How You Can Draw Near to God like Judah: The Intercession of the Redeemed – Torah Portion Vayigash (YouTube Video Transcript)

(00:00:00) Your YouTube transcript will appear here (00:00:08) Shabbat shalom. (00:00:11) >> Shabbat shalom everyone. Um good to see (00:00:14) everyone here and give thanks for his (00:00:17) presence, his spirit, you know, where (00:00:19) two or more are gathered. Hallelujah. (00:00:22) He's there. (00:00:23) >> Thank you, Lord. (00:00:25) Today's Torah portion is Vagash. Vagash (00:00:30) which means and he junior. It literally (00:00:33) says and junior but it's referring it's (00:00:35) referring to Judah as we know we've (00:00:37) already read the para we know who it's (00:00:40) it means it's and he junior referring to (00:00:42) Judah. Um it's part of the ongoing epic (00:00:46) surrounding the life and the events of (00:00:49) Joseph. It's just there. There's (00:00:51) nothing. Every time we go through the (00:00:55) tour cycle (00:00:57) because it's so endless and so full that (00:01:03) we could never really attain it all. (00:01:05) Thank God. That's the beauty of it. You (00:01:08) tend to like go through the the sora (00:01:10) site and say, "Wow, what an what (00:01:12) treasure this is and and um what a theme (00:01:16) this is." And look at the lessons we can (00:01:18) draw from this. And then every time get (00:01:20) right back around to the the saga (00:01:22) concerning Joseph, it just blows me away (00:01:24) again. I'm thinking, "Wow, there's (00:01:26) nothing like this. (00:01:28) It it's it's actually incredible for me. (00:01:32) It just it's mindboggling. It really is. (00:01:36) Um (00:01:39) you could you could read it over and (00:01:40) over and over and you'll never get the (00:01:42) fullness. You'll never get the fullness. (00:01:45) Um, and you will (00:01:49) glean (00:01:51) new treasure from it every time. And we (00:01:54) seek treasure because (00:01:57) we love the word of God. He his teaching (00:02:00) is our instruction manual for life, you (00:02:03) know, and it's not just about saying, (00:02:06) "Look at this nuggets I found." That's (00:02:08) all well and good, but it has to be (00:02:09) applicable to our lives, you know. We (00:02:13) had to walk this and live this. That's (00:02:16) what it's about. So what I saying, yeah, (00:02:19) that's a great book and that's a great (00:02:20) episode and what a wonderful set of (00:02:23) events that was. This is what our lives (00:02:26) today now here and now. It was just a (00:02:29) few days ago that I was looking at some (00:02:33) sages commentary on regards to paradise (00:02:36) >> and the the depth of scripture is so and (00:02:39) we would translate that as secret but (00:02:42) it's it's more akin to intimate counsel (00:02:44) because once you unravel a secret it's (00:02:47) revealed but for the sages they say you (00:02:50) can never fully read the scripture (00:02:53) entirely because the verse never ends. (00:02:56) You are constantly in intimate counsel (00:02:58) with God for the rest of your life when (00:03:00) you're in the word. So a verse never (00:03:02) truly ends because you never really (00:03:05) attain the secret to be revealed to end. (00:03:07) You constantly step into the intimate (00:03:09) counsel of God and he will constantly (00:03:11) speak to you through his word for the (00:03:13) rest of your life. And and that's just (00:03:15) so much deeper, isn't it, than just like (00:03:16) reading the Bible. I was just read the (00:03:18) Bible. I've just read that verse. (00:03:19) >> I love that concept and I fully agree. I (00:03:22) fully agree and yeah, I appreciate that. (00:03:24) Thanks, Joe. Um, (00:03:28) this is why have you ever thought to (00:03:30) yourself, wow, there's not enough (00:03:32) lifetimes to learn this and learn that (00:03:34) and learn this and I wanted to learn (00:03:35) that language and how they engineer this (00:03:37) and and as you're growing up, you're (00:03:39) thinking there's not enough time to (00:03:40) learn all that's what I want to learn. (00:03:42) So, thank God we live forever cuz we can (00:03:44) always we're always going to be (00:03:45) learning, you know, and so he will (00:03:47) always be God cuz he's always there (00:03:50) above us, you know. We're always (00:03:52) striving and seeking upwards. (00:03:56) Yeah, it's the endless um (00:04:00) weird. It just it just doesn't stop. It (00:04:02) just doesn't stop. And this saga with (00:04:04) Joseph is um just one part of it, but (00:04:06) it's definitely up there with one of my (00:04:08) favorite pe parts of the Bible. The (00:04:10) whole epic surrounding Joseph and his (00:04:12) brothers, etc. So, Vagash and Heun (00:04:17) um (00:04:19) which is four words in English just one (00:04:21) in Hebrew. So, how do we get to where we (00:04:24) are today? Let's let's see what brought (00:04:29) us to the stage we're in scriptures. (00:04:30) Now, the brothers now come to Egypt in (00:04:34) search of food (00:04:36) because of the famine. (00:04:38) They meet Joseph, but they don't really (00:04:40) they know they don't know who he is. (00:04:42) Okay, Joseph knows who they are. (00:04:48) And so begins the drama whereby he test (00:04:50) them, doesn't he? Through different (00:04:53) escapades going on. And then they return (00:04:56) home without Simeon. The dad Jacob is (00:04:59) destroyed. We know the story. The (00:05:02) money's in their sacks. They bring (00:05:04) Benjamin. The cup is found with him and (00:05:07) on it goes. We all know the story. (00:05:12) Today's para (00:05:14) Judah approaches Joseph. He draws near. (00:05:17) This is Nagash where we get the title (00:05:19) Vagash. And really (00:05:22) today the whole pass is going to be is (00:05:25) going to pivot around that moment there (00:05:28) where Judah draws near. Um I mean (00:05:32) there's a million and one things. (00:05:34) There's a million and one threads (00:05:35) interwoven here and it's it's bit one (00:05:38) you're led to tack on to (00:05:40) today. It's going to be it's going to um (00:05:44) pivot around that Judah during N to (00:05:47) Joseph. So he chose N to Joseph to plead (00:05:50) for the release of Benjamin and he (00:05:52) offers himself as a slave in Benjamin (00:05:56) instead. (00:05:58) Now when Joseph sees his brother's (00:06:00) loyalty to each other and how they've (00:06:02) turned their (00:06:04) characters and their hearts, (00:06:07) uh he reveals himself to them. (00:06:11) The brothers are overcome (00:06:14) as they would be. Shame, remorse, etc., (00:06:17) guilt. But Joseph comforts them. He (00:06:20) comforts them. (00:06:22) The brothers go back to Canaan with the (00:06:24) news to tell the father. And Jacob comes (00:06:27) to Egypt with them and their families (00:06:30) and is reunited with Joseph after 22 (00:06:32) years. (00:06:34) Then we read that Joseph gathers the (00:06:36) wealth of Egypt by selling food and seed (00:06:40) during the famine. (00:06:42) Near the end of the par, we read that (00:06:44) Pharaoh gives Jacob's family the (00:06:46) district of Goan (00:06:49) wherein they prosper abundantly. Goan is (00:06:53) quite significant. It's the first (00:06:54) sighting we see of Goan in scripture is (00:06:57) in this para. So vagash in Hebrew as I (00:07:00) said is the first word of the para and (00:07:03) it comes from that word nagash which is (00:07:05) three letters nun gimmel shin it's the (00:07:08) same three letters we see in goan (00:07:13) gimmel shin nun now linguistically (00:07:17) go's associated with drawing near (00:07:19) drawing near to God (00:07:22) the place is linked with rain it's the (00:07:25) Torah (00:07:27) abundance divine faith favor and (00:07:28) protection. Yeshua is our go. Yeshua is (00:07:32) our go where we can rest in his love and (00:07:36) his provision. (00:07:38) Symbolically, go (00:07:42) is what we draw near to. (00:07:46) They were drawn near to Goan through (00:07:48) Joseph. (00:07:52) God wants us near him. (00:07:55) Nagash to approach to come near to come (00:07:58) closer to etc. (00:08:00) and he drew near. This is Judah, Jordan, (00:08:03) near to Joseph. The first mention we get (00:08:05) of this word Nagash is in Genesis 18. (00:08:09) And Abraham came near, that's Nagash, (00:08:13) and said, "Would you also destroy the (00:08:15) righteous with the wicked?" (00:08:17) So we see here what the the the thread (00:08:21) Abraham like Judas today is interceding (00:08:24) on behalf of others. (00:08:26) It's intercession. When I wrote that, I (00:08:28) thought, "Oh, no, it's just another. (00:08:30) It's just Benjamin, but it's actually (00:08:31) Benjamin and Jacob. He's also (00:08:33) interceding on behalf of Jacob, isn't (00:08:35) he?" Not just Benjamin. So, he is (00:08:38) interceding on behalf of others. (00:08:41) Um, Judah. (00:08:45) So, the message is that our God wants us (00:08:48) to draw near to him. Remember that (00:08:50) Joseph is a foreshadowing of Yeshua. And (00:08:53) in Joseph, we can see that quite (00:08:55) plainly. We can also understand that (00:08:58) he's also just a man and we can (00:08:59) sometimes see ourselves in him and how (00:09:02) would we be in his shoes etc. But I'm (00:09:05) sure that we all me personally (00:09:09) identify with Jud because this is the (00:09:12) sinner who's having to turn his life (00:09:15) around. You know Joseph, you don't (00:09:18) really see Joseph um (00:09:21) committing any gross error really. (00:09:23) Whereas Judah, he (00:09:26) he betrayed his brother. He left his (00:09:28) brothers. He threw one of his brothers (00:09:30) in a pit. He wanted to kill him, etc. He (00:09:34) went through all kinds of Judah is the (00:09:37) sinner trying to make good. (00:09:39) Whereas Joseph is like quite the (00:09:42) opposite. And yet (00:09:44) strangely, you know, they they come to (00:09:46) the same result, don't they? You know (00:09:51) they're both accepted by our God I (00:09:53) believe. So Judah join to Joseph in (00:09:56) effect because of we know the symbology (00:09:58) going on he draw near to Yeshua. (00:10:02) Judah now has come full circle. (00:10:07) So the the message is and the hope that (00:10:09) we have that no matter what our past is (00:10:12) like Judah we can come near to him. This (00:10:15) is the loving mercy of our God. You (00:10:18) know, we all have I mean some more than (00:10:21) some more than others have have some (00:10:23) really bad pasts, you know, (00:10:28) really bad things and stuff in in their (00:10:30) life. Some of us more than others, you (00:10:33) know, but the good news is we can come (00:10:37) near to him and hopefully through the (00:10:39) past you will it's all right to say, (00:10:40) "Yeah, it's okay. God will forgive you. (00:10:42) Just go and see him. He's all right." (00:10:44) There's a certain (00:10:46) there's certain ways of doing it. You (00:10:49) can't just turn up willy-nilly (00:10:51) with a brass neck and a stony heart. You (00:10:54) know, there there's certain ways and (00:10:58) strategies, not strategy, but the word (00:11:00) um there's a protocol. There's a (00:11:03) protocol. And we don't fully get it in (00:11:06) this text how Judah does it. But when we (00:11:09) read scriptures, we find all the (00:11:11) answers. And the answers are in (00:11:13) scripture. (00:11:15) How do we draw near to God? (00:11:18) So Judah now has come full circle. He (00:11:20) hated Joseph. He wanted him dead. He had (00:11:23) him thrown into a pit (00:11:25) and sold off his own