The chosen seed of the patriarchs has always been regarded with the utmost importance. Isaac was the chosen seed of Abraham and Jacob was the chosen seed of Isaac. The seed of Jacob, which would carry on the promise of God, was not revealed right away and seemed to be kept from the eyes of Jacob until the very end of his life. Who was the chosen seed of Jacob?
As we begin to read this week’s Torah Portion, it would appear that Joseph was the chosen seed: “These are the records of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, when seventeen years of age…” (Gen. 37:2). The “generations of Jacob” focus on his son Joseph and from this verse to the end of the book of Genesis the majority of the focus of the text is centered of the life of Joseph.
Joseph held a special place in the heart of his father Jacob, who is also called Israel: “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic” (Gen. 37:3). Joseph was the beloved son of Israel and was elevated above his brothers. The other brothers saw this favoritism and hated Joseph for it (Gen. 37:4).
The animosity between Joseph and his brothers would ultimately be used to fulfill the plan of God. Joseph’s brothers had determined to kill him, however, they were persuaded by their brother Judah to sell him into slavery instead. The brothers sold Joseph to Ishmaelite merchants who in turn sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt. After thirteen years of slavery and imprisonment, Joseph was exalted to the highest power in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. In every place that Joseph lived and in each situation that Joseph found himself he consistently feared God and God was continually with Joseph.
The story of Joseph is a powerful story of redemption by the hand of God. Joseph was clearly a man whose life was chosen by God, however, not for the sake of the promised seed. Judah was chosen to carry the promised seed of the Messiah. Although the Bible focuses on the line of Judah regarding the coming of the Messiah, it is interesting to see the significance that the life of Joseph played in revealing God’s presence on earth and his connection to the Messiah.
Are There Two Messianic Lines?
In Judaism there is a traditional teaching that there will actually be two Messiahs: Messiah the son of Joseph (from the tribe of Ephraim) and Messiah the son of David (who is from the tribe of Judah). Messiah the son of Joseph will come to prepare the way through war and is predicted to suffer, die, and later be resurrected. Messiah the son of David is believed to come as a conquerer and to reign in the Messianic age. To read more about this Jewish tradition, click this link: The Two Messiahs
As we look at the life of Joseph in this week’s Torah Portion, it is clear that Joseph was set apart by God to prepare the way for God’s great redemption of Joseph’s family and the world. There was a special calling on the life of Joseph which exalted him above his brothers and gave credence to his being the one to carry on the promised seed. What set Joseph apart from his brothers?
The Dreams of Joseph
We are introduced to Joseph when he was seventeen years old and it was at this same time that we read of the account of the two dreams which Joseph saw. These dreams revealed to Joseph that he would have an exalted position above his brothers (Genesis 37:5-10). Joseph’s brothers and his father reacted negatively against these dreams and did not want to accept them:
He related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind. – Gen. 37:10-11
Joseph’s dreams were prophetic in nature and therefore immediately drew reactions from those around him.
We learn from the dreams of Joseph that God began to speak to Joseph at an early age. Joseph seems to have accepted the things which God showed him and he understood clearly that the dreams that he received were communication from God. We see this illustrated later in his life when he was in Egypt.
The Dreams of Pharaoh’s Officials
Joseph had many ups and downs along his journey after his brothers sold him into slavery. In Egypt Joseph was bought by Potiphar, who was the head of Pharaoh’s body guard, and he was quickly made head over Potiphar’s house. This soon changed when Joseph was falsely accused of trying to rape his master’s wife. Joseph was thrown into prison for this accusation.
While Joseph was in prison he was confronted with the dreams of others. Joseph noticed that two of his fellow prisoners, who were Pharaoh’s officials, were not themselves in the morning and he inquired about their well-being. Pharaoh’s officials responded to Joseph: “We have had a dream and there is no one to interpret it.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell it to me, please” (Gen. 40:8).
Joseph did not assume that he himself could give them an interpretation but recognized the true source of dreams and interpretation, God Himself. Joseph had learned that God communicates through dreams and God also gives the interpretation. Joseph had a proper focus on the natural and the supernatural and recognized the prophetic nature of dreams.
Joseph listened to each of the dreams of the two men and gave the interpretation for each; in three days the chief cupbearer would be restored to his position before Pharaoh, whereas, the chief baker would be hung on a tree. Three days later was Pharaoh’s birthday and both dreams were fulfilled according to their respective interpretation. God’s word was confirmed through these dreams and their interpretation by the word of His servant Joseph.
Pharaoh’s Dreams
At some point while Joseph was still in prison, Pharaoh dreamed two dreams on the same night and these dreams troubled him greatly. Pharaoh called for his magicians but no one could interpret the dreams for him. The chief cupbearer then remembered Joseph and his own dream and related this to Pharaoh. Pharaoh immediately sent for Joseph.
The exchange between Pharaoh and Joseph again illustrates to us that dreams are prophetic in nature and are used to reveal God’s word to man:
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, but no one can interpret it; and I have heard it said about you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” – Gen. 41:15-16
Joseph literally responded to Pharaoh’s request with the following words: “בלעדי אלהים יענה את שלום פרעה” – “biladai elohim ya-ahneh et shalom Paroh” – “without me, God will answer peace to Pharaoh.” Joseph was quick to respond to Pharaoh that it was not in himself but rather it was God alone who was able to interpret the dream and give Pharaoh a word of peace.
