Genesis 44
Genesis 44:18, And Judah came near. There is much to learn about the prophetic significance of Judah coming near to Joseph. The modern Jewish people are the descendants of Judah. The the children of Judah or the Jews became the Southern Kingdom of Israel, and Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh became the Northern Kingdom or house of Israel and eventually the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” as we have discussed previously and written about and proven extensively elsewhere from both the Scriptures and secular non-biblical sources.
Prophetically-speaking, every Christian who is minimally familiar with the Bible knows who the most notable descendant of the tribe of Judah is? The Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the Root of Jesse is, of course, Yeshua the Messiah. Rev 5:5). When you came to faith in Yeshua, did he seek you or did you seek him when you were lost? He called everyone of us to himself, and we simply responded to that call! (See Matt 20:16; Rom 8:28, 30; 1 Cor 1:9, 26; 7:17, 20; 2 Thes 2:12; 2 Tim 1:9; 1 Pet 2:9 cp.Rom 5:8; Luke 19:10; Matt 18:11.)
Why is Judah coming near to Joseph (who he does not yet recognize as Joseph)? He was motivated out of love for his father Jacob (See Gen 44:18–34). Similarly, Yeshua was motivated to come near to us out of love for his Father as well (See John 8:28; chapter 17).
Judah offered to lay down his life as a ransom for his youngest brother (Gen 44:33). Who does this point to prophetically? Yeshua freely gave his life as a substitute for his each one of us (Mark 10:45; Matt 20:28; 1 Tim 2:5; John 10:11, 15, 17–18; 1 John 3:16).
Please note that Judah is an antetype (prophetic forerunner) of Yeshua the Messiah.
- Both sought to please their fathers.
- Both acted out of unconditional love for their younger brother.
- Both stood to gain nothing personally, but rather stood to lose much, if their plan did not work. Judah, a prince, would become a slave in Egypt; Yeshua would become a slave to death and hell, if he sinned.
It is interesting to note that classic Christian commentator Matthew Henry draws a similar analogy between Judah’s actions here and Messiah Yeshua as well (A Commentary On the Whole Bible, vol. 1, p. 243, by Matthew Henry).
Judah’s love for his father and Benjamin and his willingness to lay down his life as a ransom to become a slave in Egypt to Joseph is analogous to Messiah Yeshua’s love for the lost sheep of the house of Israel to whom he directed his outreach ministry and to ransom them in order to bring them back into the fold of Israel (John 10:15–16; Matt 10:6; 15:24).
Paul carried the same burden for his fellow Israelites as did Yeshua (Rom 9:1–5). Who does Paul later go on to talk about and extend his heart burden to in Romans 9:23–24? Remember that the term Gentile simply means “ethnic or people groups, or the people of the nations.” When Paul uses the term Gentiles here, he is specifically referring to the lost sheep of the house of Israel who were the descendants of Joseph. Paul had the same intense love for his Jewish brethren as he did for those “people groups of the nations” whom he equates with the lost, adulterous and apostate house of Israel (the Northern Kingdom of the ten tribes of Israel). Compare Romans 9:25 with Hosea 2:23 (the former being a direct quote from the latter) in context with the whole Book of Hosea, which is addressed particularly to the apostate house of Israel and who had become “lost” among the nations, of which Joseph in Egypt is a prophetic antetype.
Genesis 44:32–34, Became surety for the lad. On this passage Christian commentator Matthew Henry states, “Judah’s faithful cleaving to Benjamin, now, in his distress, was recompensed long afterwards by the tribe of Benjamin keeping with the tribe of Judah, when the other tribes deserted it” (Matthew Henry Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible, p. 56). This is a small piece of biblical trivia that had historical ramifications for hundreds of years later.
It is amazing that some 800 years later the fraternal love between these two brothers remained in their collective psyches such that the tribe of Benjamin remained loyal to the tribe of Judah.
What does this say about generational blessings (and curses) or attitudes that are passed on down to one’s descendants? If curses can be passed on down to the third or fourth generation (Exod 20:5), how much more so blessings? The Book of Proverbs states that, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit,” (Prov 18:21) and that, “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit,” (Prov 15:4).
Generations of our descendants can be affected positively or negatively by the inclination of our hearts and the words of our mouth.
It had been Judah’s original idea to sell Joseph to slave traders. Since that time, Judah’s heart had changed, so that now he was willing to lay down his life for his brother, Benjamin, Joseph’s only full brother. This change of heart on Judah’s part and the resulting outpouring of love for his youngest brother had lasting positive results.
