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Reading
- Genesis 44:18-45:5
By
Dan & Brenda Cathcart
Our
Torah portion this week is called Vayigash, which means “and came near.” In
this portion we reach the climax of the story of Joseph and his long-estranged
brothers. These events at the end of the story of Joseph parallel events at the
beginning of Joseph’s story. When Jacob sent Joseph to check on the welfare of his
brothers and the flocks back in the Promised Land, Joseph was greeted with
being thrown into a pit that had no water. While Joseph suffered in the pit,
his brothers sat down to a meal. In contrast, when Jacob sent his other sons to
Egypt, and unknown to them at the time, to Joseph, now second in command of all
Egypt, they were greeted with hospitality and water to wash their feet and a
meal was prepared for them. At this meal, the brothers gave Joseph presents
instead of imprisonment.
At
the beginning of the story of Joseph, the brothers plotted to kill him, but
instead, sold him into slavery. They then deceived Jacob, their father, into
thinking Joseph was dead. Their selfish actions had unintended consequences.
Jacob’s mourning for Joseph was intense and long lasting. As this portion
begins, it had now been twenty-two years since they had sold Joseph into
slavery, and Jacob was still mourned his loss of Joseph. But Joseph was alive
and well, and his suffering had ended in Egypt. As second in command to
Pharoah, Joseph had been ruling over Egypt for nine years. He was living a life
of wealth and power. Joseph had prepared carefully for the coming famine and
then, over the last two years, provided grain for all the people of Egypt.
Genesis 41:55 NKJV 55 So when all the
land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh
said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you,
do."
The
famine extended to all the lands around Egypt as well, driving the people from surrounding
nations to come to Egypt to buy grain which Joseph had carefully stored away. When
Joseph’s brothers came to buy grain, Joseph immediately recognized them, but
they did not recognize him. Joseph wanted to know if they were still the
vindictive, hateful brothers who had plotted to kill him, or had they changed? Since
the youngest brother, Benjamin had not come with them to Egypt, the most
important question that Joseph wanted answered was, how had they treated his
brother Benjamin? Were they as hateful to Benjamin as they were to him? Joseph
devised a scheme to test his brothers. Joseph would keep Simeon in prison until
they brought Benjamin to Egypt so he could see Benjamin and observe how they
treated him. When the brother returned with Benjamin, Joseph had them brought
into his presence.
Genesis 43:24-25 NKJV 24 So the man
brought the men into Joseph's house and gave them water, and they washed their
feet; and he gave their donkeys feed. 25 Then they made the present ready for
Joseph's coming at noon, for they heard that they would eat bread there.
Joseph
greeted his brothers with words reminiscent of his original mission to check on
their welfare. He asks about not only their welfare but the welfare of their
father.
Genesis 43:27 NKJV 27 Then he asked
them about their well-being, and said, "Is your father well, the old man
of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?"
Joseph
had them all sit down to a banquet prepared for them. Joseph sat them down in
the order of their birth, demonstrating that he knew them well.
Genesis 43:33-34 NKJV 33 And they sat
before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest
according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another. 34
Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin's serving was five
times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.
Benjamin’s
serving was five times that given to the older brothers. There are several
levels of meaning to be gleaned from this account. First, this favoritism to
Benjamin is meant to bring to light any jealousies the brothers have when
Benjamin is later accused of theft. If they are jealous of Benjamin, they would
more than likely to leave Benjamin to his fate.
On
another level, Benjamin received five times the amount of food at this banquet
then his brothers had. Five times the amount is the payback to be given as
restitution for a guilt offering. Joseph’s brothers had stolen and sold Joseph
into slavery, so they owed five times the value in restitution. The Torah
explains this principle in the case of a stolen ox.
Exodus 22:1 NKJV 1 "If a man
steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five
oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.
Joseph
may be subtly reminding his brothers of the redemption price they owe to
Benjamin because of their sale of him into slavery. But we see that it is
Joseph himself who eventually pays the redemption price even though it is his
brothers who owe it!
Genesis 45:22 NKJV 22 He gave to all
of them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three
hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments.
After
the banquet, Joseph’s real test of the brothers is put in motion. The brothers
are sent on their way, but the silver they had paid for the grain they were
returning home with was also placed in their grain sacks. And the silver cup
belonging to Joseph is secretly placed in Benjamin’s sack.
Genesis 44:1-2 NKJV 1 And he commanded
the steward of his house, saying, "Fill the men's sacks with food, as much
as they can carry, and put each man's money in the mouth of his sack. 2
"Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the
youngest, and his grain money." So he did according to the word that
Joseph had spoken.
Silver
represents redemption. When God took the children of Israel as His own at Mt.
Sinai, he had them numbered but only through the offering of a half-shekel of
silver for each person. This offering is described as a ransom or atonement.
