Shabbat Commentary for 51st week, 2007,
Shabbat Reading “CVA’YIGASH – And then he (Judah) approached him”: Genesis 44:18 – 47:27; Ezekiel 37:15 – 28
By Michael Schneider, israel today, Jerusalem

Commentary:
In our reading portion we finally reach the long awaited encounter in the Joseph story. Yes, a happy ending! Joseph makes himself known to his brothers! That’s how it will be with Yeshua, Messiah Ben-Yosef. Once face to face! Hallelujah!

But before this could happen two things must happen. First “the last Benjamin” must return, and secondly, Judah has to change. The lesson must be learned toward Benjamin now, after his sinful behavior and the attitude towards the first by his father’s beloved son (Joseph). Judah now was ready to sacrifice his own life for the sake of his second beloved little brother Benjamin. “Now, therefore, please let your servant (Judah) remain instead of the lad (Benjamin) a slave to my lord (Joseph)…” (Genesis 44:33). What a language? Full of submission and respect.

Now after those words of inner change were told, and particularly from the mouth of the head of the tribe of the futural Royal house of Israel, the words that have so long waited for could be said: “Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried, ‘Have everyone go out from me.’ So there was no man with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. He wept so loudly… And they came closer. And he said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.’” (Genesis 45:1-4) Believe me, Yeshua is even today weeping and almost “not controlling himself” and wanting so badly to make Himself known to His own!

Again it will happen after He “will send all out!” Yes, it will then be exclusively Joseph and his brothers. No dragoman anymore and no Egyptian “mask.” That’s how it also will be when Jesus return when “the fullness of the Gentiles has come” Then “all Israel will be saved.” Exclusively to his brothers, to the Jews, and they “will look on Him whom they have pierced” (Zechariah 12:10).

Pearls of the Parasha by the Jewish sages:
“And Joseph told his brothers ‘I am Joseph’…” Until the moment from their coming to Egypt Joseph spoke harshly to them and was accusing them. They asked themselves why? But after those two words were spoken in Hebrew, “Ani Josef” – “I am Joseph,” all the astonishment and questions disappeared and melted in the wind. According to Chafetz Chaim, the same will take place when the world will hear those two words: “Ani Adonai” -YHVH! – “I am the LORD!” Then, at that time as well, all questions and wondering of how the world was ruled will vanish and “all flesh will know that the hand of God did all to our favor!!”

Then, what was told by Joseph to his frightened brothers: “Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life (like the first fruit)… God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance” (the great harvest). So we can see, all was a part of God’s overall salvation plan, yes, even the rejection by the Jews – that is affirmed by Romans 11. “”Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God;… God has made me lord of all…” (Genesis 45:8-9). That’s again exactly who our Lord Yeshua was and is – Lord of the World!

Here we also find a good argument against all anti-Semitic false teaching that the Jews are to blame for their blindness and rejection and that’s why they have been rejected by God.

Eric Martienssen

Since my secession from the Church in 2009, my Jewish Orthodox friends in Israel and I have been following the Fake News of Rome in articles and political Shabbat commentaries on GSI (God's Sabbath Int.). The former Pontiff destroyed the dwelling place of God, the temple in Jerusalem – fact! Was the New Testament and the Church just a world dominance inspired business idea of Rome? What is politics today? Enjoy your trip on GSI.