{"id":40400,"date":"2018-09-18T00:06:25","date_gmt":"2018-09-17T21:06:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=40400"},"modified":"2022-04-12T17:13:03","modified_gmt":"2022-04-12T14:13:03","slug":"its-all-about-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/its-all-about-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s All About the Future"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cYour father is ill\u201d (Genesis 48:1). The story of father Jacob\u2019s life closes almost as it began with an unusual event. After he carefully directed his heirs what to do with him after his death, \u201cwhen I lie down with my fathers, take me up from Egypt\u201d (Genesis 47:30), after he made them swear \u201cplace your hand under my thigh as a pledge\u201d (Genesis 47:29), after he transmitted the commandment and the reward \u201cI will assign this land to your offspring\u201d (Genesis 48:4). After all these clear instructions, he drives everyone crazy and mixes up the blessings between those who are to receive the blessings.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s the end. It is meant to teach that a person who, as a young man, overstepped and stole the first-born\u2019s blessing, will overstep in his old age in the same way, from what is acceptable to what is exceptional, from the tradition to a deviation from it.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, if at the beginning of the road the theft was justified, rich with reasons, instincts, sibling rivalry, and the desperate need for the birthright, and if at the start we found apart from a rich motive a powerful engine, i.e. a mother who was pushing and urging strongly–at the close of Jacob\u2019s life, with the blessing of the grandchildren Ephraim and Menasseh, we find no motive. No reason is given for Jacob switching the blessings. No one demands the switch.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just the opposite. The troubled father, Joseph, tries to prevent Jacob from doing this the whole time. \u00a0\u201cWhen Joseph saw that his father was placing his right hand on Ephraim\u2019s head, he thought it wrong\u201d (Genesis 48:17).<\/span><\/p>\n

At first Joseph tries to stop him physically \u201cso he took hold of his father\u2019s hand to move it from Ephraim\u2019s head to Menasseh\u2019s\u201d (ibid.). Afterwards, he tries to prevent him with words, \u201c\u2018Not so, Father,\u2019 Joseph said to his father, \u2018for the other is the first-born; place your right hand on his head\u2019\u201d (Genesis 48:18).<\/span><\/p>\n

It, of course, did not help Joseph due to his father\u2019s old habits and his ability to see well into the future. \u00a0\u201cI know, my son, I know. He too shall become a people, and he too shall be great. Yet his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall be plentiful enough for nations\u201d (Genesis 48:19).<\/span><\/p>\n

That is the reason. It is about the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rationale that stands behind this reason, which was also the case at the beginning, when he stole the birthright, \u201cyour brother came with guile and took away your blessing\u201d (Genesis 27:35), is the call of the future, i.e. the guidance of the Omnipotent One.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jacob\u2019s summary statement fits this understanding. It is the prayer for the future of a stranger who will die in the land of his exile. \u201cThen Israel said to Joseph, \u2018I am about to die; but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers\u2019\u201d (Genesis 48:21).<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":103932,"id":103932,"title":"-625588df59fc4--625588df59fc5gen48-future star dream fantasy.jpg","filename":"625588df59fc4-625588df59fc5gen48-future-star-dream-fantasy.jpg.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/625588df59fc4-625588df59fc5gen48-future-star-dream-fantasy.jpg.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/its-all-about-the-future\/625588df59fc4-625588df59fc5gen48-future-star-dream-fantasy-jpg\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"625588df59fc4-625588df59fc5gen48-future-star-dream-fantasy-jpg","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":40400,"date":"2022-04-12 14:12:47","modified":"2023-05-08 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