Did Judah did not first recognize Joseph; Joseph had to reveal himself to Judah and his other brothers (Gen 45:1–4). Judah was “blinded” to Joseph’s identity. This a prophetic picture of the Jews’ future spiritual blindness to who the “Gentiles” were and are (Rom 11:25). As we have seen in previous studies, Joseph was a type of the Messiah as well as the father of Ephraim and Manasseh, the dominate tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, who went apostate and became as “lost sheep” among the nations of the world (Hos 7:8; 8:8; Ezek 34:16 and numerous other Scriptures). Therefore, Joseph is a prophetic picture of the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” and the Messiah who would come to seek out those lost sheep (Matt 15:24; 10:6). And whom does Judah represent? Judah is a prophetic antetype of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah who would later come as the Messiah to redeem his “brother,” who would be lost in the spiritual Egypt of this world. He also represent the Jews of Southern Kingdom of the house of Judah most of whom would be “blind” to their Jewish Messiah. Thus in this story, it appears that Judah is a prophetic picture of both the Jewish people and the Jewish Messiah.
This dual role that Judah to which Judah seems to prophetically point has been a head scratcher for the ancient Jewish sages. They have seen in the story of Joseph, the Suffering Servant, a Messiah Son of Joseph figure who they saw would be a descendant of Ephraim, and who would come to redeem the lost sheep or exiles of the house of Israel in preparation for a second Messiah to come whom they refer to as the Conquering King or Messiah the Son of David, (Mesorah PublicationsTheArtScroll Bereishis,vol. 1b, pp. 2121–2122). They see these Messiahs as two separate individuals. Yet in our story of Joseph and Judah we see the antetypes of these two Messiahs acting out their roles at the same time. Judah and Joseph point to both comings of Messiah Yeshua. At his first coming, Yeshua came as the Suffering Servant to redeem a remnant of lost Judah in addition to a much larger portion of “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Yet at his second coming, this same Messiah Son of Joseph will come back as the Lion of Judah to be revealed to his Jewish brothers (the modern day Jewish people) who had previously rejected him (Zech 12:10).
Genesis 45
Genesis 45:1–15, Then Joseph. Joseph, as an antetype of Yeshua, had mercy on the penitent sinners who had formerly wronged him. Joseph wept for joy and embraced his brothers when being reconciled to them (verse 14). Past hurts and wrongs were forgiven. Can you not see yourself in this story coming to Yeshua, your Savior and Redeemer, with a repentant heart and him warmly embracing you and welcoming you into his spiritual family and kingdom? (Read Ezek 18:27–32 and Ps 103:10–18.) As we progress in our spiritual walk, how easy it is to take for granted YHVH’s love and compassion that initially saved us and at the same time continues to sustain us in his grace. (Selah. Pause and reflect.)
Genesis 45:5, 7, 8, Elohim sent me.Joseph was sold into slavery at age 17, was freed from prison and made ruler of Egypt at age 30. After that, seven years of plenty followed, and then two years of famine had passed by the time he was reunited with is brothers. Only after 22 years in Egypt did Joseph finally figure out Elohim’s grand and wonderful plan for his life, and how it involved the saving of his family.
Had Joseph lost faith along the way, become embittered over his multiple misfortunes, and turned away from Elohim, the nation of Israel may have never been preserved.
There is a lesson for the disciple of Yeshua in the story of Joseph’s long travail as YHVH worked out the detail of his life to fulfill heaven’s larger plans and purposes (Rom 8:28). Along the way, Joseph’s patient endurance and faith was stretched and enlarged (Jas 1:2, 12). Keeping one’s eyes on YHVH Elohim, and refusing to lose faith during the dark times of one’s life can yield some amazingly triumphant outcomes, as we learn from the life of Joseph. This is because YHVH watches over those who place their trust in him and who obey him the best they can. Their lives are in his hands, and the circumstances of their lives are under his guidance (Rom 8:28–29). Because of his love for his children, and because of the good plans he has for them, whatever he allows to happen to them will be for their ultimate good. So let us find the blessing in everything that occurs in our life and may our love and faith in our Creator be strengthened.
Genesis 45:8, A father to Pharaoh. See notes at Gen 41:9–10.
Genesis 45:13–26, Becoming bond servants.During the remaining years of the famine, all of the Egyptians became indebted to Joseph as he judiciously doled out the stored wheat to those in need. In order to save their lives, the inhabitants of the famine-ravished land gave their lives and land to be servants of Joseph (who was a type of Yeshua) in exchange for food (Gen 47:23). Yeshua, likewise, has bought us with the price of his blood (1 Cor 6:20; 1 Pet 1:18–19; Rev 5:9). Are we not called to be his bondservants—a term that the apostles apply to themselves numerous times (Rom 1:1; Gal 1:1; Phil 2:7; Col 4:12; Tit 1:1; Jas 1:1; 2 Pet 1:1; Jude 1:1)? What does that mean in practical terms in your life? Many people accept Yeshua as their Savior, but few really accept him as their Lord and Master.
