The choices we make in life are what tell us who we are and what we are made of. Nothing demonstrates that more than our reading for this week where Jacob is about to die and he gives his blessing to each of his children and to Joseph’s two sons. It isn’t the blessings themselves that made me think, however, it is how well Jacob knew each of his children and how he blessed them according to their choices in life and their individual character. In case you want to read along with me, this week’s reading is:
TORAH READING:
Vayechi: Genesis 47:28 – 50:26
The evil twins of jealousy and arrogance
How often have you heard that when you compare yourself to others, you are truly in a world of hurt because there is no one you can compare yourself to other than who you were yesterday? Comparison is the fruit of jealousy and arrogance. Interestingly enough, Joseph’s two sons were put in a position where they were tested on this and amazingly they seem to pass the test and relish in each other’s achievements. In doing so, they capture Jacob’s blessing and to this day Jews bless their sons each Shabbat to be like Ephraim and Menashe. But there was another very important reason.
Can you imagine being the only two children of your faith in the country in which you lived? That is how Ephraim and Menashe grew up…the only two Jewish children in Egypt. Yet they clung to their Judaism even while their father Joseph teetered between being a Jew and an Egyptian ruler…they were committed. It is that commitment to their faith that secured them this amazing generational blessing. I can’t help but read this and wonder…how is it possible to have that kind of commitment to their faith? Most people would agree that when we compare ourselves to others and we are insecure, jealousy and hatred aren’t far behind. We saw that with Joseph and his brothers and that is why they sold him into slavery. However, there are two sides to every story and, in fact, it might have been instigated by Joseph himself through his arrogance to his brothers….flaunting how they would bow down to him some day and also flaunting his father’s favoritism. This really hit home – there are two sides to every coin and jealousy and arrogance are like evil twins – playing off each other and used on both sides to drive away vs. unify. Ephraim and Manashe seem to have overcome both character flaws coming down from their grandfather, their father, and their uncles and let their ego go for the sake of their commitment to their faith. Their commitment has transcended their generation and has truly set them free from just living in their time. They chose unending faith instead of short term pride and it has yielded a people still committed to this day to their faith in far away lands distant from Israel.
It’s ok to choose not to make any decisions today…
During our study today, we diffused Transformation essential oil blend. Why? This oil blend is for commitment (or maybe a lack thereof). Because when we COMMIT, truly commit, we MANIFEST. In other words, commitment is a choice and our purpose can only manifest when we commit to something and we let our ego go and give way to our belief and faith that it will happen for us. Letting go of our ego to experience the humiliation of transforming our lives to become who we really are truly sets us free. Sure – we can live life without choosing to do anything. But when we sit in a constant state of indecision, we sit suspended and uncommitted and in a place where we are arrogant thinking we do not ever have to grow…or maybe just too scared or humiliated to do so. We sit enslaved in a space that is numb to actually making any choices except to choose not to commit. It’s ok to decide not to eat healthy and to continue to experience the side effects of eating poorly, for example. This indecision keeps you where you are. It does not transform you in any way and there is no growth. This is true slavery and is a foreshadowing of what is to come in the coming book: Exodus.
Individual blessings: becoming whole
So then why did Jacob give each son such personalized blessings? He saw what each son struggled with in their character and what could potentially make them whole over their generations. And each son was very different as each of us is very different. It is best told with a parable…
“The story is told of Zusha, the great Chassidic master, who lay crying on his deathbed. His students asked him, “Rebbe, why are you so sad? After all the mitzvahs and good deeds you have done, you will surely get a great reward in heaven!”
“I’m afraid!” said Zusha. “Because when I get to heaven, I know God’s not going to ask me ‘Why weren’t you more like Moses?’ or ‘Why weren’t you more like King David?’ But I’m afraid that God will ask ‘Zusha, why weren’t you more like Zusha?’ And then what will I say?!”
Jacob knew that each of his sons had a light inside of them that they could maximize to their fullest potential. This light is unique…it’s no one else’s…just ours. He was teaching his sons, and this is something that clearly Ephraim and Manashe understood, that life is not a competition against anyone but yourself. He asked his sons to ‘assemble themselves’, to draw closer and to help each other and to love each other. We can wrestle enough with our own demons, we don’t need to drag anyone else down with us! Being ‘whole’ means living up to our full potential and having the strength and clarity of vision to be….yourself! Only then can we draw near to those around us and drive real UNITY and peace. There is an oil for unity and it is Rose. Rose is a very powerful oil and I like to say, “I am whole” while applying it (diluted of course because it is very expensive). If there is ever a time when you need to feel like yourself and to stand firm in your resolve to put one foot in front of the other and draw others close to you in the process, Rose is a great oil to experiment with in this manner!
May each of you be blessed to seek your own truth and wholeness. Amen.
Crystal B says
Beautiful!! Such an insightful post. Thank you for sharing!!!
Sonja says
Great content! I loved the history, commentary, life application and incorporation of oils. Thanks!
Sara says
Tried to sign up for e- course but sent wrong email … It’s iCloud . Com not iPhone. Com. Sorry and thanks!!
Rena Elliott says
Wishing you and family a very Merry Christmas.
Brenda says
Thank you for sharing this! It really spoke to my heart. I tend to compare myself to others, and I have done that my whole life I guess. Thankfully, I am becoming aware of how much joy is missed when I’m caught in comparison mode and I’m working on eliminating it from my life! There is such freedom in just focusing on being the “me” I was created to be!
Deitra says
Wow! Thank you; continued blessings to you and your household. Peace.
Marilyn Norfleet says
WOW, this is the Best So Far, in my opinion. I enjoy your periscopes and emails, and learn so much, but this really is exceptional. or should be say exceptionOIL.