Exodus 30:11-12 NKJV 11 Then the LORD
spoke to Moses, saying: 12 "When you take the census of the children of
Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the
LORD, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you
number them.
The
returned money along with Joseph’s silver cup emphasizes a theme of redemption.
In Matthew’s gospel account, we see Yeshua refers to a cup when James and John’s
mother wanted her sons to be at Yeshua’s side. Yeshua asked them if they could
drink from the same cup that He drank from.
Matthew 20:22-23 NKJV 22 But Jesus
answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink
the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am
baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." 23 So He said
to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism
that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine
to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father."
Just
as Yeshua’s cup of redemption cannot be stolen, given away, or used by anyone
other than the Messiah. Joseph’s cup could not be stolen, given away or used by
anyone other than Joseph without serious consequences.
The
test of the stolen cup was laid out for Joseph’s brothers. Benjamin was
destined for slavery unless someone else stepped up. When Joseph’s silver cup
was found in Benjamin’s sack, the brothers tore their clothes in grief.
Genesis 44:13 NKJV 13 Then they tore
their clothes, and each man loaded his donkey and returned to the city.
Once
again, this takes us back to the beginning of the story when Joseph’s brothers took
Joseph’s coat of many colors which Jacob had gifted to him, tore it, and put
goat’s blood on it to cover up what they had done. Now they tear their own
garments in response to what was done to Benjamin.
As
all the brothers are brought before Joseph for judgment, would they allow
Benjamin to go into slavery, or would they stand up for him? Judah, who had
lost two sons of his own, could not let their father Jacob lose both Joseph and
Benjamin. Judah approached Joseph to plead for Benjamin’s freedom.
Genesis 44:18 NKJV 18 Then Judah came
near to him and said: "O my lord, please let your servant speak a word in
my lord's hearing, and do not let your anger burn against your servant; for you
are even like Pharaoh.
Judah
goes on to plead for Benjamin’s freedom because of the harm his imprisonment
would do to Jacob. Judah explains that He took responsibility for Benjamin’s
safety and could not return without him.
Genesis 44:32 NKJV 32 "For your
servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, 'If I do not bring him
back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father forever.'
Once
again, this contrasts with the beginning of this story when Judah takes the
lead to sell Joseph into slavery as opposed to killing him as the rest of the
brothers wanted to do. Now Judah again takes the lead, this time pleading for
Benjamin’s safety and even offering to take his place in slavery.
Genesis 44:33-34 NKJV 33 "Now
therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my
lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. 34 "For how shall I go up
to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would
come upon my father?"
With
this act, Joseph and Judah come together both desiring the best outcome for
Benjamin. Joseph desires to know that Benjamin has been well treated in his
family and Judah desires to know that Benjamin will be returned to his father.
After
hearing the desperate plea that Judah makes regarding Benjamin, Joseph could
not restrain himself any longer. He orders that the room be cleared of all the Egyptians,
so it would be only himself and his brothers present when he gave way to his
emotions.
Genesis 45:1-3 NKJV 1 Then Joseph
could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out,
"Make everyone go out from me!" So no one stood with him while Joseph
made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and
the house of Pharaoh heard it. 3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am
Joseph; does my father still live?" But his brothers could not answer him,
for they were dismayed in his presence.
In
all of Joseph’s trials, the Bible records Joseph weeping only twice. First,
when he sees Benjamin, and now when he is about to reveal himself to his
brothers. The Bible records that Yeshua also wept twice. He wept when his good
friend Lazarus died and then, he wept over Jerusalem and the fact that His
identity was hidden from His brothers.
Luke 19:41-42 NKJV 41 Now as He drew
near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, "If you had known, even
you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now
they are hidden from your eyes.
Joseph’s
brothers were understandably confused and fearful. The Egyptian that held
control over all of Egypt was actually their brother that they had sold into
slavery! What would Joseph do with his brothers now that he had total control
over their destiny? Had he brought them there to put them into slavery as they
had done to him? Joseph discerned their thoughts and reassured them. He
recognized God’s hand on all that had led to him being sold into slavery and
then raised to the right hand of Pharaoh.
Genesis 45:4-5 NKJV 4 And Joseph said
to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he
said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 "But
now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me
here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
Joseph’s
death to his family and new life in Egypt was necessary to preserve the lives
of the Egyptians, the nations around Egypt, and ultimately Joseph’s own family.
Joseph’s exile was necessary to set up the exile that God told Abraham would
happen to his descendants. If Joseph had not been the one in control in Egypt
when the famine hit, Jacob’s entire family would most likely have starved or perhaps
become slaves in a foreign land. God’s promise to Abraham would have been
broken! Instead, they enter as honored guests in Egypt and receive the best
grazing land for their flocks and cattle.