brother. In a (00:11:28) sense, he practically taken a life cuz (00:11:31) he wanted to leave him for dead in the (00:11:32) in that pit. (00:11:34) He had murder in his heart for his own (00:11:36) brother. And now he's offering his own (00:11:40) life to save another. (00:11:43) That's how much he turned. (00:11:46) His turnaround is now full and his (00:11:48) repentance is manifested in Christlike (00:11:51) deeds. (00:11:53) Yeah. You know, in Christlike deeds. (00:11:57) Greater love is no one than this than to (00:11:59) lay down one's life for his friends. We (00:12:01) read in John. (00:12:06) >> Now, as I go through the parit, there (00:12:08) will be times when it's unavoidable (00:12:10) really. I might I will mention that the (00:12:13) Joseph and Yeshua parallels, it's hard (00:12:15) not to really, but I I'll just try and (00:12:19) point those out or read them out when (00:12:20) it's relevant to the text, you know, or (00:12:24) the message. (00:12:26) Uh but as I say, the main focus will be (00:12:29) on this drawing near Judah drawing near (00:12:31) to Joseph, the part of pivots on that (00:12:34) really. (00:12:36) Um, and as I said, it's relevant to us (00:12:39) cuz this symbolizes God's children (00:12:42) drawing near to him. I'm sure we can all (00:12:45) identify ourselves in Judah. (00:12:48) And Joseph is a foreshadowing of Yeshua. (00:12:52) So, this symbolizes God's children (00:12:54) drawing near to him, you know, (00:12:59) and like Judah, we do mess up. We can (00:13:01) all mess up. So, we need to know what (00:13:04) how does he do this? (00:13:06) But God desires that we come to him, (00:13:08) that we follow him and his ways. And the (00:13:11) good news is that no matter what our (00:13:13) past, just like Judah, we can draw near (00:13:16) to him. And through the life and events (00:13:18) of Judah, (00:13:20) we are shown that we too, thank God, may (00:13:24) may draw near to him. (00:13:28) So let's begin. We're going to read (00:13:31) chapter 44. Just as a side note, we'll (00:13:34) see here as we read that Joseph James, (00:13:38) we see the fulfillment here. (00:13:41) Uh Joseph James come to fruition, don't (00:13:43) he? That we read about seven chapters (00:13:45) ago when the brothers say, "Will you (00:13:47) actually rule us back in Genesis 37, you (00:13:52) know, and here it is now. It's fulfilled (00:13:55) here." (00:13:57) So from 18 to34, we'll read. Then Judah (00:14:01) came near Nagash (00:14:04) Vash Yehudah. Then Judah came near to (00:14:07) him and said, "Oh my lord, please let (00:14:10) your servant speak a word to my lord's (00:14:12) hearing and do not let your anger b (00:14:15) against your servants for you are even (00:14:17) like Pharaoh." (00:14:21) My lord asked his servants, saying, (00:14:23) "Have you a father or a brother?" And we (00:14:25) said to my lord, we have a father, an (00:14:28) old man, and a child of his old age who (00:14:30) is young. His brother's dead, and he (00:14:33) alone is left of his mother's children, (00:14:35) and his father loves him. Then you said (00:14:38) to your servants, "Bring him down to me (00:14:41) that I may set my eyes on him." And we (00:14:44) said to my lord, "The lack cannot leave (00:14:46) his father, for if he should leave his (00:14:48) father, his father would die. But you (00:14:51) said to your servants, (00:14:53) "Unless your youngest brother comes down (00:14:55) with you, you shall see my face no (00:14:57) more." So it was when we went up to your (00:15:01) servant, my father, that we told him the (00:15:03) words of my lord. And our father said, (00:15:06) "Go back and buy us a little food." (00:15:10) But we said, "We can't go down. (00:15:12) If our youngest brother is with us, then (00:15:15) we will go down. For we may not see the (00:15:17) man's face unless our youngest brother (00:15:19) is with us. Then your servants are my (00:15:22) father said to us, "You know that my (00:15:25) wife bore me two sons." And the one went (00:15:28) out from me. And I said, "Surely he's (00:15:30) torn to pieces, and I haven't seen him (00:15:32) since. But if you take this one also (00:15:35) from me, and calamity befalls him, you (00:15:38) shall bring down my gray hair with (00:15:40) sorrow to the grave." (00:15:42) Now therefore, when I come to your (00:15:44) servant, my father, and the lad isn't (00:15:46) with us, since his life is bound up in a (00:15:48) lad's life, it will happen when he sees (00:15:51) that the lad isn't with us, that he will (00:15:54) die. So your servants will bring down (00:15:56) the gray hair of your servant, our (00:15:58) father, with sorrow to the grave. For (00:16:00) your servant became shortity for the (00:16:03) lad, to my father, saying, "If I don't (00:16:06) bring him back to you, then I shall bear (00:16:07) the blame before my father forever." (00:16:11) Now therefore, (00:16:13) please let your servant remain instead (00:16:15) of the lad as a slave to my lord, and (00:16:18) let the lad go up with his brothers. For (00:16:21) how shall I go to my father if the lad (00:16:23) isn't with me? Less perhaps I see the (00:16:26) evil that would come upon my father. (00:16:30) So this is a very magnanimous (00:16:33) um act here that Jud is uh displaying. (00:16:37) In brief here, what's happening is we we (00:16:40) should know this, but just to briefly (00:16:42) summarize it, Judah's plea is actually (00:16:46) it's intercession. Okay, where he where (00:16:49) he stands in the gap for his brother (00:16:50) Benjamin? (00:16:53) This (00:16:55) shows us the importance of praying for (00:16:58) others. (00:17:00) Okay, (00:17:03) it's a theme that runs right through (00:17:04) scriptures. The brother's actions, (00:17:06) especially Judas, show a change of heart (00:17:09) from how they previously betrayed (00:17:12) Joseph. (00:17:14) True repentance involves a (00:17:16) transformation of character and conduct, (00:17:18) and that must come from the heart. (00:17:22) The subsequent events highlight God's (00:17:24) sovereign plan that God can even use (00:17:27) past wrongs. (00:17:29) And think of all the wrongs that went on (00:17:32) to bring about his purpose. Yeah. (00:17:35) >> So we understand here that trusting in (00:17:37) God's providence is crucial even when (00:17:40) circumstances seem dire. Okay? (00:17:45) And there are a lot of dire (00:17:46) circumstances in this whole whole saga. (00:17:50) Judah's bold and humble intercession is (00:17:53) a recurring biblical theme which points (00:17:57) ultimately to Messiah. (00:18:00) Spiritually, Judah's plea reflects us as (00:18:04) sinners approaching a holy God, seeking (00:18:07) mercy instead of judgment. Okay, so (00:18:11) that's a brief summary of what's going (00:18:13) on here. (00:18:18) Verse 18, this is a blueprint for how to (00:18:21) approach God. Then Judah came near to (00:18:24) him. Judas shows us how this is done. He (00:18:27) acknowledges that Joseph has the power (00:18:29) of life and death over him. (00:18:31) >> Yeah. (00:18:33) >> Right. Remember he's a foreshadowing. (00:18:36) He pleads for mercy. Do not this is he's (00:18:39) pleading for mercy. Do not let your (00:18:40) anger burn against your servant (00:18:43) even though you'd be right in doing so. (00:18:47) So his choice of language here is he (00:18:49) says he calls him my lord. He calls (00:18:52) himself your servant. He's displaying (00:18:54) obeasance and humility and submission. (00:18:58) So these are state of babe given part of (00:19:01) a blueprint of how to approach God. (00:19:03) >> Yeah. Okay. (00:19:08) Okay. Let's we're going to come back to (00:19:09) that theme. Let's move on uh to chapter (00:19:12) 45. We're going to read the whole (00:19:14) chapter here 1 to 28. If you turn to (00:19:16) your scriptures, Joseph could not (00:19:18) restrain himself before all those who (00:19:20) stood by him. And he cried out, "Make (00:19:22) everyone go out from me." So no one (00:19:25) stood with him while Joseph made himself (00:19:27) known to his brothers. (00:19:29) And he wept aloud. And the Egyptians in (00:19:31) the house of Pharaoh heard it. Then (00:19:34) Joseph said to his brothers, "And Ysef, (00:19:37) I am Joseph. (00:19:40) Does my father still live?" But his (00:19:41) brothers couldn't answer him, for they (00:19:44) were dismayed in his presence. Well, you (00:19:46) would be, wouldn't you? (00:19:48) And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please (00:19:51) come near to me." (00:19:53) So they came near. (00:19:56) Very significant. Then he said, "I'm (00:20:00) Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into (00:20:02) Egypt. But now do not therefore be (00:20:05) grieved or angry with yourselves because (00:20:07) you sold me here. For God sent me before (00:20:10) you to preserve life." (00:20:13) We touched on this last week and the (00:20:14) week before that Joseph understands that (00:20:18) it's all God's doings. (00:20:21) Whatever seemingly good or seemingly bad (00:20:23) happens in life, it's all God's doings. (00:20:26) And Joseph understands this. Said, "You (00:20:28) might have meant it for evil, but it was (00:20:30) God's plan all along. (00:20:35) Do not be grieved or angry with (00:20:37) yourselves because you saw me here. For (00:20:39) God sent me before you to preserve life. (00:20:41) For these two years the family has been (00:20:43) in the land and there's still five years (00:20:45) in which there will be neither plowing (00:20:46) nor harvesting. And God sent me before (00:20:50) you to preserve a posterity for you in (00:20:52) the earth (00:20:55) and to save your lives by a great (00:20:57) deliverance. (00:20:59) So now it was not you who sent me here (00:21:02) but God. and he has made me a father to (00:21:05) Pharaoh and lord of all his house and a (00:21:08) ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. (00:21:11) Hurry and go up to my father and say to (00:21:13) him, "Thus says your son Joseph. (00:21:18) God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come (00:21:20) down to me. Do not tar. You shall dwell (00:21:24) in the land of Gan. (00:21:27) And you shall be near to me. you and (00:21:30) your children, your children's children, (00:21:32) your flocks and your herds and all that (00:21:34) you have. (00:21:36) >> There I will provide for you, lest you (00:21:38) and your household and all that you have (00:21:40) come to poverty, for there are still (00:21:42) five years of famine. (00:21:44) And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my (00:21:47) brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth (00:21:49) that speaks to you. (00:21:51) So you shall tell my father of all my (00:21:53) glory in Egypt and of all that you have (00:21:56) seen and you shall hurry and bring my (00:21:58) father down here. (00:22:01) So he sends them up and he says come (00:22:02) back down. (00:22:04) Most of us will know this but when you (00:22:06) defer to the promised land it's always (00:22:08) up. It's always up and anywhere else (00:22:11) from there is down. (00:22:15) Then he fell on his brother Benjamin's (00:22:17) neck and wept. (00:22:19) And Benjamin wept on his neck. Moreover, (00:22:22) he kissed all of his brothers and wept (00:22:24) over them. And after that his brothers (00:22:26) talked with him. Now the report of it (00:22:29) was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, (00:22:30) "Joseph's brothers have come." So please (00:22:33) Pharaoh and his servants well. And (00:22:35) Pharaoh said to Joseph, (00:22:38) "Say