The stories in the Bible always fascinate me, but the story that stands out for me the most is the story of Joseph. I have taught on his lifestyle many times, citing great examples on his character, perseverance, and faithfulness, but most importantly, the fact that he is a ‘type’ of the Messiah. A few weeks ago, God led me back to this wonderful story, and gave me another powerful revelation. I will not repeat myself by going over the entire story of Joseph, but in order to refresh your memory, I would like to touch on some of the main points.
As I mentioned, Joseph is a ‘type’ of the Messiah. I have also learned that God uses signs, especially from the Old Testament, to help us to understand his message better. For example, if you look at Abraham’s life, you will see that, many times, God gave him a sign with the message. In Genesis 15, we read that God took Abram out of his tent and told him to look into the sky and asked if he could count all the stars that he saw. Through this sign, God promised Abram that many descendants would come out from him. So God uses signs.
In the story of Joseph, we also have signs that we can apply today as a message from God. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers when he was 17 years of age, simply because God had spoken to him and was leading him. Joseph’s brothers did not believe that it was God who gave Joseph the dreams and led him. They just couldn’t see far enough. But God was working on their behalf toward their future.
Their flesh was in control rather than faith, and that is why they tried to get rid of their brother Joseph. However, regardless of what people may do, even in your own family, when you are in God’s plan, He will lead you through. He will never leave you nor forsake you, and many times, no one will understand. So Joseph ended up in Egypt, in a strange country with a strange language, culture, and people. Egypt was the most powerful nation on earth at that time. They could kill without justice, and no one would ask any questions. So Joseph was sent to the most dangerous place on earth.
I wonder if he ever asked the question “Why Lord, why?” He was only a teenager. The hand of God was upon him, and through many testings and trials, he remained faithful. But the main point of this teaching, as God has shown me, lies at the end of Joseph’s story. This message can speak to both Jews and Gentiles who don’t know the Messiah.
In Genesis 50, Verses 14 and 15, we read: “14And after he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers and all who went up with him to bury his father. 15When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him”.”
The point is that Jacob and his sons already knew that Joseph was alive and was the one who provided the bread for them and brought them to Egypt so that they would survive. In other words, he revealed himself to them, and all that had been done in the past was forgiven.
However, the time came when Jacob died, and right after his burial, the Bible tells us that Joseph’s brothers were afraid that perhaps Joseph would hate them and repay them for all the evil they had done.
Why were they afraid? And why are we, as believers today, afraid or walking in fear, when we know that the Lord Yeshua the Messiah has forgiven us. God has given me the answer to this question, which I will share with you.
Joseph’s brothers had no faith in the forgiveness of Joseph, but they felt very much protected while Jacob, their father, was alive. They thought that Jacob, as Joseph’s father, could control him and keep him from repaying them. Today, we can take this example and learn that, as long as we cling to our traditions, our identity, our nation, or even our own country, we are likely to rely on all of these things more than we rely on our Messiah.
There is nothing wrong with having an identity, a nation, and a country that we belong to, but we cannot trust in any of these. We must trust in Jesus alone. One day, we could loose our identity or our country, or even our nation. What would we do then?
Joseph’s brothers were totally forgiven, accepted, and cared for, but still clung to their traditional thinking and identity, which for them was Jacob. Jacob died, and everything was lost for them. That is why they were in fear. In Isaiah 28:16, the Bible says that those who trust upon the Lord, the Messiah, shall not be ashamed. Trust is a vital thing for every believer. In the Hebrew translation, the word ‘trust’ gives an even better understanding, which is ‘rest’.
Think about it: those who rest upon the Lord, the Messiah, shall not be ashamed. If our trust is at rest, then all the turmoil and trials and tribulations of this life will become nothing, which is where God wants us to be.
In Zechariah 12, the Bible declares that the time will come when all of the nations will gather against Jerusalem. That will be the time when our traditions, our identity, and our nation will carry no hope. But the Bible also tells us that this same Yeshua, Jesus our Messiah, will come back from heaven at that exact moment and save Israel from its enemies and from sin. Once again, God will show that trust in Him, and Him alone, is the only answer, even when the whole world has come against you.
Friends, you cannot substitute your traditions, your good deeds, or any other thing for your faith in the Messiah Jesus and your personal salvation through Him.
In closing, let me show you this from Genesis 50, Verses 16 and 17. Because of fear, Joseph’s brothers had to lie to him, saying: “16Before your father died he commanded, saying, 17‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you”.’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” Because of fear, they tried to justify their guilt by a lie.
That also reminds me a passage in the New Testament, where Yeshua said that many will come to me and say Lord, Lord, didn’t we do this and that in your name, but the Lord will say depart from me, I never knew you.
We cannot justify our salvation or our trust in God by our traditions or by any other means that we think will be accepted. God sent the Messiah, Jesus, to this Earth to pay the price for our sin, first for the Jew, and then for the Gentile. And whoever accepts Him shall be saved and forgiven. Then we can put our trust upon Him and be at rest.
Who do you trust today? Is it yourself, your traditions, your identity, your nation, or the Lord God Almighty, who is above all?
Shalom, |
