Parashat Vayigash 5765/2004
EJD
The weekly reading for the week of 6 Tevet, 5765 - December 18, 2004 Parashah: Vayigash Genesis 44:18 to 47:27; Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:15-28; Mei Kituvim: Psalm 133:1-3; Brit Chadashah: Ephesians 2:1-10
The Bagel: Missing truth. Like a three-legged stool sometimes truth can be divided up into three parts. When there are only two parts with the third missing, then the truth paradigm fails to stand up like a stool on two legs. The missing piece of truth must be supplied if the total picture is to be understood. The readings connect with the need for the aquisition of missing truth.
Torah:
Genesis 44:18 to 47:27. In Parashat Vayigash, there is the turning point in the Joseph story. The brothers who mistreated Joseph, lied to their father about it, and generally covered it up, now have to face up and "fess up" to make it right. G-d used the clever plan of Joseph to bring about a voluntary disclosure of the missing truth. All of the court intrigue of Joseph hit the target. Accusing them of spying, incarcerating Simeon and later Benjamin, sending those brothers back to their father prepared the way for the revelation.
The key text for this is found in Genesis 45:26-28. They returned to Jacob with evidence that Joseph was alive. At first Jacob didn't believe them (v 26). Perhaps, he regarded their words with doubt. Something was missing. "How did Joseph get to Egypt?" and "I thought he was dead" may have been the thoughts that ran through his head as he heard the news from the brothers. It was not enough to hear the words of Joseph through the brothers, that was truth part I. Nor was it enough to see the Egyptian wagon train that came to move the whole family, that was truth part II. Without truth part III the move might have been refused or disbelieved.
Answering the question of Joseph's disappearance many years ago was the key question for the facticity of "Joseph in Egypt." Only the brothers could supply that missing truth. The text doesn't specify that they did disclose the missing truth. It was not in the words of Joseph, which he commanded them to use to convince Jacob to emigrate. Joseph was not the one to account for his disappearance before Jacob. That was the job of the brothers. Perhaps, the silence of Scripture on this point serves to accentuate the obvious by a lack of mention. Perhaps, it is simply a way to show that their evil was as though it had never happened. The writer of Scripture wanted to get across the point that forgiveness and divine sovereignty are more important than the brother's sin in a flash of jealousy.
Jacob was convinced and prepared for the trip. The brothers must have owned up to Dad. It made sense to Jacob that Joseph survived, when in fact he was not eaten by a wild animal, but sold by the brothers to the Midianites. Their confession also resolved all of the court intrigue down in Egypt. This could not be "another story" invented by the brothers to give Jacob a false hope, wagons not withstanding. The accusation as spies fits with the features of Joseph's dream. Joseph is a powerful ruler and the brothers have already bowed down to him. When the missing piece of truth was supplied, the puzzle of Joseph turned to a clear picture of divine fulfillment.
Haftarah:
Ezekiel 37:15-28. In the Haftarah reading, is a carryover of the Joseph/brothers relationship found in Genesis. It was the confession of the brothers that reunited the family. Jacob had cause to forgive them. Joseph understood G-d's hand in the whole affair. Ezekiel disclosed another separation. The division of Israel into the faction of Joseph (representing the Northern Kingdom of Israel) and Judah (representing the Southern Kingdom of Judah/Benjamin). The splitting of the kingdom occurred during the time of Jeroboam I. The ultimate reunification of the two will be in the future in the great day of messianic redemption. David will be called into service. David represents the time when the monarchy was undivided. His Son, the Messiah, will be the prime cause for the resurrection of the monarchy. There is missing truth in the separation. The revelation of Yeshua as Ben David (son of David) was also an unveiling of the Truth. Yeshua said "I am the Truth, the Life and the Way" (John 14:6). As long as Yeshua is missing from the national scene there will be no true unification of Israel.
Mei Kituvim:
Psalm 133:1-3. In the reading of the Kituvim, is a song of unity. The Presence of G-d remained hidden in the Holy Sanctuary of Mt. Zion in Jerusalem. A curtain separated the Divine from humankind. Yet, the day has come when the dew fell from heaven in the person of Yeshua (Psalm 110:3). He spoke the truth to Israel. When He accomplished the final atonement on the cross, He also made provision for coming of the Ruach Ha Kodesh - the Holy Spirit to be poured out like the holy oil upon all humankind and not just the High Priest. The missing Truth supplied the needed Oil.
Brit Chadashah:
Ephesians 2:1-10. When we get to the Brit Chadashah, the two-part truths of the text require the supply of the missing truth. Truth Part I is the reality of all humanity in the state of fallenness deserving G-d's wrath. Truth Part II is the power of Yeshua the Messiah's atonement to save anyone, Jew or Gentile. But without Truth Part III, these two truths cannot deliver. Truth Part III is your confession that you are a child of wrath because of your sin and violations of the Torah. That confession includes an admission that you can't save yourself no matter how hard you try. There can only be salvation by faith in Yeshua alone.
Cream Cheese: Truth never misses, but we will miss the truth, if we miss Him.
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