Genesis 45:24, Fall not out by the way (or do not become troubled along the way, NKJV; do not quarrel on the journey, NAS) or “Do not be agitated on the journey” (The Schoken Bible). Joseph dismissed his brothers with the warning not to quarrel with each other on the journey back to Canaan, as brothers can be prone to do. They had reconciled with Joseph, their savior who was a prophetic foreshadow of Yeshua, our Savior and Redeemer, but they still had a long foot-journey ahead of them of many dry and dusty miles. Joseph in his wisdom knew that as the miles dragged on, the fatigue of the flesh would begin to rise to the surface, tensions between the brothers would likely occur resulting in quarreling with each other. This is a common occurrence among the saints as they await Yeshua’s coming. Yeshua addressed this tendency among brethren believers in his final admonitions to his disciples before his crucifixion in this regard. He stressed the paramount importance of loving each other as we trek toward the promised land of our spiritual inheritance (John 13:34–35; 14:27; 15:12–13). How much energy do we as redeemed believers waste quarreling with one another instead of advancing the kingdom of Elohim? How would your life improve if you were to just forgive those who have offended you or those who want to hurt you or your ministry, and instead determine to walk away in love, and focus your attention on the job your Heavenly Father has given you to do in his kingdom?
Genesis 46
Genesis 46:4, Joseph will put his hand on your eyes. That is to say, Joseph will be at your deathbed and will close your eyes after you die.
Genesis 46:1–7, The reuniting of Jacobs family—the twelve tribes of Israel. These verses recount the move of Jacob and his family to Egypt where they were reunited with Joseph and his family. This prophetically foreshadows a time in the future, which the Jewish sages call the final redemption, which is to occur just prior to and at the coming of Messiah Son of David (or Yeshua the Messiah) as he comes to establish the Messianic Era (or Millennium) on earth.
The same Jewish sages also teach that part of that final redemption includes the reunification of the two houses of Israel (i.e., the Messiah-loving Jews and Torah-loving Christians) into one kingdom under Messiah Son of David. Indeed we find this prophesied in the Scriptures in Ezekiel’s two sticks prophecy (Ezek 37:15–28), which interestingly enough is also this week’s Haftorah portion! This speaks of the family reunification or reconciliation of Judah and Ephraim at Messiah’s return (Hos 5:15–6:4; 1:11; Acts 3:21; Ezek 37:25). This will be a supernatural work of the Spirit of Elohim (Ezek 36:19–32).
After the reunification of the divided family, the reunited and reconciled family move to the land of Goshen in Egypt (Gen 46:34). Goshen was in the Nile River delta area and was and to this day is the prime agricultural area of Egypt. It was a veritable promised land compared to the arid regions of Canaan.
It is possible that Goshen a tiny prophetic picture of the millennial age that will occur after King Messiah defeats the Babylon the Great new world order (a type of end times Egypt) at his second coming. As the ancient Jewish sages study the Scriptures, they have a sense that history for the people of Israel is continually repeating itself in cyclical patterns as YHVH works his purposes out among his people. As such, he is constantly endeavoring to reveal his plan of redemption and reconciliation to his people—at least to those who have eyes to see, and he is continually reaching out his loving hand of reconciliation to the next generations of Israelites with the hopes that they will turn to and follow him. Therefore the Israelites settling in Goshen is but one more picture of the cyclical pattern of redemption where we see YHVH at work among his people throughout the pages of Scripture, with all of these cycles pointing toward a final climax at the end of the age. At that time, all of the children of Israel will worship YHVH in spirit and in truth (John 4:23) under the rulership of King Yeshua the Messiah, Son of Joseph and Son of David.
Genesis 47
Genesis 47:13–26, The economic results of famine. Severe food shortages likely brought on by drought resulted in the Egyptian people becoming dependent on the government for food and survival. This is because the people had failed to prepare for such an event.
Because of famine resulting in people starving, the Egyptian government was able to step in and literally take control of the people’s lives, their land and material possessions. The government then collectivized the people by moving them into cities where it could “take care of” or control the people. In the process, the government became the master and the people became its serfs, if not slaves. Egypt became a feudal state where the ruling class owned the land and worked the land for a price.
This all happened in large part because during prosperous times the people failed to make preparations for hard times and thus became unwitting victims of natural circumstances and their own careless lifestyles.
The more a person prepares for hard times such as famine, natural disasters or economic collapse, and the closer they are to the land thus giving them the ability to raise their own food, the less dependent upon the state they will be, the more freedom they will have, and the less likely the government will be able to control their lives. Spiritual freedom is tied to physical independence as well.