The
Chumash explains the connection between Joseph announcing himself to his brothers
and God eventually revealing His plan to Israel.
“When Joseph said “I am Joseph,” God’s
master plan became clear to the brothers. They had no more questions.
Everything that had happened for the last twenty-two years fell into
perspective. So, too, it will be in the time to come when God will reveal
Himself and announce, “I am HASHEM!” The veil will be lifted from our eyes, and
we will comprehend everything that transpired throughout history.”[i]
The
eyes of the brothers were blinded to the identity of their brother Joseph.
While Joseph remained hidden from his brothers, Joseph’s actions while in
Egypt, brought salvation to the Egyptians and many other peoples during the
famine.
Paul
tells us that the spiritual blindness of Israel was necessary to bring
salvation to the Gentiles. When that is accomplished, the eyes of Israel will
be open to see their salvation.
Romans 11:25-27 NKJV 25 For I do not
desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should
be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel
until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be
saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will
turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I
take away their sins."
After
Joseph explained that the famine would continue for five more years, Joseph’s
brothers were finally able to speak.
Genesis 45:14-15 NKJV 14 Then he fell
on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15
Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his
brothers talked with him.
Joseph’s
brothers who were unable to speak peaceably to him at the beginning of this
account, were now able to speak to him.
Joseph
immediately sent his brothers to bring the word to his father that he was
alive. When Jacob received word, that Joseph was alive, he is at first referred
to as Jacob, but when he receives the word and believes, he is then referred to
as Israel, the one who struggles and prevails.
Genesis 45:26-28 NKJV 26 And they told
him, saying, "Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land
of Egypt." And Jacob's heart stood still, because he did not believe them.
27 But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when
he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their
father revived. 28 Then Israel said, "It is enough. Joseph my son is still
alive. I will go and see him before I die."
As
Jacob made his journey from Hebron south towards Egypt, he came to Beer Sheva
where he began to have second thoughts. When famine was in the land when he was
a boy, his father Isaac remained in the land. Also, Jacob had already lived in
exile from the Promised Land for twenty years. Should he once again leave the
land or stay like Isaac did? Jacob sought the LORD by bringing offerings at
Beer Sheva and God appeared to him in a vision.
Genesis 46:2-4 NKJV 2 Then God spoke
to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, "Jacob, Jacob!" And
he said, "Here I am." 3 So He said, "I am God, the God of your
father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation
there. 4 "I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring
you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes."
When
Jacob and his family were facing starvation, suddenly salvation appeared in the
form of the carts and camels sent by Joseph ready to carry them into the safety
of Egypt. When the time of Yeshua’s second coming approaches, God will send
salvation.
Isaiah 11:11-13 NKJV 11 It shall come
to pass in that day That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time To
recover the remnant of His people who are left, From Assyria and Egypt, From
Pathros and Cush, From Elam and Shinar, From Hamath and the islands of the sea.
12 He will set up a banner for the nations, And will assemble the outcasts of
Israel, And gather together the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the
earth. 13 Also the envy of Ephraim shall depart, And the adversaries of Judah
shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, And Judah shall not harass
Ephraim.
The
sons of Jacob, separated for twenty-two years were finally reunited in the
fertile land of Goshen. But not before Joseph had put his brothers to a test.
Joseph tested them to see how they had treated his brother Benjamin in his
absence. Would they take the responsibility and do what was right and return to
Joseph in humility? Only after passing the test did Joseph reveal his true
identity.
This
reconciliation among brothers did not come without a price. Joseph suffered
slavery and imprisonment in Egypt as a result of the actions of his brothers. Knowing
what they had done, the brothers suffered through years facing a grieving
father and the humiliation of a famine in their land.
We,
too, face a daily test. Yeshua tests us to see how we treat our brothers and
sisters around us. Do we pass our test? In the end will we be invited into our
“land of Goshen?”
Study
Questions:
2.
In nearly every Torah portion to this
point, we have seen case after case of sibling rivalry. How did Joseph break
the cycle and heal the rivalry with his brothers?
3. What does the story of Joseph and his brothers teach us about forgiveness? As believers, is forgiving others an option for us?
General
Portion Questions
4.
Discuss the Messianic implications and
metaphors of the Joseph story? In what ways does Joseph represent Messiah?
5.
The account of Joseph involves concealed
identity. What previous accounts of concealed identity have we examined in the
Torah thus far? How are these instances similar and dissimilar to the Joseph
story?
6.
What other insights did you gain from this teaching? What indicators are there in
this Torah Portion that point to Messiah Yeshua?
©
2022 Moed Ministries International. All rights reserved.
[i] The
Stone Edition Chumash. Artscroll Series. Rabbi Nosson Scherman/Rabbi Meir
Zitz. Mesorah Publications, Ltd. ©2007. Page 253.
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