Vayigash: And He Drew Near Beresheet 44:18-47:27 Haftarah: Ezek.

37:15-28

ayigash is the name of this weeks Torah portion, meaning & he drew near, or he approached. From we get the root word which is

= = ngash 5066 naw-gash;

A prim. Root; to be or come near (for any purpose); euphem. To lie with a woman; as an enemy, to attack; relig. To worship; caus. To present, to approach and to DRAW NIGH
Nagash means to approach, draw near, bring; used for the first time in the biblical text in Gen. 18:23, where Abraham is said to draw near to God to plead that Sodom be spared. In a moment well return to this, but right now I need to ask you,

In the close of last weeks Parasha, Mikketz meaning At the End, we witnessed Joseph plant his royal silver cup in Benjamins bag of grain to create the right environment in which to test and reveal the heart of his brethren. Being so named Zaphnath paaneah (tsof-nath' pah-nay'-akh) (Gen 41:45 KJV) as the sages all agree to mean Revealer of Secrets was fitting due to the fact that Yosef was the only one, being filled with The Spirit of GOD as spoken by Pharaoh 1|Page

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himself, who could rightly interpret his dream back to himand now he would be YHWHs chosen instrument once again, to test and bring restoration of right relationship to his brethren, and to YHWH. The cup in this immediate context was a symbol of Josephs authority and wealth, but here we see it employed merely as the catalyst that will bring Yehudah and all his brethren, save Benjamin, back to that fateful day when they traded the Love and Shalom of YHWH for the root of bitterness. And as we will see, every day we too are presented with a variety of different cups to choose fromsome sweet, some not so much. Throughout Scripture and still used even in our language today, are several types of cups. Have you ever heard or used the figure that aint my cup-a-tea? Sure, its rooted in southern colloquialism, and its just a casual way of politely saying the subject or topic of discussion has no real relevance or interest to you. But we also read about various cups in Scripture. For instance, a cup of wrath or of trembling, a cup that runneth over, or a cup of joy, a cup of portion or inheritance, a cup of salvation, and so forth and so on. Clearly we see Yeshua uses the same figure even in His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane where He humbly prayed, And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Mat 26:39 KJV) This type of cup we see in Scripture is called the

But Jesus answered by saying to them, "You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?" "Oh yes," they replied, "we are able!" (Mat 20:22 NLT)

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Jesus told them, "You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen." (Mat 20:23 NLT) So this cup, like so many weve drunk from, painful as some are, oftentimes become that necessary final step to bring us to the end of ourselves, and into the arms of our Redeemer. Silver like many precious metals, fabrics and building materials possessed specific physical and figurative significance.

As a costly gift- Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat

presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats. (2Ch 17:11 KJV)

As a Symbol of Blood Money or Betrayal- Then Judas,

which had betrayed him [That is Jesus, Yeshua], when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. (Mat 27:3-6 KJV)

As Trespass Money- And thou shalt take the atonement money of the
children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls. (Exo 30:16 KJV)

As Redemption Money- 46And for those that are to be redeemed of

the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites; 49 And Moses took the 3|Page

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redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:51 And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses. (Num 3:46-51 KJV)
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And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs. (Num 18:16 KJV)
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Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself. 50 And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubile: and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him. (Lev 25:49-50 KJV).

nd the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. Then they tore their clothes, and when each man loaded his donkey, they returned to the city. When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him. (Gen 44:12-14 NAS)

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A Closer Look at the Bitter Cup Yehudah Drank for 22 Years

We read in the book of Romans For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The

just shall live by faith. (Rom 1:17 KJV) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (Rom 1:18 KJV) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Rom 1:21 KJV) 22
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (Rom 1:22 KJV) Who

changed the truth of God into a L-I-E, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed
forever. Amen. (Rom 1:18, 25 KJV) By these 8 verses we are able to gather some critical information, that reveals the ways of those who lie. it reveals those who LIED did 5 very specific things. Paul says the just live by faithin other words, they continue to Trust GOD, and believe that He in His Wisdom is working things for our absolute best.

