Vayishlach - וישלח : "And he sent"
Torah : Genesis 32:4-36:43
Haftarah : Hosea 11:7-12:12
Gospel : John 1:19-2:12

Thought for the Week:

Jacob wrestles with the Angel of the LORD through the night. The angel asks him, "What is your name?" As Jacob holds on to the man with all his strength, he answers, "Yaakov" meaning "Heel-grabber." The name is a reference to his talent for not letting go. It is a wrestling name. Then the man said, "Your name shall no longer be Yaakov, but Yisrael (ישראל); for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed" (32:28). The name Israel means "overcomer."

Commentary:

In the book of Revelation, the Master describes Israel in terms of those who overcome. The ones who overcome are the ones given eternal life, paradise, a new name (like Jacob who became Israel), white garments, a place in the Book of Life, a place beside the throne of Messiah, and sonship. In short, the overcomers are the saved. They are the redeemed:

1. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7)
   
2. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death. (Revelation 2:11)
   
3. To him who overcomes, to him I ...