Weekly Torah Lesson
Parasha: va Yeitzei – and he went out
Torah: Bereishit 28:10 – 32:3
** Yaakov was under pressure from Lavan, his father in law, who had just caught up to him after a seven day chase. Lavan was upset and making a lot of accusations. Yaakov was getting heated up and blurted out a response:
*** “With whomsoever you find your gods, let him not live: before our brothers discern you what is your with me, and take it to you. For Yaakov knew not that Rachel had stolen them.” (Ge 31:32 )
** The next morning Lavan and his posse left for home and Yaakov continued toward Canaan to establish his family in his promised inheritance. Several weeks later, as they were making their way to the Temple Mount, Rachel was ready to deliver her second child. Here is how the Scriptures describe the event:
*** “16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor. 17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, Fear not; you shall have this son also. 18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. 19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.” (Ge 35:16-19 )
** Coincidence? I don’t think so. Here is what the Scripture teaches about what comes out of our mouths.
*** “Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knows of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.” (Le 5:4 )
*** “But above all things, my brothers, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yes be yes; and your no, no; lest you fall into condemnation.” (Jas 5:12 )
*** “20 And he said, That which comes out of the man, that defiles the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mr 7:20-23 )
Here is what King David said about his mouth:
*** “1 In my distress I cried to Avinu, and he heard me. 2 Deliver my soul, O Avinu, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. 3 What shall be given to you? or what shall be done to you, you false tongue? 4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper. 5 Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar! 6 My soul has long dwelled with him that hates peace. 7 I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.” (Ps 120:1-7)
** I think the “mouth problem” is universal. Listen to yourself and see how you are doing.
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