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Those who are lying, have chosen to stop trusting GOD

UNTRUSTING, uh-oh.
He says that they were ungodlyif you look at the meaning of this word it means want of reverence towards GODthey lacked Reverence, which in Hebrew is the word Yirat, the same word associated with a Holy fearthey had noneUNGODLY.(MAY-DAY-MAY- DAY-MAY DAY) The fear [Reverence] of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Pro 9:10 KJV)
29 30

For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. (Pro 1:29-31 KJV)UNAFRAID, understanding walks out, and in walks pride. It says that they held the truth in unrighteousness. Here we see to do so is to detain or hold back the truth, more accurately to concealso as to give the appearance that breaking of GODs law in their heart is covered.

UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.(Were goin down.)

Then we read that the liar refuses to Glorify GOD, which is a natural result of a Thankful heart. But here we read the liar isUNTHANKFUL.

-Crash & BurnAt which point the direct result of unthankfulness was their imaginations, or their mind, became empty, through the filling of vain thoughts. They no

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longer recognized GOD for who He is, and no longer chose to place Him on the throne of their heart and mindso their mind became DARKENEDBLINDCAPTIVESDECEIVEDUNABLE TO SEE THE PATH OF TRUTHAND THEREFORE LEFT TO THEIR OWN WAYSAPART FROM GOD. This is your mind on Truth, this is your mind on a Lie, any questions? A darkened mind is foolish. The truth, regardless of the condition its in, will always be revealed! As Moshe emphatically spoke, be sure your sin will find you out. (Num 32:23 KJV) God desires truth in the inward parts (psa.51:6), which is why we have this steady diet from His Word urging us to BIND His word upon the table of our heart, upon our hands, the frontlets on our eyes, on our doorposts etc. GOD FROM THE BEGINNING HAS BEEN PREACHING THE ANTIDOTEHE DOESNT CHANGE.

y son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; 2 For length of days and years of life, And peace they will add to you. 3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your body, And refreshment to your bones. (Pro 3:1-8 NAS)
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And it is here we come to

And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.26 And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us. 27 And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: 28 And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since: 29 And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. 30 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life; 31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die;
(Gen 44:25-31 KJV)

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The word here for bound up in the Hebrew is

== qshar7194kaw-shar; A
prim. root; to tie; phys. (gird, confine, compact) or ment. (in love, league). I. To tie around. II. Conspire; in the sense of tying up [kjv: conspire, bind, make stronger].
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This is the exact same word we see being used in our reading of The Shema as found multiple times in Devarim, and in King Solomons admonition to his son in Mishle chapter 7; 8And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. (Deu 6:8-9 KJV)
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Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. (Deu 11:18 KJV)

My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. 2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. 3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. (Pro 7:1-3 KJV) Yehudahs bitter cup, soured in his spirit has driven him to repentance and surrender.

he point being, the relationship between Father and child is that if you are a child of YHWH, & you are, then His Life is bound up in you, and ours in His, by which we are made to be stronger! Secondly it presses the point that it deeply grieves Him when we become separated from Him!

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Our hearts were created to be forever connected to Our Heavenly Father, because we were created in the image of GOD. Allow me to borrow from a letter I recently received from a friend.

Elohim created the first humans in His image and likeness (ref. Genesis 1:27). If I might say, they were vessels of love, as in their nature they had the characteristics of their Creator. Because of this, they were able to walk in perfect union with Him. They were, therefore, echad (one). (Email, A Lesson in The Garden, E. Frank)
What a beautiful reminder and picture that despite the fact that we have rebelled in pride and sin, even being scattered around the earth, so we are now in these days being regathered. GOD NEVER CHANGES, for HaShem says
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"For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 "From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes, and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," says the LORD of hosts. (Mal 3:6-7 NAS)

Isnt it transparent here we see are getting yet another picture of Yaaqob as The Father, Yosef as Yeshua, and also a picture of the Body of Yeshua? Rabbis, Torah Scholars Jewish and non agree that the story of Jacob and Joseph is a type and shadow of our Creator and His unfailing Love for His Son, The Mashiach, and for His children. His life is bound up in ours, so from the very beginning His message has never changed; He desperately calls out to His children.

