Emmanuel, God With Us
Torah Vayechi – “And he lived,”
B’resheet (Genesis) 47:28 – 50:26; 1 Kings 2:1-12; 1 Peter 1:1-9
His mother had named him ‘Ya’aqov’ meaning ‘heel holder.’ Ever since the day he came out of the womb, Jacob found himself holding an enemy off his head from destroying him. Esau, Laban, men of Shechem, all brought fear to his heart. If Jacob wasn’t afraid of Pharaoh and the Egyptians, YHWH would not have needed to command the heel holder to ‘not fear to go down to Egypt.’
And God said to Israel in visions of the night, and He spoke, “Jacob! Jacob!” And he answered, “Hineni.” And He said, “I am God, the God of your fathers. Do not fear to go down into Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I will go down with you into Egypt, and I will also surely return you.” Genesis 46:2-4a
Notice that God said to Israel … “Jacob, Jacob,” revealing his mindset to always be warding off his enemies. But, he had learned to trust His Father’s voice. He responded with ‘Hineni,’ that is to say, ‘Here I am, I’m available. Whatever you want me to do, wherever you want me to go, You know best, I’ll trust You to see me through.’ The more I come to know and trust my Lord and God, the more I humbly resonate with ‘Hineni.’
God then reminds Jacob of His irrevocable promise to his forefather Abraham: “I will make you a great nation.” Sounds a lot different than what Jacob was afraid of – his enemies kicking him in the head and crushing him. Not only would Jacob survive Egypt, but he and all his offspring would also thrive and multiply as a mighty nation. As the seed of Abraham, we have the same promise from our Father in Heaven in these latter days.
But the most assuring and encouraging thing a child of God can hear from our Father in Heaven is “I will go down with you.” When I hear and believe that He will be there for me, not against me, then I know Him as Emmanuel, ‘God with us.’ Not only did He promise “I will go down with you,’ but He promised to return with him as well. That prophetic promise was, is, and will be fulfilled with his offspring, not just Jacob himself.
Living Life in Dire Straits
Down in Egypt, Jacob finished out the last 17 years of his life ‘And he lived,’ Vayechi, the name of this Torah portion. Nowhere else in Jacob’s life did He say he lived, but settled and dwelt in other places in the journeys of his life. Egypt is where he lived his life.
So here we are in exile in a place of double straits, the meaning of Mitsrayim, Egypt. Pressures are increasing from all sides: from our government, from the economy on our finances and purchasing power, from degrading morality in society, from Big Pharma and public health authorities, from extreme weather and worldwide famines, you name it. But the biggest pressure we have to face is from ourselves. Can we survive the tribulations in this world? Can our children and grandchildren survive, let alone thrive?
Maybe Jacob was afraid to go down broke to the wealthy empire of Egypt. Wouldn’t you? One reason we fear moving on in life is that we’re afraid we can’t afford to.
Here’s an answer to that: Set your way of life without money-loving, being satisfied with present things; for He has said, “Not at all will I leave you, not at all will I forsake you,” never! Deuteronomy 31:6
So that we may boldly say, “YHWH is my helper, and I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?” Psalm 118:6, Hebrews 13:5-6
Abba uses dire straits to set His children straight. The pressures of life are designed to keep His children on the straight and narrow way, the way of life. And he, Jacob, lived in double straits. The two mem’s of Mitsrayim, a mem at the beginning and a mem at the end pictures the pressure and straits of a womb. The purpose and function of our exile in the Egypt we live in is that of a womb where a new life is about to be born out of it. What is that new life? I believe he is the manchild of Revelations 12, the one new man of Ephesians 2, what all of creation is travailing and groaning to be revealed in Romans 8. He is the Messiah in His remnant who are submitted to His sovereignty in their lives.
Our greatest comfort, strength, and hope is in our Almighty God Who loves us and promises to be with us no matter what comes our way. After it all, He promised to return with us to the promised land. We call Him ‘Emmanuel.’ Who is this Emmanuel?
The Blessings of Emmanuel, God with Us
For those who have ears to hear, the last words of our forefather Jacob told us what would happen to us in our day when he ‘called his sons and said to them: “Gather together so that I can tell you what will happen to you in the last days. Be assembled and listen, sons of Jacob, and listen to Israel your father.” Genesis 49:1
When does YHWH command us to gather? On the Sabbaths of course (Lev 23:2) So gather with your local fellowship of believers and Shema, and hear with a heart of faith the blessings that were written for our generation today. Let’s listen to our father Israel.
