feed them. – When he undertook to teach them how to dispatch their business, they did not bid him meddle with his own concerns and let them alone; but, Though he was a stranger, they gave him the reason of their delay, verse 8. Those that are neighborly and friendly shall have neighborly and friendly usage.

Gen 29:8 and they said, We cannot, until all the edarim (flock) be gathered together, and till they roll the even (stone) from the mouth of the be’er; then we water the tzon. - It is not until the rock of offence is removed from the mouth of the well, before the sheep in the unsaved camps can be watered. This rock of offense is the Messiyah! Those who do not believe in Him, He will be a stumbling block to the revelation of the Word. Here we see an example of rabbinic Judaism at work.

Gen 29:9 And while he yet spoke with them, Rachel came with the tzon (sheep) of her av; for she was a ro’ah (shepherdess).  – Rachel came leading all of Laban’s sheep; which indicates that the flock was small. Indeed, Laban became prosperous only after Jacob began working for him. Rachel must have been a skilled shepherdess to tend single-handedly to even a small flock. When there are no suitable male, a woman will do. Even a qualified woman like Rachel cannot be as successful as a male leader like Jacob.

Gen 29:10 And it came to pass, when Ya’akov saw Rachel bat (daughter) Lavan achi immo, and the tzon of Lavan achi immo, that Ya’akov went near, and rolled the even (stone) from the mouth of the be’er, and watered the tzon of Lavan achi immo.  – In this one verse we see three mention of Laban his mother brother. This seems to imply that all that Jacob did for Laban was because of Rebecca. Jacob understands the spiritual significant of what he saw. It was a woman bring the flock to the well and they had to wait for the rest of shepherdess to help each other remove the religious stone that block the entrance to the well of truth.

The spiritual mature person Jacob was, he rolled away the stone by himself, so that the shepherdess could water their flock, while the lazy Laban was at home.

Gen 29:11 And Ya’akov kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.  -  Jacob wept for he saw Rachel doing a man’s job. It was a sad state of event for the people in Param Haram spiritually. He kisses her for the work that she was doing. It was not a kiss of affection, it was a kiss of gratitude, to say thank you for stepping up to the plate and batting when there was no suitable male around. This was the character of Rachel!

Gen 29:12 And Ya’akov told Rachel that he was the relative of her av (father), and that he was ben Rivkah; and she ran and told her av.  – The fact that Jacob mention that he was her father’s relative, it meant that she can trust him. The essence of every relationship starts with the establishing of trust, not physical desire.

Jacob had come to Haran to find his mate, but to a Patriarch of Yisrael this means more than merely finding the woman or women with whom he would build a family. Jacob was the last of the Patriarchs, the one to whom the nation of Yisrael was to be establish, as he knew prophetically would be born the twelve tribes, and the one who would begin the process of changing YAHWEH’s people from a family into a nation.

Gen 29:13 and it came to pass, when Lavan heard the news of Ya’akov ben achoto(son of his sister), that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his bais. And he told Lavan all these things.  – Was Laban remembering the incident with Elizer and Rebecca, or was he thinking about the prize that Eliezer had brought for Rebecca?

Gen 29:14 And Lavan said to him, Surely You art my etzem (bone) and my basar. And he abode with him the space of a chodesh (month). - Was this true generosity or was it greed? Laban, Though none of the best-humored men, welcome Jacob, was satisfied in the account he gave of himself, and of the reason of his coming in such poor circumstances. While we avoid the extreme, on the one hand, of being foolishly credulous, we must take heed of falling into the other extreme, of being uncharitably jealous and suspicious. Laban owned him for his kinsman: You art my bone and my flesh. Those are hard-hearted indeed that are unkind to their relations, and that hide themselves from their own flesh, Isa. 58:7.

The fair contract made between Laban and Jacob, during the month that Jacob spent there as a guest. It seems he was not idle, nor did he spend his time in sport and pastime; but like a man of business, Though he had no stock of his own, he applied himself to serve his uncle, as he had begun verse 10 when he watered his flock.