Where are you? Return to Me.

Even our precious Savior and Redeemer, Yeshua Messiah prayed in His High Priestly prayer in Yochanan chapter 17 beginning in verse 21,

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that they may all be

ONE. Just as you, Father, are united with me and ONE, just as we are ONE-

I with you, I pray that they may be united with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 The glory which you have given to me, I have given to them; so that they may be (Joh 17:21-22 CJB) And so it is at this point we come full circle to examine again the title of our Torah portion, Vayigash, from the root word

= = ngash 5066 naw-gash;

A prim. Root; to be or come near (for any purpose); euphem. To lie with a woman; as an enemy, to attack; relig. To worship; caus. To present, to approach and to DRAW NIGH
Yehudah, in his heartfelt entreaty to Guard-Protect-& Save the heart of his Father Yaaqov, and the Security of his little brother Benyamin, Draws Near unto Yosef, & appeals to none other than his heart!
Consider the following with me please. Here we have a man, one of 12 brothers, Yehudahwhose name means praised who 22 years prior had spearheaded and persuaded his brethren to assist him in selling their brother Yosef as a slave to a band of Ishmaelite traders (Gen. 37:26-27). How ironic, that a man 11 | P a g e

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whose name means praised would deliberately commit such a treacherous act against his own flesh? Why? From the beginning it was not so (Matthew 19:8) In the beginning man and YHWH were echad, one with another. But what we learn is through the planting of a dark thought into the soil of a willing mind comes rebellion, first against GOD, then against his fellow man; willing to sell their own flesh and blood to a tribe of people that they must have early on learned of from stories and historical recounting in the tent of their revered and venerable grandpa Isaac; who had passed down the bitter facts about his ruthless half-brother Ishmaelthe forerunner of their evil uncle Esab. Honestly, I do not believe they thought they were sparing Yosefs life at all. On the contrary, if anythingonly lessening perhaps the charges, as Yehudah revealed the murderous thoughts in his heart already when he said, and let not our hand be upon him (Gen 37:27 KJV). They were fully aware of what they were doing, and by selling Yosef, of all people especially the Ishmaelites, Yehudah and the other brothers had to have known they would most likely take care of their dirty work, thereby making them mere accessories to murder, and at worst, guilty now of involuntary manslaughter. Fastforward to the day Yosefs cup is found. The TRUTH IS, this bitter cup would prove to be the watershed moment to finally broke the dam of shame and bitterness, and bring healing, restoration and Love to a sin-sick family. So Judah says, "What can we say to my lord? What can we speak? And how can we justify ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; (Gen 44:16 NAS). Yehudah has learned what his purpose is, He is to be like the King, protector, guardian, abiding in Truth, and it is apparent from Yosefs reaction, after drinking from this cupYehudah has passed the test, and is ready to move forward. The Yehudah we see today is a changed man. Long regretful for what he had done to Yosef, he was willing to lay down his life for Benyamin, and thats all Yosef needed to know.

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What we learn about lying, deception, rebellion from Truth, SIN.

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But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (Jam 1:14 KJV)
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So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. (Psa 81:12 KJV) <To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.> Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. 3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. 4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD. 6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.(Psa 4:1-8 KJV)
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Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Heb 10:22 KJV)
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Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (Jam 4:8 KJV)
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Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. (Gen 44:18 KJV)

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Interestingly we find that both those words for drawing near, eggizo in James and Nagash in Genesis, are the same exact word, the only difference being, one is drawing closer to a brother, and one is drawing closer to YHWH. Or is it different? As well investigate in Vayikra, Leviticus, as we study the Levitical offerings, or Korbanot are the prescribed means of drawing near unto YHWH. But The Father places a stipulation on these
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Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Mat 22:37-40 KJV)
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"Then they themselves also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?' 45 "Then He will answer them, saying, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' (Mat 25:44-45 NAS)
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and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as himself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." (Mar 12:33 NAS) He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. (1Jo 2:9-11 KJV)
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In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate 14 | P a g e

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you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1Jo 3:10-16 KJV)
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If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (1Jo 4:20-21 KJV)
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Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and

then come and offer thy gift. (Mat 5:23-24 KJV)

