The Open Scroll - Joseph and Benjamin a.k.a. Y'shua and His Church

Joseph and Benjamin a.k.a. Y'shua and His Church

By Bob Schlenker  (Prints about 13 pages)  5/26/99




As you may know, the life of Jacob's son Joseph is a lesson in type about our Lord Jesus Christ. Although this is commonly recognized where there are features that parallel our Lord's first coming, it seems the limit of insight has long been set to restrict our view of how extensively this type shows his return. The usual reason things are kept hidden from our sight is for security, to insure that the Lord's plans will not be thwarted but succeed with greatest benefit. The key to these secured communications is always chronology, for the accurate and vital understanding of the inner workings of the Sovereign Lord's plan is only exposed through an understanding of the events and their sequencing and dating, an understanding of the times and seasons of his dealings with man. The Lord's appointment book is revealed on a need-to-know basis to those with proper security clearance. If this terminology seems strange to you and hard to understand in the context of Bible prophecy, perhaps you have neglected to engage yourself in this present spiritual warfare with a will to win.

In this article, I'm going to walk you through the Genesis account of Joseph's life showing how Y'shua's life was foreshadowed in detail. Certain other types come into view along the way as revealing the characteristics of and relationships between the Heavenly Father, the Church, the Bride, the 144,000 Jews and their close relatives. The end time scenario shown in this article will be referenced frequently in my  writings because it so plainly declares many very important events.

Let's begin. Please read Genesis 37-42 before you continue. Really. Don't shortchange yourself by continuing reading here until you've done so. Go get your Bible: I'll wait.

Ready? Let's begin.
Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him.  Genesis 37:3
What? If there a son who might be said to be born to Israel in his old age, it would be Benjamin, not Joseph. Why does the narrative say he loved Joseph most because he had been born to him in his old age? Either Jacob was a little senile, or there's something going on below the surface that's being brought to our attention.
Here's a visual aid.
Jacob's Age
Leah
Zilpah
Bilhah
Rachel
85
Reuben
 
86
Simeon
 
87
Levi
 
Dan
 
88
Judah
 
Naphtali
 
89
 
Gad
 
 
90
Issachar
Asher
 
 
91
Zebulun & Dinah
 
 
Joseph
92
 
93
 
94
 
95
 
96
 
97
 
98
 
99
 
100
 
101
 
102
 
103
 
104
 
105
 
106
 
107
 
108
 
Benjamin
Age at death: 147
 

If we substitute Y'shua for Joseph in our interpretation of the verse, since he is the antitypical Joseph, we can see that he was born of the lineage of Israel in a time far removed - in its "old age." From this perspective, the expression makes sense. Especially when you take the richly ornamented robe into account, a robe fit for a prince (of peace) or a king (of kings). Jacob as Joseph's father in this prophetic snapshot represents Y'shua's father, God, HaShem, Yahweh, who loves that son most!

So Joseph was loved more by Jacob because he was born in his old age. It may have come to your mind as it did mine that his being loved more might have had something to do with his being the first born (and only at that moment in time) son of his favorite wife.  Rachel was probably pregnant at that very time of verse 3's narrative. There is a low level reference to Benjamin here. Benjamin was about to become the last born son, born to Jacob when he was older by 17 -18 years than he was with any of his other sons.

The meanings of proper names found in the Bible are always significant. When understood relative to the contexts in which they appear, the names often shed light on the deeper meaning of the prophetic scriptures. Joseph's name is important.  When Rachel bore Joseph, she named him in a manner not based upon his own attributes, merit or uniqueness, but in relation to one not yet born. In bearing Joseph, she anticipated another son.
She named him Joseph, and said, "May the LORD add to me another son."  Genesis 30:24
Joseph means "let him add," or, "add thou Jehovah." Because of the way Rachel named Joseph, whenever we come upon his name, we should have the sense that he is not alone, that there is also a brother. You see, by reason of his name, Joseph cannot be disassociated from Benjamin, the son the Lord did add to Rachel.