to your brothers, do this. Load (00:22:41) your animals and depart. Go to the land (00:22:43) of Canaan. Bring your father and your (00:22:46) household and come to me. I will give (00:22:49) you the best of the land of Egypt and (00:22:51) you will eat the fat of the land. (00:22:55) This is like smack bang in the middle of (00:22:57) a severe famine. (00:22:59) This is (00:23:02) gosh represents God's presence and his (00:23:05) provision right in the middle of (00:23:07) everything. Remember (00:23:11) the whale was pl Egypt is the rail was (00:23:14) plunged into darkness and go had light (00:23:16) it's very significant go (00:23:21) a fat of the land now you were commanded (00:23:24) do this take carts out of the land of (00:23:27) Egypt for your little ones and your (00:23:29) wives bring your father and come also (00:23:32) don't be concerned about your goods for (00:23:34) the best of all the land of Egypt is (00:23:36) yours (00:23:39) Then the sons of Israel did so. And (00:23:41) Joseph gave them carts according to the (00:23:43) command of Pharaoh. (00:23:45) And he gave them provisions for the (00:23:47) journey. He gave to all of them to each (00:23:50) man changes of garments. But to (00:23:52) Benjamin, he gave 300 pieces of silver (00:23:55) and five changes of garments. Now, (00:23:58) that's another story and another study. (00:24:00) Wonderful. We can always look into that (00:24:02) in our own time. It's beautiful. It just (00:24:04) takes another turn. (00:24:07) you know what he's doing. He's now the (00:24:09) youngest, isn't he? How are they going (00:24:10) to cheat him, etc. But we're going to (00:24:13) come back to that. It's it's beautiful (00:24:15) actually. We will mention that just (00:24:17) further on. It's beautiful. (00:24:22) And he sent to his father these things, (00:24:24) 10 donkeys loaded with the good things (00:24:27) of Egypt and 10 female donkeys loaded (00:24:30) with grain, bread, and food for his (00:24:32) father for the journey. So he sent his (00:24:34) brothers away and they departed. And he (00:24:36) said to them, "See that you don't become (00:24:38) troubled along the way." (00:24:41) Then they went up out of Egypt and came (00:24:44) to the land of Canaan to Jacob their (00:24:45) father. And they told him, saying, (00:24:47) "Joseph still alive and he's governor (00:24:51) over all the land of Egypt." (00:24:53) And Jacob's heart stood still because he (00:24:55) didn't believe them. (00:24:58) He didn't believe them. But when they (00:25:01) told him all the words which Joseph had (00:25:04) said to them, (00:25:06) and when he saw the cards which Joseph (00:25:08) had sent to carry him, the spirits of (00:25:11) Jacob their father revived. (00:25:15) Then Israel said, "It's enough. Joseph, (00:25:18) my son, is still alive. I'll go up and (00:25:21) see him before I die." (00:25:24) What an absolute epic, man. I mean, this (00:25:26) is just a piece of it. It's just it's (00:25:30) you know when you I think we've all got (00:25:32) books at home, haven't we? And some of (00:25:35) your favorite books that you can just (00:25:38) read over and over again, you know, but (00:25:40) this nothing compares to the scriptures, (00:25:42) does it? Nothing compares to the (00:25:44) scriptures, you know. (00:25:48) I mean, for a a good few years, I didn't (00:25:51) read anything but scriptures. people (00:25:54) say, "Haven't you had such and such a (00:25:55) great and thinking I used to say, I've (00:25:57) got the Bible." (00:25:59) You know, it's like when I used to (00:26:02) listen to music um years ago, I was a (00:26:05) very big Bob Marley fan still and at I (00:26:08) would listen to and people say, "Well, I (00:26:10) haven't heard Dennis Brown or such and (00:26:12) such and said, "I'm listening to Bob (00:26:14) Marley. It's the best." you know, I sort (00:26:17) of (00:26:21) I'm not that um stiff necked anymore. (00:26:24) There's there's other things there if (00:26:25) they're not um anti- good or anything. (00:26:29) It's you know, (00:26:31) you don't have to throw everything out (00:26:33) in in your life. You know, there are (00:26:36) some good books and good authors. Good (00:26:38) books are good. Good books are good. But (00:26:40) there's nothing like the Bible. Nothing. (00:26:43) And this is just a tiny part of it. This (00:26:46) whole saga surrounding Jacob and his (00:26:48) siblings and his dad. Amazing. (00:26:51) Verse nine. Hurry up and go up to my (00:26:54) father and say to him, "Thus says your (00:26:56) son Joseph, (00:26:58) you know, go to the father in my name." (00:27:01) You know, (00:27:04) go to the father in the name of his son. (00:27:06) You know, (00:27:08) >> I didn't want to do any more parallels (00:27:09) with Joseph and Yeshua, but you did. (00:27:14) Verses 10 and 11. You shall dwell in the (00:27:16) land of Goan, and you shall be near to (00:27:19) me. You and your children, your (00:27:21) children's children, your flocks, and (00:27:22) your herds, and all that you have. There (00:27:24) I will provide for you. Go. (00:27:28) It's quite you can see it just jumps (00:27:31) out. It's it's like Eden. It's like the (00:27:32) ark. It's the promised land to New (00:27:35) Jerusalem. Essentially, it's where God (00:27:37) is present. (00:27:39) You know, (00:27:42) outside there's darkness and famine and (00:27:45) plague. Within this light and abundance (00:27:49) and divine favor, (00:27:53) to be near to our God is to be in go. (00:27:56) Okay? And remember it means to draw (00:27:59) near. That's there lies the paradox that (00:28:02) when we do draw near, that's when we (00:28:06) receive the fat of the land. That's when (00:28:08) we have the protection. That's when we (00:28:10) hear his voice. Draw near to God and he (00:28:13) will draw near to you. (00:28:16) Draw near to God and you're in go. (00:28:21) You're in. (00:28:23) Thanks, Joe. (00:28:25) Verse 20. Also do not be concerned about (00:28:28) your goods for the best of all the land (00:28:30) of Egypt is yours. (00:28:34) The little translation here is let not (00:28:36) your eye be sparing. In other words, (00:28:38) don't worry about leaving any of your (00:28:40) stuff behind any baggage. (00:28:42) Now that should alert you to the gospels (00:28:44) where Yeshua sends the disciples off. (00:28:46) They don't have a staff, a wallet, (00:28:48) bread, money. (00:28:51) I was taught here and it's here in the (00:28:53) Tanakh. Don't worry about your food and (00:28:55) your drink and your clothes. (00:28:57) >> Just go forth. God provides. (00:29:02) >> So the lesson for us here just as we see (00:29:04) here with the brothers, when you're sent (00:29:06) on a mission of God, however daunting it (00:29:08) might seem, God will provide all you (00:29:11) need and more. So we see this in the (00:29:14) gospels. And in here, that's what's (00:29:16) happening. (00:29:18) Verse 24. So he sent his brothers away (00:29:20) and they departed and he said to them, (00:29:22) "See that you do not become troubled (00:29:25) along the way." Now that's the version (00:29:27) we we used at NKJV. The King James (00:29:31) version reads, "So he sent his bread on (00:29:33) the way and they departed and he said to (00:29:35) them, see that you fall not out by the (00:29:38) way. Don't fall out by the way." And (00:29:41) other translations say, "Do not (00:29:43) quarrel." So you think, well, what is (00:29:46) it? Is it trouble or fall out or (00:29:48) quarrel? Which one is it? (00:29:51) When I come across something like this, (00:29:53) there's always an an insight into how I (00:29:55) hear these scriptures, (00:29:57) you know? I'm sure there's more than one (00:30:00) right way. I'm not saying my way is the (00:30:02) best, but when I come across something (00:30:03) like this, is it troubled? Is a fallout? (00:30:06) Is a quarrel? Which but the way I (00:30:09) approach it is to place it in its (00:30:11) context. It has to be placed in its (00:30:14) context. (00:30:16) and also and or refer to the original (00:30:19) Hebrew script. (00:30:22) Okay. (00:30:23) Now in Hebrew this troubled or fall out (00:30:26) or quarrel it's ragas. Raaz. Okay. (00:30:32) And that means excited, agitated, even (00:30:36) to quiver or tremble with anger or fear. (00:30:40) So we know that anger or fear induces (00:30:42) trembling and shaking you know so you're (00:30:46) getting it to a meaning here of what (00:30:49) what what is going on here is a troubled (00:30:50) fallout quality and that's what it means (00:30:56) and then you say well okay we've got (00:30:57) that word now and you put it into (00:30:59) context (00:31:01) now Joseph (00:31:05) was concerned and justifiably so that (00:31:07) they might quarrel on the way about how (00:31:09) they used to treat (00:31:11) It was you that said put him in a pit. (00:31:13) No, I wanted to get him out. You said (00:31:14) you wanted to kill him. And they're all (00:31:16) like (00:31:20) and also thinking what are we going to (00:31:22) say to dad? They got to tell the dad (00:31:25) also. You said he was cool by a go. (00:31:29) So we So Joseph's anticipating this and (00:31:32) saying don't be doing all this on the (00:31:33) way, you know. (00:31:38) So from Hebrew the original script and (00:31:42) placing this into context we understand (00:31:44) that essentially Joseph is saying is (00:31:47) saying to them don't get angry and start (00:31:49) arguing on the way. (00:31:52) Okay. (00:31:55) Now the lesson we can draw from this is (00:31:57) Yeshua doesn't want us to quarrel on the (00:32:00) way. And we are we're on the way. (00:32:05) We're on the way. We're on the path to (00:32:07) the father. You see, we're on the way (00:32:10) the path to the father. We're all on the (00:32:12) path. Okay? And he doesn't want us (00:32:15) bickering among ourselves. (00:32:18) He wants us to edify each other. Okay? (00:32:21) So that's the lesson we can learn. See (00:32:22) from that there (00:32:25) we're supposed to build each other up, (00:32:28) not pull each other down. And Joseph is (00:32:32) is very Christlike in what he's saying. (00:32:35) And in John we read, "A new commandment (00:32:37) I give to you, that you love one another (00:32:39) as I've loved you, that you also love (00:32:43) one another." (00:32:46) He had the power of life and death over (00:32:47) them. And he told to forgive them. Now (00:32:49) he's saying, "Look, I can forgive you. (00:32:51) So you better just be all right with (00:32:52) each other." I'm showing you the example (00:32:54) very Christlike. (00:32:56) It's love God, love your neighbor as (00:32:58) yourself, isn't it? It's Yeshua also (00:33:00) teaches (00:33:02) here, O Israel. (00:33:04) So this is Joseph's desire. This is (00:33:06) Yeshua's desire. (00:33:09) Verse 26. (00:33:12) And they told him, saying, Joseph is (00:33:14) still alive and he's governor over all (00:33:16) the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart (00:33:19) stood still because he didn't believe (00:33:21) him. Before we go any further, when you (00:33:24) read in Hebrew, there is no mention of (00:33:25) heart. There is no mention of that word (00:33:28) heart. There's no mention. It says pug. (00:33:32) Pug meaning stunned or numb. (00:33:38) And I believe that for 22 long years (00:33:41) Jacob considered Joseph dead. As far as (00:33:44) you concerned, Joseph is dead. But I be (00:33:47) that Jacob suspected the brothers were (00:33:49) implicated in it. (00:33:52) I believe that's what was in his mind. (00:33:55) Jo Joseph