Torah Portion Summary
The seventh reading from the book of Genesis is named Vayetze, which means "and he went out." The title comes from the first verse of the reading, which says, "And Jacob went out from Beersheba" (Genesis 28:10 KJV). This portion tells the story of Jacob's flight from his brother Esau, his vision at Bethel, his employment with his uncle Laban, and his marriage to the two sisters Rachel and Leah. Jacob's double marriage results in a baby-bearing contest that gives him eleven sons. At the end of the portion, Jacob leaves Laban and returns to the land of Canaan but not before Laban tries to stop him.
While Jacob was on the way to Haran, he came to a "certain place" (bamkom) and camped there for the night. Using a stone for a pillow, he dreamt of a ladder (sullam) that was set on the earth that reached to the heavens, with the angels of God (malakhei Elohim) ascending and descending upon it. Then the LORD Himself (YHVH) stood above the ladder and promised Jacob that his offspring would be like the dust of the earth, and that through Him all the nations of the earth would be blessed.
When he awoke from this dream, Jacob was awestruck and called the place "the house of God" (bet Elohim) and the "Gate of Heaven" (sha'ar hashamayim). The following morning, he took the stone he used as a pillow, anointed it with oil, and consecrated the place as Bet 'El (Bethel). Then he made a vow (neder) that if the LORD would be with him, providing for his needs until he returned home to Beersheva, he would tithe to God one-tenth of all of his possessions and would return to worship and pray at the altar he had just consecrated.
Haftarah Portion Summary
The reason for the selection of this Haftarah for Parashat Vayetzei is obvious from the very first verse: "Jacob fled to the land of Aram; there Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he guarded sheep" (Hosea 12:12). Here the prophet Hosea used the story of Jacob's experience in Laban's household, where he was forced to serve seven years each in order to marry Leah and Rachel, in order to express God's displeasure with the children of Israel.
Hosea chides Ephraim [another name for the northern kingdom] for its idolatrous practices. God's providence and care for their forefather Jacob and for the entire nation during their desert sojourn made their very existence possible, but these descendants of Jacob had turned to idols and placed false hope in Assyria as their protector.
Therefore, judgment was coming, and the LORD asks, "Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes" (Hos. 13:14).
At the end of the Haftarah, the Hosea's message changes from the imminence of judgment upon the northern kingdom to an appeal to the people to repent and return to the LORD. "Shuva Yisrael - Return O Israel - unto the Lord your God, for you have stumbled in your iniquity" (Hosea 14:1). There was still hope for Ephraim if they would turn away from their idols, confess their sins, and call upon the Name of the LORD. If they only would do so, God would heal their apostasy, love them freely, and cause them to inherit all of His blessings.
Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take with you words and return to the LORD; say to him, "Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips." (Hos. 14:1-2)
B'rit Chadashah Portion Summary
And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man" (John 1:51). In this passage Yeshua makes explicit reference to Jacob's dream in Bet 'El. Just as Jacob saw the ladder (sullam) ascending to heaven with the angels of God ascending and descending upon it, so Yeshua tells Nathanael that He is the very Ladder to God, the true sha'ar hashamayim - the Way into heaven (John 14:6).
Yeshua is the Sullam (Ladder)... Heaven has indeed been opened and is mediated by the Life and grace of Messiah as our Bridge to God. Jacob dreamed a dream, but Yeshua became the Substance of that dream by willingly becoming the Promised Seed of Jacob. It is through Yeshua, the Promised Seed, that all the nations of the earth are blessed.
Yeshua is the true Temple or "house of God" (bet Elohim) and its Chief Cornerstone (Matthew 21:42). He is the divine communication (Word) from heaven to earth. The Son of Man is God's link with the children of Adam (Dan. 7:13; Matt. 26:64). Yeshua is the new "Bethel," God's dwelling place (Gen. 28:17; John 1:14). Nathanael and the other disciples witnessed the glory of God come down to mankind in the Person and Life of Yeshua the Mashiach. Just as Jacob awoke and realized he was in the awesome presence of God, so Nathanael realized that he was in the presence of the very LORD of the universe!
Heaven stands wide open and now the grace of God is available for every person who believes in the Son of Man. Yeshua is the Bridge. You can come into God's presence by means Him. He is the "door" and the "gate." No one comes to the Father except through Him. Ask Him to connect you with the infinite and loving condescension of heaven today.