Gateway To Freedom

We live in a time when many religious and even secular voices believe we are on the threshold of a worldwide food shortage, economic collapse, wars and all manner of disaster and impending judgment. Today's parashah is once again a clarion call to G_d's people to know and place their trust in their G_d to make provision for them in times of great trial.

Haftorah

Amos 2:6-3:8

B'rit Chadashah

Acts 7:9–16 (Stephen's summary on Joseph)

Introduction:

We live in a time when many religious and even secular voices believe we are on the threshold of a worldwide food shortage, economic collapse, wars and all manner of disaster and impending judgment. Today's parashah is once again a clarion call to G_d's people to know and place their trust in their G_d to make provision for them in times of great trial.

YHVH foreknew that there would be a "worldwide" famine (or a future judgment or war) and made provision that His chosen people would be saved from it through the shadow of Messiah, Yeshua Ben Joseph – the suffering savior. (Joshua = Yeshua Ben David, the king who will take his people into the promise land.). Just like the leaders of Yeshua's day who killed the innocent lamb, the brothers killed an innocent lamb to cover Joseph's coat in blood.

Point of Joseph's Story -

In our walk of life, no one but YHVH has omniscience to know the outcome of a situation. We can only trust in His Word: 

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Rom 8:28)

The lesson: when a situation is extremely negative, do not despair, but seek God's mercy and blessing. For the negative could lead to things becoming very well for you and your soul in accordance with God's will to do good for you. Likewise, when things are going extremely well don't become complacent, prideful or arrogant. Seek God while he may be found. We just don't know what future situations we will face. As Joseph said: 

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Yeshua could have claimed these same words ... and we may also.(Gen 50:20)

As we read these passages we can't help notice that, like Laban who was blessed because of Jacob, Potiphar (later the prison keeper and then Pharaoh, as well) was blessed because of the blessing on YHVH's anointed. Thus, we can see that even the heathen are blessed as he blesses and associates with the righteous. Isn't this God's word? Doesn't God promise to bless those who bless the children of Abraham?

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.)? (Gen 12:3)

Or, in the world's vernacular, "what goes around comes around."  

When Joseph was accused he responded, like our Lord, Yeshua, by not defending himself. He was demonstrating his trust in YHVH's vindication rather than devising a scheme to defend or "cover himself" and possibly carry on in a path that is not YHVH's best. (Compare this to the plots of Rebecca to get Jacob the blessing. This plot of intercepting Isaac's blessing is a plot that most believe had the consequences of separation from her beloved son for the rest of her life.) Also, it is likely that Potiphar didn't really believe his wife. This is evidenced by the fact that he didn't have Joseph killed, as Egyptian law/custom would generally demand, but rather "put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound (Gen 39:20)" He probably did this to save face with his people.

Was his rescue by man's remembrance (e.g. the cupbearer) – no?! Joseph (as we are) was being trained to rely on only YHVH – often through harsh circumstances and humbling. (Psa 34:19) Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.) Joseph (and Yeshua) stood upon the integrity of their heart and trusted in the promises of God. For Joseph these were the laws and precepts of YHVH given by his father, Jacob. It was the embrace of his uprightness and the Word that saw him through. It is the same for us.

Some time ago during a time of intimate communion, under the Spirit of the Lord, I was asking the Lord how I could be sure I would be able to stand in faith during the forthcoming times of trials. That still small voice spoke to me and said, "You don't know the good roots I have put in you." We don't know what we have in our heart – what God has put there. Only He is able to make us stand. It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. (Rom 9:16) Like Joseph, we must stand upon the righteousness of God and trust in his promised Word by faith and the uprightness of our heart. We are His work: 

And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psalms 50:15)

Have we, as a called out remnant of Yeshua's church, missed the point of all our trials and testings? Joseph forgot the point - (Gen 41:51) And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house. But, when he saw His brothers, then God's prophetic dreams were remembered. (Gen 42:9) And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, .... Are we also looking toward the earthly, self serving "peace" of God rather than His ultimate plans? During the time of trials, and even in recovery from them, we often look to our own circumstances (whether hurts or blessings) and lose sight of what God is doing in us to save His people.