is dead, but these have (00:33:57) something to do with it. I believe he (00:33:59) felt that. and after such a long time is (00:34:02) shock (00:34:04) shocked numb that the claim of Joseph (00:34:07) was actually alive is understandable but (00:34:10) it doesn't mention heart by the way (00:34:14) he was stunned numb but here look he (00:34:18) didn't believe them cuz you know why (00:34:19) these are the boys who cried wolf or (00:34:23) wild beast the boys who cried wild beast (00:34:26) which is living evil as we touched on (00:34:29) previously (00:34:30) Now, the brothers lied to their father (00:34:32) when they dipped Joseph's coat in the (00:34:35) blood of a goat and he believed them. (00:34:39) But when they told him the truth, he (00:34:40) didn't believe them. Such is the fate of (00:34:42) a liar. (00:34:43) >> That even when you're telling the truth, (00:34:46) you're not believed. Such is the fate of (00:34:49) a liar. Even when you're telling the (00:34:50) truth, you're not believed. (00:34:54) But um (00:34:56) verse 27. (00:34:59) Now this intrigues me every time I read (00:35:01) it. Every every sort of cycle. But when (00:35:04) they told him all the words which Joseph (00:35:06) had said to them, and when he saw the (00:35:08) cart which Joseph had sent to carry him, (00:35:11) the spirit of Jacob their father (00:35:12) revived. So (00:35:16) he's numb. He's stunned. (00:35:19) He can't really take it in or believe (00:35:21) them. But when he sees the cards and (00:35:23) hears what Joseph said, then he goes, (00:35:26) "Oh yeah, he is alive." So he think what (00:35:29) what what's he just seen or heard that (00:35:31) make him suddenly like, "Yeah, it is (00:35:33) true. There's something very something (00:35:36) going on." (00:35:39) So Jacob's spirit revives when they told (00:35:42) him all the words which Joseph had said (00:35:44) to them and when he saw the carts which (00:35:46) Joseph had sent. So you read this, you (00:35:49) think it maybe there's something about (00:35:50) the cards that prove to Jacob that these (00:35:52) could only have been sent by Joseph. (00:35:55) Maybe that's what it is. It's something (00:35:57) about the cards. (00:35:59) Or is it the words that Joseph relayed (00:36:01) to him through the brothers (00:36:04) and I go with the latter? I can see both (00:36:09) perhaps the cards but for me definitely (00:36:11) the words and I I know that there is a a (00:36:14) midrash I've read this previously which (00:36:16) claims that Joseph gave the brothers a (00:36:19) sign in his speech which only Jacob (00:36:22) would would get on to (00:36:24) >> you know he he Jacob made a reference to (00:36:28) some the mid says that (00:36:31) Joseph made a reference to something (00:36:33) that they were talking about the day (00:36:35) they parted (00:36:36) everywhere and said go and see the the (00:36:38) your brothers are tending the flock in (00:36:41) shaken that's the last time they saw (00:36:43) each other so the midrash states that (00:36:45) Joseph mentioned something about the (00:36:47) conversation they had just before he (00:36:49) parted so that Jacob will go that's what (00:36:52) we were talking about when the day he (00:36:53) left that's the last time I saw him the (00:36:56) brothers couldn't know that that's the (00:36:58) midrash anyway from a messianic (00:37:01) perspective I think you know our spirit (00:37:05) is revived D at the word of Yeshua, (00:37:08) Messiach Ben Ysef and the word of Yeshua (00:37:11) and the gifts of Yeshua revive our (00:37:13) spirit from the man who didn't believe (00:37:16) to now the man who is revived through (00:37:19) the word of God and through the gifts of (00:37:21) God as Joseph goes with gifts, doesn't (00:37:22) he? It's the gifts of Joseph and it's (00:37:24) the word of Joseph. So see the the gift (00:37:27) the gifts of God and the word of God (00:37:28) that revives our spirit man. (00:37:30) >> Most most definitely too. Thanks Joseph. (00:37:34) So that's the midrash. So Jo Jacob (00:37:38) suddenly now believes (00:37:40) what the brothers are saying about (00:37:42) Joseph being alive when he sees the (00:37:44) cards and he hears the words of Joseph (00:37:48) quoted to him, relayed to him. (00:37:51) And I just I go along with that because (00:37:55) I know in life that we all have certain (00:37:57) sayings or phrases that we just keep to (00:37:59) those closest to us. You know, if I if (00:38:03) I'm painting with Joe and I say, "Yeah, (00:38:05) this looks like soap." Only Joe knows (00:38:08) what I mean. Only Joe knows what I mean. (00:38:11) And if he said it, I'm straight away (00:38:12) thinking, "Yeah, I agree with you." (00:38:16) Anyone else wouldn't understand it (00:38:17) wouldn't make sense, you know? (00:38:20) And but we all have to. (00:38:23) And you don't say the same words or (00:38:26) phrases around others because they (00:38:27) wouldn't appreciate or understand or (00:38:30) certain people might be offended of what (00:38:32) you're saying even though you're not (00:38:33) meaning to be offensive. (00:38:36) Now I look at it like this. It's a bit (00:38:37) farfetched but it's just to prove a (00:38:39) point. Perhaps when they were alone (00:38:41) together don't forget Joseph was Jacob's (00:38:43) favorite. So when they're at home now (00:38:45) Joseph caused him hop along Cassidy (00:38:47) because of his limp, right? Not not in (00:38:50) front of the the other brothers just cuz (00:38:52) they they're quite close. He says, "Hey (00:38:54) Opalan, you putting a kettle on over, (00:38:57) you know, something like that, you know, (00:38:59) but only them two know that he calls (00:39:01) them up along Cassidy thinking you're (00:39:03) looking your favorite lake by the way." (00:39:06) I let her go, Joseph. (00:39:08) And then away again, away from the other (00:39:12) siblings, Joseph would probably (00:39:14) regularly say to his dad something like (00:39:15) this, "Dad, I love everything you think (00:39:17) and you say and do." I love the I love (00:39:19) the way you do what you do. I always (00:39:22) have and I always will, Dad. And you (00:39:24) make this world a better place. And I'm (00:39:26) so proud of you. Bit farfetched. Okay, (00:39:29) granted. But but if the point I'm making (00:39:33) that (00:39:34) there was conversations or phrases that (00:39:36) they have between them that no one else (00:39:38) knew. Okay. (00:39:42) So when the brothers relate to the (00:39:44) father, the words of Joseph, I believe, (00:39:46) have been something like this. (00:39:48) They're saying to Jacob, "Dad, it's (00:39:50) suit." He sent all these cards and said, (00:39:52) "Tell dad I'm alive and well." And then (00:39:55) they mentioned someone called Cassidy (00:39:57) and he also wanted us to tell you, "I (00:40:00) love everything you think, saying, do I (00:40:02) love the way you do what you do. I hope (00:40:05) and and Jacob's thinking (00:40:07) no only Joseph says that only Joseph's (00:40:10) ever said that. No one says that. These (00:40:13) couldn't know that unless Joseph told (00:40:15) them to say that. It is. He's alive. No (00:40:18) way. He's alive. It's true. As I say, (00:40:21) it's a bit farfetched, but the point (00:40:22) being (00:40:24) he revived when he heard the words that (00:40:26) Joseph gave them to say to him. So, he (00:40:28) said something that only Jacob would (00:40:30) know that could only be Joseph saying (00:40:32) it, you know. And also, (00:40:37) maybe it was something with the carts. (00:40:38) Maybe he painted something on each side (00:40:40) of each cart. Maybe like I don't know (00:40:42) maybe the first drawing he ever did was (00:40:44) in the sand and it was like um a duck or (00:40:46) something and his dad saying something (00:40:49) that's beautiful well done son you know (00:40:50) well done and then the waves came in and (00:40:53) just swept it away and maybe she painted (00:40:55) that duck on the side of every cart and (00:40:57) he's thinking that's the duck he (00:41:01) know it's farfetched but the point being (00:41:05) Jacob spirit revived when he saw the (00:41:07) carts so there's something about the (00:41:09) carts and heard the words that they (00:41:12) related relayed from Joseph's mouth. (00:41:15) Okay. So, I think there was something (00:41:18) there very familiar between the two of (00:41:20) them that only then two could know. (00:41:23) Anyway, that's my that's my uh Yeah, (00:41:28) that's how I see it anyway. (00:41:31) Cuz Joseph's quite astute. Joseph's (00:41:34) astute and he knows well (00:41:36) he knows what's happened. They've (00:41:38) deceived me dad. Your dad's thinking I'm (00:41:41) dead all these years. How is he going to (00:41:43) know I'm alive? How is he know this is (00:41:45) me? So he's done something quite astute. (00:41:48) So he'll know it's me when I say this. (00:41:51) And he'll know it's me when he sees that (00:41:52) on the side of the carts. (00:41:55) I can't prove it but something like (00:41:56) that. Surely. (00:41:58) Surely. (00:42:00) Okay, moving on. Verses 27 and 8. We (00:42:04) just looked at this. The spirit of Jacob (00:42:06) their father revived. And Israel said, (00:42:08) "It's enough. Joseph, my son, is still (00:42:11) alive. I'll go and see him before I (00:42:12) die." Now, we see this in other parts of (00:42:15) scriptures where he's called Jacob, then (00:42:17) he's called Israel. He's called Jacob. (00:42:18) He's called Israel. He said, "Is there (00:42:20) something deeper going on? Is there a (00:42:22) reason why? (00:42:26) And I've read that it signifies (00:42:30) the conqueror overcoming grief. I.e. (00:42:32) when his crushed spirit was revived, (00:42:36) Jacob was changed to Israel. But I did (00:42:40) used to go along with that line of (00:42:42) thought. But I'm not sure we can because (00:42:46) it's not as though it's a title of prop. (00:42:49) Israel is not a title only when he's in (00:42:51) a happier or more celebratory occasion. (00:42:56) In chapter 43:6, (00:42:58) he's called Israel when he's in the (00:43:01) midst of torment. (00:43:03) Okay? So, it's a study for all of us. It (00:43:06) says here in 43:6, "And Israel said, why (00:43:10) do you deal so wrongfully with me and to (00:43:13) tell the man whether you had still (00:43:15) another brother?" So, he's in torment (00:43:17) here, but he's still called Israel. So, (00:43:19) it's not like when everything's hunky (00:43:20) dory, he's Israel, and when he's down, (00:43:22) it's Jacob. (00:43:24) It doesn't quite work like that. I've (00:43:27) raised it because (00:43:30) it's a topic there that you can study (00:43:33) yourself. Say, why is he sometimes (00:43:35) Israel? Why is he sometimes Jacob? And (00:43:36) we've probably all got theories on why, (00:43:39) you know, but as I say, I used to think, (00:43:41) well, he's Israel when everything's (00:43:43) and he's Jacob and he's well, it's not (00:43:46) as we just see there in chapter 43:6. (00:43:50) Anyway, I submit that for your (00:43:52) consideration. It's a bit of homework (00:43:53) for everybody to look into. Let's move (00:43:56) on to chapter 46. I'm going to read out (00:43:58) first of all verses 1 to 4. So, Israel (00:44:02) took his journey with all that he had (00:44:04) and came to be a sheba and offered (00:44:06) sacrifices to the God of his father (00:44:08) Isaac. Then God spoke to Israel in the (00:44:10) visions of the night and said, "Jacob, (00:44:13) Jacob." And he said, "Here I am." He (00:44:17) said, "I am God, the God