The Prophetic Nature of Dreams
In this same account, after Pharaoh explained the dreams to Joseph, Joseph responded to Pharaoh: “Pharaoh’s dreams are one and the same; God has told to Pharaoh what He is about to do” (Genesis 41:25). Joseph was thirty years old at this point (Gen. 41:46) and he had had much experience with dreams and their interpretation. Joseph understood the intention of dreams and he knew that God spoke in and through dreams to reveal his word to man.
One thing we see in the life of Joseph, which we also see in the life of Daniel, is how God spoke to men and kings through dreams. Joseph was consistently used to bring forth the Word of God in his time through dreams. God revealed what He was about to do on earth and he used Joseph as His channel of communication.
God’s Secret Counsel
In this week’s corresponding section from the prophets, we read the following verses in the book of Amos:
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy? – Amos 3:7-8
The Lord God can do anything He chooses to do in this world. God has chosen to communicate His Word and His secret counsel to appointed people whom He calls prophets. The Hebrew word used for the phrase “His secret counsel” in the above verse is “סודו” – “sodo” and literally means “His secrets” or “His secret counsel.”
In the book of Proverbs it also speaks of the secret counsel of the LORD: “For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD; but His counsel is with the upright” (Prov. 3:32). The word used for “counsel” in this verse is the same Hebrew word “סודו” – “sodo” as used in Amos and can literally read, “but His secret counsel is with the upright.” God reveals His secret counsel to the upright and to His prophets.
God uses appointed people to make “His secret counsel” known in this world. I believe we see this displayed in the life of Joseph as well. Joseph received secret counsel from God and He declared it to whomever it was necessary; to his own family, to fellow prisoners, and to the King of Egypt.
Men of God
Although God can and does use anyone, there are certain people that are recognized as those whom God uses and speaks through:
Moses and Aaron were among His priests,
And Samuel was among those who called on His name;
They called upon the LORD and He answered them. – Ps. 99:6
Moses, Aaron, and Samuel were all men who called on the name of the LORD and He answered them. God has chosen to communicate through specific human beings to accomplish His will on earth.
The man Samuel was known to be a man of God as a result of his words being confirmed as true. It was once said about the prophet Samuel; “Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; all that he says surely comes true” (1 Samuel 9:6). Samuel was known as a man who spoke God’s word and it happened just as he said. True men of God are known by their life, their actions, and by the testimony of God’s Word coming to pass. Joseph, like Samuel, was one of these men.
The Significance of the Prophetic
God longs to communicate in and through His people on this earth. The Word of God, as printed in the Bible, is a record of God’s Word. God’s Word is bound in its written form but it is also living. God still communicates through dreams today. He also communicates through the spiritual gift of prophecy. These means of communicating to us are not in addition to God’s Word but in accordance to it.
The gift of prophecy, as explained in the New Testament, has very clear goals and objectives for believers: edification, exhortation, and consolation (1 Corinthians 14:3). If unbelievers are present when the gift of prophecy is exercised it will bring conviction to those who hear:
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you. – 1 Corinthians 14:24-25
God’s presence is manifested through the exercising of the prophetic.
The revelation of God’s Word, by whatever means God sends it, brings a tangible reality of the presence of God. People cannot embrace God’s Word and not be changed. They will either agree with God’s Word and worship Him or reject God’s Word and bring judgement upon themselves. This is exactly what we see happened in the life of Joseph.
Joseph shared the revelation that God gave to him through his dreams with his brothers and they rejected it. Joseph’s brothers lived in turmoil and anxiety the rest of their lives (Gen. 50:15-21). Joseph was used by God to bring His revealed Word to others and no one could deny that God was with Joseph (Gen. 41:38-39).
The Spirit of Prophecy
Although Joseph would not be the chosen line to carry on the promised seed of the Messiah, Joseph was appointed by God to deliver God’s prophetic word to others. Prophecy is God’s communication to humankind and is connected to the Messiah.
In the New Testament we read the following phrase in the book of Revelation regarding prophecy: “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). Prophecy is a revelation of truth of who God is and what will come to pass. Yeshua (Jesus) is the revelation of God and the very Word of God. Anyone who believes in the “testimony of Yeshua” is receiving and believing in the prophetic Word from God Himself. These two entities, Yeshua and prophecy, are eternally united.
When Joseph communicated God’s message to his family, to Pharaoh’s officials, and to Pharaoh himself he was literally communicating God’s prophetic word to them. God used Joseph to deliver His prophetic Word to the people in his day in order to bring life for all those who would believe (Gen. 45:7). Even though Joseph was not included in the physical line of the Messiah, Joseph certainly was included in the prophetic plan of God to bring a great redemption to the world. Joseph’s life was marked by the spirit of prophecy and The Testimony of Yeshua is the Spirit of Prophecy!
Dear Daniel,
Although my comments are not directly related to your commentary this week, I felt compelled to comment upon the “union” of Judah and Tamar, which is part of this week’s Torah portion. How gracious is our great God that He would bring Maschiach into the world through sinners such as Judah and Tamar.
What is more, “…God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Sal:-)
Hi Daniel!
I think these two verses are very relevant on what you shared: “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy?.” -Amos-
I thank God for reminding me His Word despite of any circumstance or even if we walk some times through the wilderness.
Shalom! -Yazmin
Good perspective Yazmin!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Daniel