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In last week’s Parasha Joseph tested his brothers’ honesty by devising a plan to accuse them of thievery. He engineered a plan to accuse Benjamin, his younger brother, the son of his mother Rachael. Benjamin would be the means of this test. We know of the elaborate plot Joseph contrived; of the cup that was placed in Benjamin’s sack, and of how his brothers were brought back to stand before their accuser. We can only imagine the fear that was in each of their hearts. The stage is set; and all of the participants have come.
Joseph said, “Why have you done this, do you not know that I am a man with the gift to discern?” Joseph wanted to discern their attitude toward Benjamin. By announcing that Benjamin would remain in Egypt as his slave while the rest of the brothers were free to return home, he was testing their character. Would they, as before, callously deliver up their father’s favorite son, or would they self-sacrificially intercede and risk their own lives and liberty for his protection?
Then Judah said, “Oh my lord, may your servant please speak a word in my lord’s ears, and do not be angry with your servant; because you are as wise and as powerful as Pharaoh and to be feared as well.” Judah spoke about his widowed father’s love for the wife of his youth, and of the two sons she bore him. He told of how one was taken from him and of the years that he grieved and suffered. He explained that the old man’s life was bound up in the life of his youngest son Benjamin. Joseph then saw and heard the repentant spirit in Judah’s heart.
Years earlier, Joseph looked up from a pit he’d been thrown into, and heard Judah plead with his brothers not to kill him. Now from his lofty position of authority, with his brothers bowing on their faces before him, he hears Judah pleading for Benjamin’s life and for the life of his father.
What if you had a brother or someone that you did some vile or atrocious thing to? Imagine if that person were elevated to a lofty position of authority, would you expect to find forgiveness in their eyes? As a matter of fact, we all have received just such unmerited mercy from Yeshua our Messiah! And whoever says that he has not sinned against Him is a liar and the truth is not in them, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And Yeshua is Lord, to the glory of the Father!
Chapter 45
This sincere plea that Judah spoke must have been so touching, so moving, that Joseph could no longer maintain his composure. Joseph commanded that everyone leave his presence, except his brothers. Joseph then surrendered to the love and compassion that was so very deep in his heart for his brothers and father.
He broke into tears. The Scripture says that he wept aloud – so much so that all the Egyptians of Pharaoh’s house heard! In that moment, Joseph, the mighty Prime Minister of Egypt, revealed himself to them: “I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into slavery!” His brothers were stunned and amazed, in fact speechless – every mouth stopped as they stood guilty before their judge.
Joseph then asked, “Is my father still alive?” Joseph told them not to be angry with themselves. He told them that it was Adonai who sent him ahead in order to preserve life. He told of the famine that was two years in the land and of the other five to come.
He told them of the power and the office he held and explained how Adonai had made him Pharaoh’s most confidential and trusted adviser and friend, as well as lord over his entire house, and a ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Joseph then gave instructions: “Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says, “God has made me lord over all of Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me, you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds and all you have. I will provide for you there.
When Pharaoh learned that Joseph’s brothers had come, it pleased him, and he commanded that Joseph’s brothers be given wagons and with ample provision for the way. Joseph was sending his brothers on a mission, and he supplied his brothers with everything necessary for the mission. Adonai does the same. When He calls us to a task, He provides everything we need for success.
Joseph gave his brothers each a change of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of clothing. The favorite gets special attention, but the brothers are changed men; they harbor no resentment. How could they, having just experienced such great mercy?
To his father Joseph sent ten donkeys loaded up with the good things of Egypt, and ten more loaded with corn and bread and meat for his father. Joseph supplied his father with adequate food to take care of all the relatives, not only in Canaan, but to provide for the family on the return trip to Egypt. This welfare for Jacob would demonstrate that Joseph was indeed in a position of affluence as well as influence.
The brothers returned to Canaan and informed their father that Joseph was alive, and more than that – he was governor over all the land of Egypt! Scripture says that Jacob’s heart fainted and he didn’t believe them, until he saw for himself the royal Egyptian wagons bearing gifts and the comfortable spacious wagons for their transportation that Joseph had sent. Then Jacob’s spirit was reawakened. He said, “I’ve heard enough, my son Joseph is still alive. I’ve got to go and see him before I die!”
Genesis 46
Israel set out on his journey to Egypt to be reunited with Joseph, but first he went through Beer-Sheba where he offered sacrifices to Adonai, the God of his fathers. Isaac and Israel both spent considerable time in Beer-Sheba, and each erected altars to the Three-In-One God.
Jacob probably wanted to give thanks to Adonai for His graciousness and blessing concerning Joseph. Perhaps he also wanted to talk to the Almighty about his ambivalence about leaving the land promised to Abraham, and about this journey to Egypt. Perhaps he had in mind the ominous prophecy which had been given to Abraham, warning him that his descendants would become slaves in a foreign land. Perhaps he wanted to dedicate himself and his family to the care of his covenant-making God and to seek confirmation that the covenant which had been made with his Fathers would be realized.
Genesis 47
Jacob and Joseph’s brothers were now in Egypt. They had an audience with Pharaoh. I believe Joseph was at the right hand of Pharaoh, just as Yeshua is at the right hand of the Father. These were real events, but I see spiritual things here. Adonai teaches us tremendous truths in this Torah portion because Joseph is a type of Messiah, and Judah gives us a perfect picture of true repentance.
I believe the posture of Judah and his brothers at the feet of Joseph, trembling in alarm, well describes the condition and position of every truly awakened sinner. It is no coincidence that Judah distinguishes himself here. He whose name means ‘praise’ would be the one through whose lineage King David and even the Messiah would eventually come.
Just as Joseph brought all of the monies into Pharaoh’s treasury and all the land, cattle, herds and people under Pharaoh’s ownership, I see Yeshua bringing all things in Heaven and Earth under the authority of God the Father.
Scripture tells us that money will fail, but that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. All gold and silver is His. But we were brought with a price far beyond gold or silver, we were purchase with the precious blood of Yeshua our Messiah.
I see us all having an audience, not with Pharaoh, but with the Most High God, the eternal, immortal, invincible, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Judge of all the Earth; standing there without any merits of our own, but standing securely – and only because of His grace.
Just as there was a great famine in all the land during those seven years in the time of Joseph, there is a prophecy that in the last days there will be a famine of the Word of God in the land. Don’t be deceived! The Father doesn’t want anyone to perish. He has given us Messiah, the true bread of life, so that whosoever eats of Him by coming to know who He is and becoming loyal to Him, will never hunger. Won’t you drink of Him and never thirst again, by serving Him with all of your heart, mind and strength?