Now, notice how Benjamin's birth and naming has been given particular emphasis.
As she breathed her last, for she was dying, she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin.  Genesis 35:18
In this one short verse, we see a naming and a renaming, placing emphasis upon the naming. Additional emphasis is placed upon the event because Rachel died in giving birth to him, naming him herself in her dying breath. Are we paying attention yet? Benjamin is being introduced as a type of the Church. Rachel's name means ewe, a female sheep. This lamb died bringing forth the son, sacrificed, you see, so that in this prophetic snapshot she represents the lamb of God, sacrificed. She died to bring forth a son, so this son represents those whom the lamb died to bring forth. More particularly, this son brought forth was first named Ben-Oni, which means "son of my sorrow," and then named Benjamin, which means "son of my right hand." Y'shua was a man acquainted with grief and sorrow. This son Ben-Oni was the son of his sorrow, acquainted with his sorrow and grief. As Y'shua took up his cross, those who follow after him as the Ben-Oni son take up their crosses. Because Y'shua took up his cross and was sacrificed, he was exalted to the right hand of the throne of God. And who shall follow after his example but that son, then the son of his right hand, Benjamin!
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Isaiah 53:3-7

And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." 23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  Luke 9:22-23

Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.  Romans 8:17
Isn't it awesome how the Lord has provided types in the Bible to foretell these wonderful truths. They are cryptic, but when the Lord opens our eyes, oh, the things we see!

I want to make the observation that Pesah (Passover) is associated with Benjamin because he was brought forth at the sacrifice of the lamb.
Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast--as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 1 Corinthians 5:7
Another aspect of the Benjamin people can be learned from the name he was known by. The right hand was the hand of blessing, and you may note that Benjamin's life will be marked by blessing. It is a fact that the holy and exalted city of Jerusalem is located in the land of Benjamin. This specific portion of the holy land containing Jerusalem was given to Benjamin and his descendants (Joshua 18:11-28) under the reign of Joshua, a type of Christ in his millennial reign.

Let's continue with the prophetic lesson of Joseph's life.
When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. {5} Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. {6} He said to them, "Listen to this dream I had: {7} We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it." {8} His brothers said to him, "Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?" And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. {9} Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me." {10} When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?" {11} His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.   Genesis 37:4-11
As you know (from just having read Chapter 42, right?) they would indeed come to bow before Joseph. As we know from the prophetic scriptures, the children of Israel (and all who ever lived and will live - Isaiah 45:23) will eventually bow before Jesus. Although the record of Benjamin's birth is given in Genesis chapter 35, his birth took place at around the time of Joseph's dream. Notice here that Joseph's mother is mentioned as though she were alive and that his dream mentioned 11 stars. Jacob understood the 11 stars to represent Joseph's brothers, which suggests that Rachel was pregnant with Benjamin. Joseph is declared in verse 2 as being seventeen, the difference in age between he and Benjamin.

The account continues.
Now his brothers had gone to graze their father's flocks near Shechem, 13 and Israel said to Joseph, "As you know, your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I am going to send you to them." "Very well," he replied. 14 So he said to him, "Go and see if all is well with your brothers and with the flocks, and bring word back to me." Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron. When Joseph arrived at Shechem, 15 a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, "What are you looking for?" 16 He replied, "I'm looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are grazing their flocks?" 17 "They have moved on from here," the man answered. "I heard them say, 'Let's go to Dothan.'" So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. Genesis 37:12-17
In the antitype, the actual events the type foreshadowed, the sons of Jacob went to pasture their father's flock, God's people Israel.  From that time, through Moses, Joshua, the judges, the kings and priestly leaders, the shepherds pastured the flock. God commissioned his son to go check on the welfare of his brothers the shepherds, and of the flock, and to bring word back to him. Y'shua accepted. Yahweh sent him from the valley of Hebron (communion), a type of where Y'shua had a particular kind of communion, a sharing, with God - in divine nature. He went to Shechem (early rising) where he did not find the sheep nor the shepherds, according to the father's expectation.
My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place.  Jeremiah 50:6
The appointed shepherds did not do well with the sheep in their care and they were not found in the land of early rising. The rising of Israel would be postponed. Another interpretation of Shechem's significance might be that the shepherd's problem is that they did not rise early to seek the Lord's direction but were lazy and self directed, which was certainly true. So Y'shua was sent to the lost sheep of Israel.
He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."   Matthew 15:24
He found them near Dothan. An unnamed man found him wandering around in the fields and directed him. The fact that this man is unnamed is as important a detail to note as the meanings of the names. An unnamed servant or man is often a type of the holy spirit. At Y'shua's baptism, he received the holy spirit and its help, and immediately went into the desert.
As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." 12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert,  Mark 1:10-12
Continuing with the account of Joseph betrayal.
But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. 19 "Here comes that dreamer!" they said to each other. 20 "Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we'll see what comes of his dreams." 21 When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. "Let's not take his life," he said. 22 "Don't shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the desert, but don't lay a hand on him." Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe--the richly ornamented robe he was wearing-- 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it.  Genesis 37:18-24
The parallels are pretty obvious. They threw him into a cistern, a type of the grave. "Cistern" is the Hebrew word, "bowr", a word found in Psalm 88:4 & 6. Joseph was thrown into the cistern in the desert near Dothan, which means "double decree" or "double sickness." This speaks to me of why Joseph was thrown into the cistern. It speaks of a two-fold fulfillment. The sickness is jealousy. Out of the sickness of jealousy, envy, the sons of Israel delivered up their brother Joseph and then, their brother Y'shua.
When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.  Genesis 37:4,11

