Haftarah V’yeitzei
“Return, Restoration, Resurrection”
Hosea 12:12-14:10 (A);
11:7-12:12 (S)
excerpted from TorahScope Haftarah Exhortations
The story of Jacob leaving Beersheba and heading to Haran to find a wife, after he and his mother Rebekah had conspired to steal the blessing of Isaac from Esau, continues a pattern in Scripture of sibling rivalry—which goes all the way back to Cain and Abel. In that previous case, Cain’s anger toward his brother erupted in murder. Many generations later, the half-brothers, Ishmael and Isaac, had similar rivalry issues, but their wise father Abraham handled their problems with great aplomb. When Abraham’s time to die arrived, whatever differences which existed between these two sons were sufficiently resolved, so that they could both participate in the burial of their revered father.
Arriving at the generation of twins from the union of Isaac and Rebekah, we see how rivalry blossomed once again between more than just brothers, but two companions in the womb during Rebekah’s pregnancy. Although the same age, these two men were very different in their predilection toward the Almighty: Esau followed his fleshly inclinations, and Jacob sought after the spiritual aspects of life. Certainly, the Sages were considering these peculiarities when they selected the Haftarah passages from Hosea to reflect upon, in light of this Torah passage (Genesis 28:10-32:3) which highlights some of Jacob’s struggles with his father-in-law Laban. Hosea was a notable prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which was in constant tension with the Southern Kingdom of Judah. One can see the parallel of sibling rivalry manifesting itself on a much larger scale, with the division of Israel into the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.
The opening verses begin with a summation of not only Jacob’s departure to find a wife, but are followed by references to Moses as a prophet and the Exodus, with a conclusion which spoke specifically to the transgressions of Ephraim:
“Jacob fled into the country of Aram. Israel served to get a wife. For a wife he tended flocks and herds. By a prophet the LORD brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved. Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger. Therefore his blood will be left on him, and his Lord will repay his contempt” (Hosea 12:12-14, WMB).
When you read these passages in the final chapters of Hosea, much more than sibling rivalry is being discussed. In many regards, the contrasts between those who seek after the temporal, physical pleasures—versus the eternal, spiritual pursuit of God—are made. The negative consequences of seeking after human kings or alliances with foreign powers, were declared over Ephraim by Hosea. Death by sword and devastation to children and pregnant women, come as a result of not trusting in the Lord:
“You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your helper. Where is your king now, that he may save you in all your cities? And your judges, of whom you said, ‘Give me a king and princes’? I have given you a king in my anger, and have taken him away in my wrath. The guilt of Ephraim is stored up. His sin is stored up. The sorrows of a travailing woman will come on him. He is an unwise son, for when it is time, he doesn’t come to the opening of the womb. I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death! Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your destruction? Compassion will be hidden from my eyes. Though he is fruitful among his brothers, an east wind will come, the breath of the LORD coming up from the wilderness; and his spring will become dry, and his fountain will be dried up. He will plunder the storehouse of treasure. Samaria will bear her guilt, for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword. Their infants will be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open” (Hosea 13:9-16, WMB).
Weaved into this description is a reference to the power of Sheol, and God’s ability to redeem people from the realm of death. God has the ability to resurrect His people from the dead, even if they perished due to their unwise choices like those of the Northern Kingdom living in Samaria. Death in the Scriptures has many aspects, ranging from a cessation of physical life processes, to exile, to being removed from God’s presence. Here in Hosea, the issue was the impending judgment upon the Northern Kingdom and the captivity which would follow. This was a realm of exile.
Hosea 13:14 was referred to by the Apostle Paul in his teachings to the Corinthians about the resurrection, many of whom did not understand that physical death was not the end for Believers. You may recognize how this passage may be quoted to comfort family and friends at funerals:
“Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last shofar. For the shofar will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your sting? Sheol, where is your victory?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:51-58, WMB).
Paul described the resurrection of the dead and how “flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s Kingdom” (1 Corinthians 15:50, WMB). The Northern Kingdom would experience exile via the punishment God was required to place upon it for sin, but is promised to be restored by God (Hosea 14:4-8). Judah and Ephraim stand as proxies for all humanity (Hosea 6:7), whose salvation is to be found in an event encompassing three days (Hosea 6:1-2; cf. Romans 6:3), which we may assume refers to the death, burial, and resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah. When the general resurrection comes in the future for Believers who have died in faith, our Father’s masterful plan for the ages will move ahead and the exile will finally be over!
When this happens, one’s perishable mortal body will be transformed into an imperishable immortal body—a truly awesome reality to contemplate! In Titus 2:13 Paul described this as “the blessed hope.” Knowing that this is to come in the future, should be great encouragement as you live your life here on Earth, and hopefully try to capture some elements of that future to come right now. However, there is a severe admonition, which must be considered, as you contemplate resurrection from the dead.
Within the scope of Hosea’s prophecies, God in His mercy toward the wayward Northern Kingdom pleaded for them to return to Him. Confession of iniquity and transgressions, and appealing to God for His mercy with praise on one’s lips, is what the Holy One wants from His people. He does have the ability to raise people from the dead and usher them into His Kingdom—but do you recognize this fact by giving Him glory and serving Him with all of your being?
“Israel, return to the LORD your God; for you have fallen because of your sin. Take words with you, and return to the LORD. Tell him, ‘Forgive all our sins, and accept that which is good; so we offer bulls as we vowed of our lips. Assyria can’t save us. We won’t ride on horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, “Our gods!” for in you the fatherless finds mercy.’ I will heal their waywardness. I will love them freely; for my anger is turned away from them. I will be like the dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily, and send down his roots like Lebanon. His branches will spread, and his beauty will be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon. Men will dwell in his shade. They will revive like the grain, and blossom like the vine. Their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim, what have I to do any more with idols? I answer, and will take care of him. I am like a green cypress tree; from me your fruit is found.’ Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them” (Hosea 14:1-9, WMB).
If you wisely choose to serve Him, then you will learn to understand and discern His ways. You will not only seek Him like Abraham, and increasingly seek Him during your life like Jacob/Israel—but you will learn to actually walk in His ways. Of course, as we know from reading V’yeitzei this week, it often requires a lifetime to finally get our priorities straight. Jacob had to go through many trials during the course of his life, before he came to the point of total surrender. For the Northern Kingdom, God had to use the Assyrians to send them into exile. Yet, there is a promise that in the end, all of Israel will be restored.
Where do you find yourself? Do you trust in your human abilities to navigate the vagaries of life? Do you rely upon your temporal, physical abilities and talents for enjoying life? Or is it your God-given talent which you rely upon to make life work, with Him being the source of your strength? If you rely upon Him, then you should be able to experience some of that future Kingdom of God now on Earth. Call upon the only One who can restore you from exile. Desire to know Him and His ways, sincerely desiring to serve Him.
Jacob eventually saw the way. Hosea was given a glimpse. Paul experienced it up close and personal. Each of them testified to this with their lives! And so may each of us seek a return and restoration which the resurrection will ultimately bring us into!