Gen 29:15 And Lavan said unto Ya’akov, because You art my relative, shouldest You therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall thy maskoret (wages) be? - Wherever we are, it is good to be employing ourselves in some useful business, which will turn to a good account to ourselves or others. Laban, it seems, was so taken with Jacob’s ingenuity and industry about his flocks that he was desirous he should continue with him, and very good reasons thus: "Because You art my brother, shouldst You therefore serve me for nought?

No, what reason for that?’’ If Jacob be so respectful to his uncle as to give him his service without demanding any consideration for it, yet Laban will not be so unjust to his nephew as to take advantage either of his necessity or of his good-nature.

Gen 29:16 And Lavan had two banot (daughters): the shem (name) of the elder was Leah, and the Shem of the younger was Rachel. –  One of the miracle or lessons of Vayetze is that of love. The Torah says that when Jacob arrived in Charan, he met Rachel and Kissed her. This is one of those rare times in Torah where we find an unbethrod couple kissing. It is also the only time in the Torah where we caught a glimpse of true romantic love. Jacob is willing to come to his uncle farm  and work for seven years the amount for a bride price.

Gen 29:17 Leah had weak eyes; but Rachel was yafeh and lovely in form.  - This is a nice way of saying that Leah was not much to look at, but Rachel was! There is a law that says that if a man has two wives one loved and one unloved, he cannot show favoritism.

Gen 29:18 And Ya’akov loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee sheva shanim(seven years) for Rachel thy bat haketannah (younger daughter). – It was the character of Rachel that Jacob was attracted to, been voluptuous was just an added benefit. Notice also that Jacob had no money to pay the Bride Price, that is why I say that Esau stole it from Jacob while he was on his way to Laban. Leah was not the kind of girl who attracted the eye of the men as Rachel did. She was physically challenged so to speak.

Seven years may seems like a terribly long time to wait, but for most of us it was proof that he was not a lazy man. To Jacob and Rachel, the seven years that they could not be together seemed to fly by in a matter of days, for their love was based on sharing, not selfish motive.

Gen 29:19 And Lavan said, it is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another ish (man); abide with me.  – Even Though Laban was not a Torah follower they still practice some of Torah principle. It is the head of the family that decide who marry who. It is the head of the family who had to give the final approval after consulting the young lady. Laban also knew that Jacob was from a rich family! Did that have any effect on his decision to give his daughter to Jacob?

Gen 29:20 And Ya’akov served sheva shanim (seven years) for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few yamim (days), because of the ahavah (love) he had for her. -  Only his great love for Rachel that Jacob served seven years. He had no other choice for he did not have the bride price to pay. Seven years is kind a high, but the desire for her was well worth the price. Most men will do anything for a pretty woman, even a believer.

Gen 29:21 And Ya’akov said unto Lavan, Give me my isha (woman), for my yamim (days) are completed, that I may go in unto her.  – After seven years, Laban said nothing; Jacob was forced to approach Laban to remind him of the agreement. Jacob wanted to start his family, he wanted to fulfilled his commission as the father of a great nation. But notice what Jaco said, that I may go in unto her. Meaning, I can go have sex with her. Oh my. Where was the wedding? Fornication, sex without marriage!!

                                                

Gen 29:22 And Lavan gathered together all the anshei hamakom(men of the place), and made a mishteh (feast). – The second times we see the wedding feast being arrange. Laban did not call the local priest to proceed over the wedding. This is a form of the final wedding feast, when Messiyah return for his five wise virgins.

                   

Gen 29:23 and it came to pass in the erev (evening), that he took Leah his bat, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. - This must have been some feast why Jacob did not recognize that it was not Rachel in his bed. Was Leah that obedient to her father that she did not object? Or was it the practice of the day? Did they even speak to each other? If I had work seven years for a woman, I would have least kiss her and say darling finally, and she might have said yes my dear, I am going to make it worth your while!

Again, notice there were not priest to conduct the wedding as we do today. When did they say “I take you to be my lawfully wedded …..”?