For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.  Matthew 27:18
Now, let me make a point about Benjamin. Was he involved with this conspiracy? As an infant? Obviously not. In this type, the Church age could not yet have begun until after Y'shua was raised out of the pit.

Of course, Joseph as the type did not actually die, like Isaac as a type of Christ did not actually die when Abraham was ready to offer him as the burnt offering. But like the ram that was substituted for Isaac, Y'shua was slain for a sacrifice. The son of God was then raised from the dead after the typical pattern of being rescued from out of the cistern.
Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood." His brothers agreed. 28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.  Genesis 37:27-28
Y'shua, after being risen from the grave ascended into heaven. Egypt in this prophetic context now represents heaven.
When they got there, Joseph was bought by Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard. Potiphar means "my affliction was broken." And so, Y'shua's affliction was broken upon rejoining his Father in heaven. Pharaoh, the Sovereign of Egypt represents the Sovereign God of heaven.

At this point in the record of Jacob (and Joseph), there's a notable parenthesis, a break in the flow of the present context by means of the insertion of another. The whole of chapter 38 deals with Jacob's son Judah and the events surrounding the birth of his two sons, twins. This chapter has been inserted here to augment the prophecy being developed. Y'shua is the underlying subject of chapter 38 because he's descended from Perez, the firstborn of Judah's twins. Perez means "a break, or, a breach." Since this chapter introducing his birth appears as a breach in the flow of the context, our attention is thus brought to bear upon the Perez and his relevance to the surrounding context - Y'shua.

Moving quickly now, in the next few chapters, the story reveals that through several turns of events, Joseph became second in command to Pharaoh himself. Joseph's main claim to fame appears to be that he is the one through whom God reveals the interpretation of dreams, mysteries to all other men. This, too, points to Y'shua.

God had blessed Joseph greatly during that time, and he rose to prominence through Pharaoh's appreciation of Joseph's relationship with the God of Heaven. A great opportunity came before Joseph when God gave Pharaoh dreams that troubled him as to their meaning. Joseph, by revelation, interpreted these dreams to him. The meaning is very important because it sets up the context of the end time activity exhibited in the prophetic drama to follow.
It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. {29} Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, {30} but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. {31} The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. {32} The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon. Genesis 41:28-32:
The dreams given to Pharaoh were a cryptic prophetic message through which God's plans for Joseph's family would be fulfilled. The message was that a severe famine lasting for seven years was coming, but they were to be proceeded by a seven year time of plenty. God told Joseph how to store up food during the abundant time in preparation for the famine, thus providing a salvation for his family. The end time dramatic portrayal is begun here, but there is yet much of Y'shua's first advent to be displayed in this account.

The latter part of chapter 41 sets forth what is some of the most obvious foreshadowing of Y'shua in the life of Joseph. I'd like you to consider his relationship with this Pharaoh as descriptive of Y'shua's relationship with his Father.
So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God ?" {39} Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. {40} You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you. {41} So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." {42} Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. {43} He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, "Make way !" Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. {44} Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt."   Genesis 41:38-44
Could it be more plain? In comparing Genesis 41:46 with Luke 3:23 we note that both Joseph and Y'shua entered into "Pharaoh's" service when about thirty years old.
Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.  Genesis 41:45
The name give Joseph means "revealer of secrets." Another meaning of the name is, "treasury of the glorious rest." Out of Y'shua will come rivers of living water for all who enter into his glorious rest!