of your father. (00:44:19) Do do not fear to go down to Egypt, for (00:44:22) I will make of you a great nation there. (00:44:25) I will go down with you to Egypt, and I (00:44:28) will also surely bring you up again. And (00:44:30) Joseph will put his hand on your eyes. (00:44:35) This is repetition. It's three times. (00:44:38) Three times. I will. I will. I will. (00:44:40) God's re reaffirming his promise to (00:44:43) Jacob, which gives him reassurance. (00:44:46) I will. I will. I will three times. (00:44:52) Remember at Bethl in um para Vieti a (00:44:57) fair few chapters back where it says (00:45:01) and behold the Lord stood above it and (00:45:03) said I am the Lord God of Abraham your (00:45:06) father and the God of Isaac. The land on (00:45:09) which you lie I will give to you and (00:45:12) your descendants also your descendants (00:45:14) shall be as the dust of the earth. You (00:45:17) shall spread abroad to the west and the (00:45:18) east, to the north and the south. And in (00:45:21) you and in your seed, all the families (00:45:23) of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I (00:45:25) am with you and will keep you wherever (00:45:28) you go. And I will bring you back to (00:45:30) this land. For I will not leave you (00:45:32) until I have done what I have spoken to (00:45:34) you. God keeps his promises. Three times (00:45:37) I will. I will. I will. (00:45:40) It says will in English, but it's I (00:45:41) will. It's first person singular. I (00:45:44) will. I will. I will. Three times. a (00:45:46) triple reference in scripture. (00:45:49) It should ring alarms. It means it's (00:45:54) it's a it's basically it's God's stamp (00:45:57) of authentication. (00:45:59) He's given us a seal. It's a guarantee. (00:46:02) It's something we can fully trust. If (00:46:04) something's repeated twice, that's (00:46:06) enough. But three times, that's like (00:46:08) it's done. It's a done deal. I said so. (00:46:12) It's like a stamp of approval. (00:46:16) So Jacob would know would know this (00:46:20) and we see it again in the para 46 26 27 (00:46:25) all the persons who went with Jacob to (00:46:27) Egypt who came from his body besides (00:46:29) Jacob's son's wives were 66 persons and (00:46:31) all and the sons of Joseph who were born (00:46:34) to in Egypt were two persons all the (00:46:36) persons of the house of Jacob who went (00:46:38) to Egypt were 70 (00:46:42) years later. (00:46:44) Millions departed in the Exodus. God's (00:46:47) promise to Abraham is fulfilled. The (00:46:50) point being God keeps his promises and (00:46:52) we see evidence of it right through as (00:46:56) we read in the Tanakh or the scriptures. (00:47:01) Now look at 28 again verse 28. Then he (00:47:04) sent Judah, this is Yehuda (00:47:08) before him to Joseph to point out before (00:47:11) him the way to go. (00:47:15) This is a big line. It's a big sentence. (00:47:17) Bear in mind now that Goan signifies the (00:47:19) promised land. It signifies the presence (00:47:21) of God where we want to draw near to. So (00:47:25) the father sent Judah to point out the (00:47:27) way. Now (00:47:30) to the Jews first, Judah, Yehuda first, (00:47:33) they showed the way to promised land to (00:47:36) point or show the way in Hebrew it was (00:47:40) and that comes from the verb y (00:47:43) meaning to teach. (00:47:46) From that verb we get the word tora. (00:47:50) Our Jews brothers and sisters are being (00:47:52) dispersed throughout the world in order (00:47:54) to reach and teach and influence all (00:47:57) peoples in Torah. (00:48:02) He sent Judah before him to point out (00:48:05) the way. Yehuda, (00:48:10) God bless all Yehudim siblings. (00:48:14) God has a purpose (00:48:17) and but there it is. He sent Judah (00:48:19) before him to point out the way to go. (00:48:25) Okay, we're going to move on to chapter (00:48:27) 47 (00:48:28) starting at verse 12. Then Joseph (00:48:31) provided for his father, his brothers, (00:48:32) and all his father's household with (00:48:34) bread according to the number in their (00:48:36) families. Now there was no bread in all (00:48:39) the land. For the famine was very (00:48:42) severe, so that the land of Egypt and (00:48:44) the land of Canaan languished because of (00:48:46) the famine. And Joseph gathered up all (00:48:48) the money that was found in the land of (00:48:50) Egypt and in the land of Canaan for the (00:48:53) grain which they bought. And Joseph (00:48:55) brought the money into Pharaoh's house. (00:48:58) So when the money failed in the land of (00:49:00) Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the (00:49:02) Egyptians came to Joseph and said, "Give (00:49:04) us bread for why should we die in your (00:49:06) presence? For the money has failed." (00:49:09) Then Joseph said, "And the world we live (00:49:12) in, you can sort of envision stuff (00:49:14) something like this. This is where we (00:49:15) live in now, can't you? I think it's (00:49:17) there on the their agenda. Then Joseph (00:49:21) said, "Give your livestock, and I will (00:49:22) give you bread for all your livestock if (00:49:24) the money's gone." So they brought their (00:49:26) livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave (00:49:28) them bread in exchange for the horses, (00:49:30) the flocks, the cattle of the herds, and (00:49:32) for the donkeys. Thus he fed them with (00:49:35) bread in exchange for all their (00:49:37) livestock that year. When that year had (00:49:41) ended, they came to him the next year (00:49:42) and said to him, "We will not hire from (00:49:45) my lord that our money is gone. My lord (00:49:48) also has our heads of livestock. There's (00:49:50) nothing left in the sight of my lord but (00:49:52) our bodies and our lands. Why should we (00:49:54) die before your eyes both we and our (00:49:57) land by us and our land for bread? and (00:50:01) we and our land will be servants to (00:50:02) Pharaoh. Give us seed that we may live (00:50:05) and not die that the land may not be (00:50:07) desolate. (00:50:10) Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt (00:50:12) for Pharaoh. For every man of the (00:50:14) Egyptians sold his field because the (00:50:16) famine was severe upon them. So the land (00:50:18) became Pharaohs. And as for the people, (00:50:21) he moved them into the cities from one (00:50:23) end of the borders of Egypt to the other (00:50:25) end. Only the land of the priests he (00:50:28) didn't buy. For the priests had rations (00:50:31) allotted to them by Pharaoh, and they (00:50:33) ate their rations which Pharaoh gave (00:50:35) them. Therefore, they didn't sell their (00:50:38) lands. (00:50:39) Then Joseph said to the people, "Indeed, (00:50:42) I have bought you and your land this day (00:50:46) for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, (00:50:48) and you shall sow the land. And it shall (00:50:51) come to pass in the harvest that you (00:50:53) shall give 1/5th to Pharaoh. four fifths (00:50:56) shall be your own as seed for the field (00:50:58) and for your food for those of your (00:51:00) households and as food for your little (00:51:03) ones. So they said, "You have saved our (00:51:06) lives. Let us find favor in the sight of (00:51:08) my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's (00:51:10) servants." And Joseph made it a law of (00:51:13) the land of Egypt to this day that (00:51:15) Pharaoh should have one fifth except for (00:51:18) the land of the priests only, which did (00:51:20) not become pharaohs. (00:51:22) So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt in (00:51:24) the country of Gan and they had (00:51:26) possessions there and grew and (00:51:29) multiplied exceedingly. (00:51:32) Now I've just read out 16 verses there (00:51:37) to make a one line conclusion. (00:51:41) All we have belongs to him. (00:51:44) You are our savior. Our lives are yours. (00:51:47) That's what that whole passage is (00:51:48) saying. (00:51:50) All we have belongs to you. You are our (00:51:52) savior. Our lives are yours. (00:51:56) And there's a reason I wanted to point (00:51:58) that out. (00:52:00) To me, it's vitally important because (00:52:02) when we see like this, everything (00:52:04) changes in life. (00:52:07) All is from God and for God. Okay? (00:52:13) Including things in life that we don't (00:52:15) want and don't understand. (00:52:18) Seemingly good or seemingly bad, his (00:52:21) hand is in it all. Okay. (00:52:24) Deuteronomy 10. Indeed, heaven and the (00:52:27) highest heavens belong to the Lord your (00:52:29) God. Also the earth with with all that (00:52:32) is in it. (00:52:34) Romans 11. For from him and through him (00:52:38) and to him are all things. (00:52:42) To him be the glory. (00:52:45) Job (00:52:47) ancient book who has preceded me that I (00:52:50) should pay him everything under heaven (00:52:52) is mine. (00:52:54) Psalms 24, the earth is the Lord's and (00:52:57) all its fullness. (00:52:59) The world and all who dwell therein. (00:53:03) So you're thinking (00:53:05) what we just read there with the uh the (00:53:07) farming and to the to sell themselves (00:53:10) but really get their lives over. (00:53:14) Everything is from God and for God. And (00:53:17) when we get this into our (00:53:21) framework of thinking things change (00:53:25) it'll see you through bad times. You (00:53:28) know (00:53:30) God created everything. Therefore, (00:53:32) everything is his. It's all his. And the (00:53:36) realization of this truth should remind (00:53:37) us that we are tempered just temporary (00:53:39) caretakers of any resource that we we (00:53:42) have at hand. True. (00:53:44) >> This truth should strengthen our resolve (00:53:46) to commit ourselves to God above (00:53:48) everything. (00:53:49) >> Yeah. (00:53:50) >> Our lives, our possessions, our (00:53:52) strength, our weaknesses, and any (00:53:54) situations that may befall us in life (00:53:59) are all by from his hand. We are to live (00:54:01) out all these and acknowledge that it's (00:54:03) the will of God (00:54:06) and we are to act accordingly. (00:54:10) Often in life, it's not what happens to (00:54:13) you, it's how you respond to it. (00:54:18) It's not what happens, it's how you (00:54:21) respond to what's happening. and to (00:54:24) accept that God's hand is in everything (00:54:26) and that he loves us deeply (00:54:29) that should help us in our walk. (00:54:32) It's in the moment that they actually (00:54:35) confess about the savior and they give (00:54:38) the lives and all that they have that (00:54:41) Joseph Messiah ben Joseph gives them (00:54:43) back what they need to actually walk in (00:54:47) fruitfulness. He gives them back the (00:54:49) seed in order for for them to sow. And (00:54:52) it's that reciprocal like once we come (00:54:54) to Yeshua, he actually gives us back (00:54:56) like what we need to sustain ourselves (00:54:58) in this life. That's beautiful. It's (00:55:00) just the gospel, right? (00:55:00) >> It's a cycle, isn't it? A cycle. It is a (00:55:02) cycle. Thanks. So, (00:55:05) but that realization of that truth that (00:55:07) everything's from him and for him is a a (00:55:11) vital uh ingredient of (00:55:15) our faith. (00:55:18) Okay. returning to the beginning of the (00:55:20) par (00:55:22) chapter 44 specifically like verses 18 (00:55:25) to34. (00:55:28) Now we know that (00:55:30) Joseph is a foreshadowing of Messiah (00:55:33) that's established and I'm sure we can (00:55:35) all see a bit of ourselves in Judah. I (00:55:37) mean Judah was a