We know that God's will is to save and deliver His people. We know too that there will be a corporate company of people empowered by the Spirit of Elijah who will "prepare the way of the Lord" – just like John did. (Mal 4:5) Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD... However, we often get anxious for ourselves and forget God's promises to us. Instead of embracing the trials as the preparation for accomplishing God's plans, we forget about the greater plan, and reside in our own physical existence - whether it be hurts or blessings.

While in the hurts we often cry out for the relief of our anguished body, soul or spirit before we understand and repent of the ways that got us there and what G_d is trying to accomplish in our life – or even the life of others. In the blessing, we can get so concerned about feeling His presence and assurance for today, we sometimes forget about tomorrow and the purpose of our life – according to His will.

Much has been said about the story of Joseph but let us remember that all that happened to him was not only a message to us and for all ages, but also the fulfillment of God's will among a number of foreordained circumstances. Even his Egyptian name is prophetic: Zaphnath-panaaneah (41:45) (meaning revealer of secrets). So are our lives – a revelation of YHVH's secret plans!

Similarities with special meaning to our lives: Joseph vs. Yeshua

- Sold/betrayed into bondage by his brethren – brothers vs. brethren (Judah)

- "the world" was used to carry out the sentence – an unknowing "sentence" for salvation.

- Seduction (Potiphar's wife vs. Satan): both promised earthly pleasure/riches to sin

- Joseph and Yeshua were greatly tempted, yet did not sin (Gen 39:7-12 vs. Heb 4:15)

- Joseph and Yeshua's words were disbelieved (Gen 37:19-20 vs. Matt 27:39-44)

-Mediator between Israel and the King.(Pharaoh or YHVH) (Ex 47:1,2)

..we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Yeshua the Son of God,. Surely He is our mediator, Yeshua HaMashiach Ben Yoseph, Jesus the Anointed One, Son of Joseph. (Heb 4:14)

There is also an interesting understanding in the garments of the shadow vs. the type:

a. Coat of many colors was made of wool, camel or goat hair (exaltation of man)

b. Pharaoh ..."arrayed him in vestures of fine linen," (Gen 41:42)

c. (Exo 39:27) And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons, (notice the exaltation by The King).

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (Rev 19:8 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (Rev 19:14)

Judah's Sin

Chapter 38 is sequentially interjected in the middle of the story of Joseph (38:1). While Joseph was being prepared through the trials of an Egyptian slave/prisoner, to become the savior of Israel and the "world", part of Judah's life and his shameful sin is recorded.

Judah married a Canaanite woman (named Shua) – which was not as yet expressly forbidden by YHVH (and yet, it was a displeasure to Isaac and Rebekah: Gen 27:46, 28:8,9). Judah had three sons by Shula, the firstborn being Er. Judah secured Tamar as a wife for Er. However, YHVH judged him to be wicked and slew him. Upon his death Onan, the second born, was to "raise up seed to thy brother" and become Tamar's husband. But knowing that the fruit (child) was not to be his, Onan spilled his seed upon the ground. And God slew him also (38:10). At this point Judah feared for his youngest son, She'lah and withheld him "until he was grown" and sent Tamar back to her father's house until then.

After She'lah had grown up, Tamar saw that he would not be given to her as her husband. So, after the death of Shua, Judah's first wife, she presented herself to Judah as a harlot and bore Pe'rez and Zerah. (The details of the story are detailed within chapter 38.) From the lineage of Pe'rez came Messiah Yeshua (Mat 1:3)! Thus, Tamar carried and brought forth life to the righteous seed.

I believe Judah's greater sin was not in committing fornication with Tamar (his daughter in law, whom he mistakenly perceived as a harlot), but rather withholding his youngest son from her. Although the law that a brother was to raise up his deceased brother's seed was not yet written down (Dt 25:5,6) it was a recognized as a righteous imperative in order to preserve the lineage and right of possession. Thus, it could be considered part of the pre written Torah to which the righteous seed ascribed.

Additionally, what makes Tamar a righteous woman as Judah says, "she has been more righteous than I"? Also, what special quality did she possess to be chosen by YHVH to carry the seed of Messiah?

Notice that she manifested righteousness by:

1) adhering to Judah's wishes by returning to her father,

2) in expectation she wore the garments of widowhood for many years (38:14),

3) believing in the fulfillment of succession.