It's exciting to note here that Pharaoh also gave Joseph a wife. Her name, Asenath, means, "I shall be hated." This speaks of a coming people who would be given to Y'shua as a bride and would be hated! God gave Jesus a people to be his bride.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.  Revelation 19:7

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. {19} If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.  John 15:18-19

And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. 6 "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. John 17:5-11
The name given, the people given and their separation from the others in the world, the glory bestowed upon Y'shua that he had before... these are like binding threads of revelation between the type and the antitype.

Continuing on once again, the balance of the story about Joseph shows his function in the role of God's agent in the plan of salvation and redemption for His people. Joseph provides physical sustenance so that Israel and his family would not die an untimely physical death. Y'shua provides spiritual sustenance so that those who believe on him may live eternally! The Egyptian grain symbolizes that spiritual sustenance that is stored up for the salvation of God's people during the appointed Abundance week. This grain of heaven compares to the manna from heaven.
Yet he gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens; 24 he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven. Psalms 78:23-24
In Genesis chapter 42, Jacob learns that there's grain in Egypt, sending his sons there to buy it. Only Benjamin remained behind with Jacob, again, a noteworthy distinction. Though probably still in the first year of the famine, food in Jacob's homeland of Canaan is so scarce that he fears starvation.

Although the famine has arrived as this account is given, we still find the account showing parallels to Y'shua's first advent. Time and again, this account of Jacob in Genesis alternates between various scenes of Jesus' first and second advent. The types have to be carefully observed in the details of parallel meaning in order to interpret them accurately. Jacob now represents the people Israel instead of God because Pharaoh now represents God.

When the 10 brothers seeking provision for Jacob arrived in Egypt, they went before Joseph to request the purchase of Egyptian grain. Did you happen to notice that the brothers had approached Joseph with silver to buy grain, and did return with grain, but had their silver secretly returned to their sacks? The grain cannot be bought, but only given to those who seek it from the one who has it!

Here's a very important point to observe. Joseph recognized them, but they didn't recognize him.  When Jesus was first presented to his brothers (representing the shepherds of the nation of Israel) they didn't recognize him for who he was!
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.  Matthew 23:37

They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you.  Luke 19:44
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  John 1:9-12
Joseph pretended to be a stranger, addressing them in the Egyptian tongue through an interpreter. He thus spoke to them in the foreign language of "heaven," parables.
Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.  Matthew 13:34
Now, Joseph didn't give his brothers according to their expectation, but rather disciplined them. Consider their response to this unexpected treatment.
They said to one another, "Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that's why this distress has come upon us." {22} Reuben replied, "Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn't listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.   Genesis 42:21-22
This is awesome! Since these 10 men didn't recognize this "Egyptian" ruler as their brother, why would they have been convinced that the punishment from this powerful stranger was related to their sin against their brother Joseph? That's a good question that demands a good answer! Doesn't it seem to you that God is making the prophetic focus of this passage very obvious? He's pointing out the reason for the discipline, the judgment that came upon Israel since the time they didn't recognize Him. Nationally, they have been held accountable for his blood, just as Reuben's remark suggests. Consider the words of the participants as they were delivering Jesus up to Pilate for crucifixion.
All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!   Matthew 27:25
And so it is! At this point, upon hearing their confession, Joseph had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes. Simeon means "hearing," representing their ability to hear and understand. With Simeon bound, they were now without "hearing." This consequence of failing to recognize their brother Joseph is a remarkable prophecy that reveals the reason why Israel does not have the ability to hear and understand God's word. Their condition of being spiritually deaf to this very day is a consequence of not recognizing Jesus and reflects their accountability for his blood. The blindness of the eyes compares to the deafness of the ears.
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it {42} and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes. {43} The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. {44} They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."  Luke 19:41-44:

He said, "Go and tell this people: "'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' 10 Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." 11 Then I said, "For how long, O Lord?" And he answered: "Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, 12 until the LORD has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken.   Isaiah 6:9-12
In times past, Jerusalem was devastated by the Babylonians and then the Romans, but in days yet to come, Jerusalem will be devastated by others after their same pattern. This will precede the full restoration of Simeon. This restoration will come in stages, and it will begin after the pattern shown in Genesis when Benjamin is brought before Joseph in Egypt.