rogue. You can see (00:55:40) yourself in Judah. (00:55:42) >> I see a bit more of you like I did say (00:55:45) before (00:55:49) So, we've established that Joseph is a (00:55:51) foreshadowing. (00:55:53) It's that's been established. It's a me (00:55:56) messianic foreshadowing. I'm sure we can (00:55:58) all see a bit of ourselves in Judah. (00:56:00) Okay, we've messed up. We've done (00:56:03) something wrong or something stupid. (00:56:06) Now, here Judah lays down his life in (00:56:08) order to save others and for the love of (00:56:10) his father. (00:56:12) Okay? And we read in Matthew 10 and once (00:56:15) again here we have correlations from the (00:56:17) Tanakh and the latter the gospels you (00:56:20) know (00:56:22) Matthew 10 he who finds his life will (00:56:24) lose it and he who loses his life for my (00:56:26) sake will find it. John 15 greater love (00:56:30) is no one than this than to lay down (00:56:31) one's life for his friends. (00:56:34) I quoted that twice because this is what (00:56:36) Jude is doing. Jude is doing this. (00:56:40) The lesson is for us to be humble and to (00:56:42) put others before ourselves as our (00:56:44) master taught us. Humility is important. (00:56:47) Judah refers to Joseph as a king. He (00:56:49) said, "You're like Pharaoh." And to (00:56:51) himself and the brothers as servants. (00:56:54) Okay? So, humility is a key, (00:56:59) intercession, sacrifice, love, just as (00:57:01) Yeshua shows us. And as we see (00:57:04) throughout scripture, we see Abraham (00:57:06) interceding for others. Isaac was (00:57:08) willing to give his life for God. Moses, (00:57:10) Rahab, Esther. There are many examples. (00:57:13) And here it's Judah in this paria. The (00:57:16) ultimate one of course is Yeshua. (00:57:18) Intercession, sacrifice, love. (00:57:22) And we come to the realization that this (00:57:24) is what our savior has done for us. And (00:57:27) you think how how do we repay what our (00:57:30) god has done for us? How do we repay (00:57:32) him? (00:57:34) But we donate to him. We come closer to (00:57:37) him. Be the gas. We should be a living (00:57:39) sacrifice. We serve and we do his will (00:57:42) over ours. (00:57:45) Yeshua said, "The greatest love is to (00:57:46) lay down your life for your friends." He (00:57:48) will be our friend if we lay down our (00:57:50) lives for him. (00:57:53) You say, "Well, how do we lay down our (00:57:55) life for others? We (00:57:59) help those in need." (00:58:02) You take your children to visit the (00:58:04) homeless and tend to them, for example. (00:58:07) We lend without reward. We give our (00:58:09) time, our energy. If someone needs a (00:58:12) pair of ears and you've got a pair of (00:58:14) ears, don't just listen. We have to (00:58:16) listen with understanding and give them (00:58:17) our attention. (00:58:20) I'm not a good listener. I admit it. And (00:58:22) sometimes someone's talking to me and (00:58:23) I'm just I'm just trying to talk and not (00:58:25) really taking it all in. And I keep (00:58:27) telling myself, shut up, you got one (00:58:28) mouth and two ears. Listen to twice as (00:58:30) much as what you're saying. And I had to (00:58:33) keep reminding myself to be a better (00:58:34) listener. I get um phone calls from a (00:58:38) prison prisoner, you know, prisoner (00:58:40) phone calls (00:58:42) and sometimes I'm just not in the mood. (00:58:44) I've had a long day, you know, I might (00:58:46) have been working and just just about to (00:58:48) put me feet up or I might just have a (00:58:51) snooze or I'm just about to eat and then (00:58:54) these are all two examples what's (00:58:55) happened and then the phone goes and (00:58:57) thinking, "Oh, no, not now. Not now." (00:59:00) And I'm thinking, "Hang on, where is (00:59:02) Christ within you? It's already saying, (00:59:05) "Oh yeah, live for others." And you're (00:59:08) getting your time and your energy. And (00:59:11) so I'm not just sitting here saying you (00:59:12) got to do it. Sometimes (00:59:15) it's not easy. I know. But (00:59:18) this is what our master teaches us to (00:59:20) live for others, for those in need. Be (00:59:22) there. Your time, your energy, your (00:59:25) attention, you know, your attention. (00:59:28) As I say, sometimes I'm thinking and the (00:59:32) conversations like to talk about stuff I (00:59:34) don't want to hear, you know, and I'm (00:59:35) thinking, gosh, I don't I don't want to (00:59:37) hear this. I wish I wasn't hearing this, (00:59:40) but um I'm sure Yeshua felt the same. (00:59:44) You know, (00:59:45) you think, "Oh gosh, what are they (00:59:47) talking about? Can you change the (00:59:49) subject?" The weather was nice today, (00:59:50) wasn't it? (00:59:53) The lesson being (00:59:57) it has to be from the heart. We can pay (00:59:58) lift service and say, "Yeah, live for (01:00:00) others." You know, do your best for (01:00:01) others. We have to really do it. We (01:00:03) really And it'll happen when you don't (01:00:05) want it. You're not you're not you're (01:00:07) tired or you're hungry or you you're not (01:00:09) in the mood or you got things going on (01:00:11) in your own head at that time. Hang on. (01:00:14) I've just I'm trying to be something out (01:00:16) here. And the phone goes, "Oh, no." (01:00:19) And you I'm tempted to think maybe just (01:00:21) don't answer it this time. You know, (01:00:26) we (01:00:29) if we want to be Christlike, we have to (01:00:31) do think, well, what would he do? What (01:00:35) would he do? (01:00:37) And try to do the right thing. (01:00:40) Give yourself for others. And this is (01:00:43) what Judah did for Benjamin. (01:00:46) It's the will of God to live for others. (01:00:48) We know the shama. Love God. Love your (01:00:51) neighbor as yourself. Here (01:00:54) it is James 1 pure and undefiled (01:00:57) religion before God and the father is (01:00:58) this to tend to those who are in need to (01:01:02) be there for those who were in need. And (01:01:03) we had a beautiful example today of the (01:01:05) the parents and the children was (01:01:07) enormous. First John for this is the (01:01:09) message that you hear from the beginning (01:01:12) that we should love one another not just (01:01:14) the the flock and your your mates and (01:01:17) all that and (01:01:19) that's your neighbors everyone. Your (01:01:20) neighbor is everyone. (01:01:22) Who's my neighbor? Everyone's your (01:01:24) neighbor. (01:01:26) First John 3:16. By this we know love (01:01:29) because he laid down his life for us. (01:01:32) And we also (01:01:35) ought to lay down our lives for the (01:01:37) virgin. (01:01:40) So those you know and those you don't (01:01:41) know. (01:01:44) Now like Jude and her brothers were (01:01:46) always being tested. And this is what I (01:01:47) was when the phone went off. I thought, (01:01:48) "Oh no, not now." And I thought it's (01:01:51) another test. You got to pass again. (01:01:55) And I failed loads of tests, by the way. (01:01:59) But like Jud and his brothers, but (01:02:01) always being tested. But always being (01:02:03) tested. You love me. You really want to (01:02:06) follow my ways. Right. I'm going to ring (01:02:08) that. Right. The phone's ringing now. (01:02:09) You prove you prove that you want to (01:02:12) follow my ways. (01:02:15) But his will is going to be done anyway (01:02:17) with or without us. So best you just (01:02:19) jump on board. (01:02:21) In the book of Esther here, Uncle Morai (01:02:24) understands this. Look, he says, "Look, (01:02:26) his will is going to be done anyway." (01:02:28) Esther, (01:02:30) he says to her, "For if you remain (01:02:32) completely silent at this time, relief (01:02:35) and deliverance will arise for the Jews (01:02:37) from another place." In other words, (01:02:40) God's going to deliver them anyway. Do (01:02:42) you want part of this, Esther, or don't (01:02:44) you? (01:02:46) Do you want to be Are you in with me or (01:02:48) aren't you (01:02:51) being tested? His will be done anyway. (01:02:55) So get on board and be a coworker with (01:02:57) the creator. (01:03:01) >> Love God and love your neighbor as (01:03:02) yourself. (01:03:05) >> Just add something to that. Tom, (01:03:09) >> I was considering this the other day and (01:03:12) um you know God (01:03:15) He can fulfill his will without us. (01:03:19) >> Yeah. He doesn't need us. (01:03:20) >> He's powerful. (01:03:20) >> It's through love that he he wants us to (01:03:22) partake with him. (01:03:23) >> Yeah. Exactly. It's um (01:03:27) >> it's only by his grace that he involves (01:03:29) us in his plans. (01:03:30) >> Uhhuh. (01:03:31) >> And I think that's that's is that such a (01:03:34) beautiful God when you think about it. (01:03:35) He could pick anyone (01:03:36) >> to fulfill his will. or he picks, at (01:03:39) least according to the scripture to me, (01:03:41) he picks the most (01:03:44) unassuming people to fulfill his will. (01:03:46) >> Yeah. (01:03:47) >> Um, Joseph, the youngest of his (01:03:49) brothers, David, the youngest, youngest (01:03:51) of his brothers, and I think what a (01:03:53) wonderful God we serve in. (01:03:54) >> Yeah. (01:03:56) >> Yeah. Thanks, Jack. No, it's um (01:04:00) his love is unfathomable really to our (01:04:03) cap mental capacity, you know. We're (01:04:05) actually going to touch on that just now (01:04:07) actually, Jack. (01:04:09) Thanks, bro. (01:04:13) It's not always easy, but it is the will (01:04:15) of God. (01:04:18) And if we want to follow him and draw an (01:04:19) ear to him, we have to follow his ways. (01:04:23) And Yeshua, he's the ultimate (01:04:25) exemplification as always. Romans 5. But (01:04:29) God demonstrates his own love toward us (01:04:31) that in while we were still sinners, (01:04:35) Christ died for us. (01:04:38) He gave his life for us. While we were (01:04:41) still sinners, I have I have trouble (01:04:45) properly loving people that love me. (01:04:48) People that love me, I have trouble (01:04:49) showing proper love to them in in deeds, (01:04:52) you know, till I say, "Oh, I love them." (01:04:54) Well, how have you shown them? You did (01:04:58) you love them in your deeds? Do do they (01:05:00) know you love them? How would they know? (01:05:03) Well, I said I love them. Okay. Well, (01:05:05) accents speak loud on the words. You (01:05:07) know, I have trouble loving people (01:05:09) properly that love me to give your life (01:05:12) for people who's for sinners. (01:05:15) This is (01:05:17) his love is unfathomable. It says (01:05:19) somewhere, doesn't it? To to lay life (01:05:21) down for the righteous is one thing, but (01:05:23) for the sinners. (01:05:26) This is our God. (01:05:27) This is this is his love, you know, and (01:05:32) we have to forever strive there. The bar (01:05:34) is very high, but it has to be high. It (01:05:37) has to be very high (01:05:39) cuz if we if it was so low, we failed. (01:05:41) We you wouldn't feel good. (01:05:46) But why we were still sinners, I can (01:05:48) never really get my (01:05:51) mind around that. (01:05:56) Now in this light, let's look again at (01:05:59) the actions of Judah. He plotted to kill (01:06:01) Joseph. Although Joseph was basically (01:06:04) innocent, he hadn't done anything wrong (01:06:06) really. (01:06:08) So he's trying to kill him though he's (01:06:10) innocent. And now he's off in his own (01:06:12) life to save Benjamin who he thinks is (01:06:14) guilty. (01:06:16) They planted the cup in his bag, didn't (01:06:17) they? So think, "Oh, Benjamin, what have (01:06:19) you done?" (01:06:20) So he wanted to kill the innocent and (01:06:22) now he wants to save the guilty. It's (01:06:24) beautiful. (01:06:27) >> It's what a turnaround, you know. It's a (01:06:30) Christlike deed here. (01:06:33) He's off in his life to save the guilty, (01:06:36) you know, cuz as far as he knows, (01:06:37) Benjamin is guilty. (01:06:40) But what a turnaround. (01:06:42) And he had strayed so far and yet he was (01:06:45) still able to draw near. This is the the (01:06:48) beautiful hope of the message to Nagash (01:06:51) to God. And I look at that and think, (01:06:53) how merciful is our God to afford Judah (01:06:56) the opportunity to repent, to redeem (01:06:59) himself, and be forgiven after (01:07:00) everything he'd done. And I look at it (01:07:03) and think, how merciful is our God to (01:07:05) afford all of us opportunity to repent, (01:07:08) redeem ourselves, and be forgiven. (01:07:12) Such love. Such love. It's beyond me. (01:07:14) It's beyond me. (01:07:17) And it reminds me of when Peter denied (01:07:20) Messiah three times and after his (01:07:22) resurrection, Jesus asked Peter three (01:07:24) times, "Do you love me? Do you love me? (01:07:27) Do you love me?" You know, how merciful (01:07:30) is our God to afford us all? Opportunity (01:07:32) to repent, redeem ourselves, and be (01:07:35) forgiven. Such love. Such love. (01:07:40) And speaking of love and resurrection, (01:07:41) there's something else here at verse 18, (01:07:44) 44:18. (01:07:46) If you've got your scriptures, you can (01:07:47) look up, put your fingers on 44:18 and (01:07:50) at the same time 45:5. (01:07:53) I'll read it out anyway. 