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Just as Judah and his brothers did not recognize the gentile Egyptian governor as their flesh and blood Hebrew brother Joseph, many Christians may not recognize their Jewish Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus) of Nazareth, when He returns to Earth for His bride.
In Torah reading ויגש Vayigash (“he approached,” Genesis 44:18–47:27), Joseph disguised himself as a gentile to save Egypt and the entire world from famine. Yeshua’s apostle Paul tells us that the Messiah disguised Himself from His Jewish kin for a time for the sake of the Gentiles, but He will reveal Himself as our Jewish Messiah at His second coming. The question is, are we prepared to see Him as He really is?
Joseph’s testing of his brothers was pretty obvious, particularly regarding his favoritism towards Benjamin. Joseph’s entrapment of Benjamin as a thief catches his older brothers so off guard they don’t know what to think so they operate under the assumption that the governor’s accusation against Benjamin is true.
Judah’s plea to the governor of Egypt for Benjamin’s life is purely emotional. As the brothers interacted with Joseph at various times, there were some things that were amiss, such as the return of their money the first time and how he was able to seat them in perfect birth order but, when Judah confronts Joseph, he is careful not to accuse Joseph of any wrongdoing.
He appeals to Joseph’s heart, which is what you do when you have no concrete facts to present in your defense. However, did Joseph believe Judah? At some level Joseph did believe him but at another level, Joseph still did not believe that Judah or the other brothers were honest men.
Even though Judah tells Joseph several times over the course of their interactions that their father is alive, the first question Joseph asks after he reveals his true identity is “Is my father still alive?” Joseph knew his brothers knew how to lie.
What Joseph didn’t know until he put them to the test is that Judah has grown up since experiencing the death of his own sons and how he protected his youngest son.
Judah also had greater empathy for Jacob and his anguish over Joseph and Benjamin. Judah would rather go into slavery than to see his father lose another son.
Joseph has learned that Judah has really grown up, now Joseph can have a real relationship with him and the rest of his brothers.
Later when the brothers go to Egypt to bring Jacob back to Egypt, Jacob didn’t believe Judah and his other sons either, their lies had been exposed.
The brothers didn’t believe Joseph either when he first revealed himself to them either.
Joseph is a messianic figure. Joseph lived before the Messiah and fulfilled a part of the Messiah’s mission. The partial fulfillments of various pre-Messianic figures helps us know who the Messiah is when we actually see Him.
There are some parts of Joseph’s life that parallel Messiah Yeshua.
| Joseph | Yeshua |
| Joseph was imprisoned with two notables of Pharaoh’s house. | Yeshua was crucified with two thieves. |
| One prisoner lived (wine=blood), other died (bread=flesh). | One of the thieves repented and gained eternal life, the other thief did not repent. |
| Joseph asks the survivor to remember him. | Yeshua promised to remember the repentant thief. |
| All of the family are under his authority | All of His people are under His authority |
Now let’s compare Joseph to King David and Yeshua Messiah so we can see the Messianic threads more clearly.
David had many sons but the son that caused him the most grief was Absolom, but of all of David’s sons, Absolom was the one whose life had the most Messianic hints (except mayby Solomon).
| Joseph | David | Yeshua |
| Ruler | King (Anointed) | King in waiting |
| Immortal (Absolom) | ||
| David mourns Absolom | God mourns Yeshua | |
| Absolom’s death=our lives | Yeshua’s death=our life | |
| Tests his brothers (Judah) | Tests his brothers (2 Sam. 19:11-15) | |
| Argues his similarity to his brothers (Benjamin) | Argues his similarity to his brothers |
“Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him; and all the people of Judah and also half the people of Israel accompanied the king. And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “Why had our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away, and brought the king and his household and all David’s men with him over the Jordan?” Then all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is a close relative to us. Why then are you angry about this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense, or has anything been taken for us?” But the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said, “We have ten parts in the king, therefore we also have more claim on David than you. Why then did you treat us with contempt? Was it not our advice first to bring back our king?” Yet the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.” (2 Samuel 19:40–43 NASB)
The Northern 10 tribes were eager to return David to his rightful throne. It was their idea to return David to his rightful place.
The tribe of Judah, on the other hand, didn’t want to bring David back even after Absolom’s death. They had rejected their flesh and bone. Judah had to be coaxed into agreeing to David’s return. The Tribe of Judah only acknowledges David as King with political bribery and David had to remind them that he was a member of their tribe before they finally accepted him as their rightful king.
How many Gentiles acknowledge Yeshua as Messiah v. how many Jews acknowledge Yeshua as Messiah? Most Jews have rejected Yeshua as Messiah while much of the Gentile world acknowledges Yeshua as Messiah. Just as the House of Israel had acknowledge David’s kingship while the House of Judah rejected the Davidic dynsasty.
But what happens if and when Jews and Gentiles flip their allegiances to Messiah Yeshua?
“Now a worthless fellow happened to be there whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the trumpet and said, “We have no portion in David, Nor do we have inheritance in the son of Jesse; Every man to his tents, O Israel!” So all the men of Israel withdrew from following David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah remained steadfast to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.” (2 Samuel 20:1–2 NASB)
A student of the Tanak would recognize their Messiah better than one who only studies the New Testament. If you only study the New Testament, you have a distorted view of the Messiah.
Yeshua taught out of the Tanak from Genesis to Malachi. His students should study and know the books He taught.
When King Messiah Yeshua fully reveals His Jewish identity, many Gentiles may reject Him while most of the Jews will acknowledge Him.
“And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom; take your lord’s servants and pursue him, so that he does not find for himself fortified cities and escape from our sight.”” (2 Samuel 20:6 NASB)
Rejecting the returning Messiah will do more harm than the Jew’s rejection of Yeshua when He was was on earth.
It is the responsibility of Gentile Christians to acknowledge the return of their Messiah, even though He will not look like a Gentile King. He will look like a Jewish one.
Just as the Jews didn’t recognize Yeshua, Gentile Christians are in danger of not recognizing Him when He returns a second time as the King.
The New Testament are commentaries on the Tanak, just as the Talmud is. If someone only studies the commentary without studying the original texts, the understanding of the original text is lacking. Both Jew and Christians have the same problem.
Christians who only study the New Testament will have a harder time recognizing the Messiah when He comes, because they have a incomplete picture of Him, just as Jews who only study the Talmud have a skewed view of the Messiah, too.
Summary: Tammy
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