Joseph's condition for the restoration of Simeon was the return of Benjamin. Their mission has been to bring Joseph's brother to Egypt, representing a people transformed through Ben-Oni (son of my sorrow) to Benjamin (son of my right hand), the people to become his Bride. The brothers here commissioned specifically represent the antitypical 12 Galilean Jews we call apostles. At Y'shua's ascension, when he gave his departing message and commission for the age, the following question and answer was recorded for our benefit.
So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  Acts 1:6-8
When the commission has been accomplished, Jew and Gentile will be reconciled.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. {14} For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, {15} by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, {16} and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.  Ephesians 2:13-16
Christ's accomplishment through the cross reconciles men to God. The effect of the testimony of the witnesses who are part of this commission joins them as one body and reconciles them to God, feeding them the saving grain of Egypt. This important journey takes a while, as Judah's insightful comment brings the past two millennia to mind.
As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twiceGenesis 43:10
When Benjamin (the Bride) is finally brought to Egypt, Joseph sees him before the dinner.
As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother's son, he asked, "Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?" And he said, "God be gracious to you, my son." {30} Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there.  Genesis 43:29-30
Benjamin was very dear to Joseph, though his younger brother was yet an infant when he last saw him, if he saw him at all. Oh, just listen to what Joseph told Benjamin, "God be gracious to you, my son." And hasn't God been gracious to his son's Bride! What a incredibly emotional time that will be for the Lord. When the Bridegroom has stolen his Bride away and received her to himself, what joy will be found in the presence of the two. The Song of Songs, of Solomon relates something of the passionate love shared between the two. Do you know this love, friend?

The 44th chapter of Genesis is an interesting account of how Joseph set up Benjamin and used him to ensnare the other brothers. The situation revolves around Joseph's silver cup, a cup used for "divination." I believe this account is very very important, but I don't have a full understanding of it yet. The meaning of the cup is important. That it is hidden in Benjamin's sack is important. By using Benjamin, Judah was gotten hold of as well, because he was surety for his brother.
Your servant guaranteed the boy's safety to my father. I said, 'If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!'  Genesis 44:32
This interesting drama speaks to me of how the 144k will be caught between a rock (THE ROCK) and a hard place, as the expression goes. Just as Benjamin was the "hook" that ensnared Judah, the Bride will be the means to secure those who have been made accountable. Just as the setup was accomplished by means of Joseph's silver cup being found in Benjamin's sack, it will be the discovery of the Bride's "possession" of Y'shua's cup that will bring the brothers humbly before the Lord of Heaven.