And this is precisely what we observe Yehudah doing. He has learned that to lay down his life for his brothers is of greater importance than the sacrifices and offerings of bulls and goats.
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Then the Lord said, "Because this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote, (Isa 29:13 NAS)
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"You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. 9 'But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'"10 And after He called the multitude to Him, He said to them, "Hear, and understand. 11 "Not what enters into the mouth defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man." (Mat 15:7-11 NAS)
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"Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? 18 "But the things that proceed out of the 15 | P a g e

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mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. 19 "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. (Mat 15:17-19 NAS) Beloved, on a personal note I wanted to take a considerable amount of time going over this, because if you are anything like me, I have a tendency to need to relearn this lesson every day. If its not someone in my family, its the lady at the drive-through, or someone at work who make an unfounded judgment, or better yet someone feels comfortable around me because I became lax in my Holy conduct. We can do a disservice to our brothers, sisters and neighbors in a variety of ways, which is why its so important for us to set our eyes on Yeshuathe author and finisher of our faith. My hope is as we take the time to go over this, and learn from Yehudahs bitter cup, his regret, his confession and repentance, that the natural outpouring will be one of Restoration. Which is precisely the name of this Ministry, Restoration of Israel; part and parcel of Returning to our Hebraic roots is foundationally rooted in learning how to love and serve one another, as it glorifies our Heavenly Father, and it changes us into the royal priesthood weve been called unto. Beresheet Chapter 45:

Read Chapter 45:1-8

In verse 4 we read Yosef plead for his brothers to come closer so that they can identify him. This is the same root word Yehudah used when he drew near to his brother. Understand, 22 years have passed, Yosef is 39 years old. Hes a grown man, with a family, having already spent well over half of his life in Egypt. He looks Egyptian. He has an Egyptian wife, Asenath, the daughter of 16 | P a g e

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Potiphera, who the Rabbinical sages agree in the Stones Edition Artscroll Tanach commentary that this is the one and the same Potipher Yosef initially served under. He posseses the dress, the appearance and mannerisms of the Egyptian culture of that day; (i.e. Silver Divining Cup) of a native Egyptianbut hes their brother! He has two sons Ephraim and Manasseh, two young boys growing up under the influence of Egyptian culture. Are you beginning to see the picture? Joseph, in this sense is a picture of the house of Jacob. The house of Jacob was scattered to among the nations.

For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel. 8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither. 9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. 10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. 11 For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. (Jer 31:7-11 KJV)
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The Father scattered Israel, who is the House of Jacob to the nations. And as we read in the Haftarah, He is gathering them together again, along with His companions. Many of us are of the tribe of Ephraim, and many of us are of the northern tribes, and many of us are those companions who have joined unto Israel and become its commonwealth, but we are coming backwe are living in very exciting times. Whats more in this chapter we see the Restoration of the House of Jacob with the House of Judah. The bit of irony we find is the suffering Judah was held captive to for so long was the very thing Yosef had to learn to let go of in order to be exalted.
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In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luk 21:19 KJV)

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But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. (Luk 8:15 KJV)
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For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Heb 10:36 KJV) For 22 years Joseph had been learning how to be patient. Patient in being a slave, patient in being an inmate, patient in hoping the cupbearer would not forget himand did, for two more years Yehudah had been captive to darkness imposed by his own pride. Did you hear me? Sometimes we bring darkness in because of our lack of humility. The interesting thing to note, is that when people scheme schemes to bring us to ruin, GOD can use them to bring a blessing not only to usbut back to them. This is why it is essential that we love our brothers, and our enemiesboth are our neighbor.