In Revelation 13, the Bible prophesies a time coming when the end times Babylon the Great New World Order—global economic, political and religious system—will exclude earth’s inhabitants from being able to buy and sell food and other life-sustaining essentials unless they take a subcutaneous “mark” on their bodies infamously referred to in the Book of Revelation as “the mark of the beast” (Rev 13:16–17).
Most people will take this mark resulting in their eternal spiritual damnation, while a few people will refuse to take it.
Hunger and privation, whether man-caused or naturally occurring, can be the means by which an evil governmental system will attempt to control its people simply because humans will do and accept virtually anything to feed their starving bodies.
The more Elohim’s saints do now to prepare, especially spiritually, but also physically, for the horrifically hard times the Bible prophesies will occur globally in the end times, the more likely they will be not to deny their faith and to survive the end times spiritually intact and ready to meet King Yeshua the Messiah in the air as his glorified, triumphant bride at his second coming!
Genesis 47:15, The money has failed. This was a collapse of Egypt’s economic system brought on by a widespread famine. When there is no food to buy, money is worthless, since people cannot eat money. The people were now totally dependent upon the government for their survival, and were willing to sell themselves into bond servitude or slavery to the government just to eat. The Bible in the Book of Revelation indicates that widespread famine will occur in the last days prior to the second coming of Yeshua. We read,
When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” (Rev 6:5–6)
Sometime after this, the mark of the beast will be forced on earth’s population (Rev 13:16–17), where no one will be able to buy or sell anything, including food, without this biometric mark. Since the Bible prophesies that a famine will encompass the whole earth in those days, it seems unlikely that this will be the result of a global drought. More likely, this famine will be bought on due to failed economic policies, disease pandemics, war, fuel shortages and supply chain issues. We have already begun seeing the harbingers of this in recent times. This is all the more reason for YHVH’s people who are not ignorant of the times and seasons in which they are living (1 Thess 5:1–11) to prepare themselves physically but also and more importantly, spiritually but also physically for the end times.
YHVH went ahead of Jacob and his family and placed them in the grass-covered, well-watered land of Goshen located in the Nile River delta area of northern Egypt, where they were likely somewhat isolated from the famine. Similarly, during the hard times of the end days, YHVH promises to protect his saints as well (Rev 12:14).
Genesis 47:21, Moved them into the cities. Collectivization of a nation’s people into cities has often been the goal of oppressive and tyrannical governments. This was true in ancient times and is true today, and will be the case in the end times as the Bible prophesies.
For example, the goal of Marxist economic philosophy has always been about collectivizing people under government control by taking control of the economy along with manufacturing, housing, education, the media, transportation and health care and placing it in the hands of the ruling elites who control the government, while individual freedom and civil liberties are abridged or curtailed. The notion of government control is sold to the people as a form of security where a nanny state, big government will take care of you from cradle to grave. The problem is that in so doing, one gives up their personal freedom, independence and civil liberties in exchange for “security” whatever that is supposed to mean. Since the government now has management over a collectivized population, it can, to one degree or another (at least in pure communist society), control where you go, what you do, where you work, when and what you eat, how you spend your money, how your are educated, whether you receive health care or not, and what you think and say.
Such a system may not be completely the place in many Western nations yet, but what student of history cannot see the Western democracies moving in that direction? Who cannot see the trajectory of the social, political and economic path that the West has been on in the last 60 to 100 or more years as little by little freedoms and social liberties are being slowly eroded away in favor of more oppressive government control along with restrictions on personal freedoms. All of this is for people’s good and well-being, of course, or so we are told.
Needless to say, big government never wants an independent populace that is self-sufficient, can feed itself, educate and think for itself, express its own ideas and speak freely, travel freely, or defend itself (against government tyranny and over-reach). Such is the enemy of big-government control and the wealthy elite who control the politicians.
The control and collectivization of people along with big government control is the end times world-ruling system that we see in place just before Yeshua’s return as prophesied in Revelation chapters 13, 17 and 18. As YHVH brought judgment against ancient Egypt for oppression his people, he will also lift his hand of judgment against end times Babylon the Great and its global system and bring it down.
Genesis 47:24, One-fifth to Pharaoh. As dire as the economic conditions were in Egypt, Pharaoh only taxed the people at a twenty percent tax rate! In the U.S., for example, Americans pay approximately fifty percent of their incomes to the government in hidden and overt taxes as well as a myriad of other governmental regulatory fees. By comparison, the twenty percent taxes that Pharaoh charged his Egyptian serfs seems like a bargain! In reality, Pharaoh had imposed a form of feudalism upon his people where the nobility owned the land and pheasants or feudal serfs worked the land while paying its owner a large percentage of the land’s yield. Will history repeat itself in the end times? Likely so. Read Revelation chapters 13, 17 and 18.