I believe there are some basic attributes of the cup that give us insight into what is found in the Bride's possession. First, it is silver. Silver is a metal that signifies redemption. Benjamin's having the silver cup represents the truth that the Bride are the Lord's purchased possession, that they have been redeemed. Second, the cup is used for "divination." Divination is usually associated with sorcery, the occultic foretelling of the future or of ascertaining knowledge, but let's not presume that Joseph was involved in some kind of Satanic counterfeit. Joseph's divination was the genuine. Remember it was through him that dreams were interpreted and that the interpretations were given by God. The name given to him by Pharaoh means "the revealer of secrets." His cup of divination represents the ability to hear divine secrets, to receive revelation from God. That this cup of divination will be discovered in the Bride's possession gives insight into why the 144k will become jealous and perhaps even offended at them. They will know without refutation that the revelation granted these people will be genuinely the work of the God of their Fathers as He has always worked with the prophets who obeyed him. Lastly, this cup is Joseph's cup, Y'shua's cup. This is the cup he drank from at the last supper. It was a cup of promise that will be fulfilled when "Benjamin" is with "Joseph" in "Egypt."
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. 18  For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."  Luke 22:17-18
It was also a cup of a covenant, a disposition, contract, will or testament.
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.  Luke 22:20
In a disposition, there is something to be transferred or bestowed, some property or privilege. I already noted the redemptive aspect in connection with the meaning of silver, and we find it once again in that the blood being poured out was the actual price of redemption.
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 1 Peter 1:18-20
We have indeed been given the great blessing and privilege of redemption, but what has been bestowed upon us is also a responsibility, for the cup of the new covenant in his blood has a burden that goes with it as well. Those who drink of this cup pour out their blood has he did his. This is the cup he asked his father to remove from him while in the garden of Gethsemane and later defended in that same place from Peter, who would have ignorantly denied him the drinking of it with the sword. This cup is the same one he had discussed earlier with the wife and sons of Zebedee.
"What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." 22 "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered. 23 Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father."  Matthew 20:21-23
This is Joseph's cup, the one found in Benjamin's sack. Martyrdom. This willingness of the Bride to drink of this cup will be a powerful testimony of love. Consider the following passage.
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.  1 Corinthians 11:23-32
If you meditate upon the meaning of this passage, you will glean many valuable insights. There's more here than I can or will say and I don't pretend to understand it all, but it is a message for the Bride. In the last days, the Bride alone will not be condemned with the world when great tribulation breaks forth. She alone understands the Lord's words, symbolized by the breaking of bread. She alone is willing at the first to knowingly drink of his cup. Recognizing the body of the Lord has to do with understanding how the Bride is separate from the body and will be taken out of it. Worthiness is the issue, and the condition of the wearer's robe, whether or not it is made white in the blood of the lamb is the factor in determining worthiness.

Joseph's silver cup of divination will be discovered in Benjamin's sack by the unnamed steward, a type of the holy spirit. This is a God thing, through and through. By way of this interesting drama in the 44th chapter of Genesis, we have learned how the Lord will accomplish his magnificent plan. It has been well conceived, and its execution is right on schedule!

We are nearly at the close of this document, an article written primarily to provide a foundation for understanding the scenario that gives more specific detail about the chronology of the end times. The point within the Famine week at which the commissioning of the 144,000 Jews occurs is going to be made known, as well as others of the circumstances surrounding this event. I will close with a portion of a very relevant passage from the book of Romans.
What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, 8 as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day." 9 And David says: "May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. 10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever." 11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring! 13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?  Romans 11:7-15
If you take the time to read and study the rest of the context, it will help you understand what I am going to say. When Y'shua was rejected by the shepherds of the lost sheep, God was not wringing his hands in a quandary about what to do next. He has purposed from the beginning to bring as many as could be saved to himself. His plan is flawless, and its execution, perfect. As Paul wrote in the above verse 12, ...if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring! Their rejection was necessary. As Paul goes on to clarify, this is in no way God's rejection of them, but it is their rejection of Y'shua. Now, pay close attention. When you read in verse 15,  what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?, you must understand that their acceptance happens when they recognize that Y'shua is their Messiah, their King, the one whom they had pierced. Every time a group of Israel's shepherds accept the true shepherd king Y'shua, something special happens. Life from the dead! Resurrection!!! You might have it in your mind that "life from the dead" merely refers to an individual's birth from above, a conversion experience, but no. The context of this is corporate bodies of people, branches. The passage is written so clearly to express the relationship between the Jew and Gentile. Abiding within the contextual confines, it may be seen that when such an acceptance occurs, a resurrection will accompany it. In the instance of the first phase of Israel's acceptance, the Bride will be resurrected. This is confirmed in type in numerous ways, a notable example of which is in John 21 where Peter is a type of the Bride and John, the 144,000. Another is found in Acts 12. This "life from the dead" event is how Benjamin is brought before Joseph in Egypt.

The Jew brings in the Gentile, the Gentile brings in the Jew. The constant tension between these people is necessary. It was through the Jew's envy that their King was rejected, and through their envy that their King will be accepted. What a beautiful plan. And it is working! Let's give the world something to envy by following the example of Joseph. Serve with integrity and humility. Understand the interpretation of dreams and visions. Provide the grain of salvation in due season.
For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'  Matthew 23:39
Oh, Israel, let me hear you say that expression in the presence of your King. Baruch haba b'shem Adonai! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Proceed to the next article:  For Two Years Now There Has Been Famine in the Land