Gen 29:24 And Lavan gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah shifchato (her maid) for a shifchah. – In those days every woman had a servant, the servant was most valuable when Leah would be on her monthly cycle the servant girl would do her bidding. This servant girl was not someone who work as a slave, she had as much right as her mistress. She was not someone who just do every thing the master said she must do, she was a person who would do thing that the Mistress was not able to do when she was on her monthly cycle, such as take care of the children and prepare food for the family.

Gen 29:25 And it came to pass, that in the boker (morning), hinei(behold), it was Leah! And he said to Lavan, What is this You hast done unto me? Did not I serve with thee for Rachel? – So why then hast You deceived me? All of Laban’s plans, however, could not have succeded had EL YAHWEH not wanted them to, for it is illogical to believe that Jacob could not have detected something amiss until morning. Unless he was drunk! The result of all our action is the consequence of our character; it is the indicator for us to measure ourselves. Or what scripture calls the fruit of the Spirit.

Marriage in those days was celebrated by a feast, no official ceremony, no exchanging of vows, no wedding ring. It was implemented by asking the father for permission to take his daughter, if she agrees; the man paid the Bride Price. If they wanted they may have a Feast where the friends and family gathered together to celebrate the occasion, and finally the consummation of the agreement. Have sex with a virgin was an act of been married. Casual sexual relationship was never done between friends, and then they went home to their respected parent house.

When the woman had sex for the first time she would carried he sleep blanket that should absorbed the blood from her virginity, then it was displayed as a sign of the covenant for all to see. It was required for every young woman to do so. If on her first night with her husband, and she did not establish a blood covenant, then she would be called an unclean woman.

I believe that it was EL YAHWEH Will for Jacob to take the not so beautiful Leah as wife first. Then Rachel his favorite next. It was also a chance for Jacob to fulfill the commandment that if a man take two wives and love one more than the other, he must treat them both the same. 

Gen 29:26 And Lavan said, it must not be so done in our land, to give the younger before the bechirah (elder). – To give Leah a chance to get married, the oldest had to get married before the youngest. This policy would guarantee that all the girls would find a husband. What if it was Rachel was first, would the not so beautiful Leah find a Husband. Where they not violating Torah requirement not to take a wife from two sisters. Leviticus 18:¹⁸‘Nor shall you take a woman as a rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness while the other is alive.

Gen 29:27 Finish her shvu’a (seven day), and we will give thee this also for the avodah (service, work) which You shall do for me yet sheva shanim acherot(another seven years). - Laban promise that as soon as the seven days of Leah’s wedding feast were over, Jacob could take Rechel as wife and work another seven years for her. As the sixth days of creation prepare the bride for the seventh day feast, we see a parallel for our spiritual development. If anyone does not keep the Shabbat then one cannot enter the rest or the wedding chamber with the groom.

Jacob’s love for Rachel was similar to the love many of us hope to have for the CREATOR. Such love is describe as yirat haromemut, love based on appreciation. When we appreciate someone, in this case the CREATOR, this appreciation in and of itself awakens more of our love.

The love spiritual people share is based on a desire to share. Their love had nothing to do with what either one could get from the other. The love demonstrate in this Torah portion was an appreciation of what they were both capable of giving. When he saw Rachel, Jacob viewed her as a chariot for Malchut . He recognized the Light that she could reveal for the Kingdom.

Gen 29:28 And Ya’akov did so, and fulfilled her shvu’a; and he gave him Rachel his bat to be his isha (wife) also. – Jacob was painting a beautiful picture of our redemption walk, we must fulfilled the six days of creation in our lives in-order to become the Bride of Messiyah. All of these rituals are visible Torah, design to teach us the principles of Heavens.

What we can also acertain is that Yisrael was founded on plural marriage. Simple means that Yisrael YAHWEH chosen people are all adulters. Or is Christian values wrong?