4) being discreet in not embarrassing Judah publicly, but rather sending the proof (staff, bracelets and signet) of her husbandry in secret.

So what is the key ingredient? Just as the other "nations" who joined in carrying the precious seed (i.e. Ruth/Moab, Rahaab/Canaanite), Tamar had faith to believe in the righteousness of YHVH to risk her very life. Furthermore, she was the daughter of a priest as signified by Judah's own declaration, "Bring her forth and let her be burned." (Gen 38:24) This was another expression of a pre-Torah practice. Once the laws of YHVH were recorded by Moses it was written that adultery - zaw-naw' (she was betrothed to She'lah) should be punished with death (usually by stoning), but the daughter of a priest should be burned: And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire. (Leviticus 21:9) Thus, in this period, before the Levitical priesthood, we know that Tamar was the daughter of a patriarchal family head who served as the priest. (Rabbinical writings suggest from the lineage of Shem).

This entire account gives one more evidence to the faithfulness of YHVH toward His children of faith in Messiah. He will preserve those who obey His righteous laws in faith.

Haftorah
Amos 2:6-3:8

Amos declares that His judgment will not be turned away from Ephraim (Israel) because of three, yea four sins. The first of these sins is, "because they have sold the righteous for silver,.." (Amos 2:6) What mysterious doings are the ways of YHVH! A drought in the land is suffered through the sin of the patriarchs. However, through that judgment YHVH shows His provision, mercy, and the prophetic plan of salvation (through Joseph) for the whole world! Let me say that again. YHVH's provision and mercy is revealed in His judgment of the righteous. And.. it has been repeated and will be repeated from Job through Revelation (the earliest and latest books written) in the life of the believer in every generation. When we are made low because of our sin, YHVH shows us His love and mercy as he restores our soul (Isa 57:18).

Amos goes on to say that other sins from which YHVH can not turn His back include; oppression of the poor, seduction/defilement of those called by His name (Nazerites), and those who would silence His prophets (e.g. silence His Word). Do we in the United States have the same sins as Israel? Is the United States on the brink of requiring His judgment? Would YHVH assess that the poor have been oppressed by the rich, that the Word has been preached with the doctrines of man and that the Word has been taken out of public places?

Final Thought: While it is always reassuring to hear the still quiet voice of the Holy Spirit for any particular situation, the story of Joseph tells us to know (believe) that we will not miss the mark if we walk according to the Word and the integrity of our redeemed heart (only by the blood of Messiah, Yeshua) in reliance upon YHVH's promises. The Holy Spirit will not contradict God's word – period. So we must not rationalize that our intentions were good if we go about our purposes outside of God's commands. No one can rob a bank, give it to charity and expect God's blessing and acknowledgment of righteousness.

Allow me be more direct: we can't be angry, vindictive, and driven by our pride to tell someone "to pluck the sliver (i.e. mote/speck) out of their eye," and rationalize that it was God's way for us to use all those tools of Satan to accomplish the perfect will of Abba. It just doesn't "wash" - anymore than the methods of deceit, treachery and lying Rebecca used to get God's ordained blessing for Jacob. Did she ever enjoy the rewards of her ways? Wasn't the proof exhibited by Jacob working off his deception for 21 years under Laban, apart from a mother that would never see him again - and - who would never hold her grand children?

We must not allow ourselves to think that the ways of the devil are ever acceptable to God in order to accomplish God's will. Satan is a deceiver of the very elect. While methods and programs can be a means to accomplish good ends, we must ever be vigilant that those tools have not been corrupted. We have become deceived when Satan's tools such as manipulation, control, harassment, embarrassment, etc. become the means by which we "exhort" others to do the "right thing" or follow Torah principles. How often have we seen this in the church – especially in the area of fundraising or in taking the offering?

Let us ever be reminded that among the seven abominations of the Lord recorded in Proverbs 6:17-19 are: a lying tongue and a heart that devises wicked imaginations. As the old saying goes: the end never justifies an evil means (or way of getting there).

Thus, when we ask out of pure heart for YHVH to show us our heart, be aware that he often does so by showing us our deceived intentions and rationalizations.

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Psa 24:4,5)

Shabbat Shalom,
       Randy

 

Vayeshev 2011