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o sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. (1Pe 3:8-9 NAS)

Hasnt He set before us blessings and curses? The blessings come if we remain submitted to Him, Trust Hes doing a Good work in our livesdespite what our physical eyes see (Yosef in jailYehudah losing 2 sons, and being shown for the liar he wasTamar ). Both lost honor, Yehudah meant it initially for evil, but GOD worked to both their good. Both gained honor backand both were blessed by Hashem when they submitted to His Word. 18 'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD. (Lev 19:18 NAS) When Yehudah laid his life down, it was by far the Sweetest Aroma in the nostrils of GOD that He had experienced in a long time, and when Yehudah made amends to his brother, they cried. They kissed one another, embraced, and cried and were reunited againbound to one another. 8 "Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt. (Gen 45:8 NAS) Here again we see Yosef as a picture of Messiah, LORD and Ruler over all Egypt. 10 "And you shall live in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children and your flocks and your herds and all that you have. 11 "There I will also provide for you, for there are still five years of famine to come, lest you and your household and all 19 | P a g e

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that you have be impoverished."' (Gen 45:10-11 NAS) The word here for Goshen is

= = Gshen 1657 go-shen; of

Egyptian origin, meaning drawing near.
Small point of interest. If you look at the word, albeit of Egyptian origin, it bears out a meaning befitting the given circumstances as it applies to GODs people. Remember, there was a famine in the land. Yosef, the Savior of the known World at that time has been restored to his family. He sends his brothers to his father Yaakob to tell him that he is alive and to come to Egypt to be with him and to live there and that he will nourish him and all of his children through the famine.

= Gimel= meaning To carry or to walk. = Shin=Like two front teeth applying pressure, creating a pressing, or an urgency about something, or towards something. =Nun=meaning Life, seed, descendant, Son, Heir. When put together pictographically it tells us that GOD is going to carry Yaaqov to his Son, and that the House of
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Jacob will be able to Draw Near to YHWH as they again walk in the path of The Son.
At the end of chapter 45 we read, 25And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, 26 And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.

And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not.

27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them:

and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:
And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die. (Gen 45:25-1 KJV)
28

When we are carrying the pains of sufferings past, we are hard-pressed to confide and trust in a word of hope yeahbut Let us learn from our Patriarch Yaakov to trust in and take genuine comfort and hope given us by our brothers and sisters and children! In Chapter 46 we read Jacob stops in Beersheba, a place on the way to Egypt, where his fathers Isaac and Abraham had spend much time building preparing and burning sacrifices unto YHWH. He stops there and offers sacrifices unto YHWH there just like his fathers did. Yaakov apparently is a bit leery of journeying to Egypt. And why shouldnt he be? This is a departure from the original promise GOD had given him, and he recalls fully well the trouble his fathers encountered there in Egypt. But GOD is FAITHFULand visits Jacob in his night visions, 21 | P a g e

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comforting him that he is on the correct path. This is excellent because we see even though Jacob is overjoyed at being reunited to his son Josephhe puts no one above GODs Word; and neither should we. Seek counselbut do not put prayer at the end of your list. GOD should not be a last resort to addressing our dilemmas in lifeTrust and ask and He will deliver. The remainder of the chapter is a list of all the House of Jacoba total of 70 souls. The gematria of the number 70 is significant as it is symbolic of The Nations.

A Good While
29 And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. (Gen 46:29 KJV) Father and Son, reunited, each bound in each others life, echad. Read Chapter 47 on owntime is short. Joseph blesses the people and Pharaoh. Chapter 47:25 25 And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants. (Gen 47:25 KJV) The word there for grace is chen and it means beauty, favor, support.

What we have reading from right to left is a chet and a nun- together they mean the wall continues. In ancient Hebrew the wall is created by the tribal 22 | P a g e

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tents gathered in a circle. Together they form a protective wall, keeping out predators, and providing refuge and support inside the camp to the family, it truly is a picture of the body of Christ. We are that body, let us like Yosef show grace and favor one to another, and protect them from those on the outside that would try to prey upon them. It is also in this verse we see again the type and shadow of Yosef being a type of Messiahyou SAVED our lives, may we find GRACE in your sight, etc. And at the end of the parsha we see Yaakov demonstrating the faith and trust he has been learning to walk in since obtaining the birthright, and that is making the vow with Yosef that he will carry his body back to the cave where all their fathers were buried, which not only speaks of Yaakob, but of Yosef tooas he will one day, eventually leave the borders of Egypt, back to The Land of Promise as well.

hema, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: (Deu 6:4-6 KJV) thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. (Lev 19:18 KJV)

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