Interestingly, some of Jacob’s prophetic words do not sound like a blessing, but a curse – or are they really? To know how Yeshua is Emmanuel, God with us (Mat 1:23), with us to redeem us from the curse, to bless and to mature us, to make close friends out of rival brothers, ponder the sure words of prophecy in Genesis Chapter 49: 3-4: (NASB):
“Reuben, you are my firstborn; My might, and the beginning of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence, Because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it – he went up to my couch.”
You know Emmanuel shows up when sexual sinners no longer excel at anything they do and lose all their dignity and preeminence in our society. When will Hollywood and the mainstream media become unstable as frothy water and cease to excel at pushing their smut around the world? When will dignitaries in politics finally lose out on their extra-curricular activities of sexual abuse and lose their preeminent positions? When will the sex trafficking rings become as unstable as uncontrolled, filthy water poured out of a pot and disappear into the ground? Their day is coming. Declare with Jacob to the fleshpots, and to our own lust of the flesh and lust of the eye – ‘You shall not have the preeminence.’
Jacob is dealing with the carnal side of his once proud, firstborn Reuben. The meaning of his name gives us the answer to his weakness: “Behold a Son.’ Behold Yeshua hanging on the cross, stripped naked, covered with blood, taking on the curse and the punishment for all sexual sinners. Behold His merciful answer to sexual sin: death to the flesh and resurrection life to follow. That’s when Emmanuel shows up for a sex addict!
“Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are implements of violence. Let my soul not enter into their council; Let not my glory be united with their assembly; Because in their anger they slew men, and in their self-will they lamed oxen. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it, is cruel. I will disperse them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.” Genesis 49:5-7
Emmanuel shows up when weapons used for violence are no longer glorified; when violent anger is cursed and no longer will be armed and violent men hatefully band together to slay people! One reason that Elohim dispersed and scattered Simeon and Levi is to keep them from banding together again, since violent anger was the tribes’ Achilles heel.
So Abba gave Levi a job to do with those big knives they like to use – slaughter animals for prescribed sacrifices. YHWH channeled their penchant to holy service. The Gospel declares that the perfect sacrifice of Messiah ends violence and wrath in the flesh when it is ‘heard and believed,’ the meaning of the name Shimon (Simeon).
Our sins cut off life with God, but through the work of the cross, we are grafted back into the olive tree. We become one in Messiah, ‘joined together,’ the meaning of the name Lewi (Levi). Once alienated, through Him we now enjoy life with Emmanuel, God with us.
“Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down to you. Judah is a lion’s whelp. From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He couches, he lies down as a lion, and as a lion, who dares rouse him up? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to Him shall be the obedience of the peoples. He ties his foal to the vine and His donkey’s colt to the choice vine. He washes his garments in wine and His robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes are dull from wine, and his teeth white from milk.” Genesis 49: 8-12
Emmanuel shows up when the Jews will no longer be at the hands of their surrounding enemies, but instead, the hand of Judah shall be on their necks. In Messiah, Judah can get the upper hand and not be the tiny heel nation but will roust up like a lion to regain rightful rule by the Torah. Together with a re-united Israel, in the end, we will rule the nations from Jerusalem under Shiloh (tranquil), a title for the King – Messiah Yeshua.
Our Messiah will judge our tyrannical enemies, coming soon to trod the grapes of wrath.
What would it take for Shiloh to have the obedience of the people? The Son of God had to come humbly to us on a foal of a donkey. Tied to the vine, we are grafted into Him through His humility. He came to be with us, as Emmanuel, by the way of humility.
Our Messiah will wash His people completely clean of all that our enemies have defiled her with by the blood of the Lamb we overcome them by. For that, let’s enter into His house together, giving the highest praise to YHWH, the meaning of the name ‘Yehudah.’
“Zebulun will dwell at the seashore, and he shall be a haven for ships, and his flank shall be toward Sidon.” Genesis 49:13
Emmanuel, God is with us as a truly safe residence, a habitation (meaning of Zevulun). With today’s ‘distress of nations’ (Luke 21:25) – tyrannical rulers, increasing crime, rioters, looters, radical anarchists, and escalating rumors of war, many are searching for a safer, more secure place to move to and to live in to weather out the coming storms. Where Abba dwells with His people, we can find a safe harbor during the storms of life.
The name of the city of Tsidon means ‘catching fish.’ When tossed and lost souls find that the people of Messiah are safe to be in habitation with, as the house of Jacob, they will come to our harbor. That’s one way we can be fishers of men – declare ‘Emmanuel!’
Are you hoping to be ready for the Greater Exodus? Emmanuel is sure to have safe havens in store for us on the way back to the Promised Land! Emmanuel is our Refuge!
“Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds. When he saw that a resting place was good and that the land was pleasant, He bowed his shoulder to bear burdens, and became a slave at forced labor.”
Genesis 49:14-15
Emmanuel, God is with us when the hard-working man or woman can go to bed with the reward of a good place to rest peacefully in a pleasant land. He can rest his tired body and mind without the stress and anxiety of debt, of not being paid what is due him, but rightfully being rewarded for his labors. Those who bear others’ burdens will know that the ones served won’t take advantage of them, nor steal or fraudulently extort wages.
Issachar’s name means ‘He will bring a reward or wage.’ That wage one day won’t be determined by today’s unjust weights and balances, but rightfully rewarded when the Messiah again turns over the tables on the money changers of our day. Now that’s ‘the Great Reset’ to be looking forward to! When Emmanuel shows up, there will be a reset!
“Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a horned snake in the path, that bites the horse’s heels, so that his rider falls backward.” Genesis 49: 16-18
When Emmanuel shows up, righteous judgments are made by the Judge in the courtroom of Heaven. Our Advocate with Father YHWH, the Righteous Yeshua, pleads our cases on the grounds of His shed blood and overturns every unjust ruling against us. On our side, Emmanuel favors oppressed, wrongfully accused, and persecuted brethren.
Today’s courts and judges make so many perverted rulings because so many are bribed and arm-twisted. The higher the court, the more the Deep State has control over them. Their day is coming. Messiah’s second coming is that of a Judge. So maybe that’s why Dan is not needed among the 144,000, Yeshua may just do their job for them.
Emmanuel at the Center
The central axis of all of Jacob’s blessings to the twelve tribes is in his longing plea found in the center of a symmetrical, chiastic structure. Who is central to all blessings?
“For Your Salvation (Yeshua) I wait, O YHWH (LORD).” Genesis 49:18
Emmanuel will show up as Salvation, Yeshua in Hebrew, for all of Israel who waits for the Messiah. Because of the work of the cross, we can be assured that anyone of the twelve sons can be saved from their sins, no matter what the sin – sexual defilement, cruel violence, anger, unjust financial dealings, unrighteous rulings in court, you name it!
Yeshua is still in the saving business to the degree that ‘all Israel will be saved. Even as it is written, ‘There will come out of Zion the Deliverer, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.’ (Rom 11:26) Yeshua will come out of Zion as our Emmanuel to do what only God can do, turn away ungodliness from the heel holders, and deliver all His people in dire straits, who hold off the enemy from destroying them.
“As for Gad, raiders shall raid him, but he will raid at their heels.” Genesis 49:19
Emmanuel comes to the rescue of anyone who has been robbed, taken advantage of, or plundered in any way. The adversary of our souls wants to invade our thoughts with floods of false narratives and steal away our hope and joy. The snake wants to invade our bodies with toxic vaccines, pharmakia, GMOs, etc, to steal our health. The serpent wants to invade our homes, listen to our conversations and watch our every move, stealing our privacy. Deep State operatives have infiltrated every level of government. Voices of dissension assault our minds. Never have we been invaded on so many fronts.
Yeshua not only destroys the works of the devil, but He also restores what’s been stolen from the redeemed. He empowers His overcomers to take back what the devil stole from them (Exo 22:14) and yes, even seven times more (Prov 6:31). The name Gad means ‘a troop,’ who collectively takes back what’s stolen. Together we can recover it all. How do I know? The wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. (Prov 13:22b)
Leslie and I see her as being from this tribe. Gad is spelled gimel dalet, which in paleo means to go through the door. Leslie has a way to invade a person’s heart, even if there is no door, and the heart is walled off with defenses up against others. With her hugs and her love, she gimels through the dalet. With the love of Yeshua, hearts can be invaded when nothing else will work to get through to a person and minister to them.
“As for Asher, his food shall be rich, and he will yield royal dainties.” Genesis 49:20
Emmanuel, God Himself shows up with us for fellowship around a table where food is served that everyone can enjoy. Eating at a table together is an act of intimacy.
Our King has not just the best main courses yet to be served, but royal dainties like we’ve never yet tasted! Everything will be totally kosher, no GMOs, no artificial ingredients, no toxins, no harmful anything, just pure delight (the meaning of oneg).
‘Asher’ means ‘happy, or blessed.’ Jacob and his twelve sons were happy and blessed to eat at a royal table together with their brother Joseph, the Prince of Egypt. So will we be happy together with our Messiah at the wedding supper of the Lamb! Emmanuel, God, Messiah with us, will bring happiness and delight as we’ve never known before!