44:18. (01:07:56) Then Judah came near to him and said, (01:07:58) "Oh my Lord, please let your servant (01:08:01) speak a word in my Lord's hearing. And (01:08:03) do not let your anger burn against your (01:08:05) servant." (01:08:07) Few verses later, next chapter 45:55. (01:08:11) But now do not therefore be grieved or (01:08:14) angry with yourselves. That's Joseph (01:08:16) speaking though. Okay. So Judah says (01:08:18) that and then Joseph says that. So okay (01:08:22) and what (01:08:25) we can see ourselves in Judah the sinner (01:08:28) pu pursuing repentance seeking (01:08:30) forgiveness. And we see Yeshua and (01:08:32) Joseph that's established. So here we (01:08:35) have the contrite sinner pleading for (01:08:37) mercy from the one who has power over (01:08:39) life and death. And he says, "Do not let (01:08:42) your anger burn against your servant." (01:08:46) And what's the response of the all (01:08:48) powerful one? Don't be grieved or angry (01:08:50) with yourselves. (01:08:56) And (01:08:58) I I include myself in the next bit here. (01:09:01) We beat ourselves up because we (01:09:03) frequently feel inadequate. And God's (01:09:05) saying, (01:09:07) "Don't be angry with yourself. (01:09:12) You know, (01:09:15) God says don't don't be angry with (01:09:16) yourselves because even those things (01:09:19) we've said or done that we regret, God (01:09:21) allowed it for a greater purpose. (01:09:25) Amen. But we can all give testim of our (01:09:28) past lives that have led us to where we (01:09:30) are now and think, "Wow, God's hand was (01:09:33) in it all." There's only when I look (01:09:34) back I realize this is one of the (01:09:37) lessons we can glean from episode this (01:09:39) regarding Jacob, Joseph, Judah and the (01:09:41) siblings that the love of our God (01:09:44) surpasses understanding. (01:09:49) The sinner says don't let your anger be (01:09:51) against me and he says don't be angry (01:09:55) with yourself. (01:10:03) Another takeaway is the loving mercy of (01:10:05) our God is demonstrated once again (01:10:07) through the life of Joseph. Our God is (01:10:09) longsuffering. In Hebrew they call it (01:10:12) God long of nose. Anyone who's I know (01:10:15) there's people in there who study Hebrew (01:10:18) probably better than me. In Hebrew God (01:10:21) is long of nose. And you'll read that in (01:10:24) Exodus (01:10:25) 34 Psalm 103 for example. It's (01:10:30) aim aim long of nose (01:10:35) when jud is pleading do not let your (01:10:38) anger burn against your servants (01:10:41) the English versions don't quite quote (01:10:42) that exactly the little one is do not (01:10:45) let your nose get hot (01:10:48) and then when he's it's so when God is (01:10:51) long of nose this is figuratively (01:10:52) speaking obviously I'm sure he hasn't (01:10:54) got a big con like that Um I know Jo has (01:10:58) but (01:11:00) but um it just means he doesn't get (01:11:02) angry too too quick. Um (01:11:07) do not let your nose get hot because (01:11:09) anger is evidence when one becomes (01:11:11) heated and the nostrils flare. You know, (01:11:14) we all know people I know members of my (01:11:17) family that just they go and you say, (01:11:19) "Whoa, you know, all right." You can (01:11:21) just, you know, you can see them getting (01:11:24) head up a bit and the nostrils flare. (01:11:27) Yeah. But long of nose. God, it's long (01:11:32) of nose. It means he's long suffering. (01:11:35) It takes him a long time for him to get (01:11:37) heated up and for his nostrils to flare. (01:11:42) Um (01:11:45) staying with chapter 45 verses 1 to4 (01:11:48) repeatedly (01:11:50) we see the word brothers brothers (01:11:52) brothers and then Joseph declares I am (01:11:54) your brother you know (01:11:57) Hebrews 2 for both he who sanctifies and (01:12:00) those who are being sanctified are all (01:12:03) of one for which reason he is not (01:12:05) ashamed to call him brethren saying I (01:12:08) will declare your name to my brethren. (01:12:10) your name to my brethren. In the midst (01:12:13) of the assembly, I will sing praise to (01:12:15) you. (01:12:18) So, Joseph literally rules over them. (01:12:22) He can sense them to death. He's got the (01:12:23) power of life and death over them. But (01:12:26) through loving mercy, he saves them. (01:12:28) This is Yeshua, the foreshadow. (01:12:35) He is almighty God. He created heaven (01:12:38) and earth and everything within it. (01:12:40) Above and below, (01:12:42) below the waters, in the heavens, (01:12:44) everything he created. And yet he calls (01:12:47) his brothers and sisters. I I this is (01:12:49) something else I can't get around. And (01:12:52) else we had he calls his friends. (01:12:54) This is our God. (01:12:57) He calls his brothers, sisters, and (01:12:58) friends. (01:13:00) He's almighty creator. And he comes (01:13:02) down. He kneels before us and washes our (01:13:05) feet. (01:13:07) He gives his life that we may dwell with (01:13:10) him forever. This is what when you said (01:13:12) such love. (01:13:14) Such love. (01:13:19) Just one more thing from this uh chapter (01:13:23) 45 here. (01:13:25) Joseph says, "But now do not therefore (01:13:28) be grieved or angry with yourselves (01:13:30) because you saw me here. For God sent me (01:13:32) before you to preserve life. (01:13:36) In Hebrew, this verse says to preserve (01:13:38) life. It's a limit. (01:13:42) It comes from Mika which not only (01:13:45) relates to preservation of life but (01:13:49) actual revival of life from death. It's (01:13:52) a it's a type of resurrection. uh we see (01:13:55) the same term used in um (01:13:58) the living healthy flesh following (01:14:00) leprosy which is dead flesh isn't it? So (01:14:03) once again through Joseph we get these (01:14:05) messianic messages including life after (01:14:08) death (01:14:10) you know raised from the dead. (01:14:14) Okay we're going to summarize now in (01:14:18) this para Judah comes full circle and (01:14:22) returns to the savior. He's the savior. (01:14:25) He saves the world. (01:14:27) Judah offers his life for the sake of (01:14:29) Benjamin and consequently the lives of (01:14:31) the rest of the family is saved. (01:14:35) Vagash (01:14:37) Judah drew near to Joseph. Yeshua (01:14:39) beckons us to draw near to him. (01:14:43) We are to come like Judah with a (01:14:45) contrite heart and a broken and and a (01:14:48) broken spirit. (01:14:50) The good news is it's not too late. If (01:14:54) Judah can come full circle, we can. (01:15:00) We all have a past (01:15:03) and there's people we've wronged in our (01:15:04) lives. And it's not always possible to (01:15:07) seek their forgiveness or to to write (01:15:09) the wrong. But if and when we draw near (01:15:13) to God, he can overwrite everything. (01:15:17) He can overwrite everything. And I'm (01:15:19) going to show you in scriptures an (01:15:20) example of this. You say, "Well, yeah, (01:15:23) but that was in the past." And now so (01:15:26) God's past, present, and future, you can (01:15:27) do it. (01:15:31) Our deeds in the past, present, and (01:15:33) future have ripple effects effects into (01:15:36) the past, present, or future. Our past (01:15:40) can impact today and tomorrow, but our (01:15:42) deeds today and tomorrow can impact the (01:15:45) past. It sounds bizarre, but it's true. (01:15:48) Cuz he's timeless. (01:15:52) He's (01:15:53) past, present, and future. (01:15:56) And he knows what's coming up. And what (01:15:59) we do today can affect our past. (01:16:02) Just like Judah, we can repent and (01:16:04) rectify, seek forgiveness and (01:16:06) redemption, (01:16:08) find reconciliation, (01:16:10) and this occurs in all directions (01:16:12) through time. Time is not lineal. (01:16:16) It's cyclical. (01:16:20) It's not a line going from here to (01:16:22) there. It It's like that (01:16:27) in all directions through time. Now, (01:16:29) think of today's passage where Judah is (01:16:31) interceding for who? Benjamin. Judah. (01:16:34) Benjamin. And it says for in verse 30, (01:16:38) chapter 44. Now therefore, when I come (01:16:41) to your servants, my father, and Alad is (01:16:44) not with us, since his life is bound up (01:16:46) in a lad's life. Now where we read life (01:16:50) here in Hebrew it's nephesh it's soul (01:16:52) soul nephesh (01:16:55) so just bear that in mind Judas (01:16:57) interceding for Benjamin cuz the lies (01:17:00) are intertwined (01:17:03) 1 Samuel 18 now when he had finished (01:17:05) speaking to Saul the soul of Jonathan (01:17:08) was knit to the soul of David Jonathan's (01:17:10) of the type of Benjamin David's the type (01:17:13) of Judah (01:17:14) >> this is a different era in time totally (01:17:17) later (01:17:19) 1st Samuel 18. And Jonathan took off the (01:17:21) robe that was on him and gave it to (01:17:23) David with his armor, even to his sword (01:17:25) and his bow and his belt. (01:17:29) Jonathan is the type of Benjamin gives (01:17:32) up his life as the future king for (01:17:34) David. (01:17:36) Today we see Judah seeding his life for (01:17:38) Benjamin. And later on in scriptures, (01:17:41) there's Benjamin giving his life up for (01:17:43) Judah. (01:17:46) In all directions through time, like (01:17:48) ripples in the pond, our actions affect (01:17:50) the past, present, and future. To me, (01:17:53) that's just amazing. But it's the truth. (01:17:56) >> Puts a whole new dynamic on. It is (01:17:59) written. (01:17:59) >> It is written. It is written. (01:18:01) >> It is written. (01:18:03) >> Was Paul of Benjamin. (01:18:05) >> Yeah. I think Yeah. (01:18:08) >> Yeah. But good, good shout. Good shout. (01:18:11) Good shout. (01:18:12) >> Yeah. Paul is the type of benchm you (01:18:14) know. (01:18:14) >> Yeah. (01:18:16) >> But that's just amazing in all (01:18:18) directions through time. (01:18:20) So when you