Joy Restored
- Posted on JanpmSun, 08 Jan 2017 22:06:44 -06002017-01-08T22:06:44-06:0010 17, 2016
- in Bible, God, Hebrew, Messiah, Study, Torah, Uncategorized, Vayigash
- by Hallelujah Girl
News reports cite that 800,000 children go missing each year. This number is reliable but easily misinterpreted. A child who has run away from home counts the same as a kidnapped murder victim. Some children are reported missing more than once and some do not get reported at all. Nevertheless whatever the reason for a child to be missing the ultimate desire is for the reunion.
…, ‘You yourselves know that my wife bore me two sons. One went out from me, so I said, “He must have been torn to shreds,” and I haven’t seen him since. And if you also take this one away from before me and an accident happens to him, then you’ll bring my grey hair down to the evil of Sheol .’ ~Genesis 44:27-29
The Torah is never lacking in the action department, last week (portion Miketz) Jacob had given permission for his sons to take Benjamin to Egypt. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until Benjamin was discovered to have in his possession the silver goblet that belonged to the viceroy of Egypt.
As the story continues this week in Vayigash, Judah approaches the viceroy (Joseph) and pleads on behalf of Benjamin. This idea of drawing near, nagash (נגש) in the Hebrew, seems to mean more than just approaching so to speak to someone. The Hebrew letters indicate it’s more of a continuous (nun-נ) walking (gimmel-ג) through the ascending flames or the pressing (shin-ש). The first we see nagash used in scripture is in Genesis 18:23 when Abraham draws near to the Holy One to plead for the righteous that may be in Sodom and Gomorrah asking, “Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” Now (Genesis 44:18-34) Judah repeats his fathers words to Joseph.
Joseph could no longer restrain himself and reveals his identity to his brothers. Pharoah even commands that Joseph send the finest of Egypt including wagons to transport Jacob and his family. When Jacob is told that Joseph is alive first his heart went numb (Genesis 45:26) and in the next verse his spirit is revived (Genesis 45:27). In other words Jacob was stunned and then his Spirit, the Ruach, was now alive. The Hebrew word for revived comes from the root verb chayah, meaning live.
Jacob did not believe the words of his sons. The same sons who showed their father a blood stained garment and spoke lies are now telling a different story. Twenty two years of mourning the firstborn son of Rachel, whom he dearly loved. It was now that the Shekinah had returned and was with Jacob. He was once again alive!
Seventy souls and all their possessions journeyed to Egypt. Joseph greeted his father in the land of Goshen an what a reunion that must have been. Here’s how scripture sums it up:
Now he sent Judah before him to Joseph to show him the way to Goshen. When they came to the land of Goshen, Joseph harnessed his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as he appeared before him, he fell upon his neck, and wept on his neck for some time. Then Israel said to Joseph, “At this time I am ready to die, after seeing your face in person—for you’re still alive!” -Genesis 46:28-30
The reunion according to the Midrash describes Joseph as riding towards his father at the head of a vast Egyptian army. Joseph was dressed in silk and purple and wore a crown which Pharoah had sent especially for this occasion. When Joseph recognized his father from a distance, he descended and walked toward him (as did his noblemen). Jacob felt elated. As Joseph approached he bowed to his father (as did all the Egyptians with him). Joseph fell upon his father’s neck and wept.
At the sight of Joseph, Jacobs heart was filled with love and awe of the Holy One and He realized His great kindness. For now Jacob knew that he would only die in this world but not in the world to come. The Sages say that Jacob took this time to recite the Shema, reaccepting the Holy One’s authority and mastery, not to mention his fear and love of Him.
When Jacob stood before Pharoah his age was questioned by the leader of Egypt. “Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life” was Jacob’s reply to Pharoah. To live, really live, is to have joy or in other words, possess the Shekinah! The Presence of the Holy One in our lives is truly living. Jacob grew up learning Torah, then escaping his brother Esau, living with the corrupt Laban, balancing four wives when only one was his true desire, facing his brother Esau again, having his daughter raped and violated, two of his sons destroying the entire city of Sh’chem, then his most favorite son of Rachel gone. Jacob may have been only 130 years old when he met Pharoah but he obviously looked much older.
It’s a lesson of joy! No matter the circumstances! Stress and grief, sorrow, and pain will only age you. Joy is basking in the glory of the Holy One! All the Father brings us is for a very important reason. We don’t always know why He puts us through what He does, but our trust is so important. The Holy One has it all under control.
Shalom! Happy day!
Hallelujah Girl:)
Tags: #ReadYourBible #ItsAllAboutYeshua #TorahIsTruth, Hebrew, joy, Restoration, Vayigash