“Naphtali is a doe let loose, He gives beautiful words.” Genesis 49:21
Naphtali means ‘my wrestling.’ Those who have wrestled with writing and composing beautiful words that stir the soul will be let loose like a doe leaping free into a forest! We haven’t seen anything yet! Anointed musicians will become absolutely unhinged! Emmanuel brings with Him the most beautiful lyrics, the most moving and anointed songs, poems, and words ever written or spoken, which I believe are yet to come.
Anointed words have creative power. So beautiful words and beautiful songs will create beautiful people with beautiful lives. I love the song ‘Immanuel’ by Joshua Aaron. There’s nothing like beautiful words set to beautiful music in the presence of our Elohim.
“Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; Its branches run over a wall. The archers bitterly attacked him, and shot at him and harassed him; but his bow remained firm, and his arms were agile, from the hands of the Mighty One (Shaddai) of Jacob (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), from the God of your father Who helps you, and by the Almighty Who blesses you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. The blessings of your father have surpassed the blessings of my ancestors up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. May they be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers.”
Genesis 49:22-26
You know Emmanuel, God is with us when the descendants of Joseph scattered here in exile are doubly fruitful. He is with us overcoming our enemies on the attack. Benai Yoseph won’t grow weaker under the attacks, but stronger and even more fruitful!
Standing on the Rock, with the armor of Light, having clothed ourselves with Messiah, we will stand firm against the greatest onslaughts that the dragon can send our way. The strength of a valiant warrior will be in us by the hand of our Messiah Yeshua, Who is Shaddai, the Almighty, all-sufficient Shepherd. He is Emmanuel, the Mighty God with us!
Shaddai will employ all of creation, from its depths to its heights, to bless us and our offspring. America has already experienced these blessings. The American Dream will fade as a distant memory. Like Mitsrayim, America will have served Yah’s purpose. But what He has in store for us in the Promised Land will exceed our wildest imaginations. No longer under tyrannical slave masters, nor under the satanic deep state, the crown of leadership and righteous rule will be on the heads of Joseph’s descendants once again.
“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. In the morning he devours the prey, and in the evening he divides the spoil.” Genesis 49:27
When Emmanuel arrives, the descendants of Israel are no longer prey for the enemies of our souls but are like the wolf living wild and free on top of the animal kingdom.
Esther and Mordechai, Benjaminites by tribe, were faced with Haman’s plot for all Jews to become their prey for Haman’s henchmen to slay and to devour. Instead, the tables were turned on their adversary and Esther’s enemies became the prey for the Jews and Benjaminites ‘to plunder their possessions’ (Est 8:11b) Haman and his sons were hung on the gallows made for Mordechai. The Jews and Benjaminites divided the spoils. Celebrating the feast of Purim rehearses the prophetic book of Esther at play in our day. Though He wasn’t mentioned in the book, God was with them. Purim should revive the prophecy that ‘you are come to the kingdom for such a time as this’. Esther 4:14
A ravenous, religious zealot named Saul (Acts 8 & 9), a Benjaminite, was much like king Saul, also a Benjaminite, who persecuted David. Not only did Saul persecute the righteous, but he was also responsible for murdering righteous believers in the Messiah. After Yeshua dropped him to the ground and turned him around to follow Him as his Master, Paul divided the spoils of taking souls from the enemy’s camps. By preaching the Gospel with many conversions, Paul divided the spoils by planting and building up churches in many nations. Emmanuel was with Paul – every step of the way.
Today the Gospel is being preached throughout the world, bringing many souls into the kingdom. Many converts were ravenous wolves like the Sauls of the Scriptures, but are now zealous for the Messiah. Don’t ever lose hope that no matter how ungodly and even murderous a person can be, they can be turned around to bring glory to God!
The name Benyamin means ‘Son of my right hand.’ Yeshua is the Son of the right hand of the Father in Heaven. He is the outstretched hand of Elohim, the Mighty One of Israel, God with us. Benyamin is the last-born son picturing the last generation, the one we live in these last days. Our generation will see the saving hand of Yah, the Messiah, Emmanuel working with us like never before doing wonders on earth, saving His people!
One reason we haven’t realized many of these prophetic blessings is that we haven’t realized that Yeshua is Emmanuel, God with us. We must submit ourselves to Yeshua as:
‘He (Yeshua) is the Head of the Body, the assembly, Who is the Beginning, the First-born out of the dead, that He be preeminent in all things.’ Colossians 1:18
When we submit to Him in all things as being preeminent in all our lives, that He is in all things – Emmanuel, God with us – truly the greatest blessing in life! No matter what Egypt we live in, that’s when life is lived to its fullest!
In the Name of Emmanuel, our Messiah,
David Klug
