Israel felt the rising
of his spirit, the joy of knowing his son was alive. How elegant is God in
providing such a rich incentive to go rather than a cursory order. What care He takes.
The incentive gave
Israel enough energy to carry him all the way to the logical and spiritual
conclusion of his long journey.
God graciously signaled the end of Jacob’s long
journey and told him to go
God help us to hold on
long enough to see Him bring the closure that only He can bring.
God added to the drama
by kindly saying to Israel, “go, I am with you.” He did not leave him second
guessing. In the most decisive moment of his life, God stood with him.
He also confirmed,
somewhat euphemistically: “There I will make you a great nation.” He spared the
details and did not detract from an old man’s joy by telling him the price.
But He did confirm
that the only way to forge them into a great people was through the crucible of
Egypt. His hand was on them and that was all that Israel needed.
Sixty-six souls went
into Egypt, among them the disinherited sons of Judah’s first and second sons
and the precious next-in-line heir of a promise-keeping Tamar.
Judah, the royal seed, led the way - As the heir apparent
it was right that he should
They went straight to
Goshen, part of the royal district of Rameses. There Joseph met them with tears
of joy. What a reunion. What profound consolation for a long, hard life.
Joseph, pointed out
that “shepherd” was offensive to Egyptians, so to ensure their separation into Goshen
(Rameses), he advised them to tell Pharaoh that they were shepherds.
Small as that
distinction was, it kept them from assimilation and led to racial stigmatization,
but it also helped to mold them into a single, homogeneous nation.
Ironically, all the
greatest men of the bible were shepherds, figuratively and literally speaking.
Abraham, Isaac, Israel, Moses, David, even Jesus. The apostles followed the cue
of Peter, to feed the lambs of God and be (figurative) shepherds in their own
rights.
Abel taught us to
shepherd or steward what God entrusts to us. That distinguished the faithful
who are recorded in Hebrews 11. They, of whom this world is not worthy, stewarded
the promise of God to its climax, in Christ.
Yet the idea was
anathema to Egypt, who preferred to rule. That is the way of the pagans, who also
dared to co-opt God to their dark undertakings.
Joseph the nation builder
Once settled, the sore
drought led the people to “mortgage” their livestock in return for food. Later,
they gave up all land title in return for food and ultimately they sold
themselves to Pharaoh. It all seems unbecoming of such a righteous man.
Yet, in truth, he had
the vision to build a nation where its people were no longer independent of the
state, but citizens of the land, sharing in its destiny and paying taxes to the
crown. He was eons ahead of his time. The Jews have always made such
contributions to humanity.
Well, Israel was at the
end of his road and told Joseph to carry his remains into the Promised Land,
which consigned him a long, well-deserved rest before having to move again.
Israel’s blessings
Joseph then presented
his two sons and set his first born, Manasseh to the right of Israel, with
Ephraim to the left. However, Israel, though blind and old, switched his hand
“wittingly”, and blessed the younger with his right hand.
Joseph disputed that,
but Israel added, “He will be the greater one and the older will serve the
younger”. We don’t really know how that worked out. All I do know is that the threads of his multi-colored coat unraveled through the years, to leave one enduring crimson thread.
Then Israel blessed
each of his children and spoke prophetically into their lives:
- Reuben, as unsteady as water. Israel did not forget the defilement of his bed and predicted that Reuben would not excel. Israel did not forget and disinherited him too, but his words remind us of how powerful family curses can be.
- Levi and Simeon, renounced for their cruelty, faced a hostile future as compensation for their anger. Their land would be divided, with Levi getting no land in Israel and Simeon acquiring the fewest number of cities.
- Judah, the promised seed, was promised a scepter that would never pass from him. From him would come the righteous king that later entered the great city on a donkey.
- Zebulun would move to the sea and trade there, even building ships.
- Issachar would bow to two great burdens and a tribe under tribute.
- Dan would become a judge of Israel, but only Samson made it.
- Asher would own the bread basket of Israel, near Carmel, but Deut. 33:24 predicts that his toe would be bathed in oil, which was later discovered.
- Gad would face hostility, partly because he chose to settle east of the Jordan in Gilead, where they did face numerous attacks. That land is now part of Jordan.
- Naphtali would a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns, possibly alluding to the judge Deborah.
- Joseph would remain a fruitful bough. He received a double blessing for the price he paid to save Israel and bring them to Egypt.
- Benjamin was described as a devouring wolf. Many of Israel’s great warriors came from Benjamin, including Ehud, Saul and Jonathon.
Final words of honor
Israel honored Rebekah
in death and then asked to be buried alongside her in the Cave of the Patriarchs,
bought by Abraham. Historians argue that the “place of weepings”, where Deborah
died, alluded to the death of Rebekah.
However, for fear of
Esau attending the funeral and because of the ire of Isaac, Israel evidently
kept it all low key and private. All I know is that that virtuous, courageous
woman lived long enough to see her son return as her own consolation for her
great courage.
Thus, finally it was
done and another great soul breathed his last, to end a great chapter in the
history of God’s people. What an incredible life.
After the mourning, Joseph took his father back to Canaan to Machpelah, where he was buried alongside the other patriarchal giants. The demise of Israel left his brothers feeling insecure, but he assured them, "what you meant for evil, God meant for good".
Joseph lived long enough to see his grandchildren and then died in Egypt, with the promise that the Jews would later carry his bones to Canaan. Thus ended the age of the patriarchs.
After the mourning, Joseph took his father back to Canaan to Machpelah, where he was buried alongside the other patriarchal giants. The demise of Israel left his brothers feeling insecure, but he assured them, "what you meant for evil, God meant for good".
Joseph lived long enough to see his grandchildren and then died in Egypt, with the promise that the Jews would later carry his bones to Canaan. Thus ended the age of the patriarchs.
(c) Peter Missing @ Bethelstone.com
(Image) dwellingintheword.wordpress.com
(Image) dwellingintheword.wordpress.com
