How do we become righteous? The life story of Yosef — yes, that coat-of-many-colors Joseph who became prince of Egypt — shows the way to walk the path of righteousness. He did not “do in Rome as the Romans do,” refusing to hold grudges against or plot revenge against those who persecuted and defamed him. What we can learn from the Torah reading ויחי Vayechi (“he lived,” Gen. 47:28–50:26) is this was the Messianic template that Yeshua walked too.
Why is history important? Because the Bible is full of promises that are directly connected to time and history. We see God promising to deliver Israel from bondage. Did He deliver them as He promised? Yes, He did. Because He kept His promise to the direct descendants of Ya’akov, we know He will keep His promises to us as well.
We need to learn from the past but not repeat it. We don’t drag the past with us in our families, in our jobs, etc. Build a bridge, and get over it. What you were doesn’t have to be who you are or who you will become.
Don’t be war-y; be happy. I’m not talking about a “fake it until your make it” happy, but by letting go of your emotional connection to your past and only carrying over the life lessons, you can be a happier person. By not holding grudges against people, you can be a vehicle of blessing and peace to those around you.
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”
Romans 12:18 NASB
What did Ya’akov give to his sons? He gave them blessings and prophesies.
We will focus our attention today on the blessing of Yosef. There are some very odd and disparate translations of the this text.
We can read Gen. 49:22-26 in the light of Psalm 1 (especially, Psa. 1:3) with its description of a righteous man being planted by streams of water mirrors this prophecy and the life of Yosef.
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!”
Psalm 1:1 NASB
It shows us how Yosef “got over it” and became a source of strength to his father and brothers. We as people do not want to siphoning our substance from leftover refuse but from healthy living pure vitamins and minerals.
Let’s take a look at the word blessed, which we see in Psa. 1:1. The path to happiness is a straight line, be careful not to meander or to point yourself towards a false goal. We should, “Aim small, miss small” (The Patriot, 2000).
- blessed = אֶשֶׁר ’esher or אָשָׁר ’ashar (H835), usually used in the plural אַשְׁרֵי: happiness, blessedness
- It comes from the verb אָשַׁר ’ashar (H833): go straight, go on, advance
- In other words, the path to happiness is the one that does meander, but goes straight toward the goal. Are we paying attention to where the destination for our lives and each action in them are?
- Taking the lead of the Psalms, some translations use “happy are” instead of “blessed are” for the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.
We need to be conscious of every decision and turn we take over time. Will it help us reach the righteous destination or set us to end up at a bad end. The Apostles faced serious persecution and yet they were happy and even singing while in jail.
There are three tests to help us determine if we are heading in the right direction or is the path we’re walking hopelessly skewed. Are you walking towars the promised land or walking in circles.
Are you heading towards the Kingdom or the Lake of Fire?
- דֶּרֶךְ צַדִּיקִים derekh tzediqim “way of [the] righteous ones” starts this way:
- “does not walk in the counsel of the wicked” (Psalm 1:1 NASB)
- “Nor stand in the path of sinners” (Psalm 1:1 NASB)
- “Nor sit in the seat of scoffers” (Psalm 1:1 NASB)
What does it mean to “not walk in the counsel of the wicked?” (Psalm 1:1 NASB)
- walk = הָלַךְ halakh (H3212): go, come, walk
Halakhah commonly means a lifestyle guided by Scripture and related teachings. So, our lifestyle shouldn’t be guided by those whose life goal isn’t the Kingdom of Heaven.
But, some may walk out their lives by the derekh tzediqim and not know it:
“For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.”
Romans 2:14–16 NASB
Thus, part of our witness to the Kingdom of Heaven can be to help others discover where the morality of their lives originates.
We are blessed to have the scriptures and the writings of derekh tzediqim to guide us on the straight and narrow path.
What does it mean to “not stand in the path of sinners?” (Psalm 1:1 NASB)
We want to “stand in the house of the righteous” instead. Who are the sinners?
If we have a target and we are attempting to hit the target but miss, that is a sin but we aren’t inherently a sinner. If we don’t have a target, no objective standard to meet and don’t care to have an objective standard to meet, then we are living as a sinner.
“Nor sit in the seat of scoffers” (Psalm 1:1 NASB)
It’s fine to “live in your own eyes” if you are looking at the right direction but if you are looking in the wrong direction or don’t even care if you have a direction, that is a real problem.
The common refrain through the millennia comes out of Pilate “What is truth?” But the scoffers refuse to acknowledge that truth even exists.
You can’t live life on this earth if you don’t know that certain things are true. What do you do when the scoffer isn’t an adamant atheist but someone who claims to be a believer? One thing to do with a believing scoffer is to try to find an entry point to introduce them to truth. It’s very challenging and not to be taken lightly.
However, at some point, we are told not to even eat a meal with those who scoff at the authority and integrity of Scripture.
When we hit a rough patch in life, we might presume that we are being punished but Yosef, by all accounts, was righteous yet he was sold into slavery and thrown into jail on a false accusation. Yet, he understood that God was planning something bigger than him.
Yosef the restrained archer
The blessing Ya’akov gave to Yosef compares the attacks and harassment that Yosef suffered to arrows. While Yosef’s brothers and harassers in Mitsraim “let fly,” Yosef cocked his arrow but held the bowstring at the ready without firing. It takes a lot of physical and mental strength to be that restrained. Yosef could have retaliated and “let fly” against all those who meant him harm but he refused. He had the power and the superiority and never released his fury.
We see in Isaiah 53 that the Messiah would come to those who were His own and they refused to acknowledge Him. Yeshua uttered little against the arrows that leaders of Israel shot at Him at His trial. Yeshua did not lash out.
Yosef didn’t just save his own family but also the Egyptians and even the Canaanites who came to Egypt for food. Yeshua has done the same. He died for all, not just for the Jews.
The lesson that comes to us is found in Luke 21:12-19. Likewise, Yeshua called the 12 and those who listened to Him to be happy when people revile us because of the Name.
“ ‘But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all because of My name. Yet not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.’”
Luke 21:12–19 NASB
The book of Revelation talks repeatedly about “he who overcomes” not just “he who believes” or “he who has the right opinions.” This world is something to be overcome.
It seems to be a contradiction that some believers will be put to death but “not a hair on your head will perish.” No one really perishes unless God kills both their body and their soul. We should only fear God, not the government. The government can oversteps its bounds and persecute those who are following the Kingdom but they can only imprison and kill the body. The governmental authorities cannot imprison or kill the soul. Only God has that power and He is the only one we should truly fear.
We are to be His ambassadors to this world, not ambassadors for this world.
Summary: Tammy
*[Yeshua]: The Hebrew name of Jesus. It means “salvation.”
*[Yosef]: Joseph