                       

Gen 29:29 And Lavan gave to his bat Rachel Bilhah his shifchah to be her shifchah: - Those of us who make it into the Holy of Holies, full maturity are the bride; they will be given maidservant so to speak. These maidservants are those who did not make it to full maturity, those who make it as far as the Holy Place spiritually. As the Holy of Holies is a indicator of the Wife, the Holy Place represent the realm of the concubine. Notice that Bilhah and Zilpah eventually became concubines and then wives of Jacob.

      

Gen 29:30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served him yet sheva shanim acherot(seven more years). - Jacob surely loved Leah the ugly duckling, but his greater love was for the lovely Rachel. Could this be the next stage in Jacob development, to learn to love both wives equally? I can understand if there was a spiritual flaw in Leah, except for her looks. As a man, most of the time we choose a wife based on her looks, and not on her character. Could this be another test for Jacob? I believe so!

Gen 29:31 And when EL YAHWEH saw that Leah was hated, He opened her womb but Rachel was barren.- Torah said that EL YAHWEH saw that Leah was not as popular as Rachel! Why did I have to take this ugly duckling as a wife! I will keep her home, while I romance the lovely Rachel. I will only visit her when Rachel is on her monthly cycle. I will do the mere minimal responsibility that a husband needs to do to a wife. Maybe Rachel was getting her regular loving and Leah was barely scraping the barrel. What this incidence is exposing, is a flaw in Jacob character. It is the responsibility of every individual to scrutinize our action clearly, to see if they align them-selves according to the Word of EL YAHWEH. Therefore, ABBA YAHWEH bless Leah so that Jacob would respect her more.

Gen 29:32 And Leah conceived, and bore a ben(son), and she called is shmo(name) Reuven: for she said, Surely YAHWEH hath looked upon my misery; now therefore my ish(husband) will love me. - It seems that Leah was also suffering from a case of inferiority complex. If I do this maybe Jacob will love me more. It is not our actions that will determine if EL YAHWEH will love us. It is if we love His Son. In the redeemed community one’s self Image should not be in question; for we are created in the image of EL YAHWEH. It is unfair to base the love for a person, on their physical attribute, and not on character. Does our Heavenly Father love the short man less than the tall one?

I Samuel 16:⁷ But YAHWEH said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for YAHWEH seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but YAHWEH looketh on the heart. I Peter 3:³ Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; ⁴But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible. There is a three part lesson to this story: Jacob need to learn to look past the physical appearance. Lear need to recognize her worth as a woman created in the image of EL YAHWEH, and Rachel need to be less self centered.

Gen 29:33 And she conceived again, and bore (a son)ben; and said, Because YAHWEH hath heard that I was hated, He hath therefore given me this also; and she called shmo Shimon.  – After her first child Leah was confident that Jacob would love her more, But EL YAHWEH knew that this ugly duckling need to have her confidence boosted some more; so EL YAHWEH allow her to conceive again. EL YAHWEH was using His Divine plan to fulfill His role and help humanity at the same time. There is always a plan within a plan, within a plan for YAHWEH.

Gen 29:34 And she conceived again, and bore ben; and said, now this time will my ish yillaveh (become attached) unto me, because I have born him shloshah banim: therefore was shmo called Levi. - In our various stage of development, in particular when there have been previous abuses, one or even two session will never cure an individual from years of stigmatize; confidence is developed over time. EL YAHWEH was giving Leah her time in the spotlight, in order to develop in her the confidence of a princess as she is called to be.

Gen 29:35 And she conceived again, and bore ben (a son); and she said, Now will odeh (I praise) YAHWEH; therefore she called shmo Yehudah; and stopped giving birth. - Notice carefully Leah did not say; now my husband will love me more! She gave praise to the source of her confidence EL YAHWEH. Let me gratefully praise EL YAHWEH, so she called her son Judah a praise of EL YAHWEH. Our Heavenly Father is in the restoration business. He took an ugly duckling and made her a praise of the True and Living Elohim. That is growth!

As believers we should never look for fulfillment from the acceptance of man. It is always who we are in El Yahushua (Jesus Christ) that determines our justification. Our level of sanctification is up to our obedience to Torah.