think ah (01:18:23) I still cringe when I think of that. (01:18:27) You can pray and you can repent and that (01:18:29) can be overritten. (01:18:32) Past, present, and future. (01:18:35) That's our God. (01:18:38) I am the alpha and the omega, the (01:18:40) beginning and the end. Who is and who (01:18:43) was and who is to come. The Almighty. (01:18:45) It's all about him. It all points to (01:18:47) him. (01:18:49) Without him or nothing. With him we can (01:18:51) do all things. (01:18:54) So he said, "All right." It's like (01:18:56) sitting there saying, "Yeah, Judah came (01:18:58) full circle. (01:19:00) Well, how and how could I do this in my (01:19:02) life if I think I've messed up?" Well, (01:19:05) the text in this particular episode, (01:19:07) it's not explicit how how did Judah (01:19:09) manage to turn himself around, but the (01:19:12) whole of scripture is there with all the (01:19:14) answers. It's in scripture. It's (01:19:16) written. (01:19:18) For example, Psalm 51, (01:19:20) the sacrifices of God had a broken (01:19:22) spirit, a broken and contite heart. (01:19:24) These, oh God, you will not despise. (01:19:28) A broken spirit and a contite heart (01:19:30) signify humility and repentance. And (01:19:33) these are both displayed by Judah. (01:19:39) For me, as I said at the outset, it has (01:19:41) to be from the heart. Everything has to (01:19:44) be from the heart. We're showing this (01:19:45) over and over. And we see there Psalm (01:19:48) 51 (01:19:51) God will not despise a heart that comes (01:19:53) low before him. But it has to be from (01:19:56) the heart. Has to be sincere. If you're (01:19:59) showing remorse, it's not lip service. (01:20:01) It has to be from my heart. (01:20:03) Isaiah and God know shows us this. (01:20:06) Isaiah 29. These people draw near me (01:20:09) with their mouths and honor me with (01:20:10) their lips but have removed their heart (01:20:13) far from me. So you can say whatever you (01:20:15) like. It's got to be it's got to be the (01:20:17) heart. (01:20:18) And look at Caleb. His name means all (01:20:21) heart or wholehearted. That's what his (01:20:24) name means. (01:20:26) My servant Caleb, because he has a (01:20:28) different spirit in him and has followed (01:20:30) me fully, I will bring him to the land (01:20:32) where he went and his descendants shall (01:20:34) inherit it. So God rewards those who (01:20:36) have a heart for him. (01:20:42) Sometimes like Judah, it takes trials (01:20:43) and tribulation to cause a change of (01:20:45) heart. (01:20:49) He's quite the opposite to Joseph. (01:20:50) Joseph seemed to always be there. Judah (01:20:53) had to go through all this madness in (01:20:55) his life before he eventually got there. (01:20:59) Initially, he was circumcised, but his (01:21:02) heart wasn't. And this is it. Our hearts (01:21:04) must be circumcised. You can't do it (01:21:07) ourselves, but if we sincerely from the (01:21:09) heart desire it, Yeshua will grant it. (01:21:12) He will grant it. (01:21:16) So what are the proofs (01:21:20) of our heart's sincere desire for (01:21:23) redemption? (01:21:26) There's just you put your own list (01:21:28) there. It's just something that (01:21:31) came. (01:21:33) You had to remorse straight away. You've (01:21:37) sinned. You've messed up. Maybe Judah (01:21:39) after he betrayed Joseph and Jacob, (01:21:41) maybe you wept bitterly like Peter did (01:21:43) when he denied Jesus. This is remorse (01:21:47) confession. Maybe Judah like the (01:21:50) prodical son confessed that he was no (01:21:52) I'm no longer worthy. (01:21:55) I'm not worthy. (01:21:58) Humility perhaps Judah was like Isaiah. (01:22:02) He when he finally accepted God's (01:22:04) awesome might and thought, I'm done for. (01:22:06) Woe is me. (01:22:09) remorse, confession, humility, prayer, (01:22:13) or did Judah pray like David did in (01:22:15) Psalm 51? What a prayer that is, by the (01:22:17) way. And plead for mercy, for a clean (01:22:20) heart, and a renewed spirit. (01:22:23) Gosh, I think we've all been there. I (01:22:26) think we've all been there. But these (01:22:28) are proofs of your heart, sincerity, (01:22:31) remorse, confession, humility. Pray if (01:22:34) you want to nagash to God. (01:22:40) And alongside this, you can't to turn (01:22:43) oneself around to tou. You got to avoid (01:22:46) trying to hide from God. I've been there (01:22:48) as well. I've been there. And thinking, (01:22:52) "No, no, no. Just just say nothing. Just (01:22:56) stay here. Just (01:22:58) I've been there." But that's the accuser (01:23:00) using their guilt against us to hide (01:23:03) like Adam and Eve did. (01:23:05) We have to try our best to resist that (01:23:07) and face up to God. Draw near Nagash. (01:23:14) When it says and he junior regarding (01:23:17) Judah that might as well say and we (01:23:21) junior. It's the only way we're going to (01:23:23) have to face up to him eventually (01:23:24) anyway. (01:23:26) It's not worth hiding. It's not worth (01:23:29) hiding. (01:23:31) But we don't turn up to God with a brass (01:23:33) neck and a stony heart, (01:23:36) but with a broken spirit and a broken (01:23:38) and contained heart with heartfelt (01:23:41) sincerity. That's how we have to draw (01:23:43) near. (01:23:49) So on the par we read that they he they (01:23:53) approached goan. (01:23:55) He approached the savior and he brought (01:23:59) them to go. We draw near to go with (01:24:02) drawing near to Yeshua. As we saw at the (01:24:04) outset linguistically go associated with (01:24:07) drawing near to God. The place itself is (01:24:10) like with rain is the Torah abundance (01:24:13) divine favor protection. (01:24:15) It's Yeshua. He's our go where we can (01:24:17) rest in his love and his provision. (01:24:22) They prospered exceedingly there when (01:24:25) there was darkness and famine all around (01:24:27) them. Mark 1, Jesus said to them, (01:24:29) "Follow me. Come near to me." (01:24:33) Luke 9, he said to them all, "If anyone (01:24:35) desires to come after me, let him deny (01:24:38) himself and take up his cross daily and (01:24:40) follow me." (01:24:42) These are all the prerequisites to (01:24:44) drawing near to God. (01:24:46) Matthew 11. Come unto me all ye that (01:24:49) labor and are heavy laden and I will (01:24:51) give you rest. (01:24:56) Come to go. (01:24:58) So how did Judah turn full circle? (01:25:02) He drew near to the one who holds the (01:25:04) power of life and death. How do we do a (01:25:07) Judah? How do we do a Judah? (01:25:10) Most of us know. Some of us may have (01:25:12) forgotten. We all need reminding. Some (01:25:14) online may not know. (01:25:16) >> Here's the answer. Regular reading of (01:25:18) scripture. Study scripture. Read it (01:25:21) regularly. Allow the word to search your (01:25:23) heart. Meditate on the cross and on (01:25:26) Messiah who bore the penalty that we (01:25:28) deserved. (01:25:30) Practice self-denial which can still the (01:25:33) flesh and heighten spiritual acuteness. (01:25:37) Love God and love your neighbor as (01:25:38) yourself. (01:25:41) We do a Judah through sincere remorse, (01:25:45) confession, humility, and prayer. Draw (01:25:49) near to God and he will draw near to (01:25:50) you. It's written. And now you know how. (01:25:53) And now you know how. Now you know how. (01:25:57) It's in scriptures. It's written how. (01:26:01) It's never too late to draw near to the (01:26:04) one who in his longsuffering deep love (01:26:08) and mercy holds out his hands to us (01:26:12) and says draw near to me. That's part of (01:26:16) Vagash. (01:26:18) Yeah. Have a blessed week people via and (01:26:22) Shabbat shalom. (01:26:24) >> Shabbat shalom. (01:26:26) >> Shalom everyone and thank you for (01:26:27) watching. We hope that you enjoyed this (01:26:29) video and that you've been blessed by (01:26:30) the content that we as a ministry put (01:26:33) out online so that you, the viewer, can (01:26:35) participate in the worship with us (01:26:37) together regardless of any physical (01:26:39) limitations and in the comfort and (01:26:40) convenience of your own home or anywhere (01:26:44) in the four corners of the world that (01:26:45) you may be. We endeavor to bless the (01:26:47) household of Yah and use online (01:26:49) platforms along with other media outlets (01:26:52) to preach the gospel with a goal to (01:26:55) teach all things found in the entire (01:26:57) scroll as we rediscover his Torah and (01:27:00) its applications for our life today. (01:27:03) Hallelujah. But we are fundamentally a (01:27:05) physical ministry first operating out of (01:27:07) houses like the first church in the book (01:27:09) of Acts. So whilst the Lord has blessed (01:27:11) the work of our hands and brought a (01:27:13) fruitful increase in the toil of this (01:27:14) field, without your support, sharing the (01:27:17) physical ministry online just wouldn't (01:27:19) be possible. It's important to note that (01:27:20) none of the leaders or teachers of this (01:27:22) fellowship are in full-time ministry. We (01:27:24) are working men with full-time jobs to (01:27:26) support our own lives and families. And (01:27:29) we revealed this personal truth often so (01:27:31) people understand that the work we do as (01:27:34) a ministry is a free will offering and (01:27:36) that our purse is not sponsored because (01:27:38) of a financial appetite, but rather we (01:27:40) do this labor because we love Yeshua and (01:27:43) we are being commissioned by him to do (01:27:45) so. Although your support means that we (01:27:47) can continue to capture, create, and (01:27:49) operate to produce videos and content (01:27:51) that can be routinely uploaded for you (01:27:53) as the viewer, this is actually a costly (01:27:55) operation. And of course, there are many (01:27:57) cogs that turn to help edit and release (01:27:59) on time uh so that you can all come and (01:28:02) join us on the Torah cycle or the (01:28:04) appointed times and everything else in (01:28:05) between. If you do find yourself tuning (01:28:08) into our ministry regularly or are led, (01:28:10) we ask that you consider tiding or (01:28:12) blessing us with an offering to help (01:28:14) support of this online content. To do (01:28:17) this, there are two options. The first (01:28:19) is a link via PayPal in the description (01:28:23) below. Alternatively, you can email us (01:28:25) stating you would like to tithe or give (01:28:28) an offering at almond (01:28:29) housefellowshipgmail.com. (01:28:32) From there, we will reply back to you (01:28:34) and send our bank details and you can (01:28:37) give via a bank transfer or by any means (01:28:40) you find fit. Our email and the link to (01:28:44) PayPal are all found in the description (01:28:46) below. With your support, we can keep (01:28:49) this online lighthouse shining to people (01:28:51) all around the world so that they can (01:28:53) come and gather and glean the fruit and (01:28:56) see the wonderful works that Yah is (01:28:58) doing in this ministry. Finally, we are (01:29:00) continuing to raise funds with the (01:29:01) Almond Grove. That's a long-term vision (01:29:03) for generational ministry. So, if you'd (01:29:05) like to know more about that or you want (01:29:07) information on that, you can find the (01:29:09) link in the description below. We truly (01:29:10) thank everyone for your support, (01:29:12) feedback, comments, emails. Until our (01:29:15) next video, from our house to your (01:29:16) house. (01:29:17) >> Shalom.