Parashat:Vay’chi
וַיְחִי
“And [Jacob] Lived”
Gen 47:28-50:26
Genesis 48:17–19; Genesis 49:1; Genesis 49:8–12; Revelation 5:5
Ma’asei avot, siman l’banim means… The deeds of the fathers are a sign to the sons
acharit-hayamim = Last Days
Genesis 49 – Blessings of the Sons of Jacob
Nature of this Passage
1. These are the last words of Jacob
2. This is Poetry
3. This is Prophecy
4. These words are a spoken blessing
5. The future which is foretold is an extension of the past
Back to the Basics – Divine Messiah
4 Areas of “The Basics”
א New Identity
ב Relational Habits
ג Vital Truths
ד Basic Symbols
Review of the Oral Law
The Divine Messiah
Acts 2:36; Luke 1:37; Genesis 18:14
Yeshua is God
Yeshua is Good (Perfect)
These two issues are where those who believe in Rabbinic Judaism differ with all Messianic Jews and Biblical Judaism.
“I’m Jewish and I’m impressed with the life of Yeshua, but how can I as a Jew believe he is Adonai/Lord?”
Three Questions We Must Answer
1. Can God Come in the Flesh?
2. Biblically, was Messiah Expected to be God Incarnate?
3. Does the New Covenant Proclaim Yeshua as Messiah and God?
1. Can God Come in the Flesh?
Genesis 18:1–3; Genesis 18:8
Do the Jewish Scriptures teach that God can, and in fact, did come in the flesh?
Clearly the answer is yes!
2. Biblically, was Messiah Expected to be God Incarnate?
Isaiah 9:6–7; Micah 5:2
Isaiah predicts that One coming:
- is from the “Galilee” (9:1)
- is the Divine Messiah will bring “light,” “joy,” (9:2-3) and “victorious peace” (9:4-5)
- for He is the “Prince of Peace” (Sar Shalom, 9:6).
- Thus, He is also called the “Mighty God” (El Gibbor, 9:6).
- This “child to be born”
- “born of a virgin” (7:14)
- “the Root of Jesse…to whom the Gentiles will seek” (11:10)
- sought by “the remnant of Israel” (10:20-23).
He who would be born in Bethlehem is the Eternal One: God!
3. Does the New Covenant Proclaim Yeshua as Messiah and God?
Mark 1:1–3; Hebrews 1:8–12; John 1:1; John 1:14; John 10:27–30; John 14:7–9
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation (Col. 1:15).
For all the fullness of Deity lives bodily in Him, and in Him you have been filled to fullness. He is the head over every ruler and authority (Col 2:9-10).
Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23
“There is no easy middle ground to stroll upon. You either accept Yeshua or reject him. You can analyze Mohammed and…Buddha, but don’t try it with Him. You either accept or you reject.”
– Sholem Asch