VaYehi (Genesis 47:28 - 50:26)
When Rachel pleaded, “Give me children or I shall die,” Jacob responded: “Am I in the place of God?” Jacob’s angry response was as insensitive as it was truthful. Jacob was not a substitute for God. He was powerless to give his wife children, but he could have given her comfort and shown her kindness, and he did not.
In this week’s parasha, the story comes to a close. Jacob dies, and the son’s of Leah, Bilhah and Zilpah cower before Rachel’s son Joseph. The brothers fear that now Joseph will finally take his revenge. They plead with Joseph to spare their lives, claiming that that was their father’s dying wish. Rachel’s son answers them with his father’s words to his mother when she pleaded for children: “Am I in the place of God?”
Joseph’s answer is as sensitive as it is dissembling. He is viceroy of Egypt. He is second to Pharaoh. He is, indeed, second to God, and he holds his brothers’ lives in his hands. Jacob replied with sarcasm when his wife asked that he grant life. Joseph uses his father’s words with ironic kindness to comfort and reassure his brothers, and to give life to them and to their children.
Avinoam Sharon
In this week’s parasha, the story comes to a close. Jacob dies, and the son’s of Leah, Bilhah and Zilpah cower before Rachel’s son Joseph. The brothers fear that now Joseph will finally take his revenge. They plead with Joseph to spare their lives, claiming that that was their father’s dying wish. Rachel’s son answers them with his father’s words to his mother when she pleaded for children: “Am I in the place of God?”
Joseph’s answer is as sensitive as it is dissembling. He is viceroy of Egypt. He is second to Pharaoh. He is, indeed, second to God, and he holds his brothers’ lives in his hands. Jacob replied with sarcasm when his wife asked that he grant life. Joseph uses his father’s words with ironic kindness to comfort and reassure his brothers, and to give life to them and to their children.
Avinoam Sharon
