Gen. 32 – Angels
Dear family and friends, specific Angels are appointed to Guard The Land of Israel. Other angels are designated to guard the rest of the world. In Genesis 28.12 The Words -‘מַלְאֲכֵי Mah Lih Ah Chai – means Angels means ‘Messengers of God.’- אֱלֹהִים – Elohim means – God, ‘Angels of God’, were ascending and descending on the ladder that reached from earth to Heaven. They were ascending first and descending second.
There are times when The Lord sends angels to visit us, but they do not look like angels. Three men visited Abraham in Genesis 18.2. One was the angel Michael who informed Abraham and Sarah of her conception, and Raphael to heal Abraham after his Britt Milah / Circumcision and Gabriel to overthrow Sodom, – Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Tanach Series – Bereishis Vol. I (b) (Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 3rd Impression, 1989), p 638 In this week’s discussion of Genesis 32, Jacob wrestled with a man until the breaking of the day. Our Sages say Jacob wrestled with Esau’s Guardian Angel. Rabbi Avrohom Davis, The Mesudah Chumash A New Linear Translation Bereishis (Hoboken New Jersey, KTVA Publishing House, Inc., 1991) p 374
Jacob was 63 when he left his Father and Mother. He studied 14 years in The Academy of Shem and Evier. Then Jacob worked twenty years for Laban’s. He worked seven years for Leah, and he worked seven years for Rachel. He served six years for Laban’s cattle.
In Genesis 31.7, we read, ‘God did not permit Laban to harm him. In Genesis 31.11, Jacob Informs us of a dream where The Angel of God spoke with him regarding God’s Providential care. In his dream, Jacob observed the rams which leaped upon the cattle were striped, spotted, and speckled. In other words, Jacob was protected from all the changes Laban’s made to their original agreement. If Laban changed the deal to Jacob receiving striped cattle as payment, he was covered. If the contract was altered to spotted animals, Jacob was covered. Laban could not outfox The Creator!! In Verse 42, Jacob mentions God’s providential care for his life.
We also learn from our study of Genesis 32 we learn that Jacob sent Messengers / Angels to speak with Esau. Think about having the power to Command Angels. Jacob was on a high Spiritual plain.
The point to our discussion is that even though it may appear like life is going in the wrong direction for us, God uses many tools to correct what others try to do to us. God turns their scheming into Blessings for The People of Israel. In numbers, God turned Bahaalm’s Curse into a blessing for The People of Israel. ‘How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, and your tabernacles, O Israel!, Numbers 24.5.
Psalms 121.1 – 8
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains. From where does my help come? My advice comes from The Lord, who made Heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; He who watches you will not slumber. Behold, He who watches Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade upon your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall keep your going out, and you’re coming in from this time forth and forever.
May each of us be encouraged to know that God has our back.
The Lord’s Blessing upon those who make and follow righteous agreements. May The Lord Bless all who study Ha Torah and dedicate themselves to Lovingkindness. Do not be frightened or tripped out by the Esau’s of our world.
Blessings and Peace,
Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk