Joseph and the Pharaoh

This episode is a transition from our focus on the immediate family of Jacob to his extended family, who become the twelve tribes of Israel. Their journey begins when they start to multiply and become slaves in Egypt. Before that, we observe Jacob's emotional goodbyes on his deathbed and later Joseph’s touching departure and reconciliation with his brothers. It is foundational to the formation of the Jewish people.

It’s a nice title, but often times family reunions do not go well. In a growing number of families, they don’t even materialize.The reunion of Jacob, his eleven sons, and their estranged brother Joseph went unexpectedly well. If it wasn’t a part of documented history with archaelogy to back up its validity, we would consider it fiction or even a fairy tale.Young Joseph was tasked by his father to check on the welfare of his brothers in the fields with the sheep. He never returned home. Instead, they tossed him into an inescapable pit and sold him as a slave to a passing band of Ishmaelites headed for Egypt. There he was falsely accused of molesting a high-ranking Egyptian’s wife and thrown into prison to rot.All because of his brother’s jealousy.Many years pass and Joseph is freed only to become second in command to the Pharaoh in the Kingdom of Egypt.In a very unlikely set of circumstances that was orchestrated behind the scenes by the King of the Universe, the brothers unite.In most families the unfolding drama would be of vengeance and retribution. In this one, it became one of redemption.This is God’s story. What the devil means for evil, God turns to good. He doesn’t do it alone though. We are not puppets. Without our willingness to cooperate with His goodness, stories do not end well.The story of the sons of Jacob is not over. It continues in real time, and we are invited to play our role by the Master Playwright for our benefit and the salvation of many.

Twenty five years ago America was invaded by air. Two massive buildings in NYC were destroyed completely. They were the emblems of our financial empire. Soon after they crumbled to the ground, our enemy flew another passenger plane into the Pentagon in Washington D.C. The impact from the explosion almost destroyed it completely. It was our symbol of military might and superiority. If that wasn’t enough, a few more Muslim extremists seized control of another plane and headed towards our Capitol building. There is no telling how many of our government officials would have died if a few courageous Americans hadn’t given their lives in a heroic attempt to foil their plan. They died along with all the passengers. It only cost our enemies a handful of one-way tickets to change our way of living for the past 25 years. We still haven’t recovered.Today is also the biblical celebration of Rosh Hashana. It is considered the beginning of the year. Jewish tradition marks this year 5787. That date is calculated from the Creation of the world.It’s a good idea to remember that this world has a beginning and it is God who began it. That means it will have an end, but only when He decides.I am at peace with that, I hope you are too.This episode is somewhat of a convergence of Rosh Hashana and a new beginning that occurred 25 years ago.

This special bonus episode was sparked by Mikayla’s questions during a conversation at the Comfort My People office. Paul traces the journey of Jacob becoming Israel and unpacks how that identity shapes faith and practice today. The discussion focuses on theology and Scripture and is offered to encourage thoughtful reflection. Shalom!

Imagine you were taken to the White House for a private meeting with the President.However, ten years ago you were wrongly convicted of raping the wife of a high-ranking government official and still serving time in prison.Before that, your own brothers tossed you into a deep cistern until Ishmaelite slave traders came and pulled you out, then sold you to an Egyptian.How can you--so scarred by rejection and mistreatment stand before the most powerful man in the known world, and he is asking you for counsel?We are about to learn how in this episode.Spoiler alert; it would be impossible if not for the blessing that God gave to Abraham and his descendants through Jacob, which has now made its way to Joseph.

One of the rules of learning is to build upon our understanding of history. This holds true across all fields of education. We can’t change history, but we should take advantage of learning from it. Otherwise, we will repeat the mistakes by ignoring the built-in lessons that accompany the experiences of others. The Hebrew Bible is filled with opportunities to learn from the lives of the descendants of Jacob.We can also gain insight of the nature of God as He responds to their successes and failures.Caution, though, God rarely responds immediately as you have likely experienced in your own walk.

Seeking is a major concept in the Bible. It is where the natural and the supernatural intersect. When we seek we will find, but what we find reflects on how we seek. If it’s for personal gratification we will be disappointed. If it is from the heart we will find the Kingdom of God and the King who provides and protects, comforts and encourages, so that we can do likewise for others. That is His blessing.“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭13‬

Whom are You Seeking?Most searches begin by seeking a “what?” and not a “whom?”“What do you want to be when you grow up?”Almost every child in America knows that question, and subconsciously, it leads to a quest. As we grow up, we recognize that what we want is to be happy, and money seems to be the way to achieve it. If all roads lead to happiness, money is the bus to jump on. However, if we stop there without seeking the “Whom,” we will one day realize that we are on a dead-end street.Jesus asked both questions. He asked the “What” only once, at the beginning of His ministry, but shifted to “Whom” three times at the end. He is our example, and we should do the same for those we know who are seeking.We will also see how incredibly God tied the story of Joseph to our own story thousands of years later.Our goal is to bless you on your journey. If we have done that, our podcasts have served their purpose. Check out our website comfortmypeople.comAsk God if He wants you to support our goal of bringing the love of Yeshua to the people of Israel, who have never heard His message.

Into the Nations~or notProphetically, the blessing that God gave to Abraham would go into the nations through the descendants of Jacob. Many centuries have passed since the promise was given and the nations are still waiting. Even if they are completely unaware of what they are waiting for, the blessing will arrive, and it will come through the descendants of Jacob, because God cannot lie.For certain, the promise of the blessing has been partially fulfilled and unpacked. The knowledge of the one true God, His nature, and requirements for all mankind have spread throughout the Gentile world. Just pick up a Bible and you hold the evidence.There is more to come, though. Brotherly love remains in the queue waiting for the sons of Jacob to embrace and deliver, while the nations must be willing and eager to receive them and the message that they carry.

It seems every Bible teacher in the world is either teaching or wondering if these really are the last days and Jesus will soon return.However, there is one “birth pang” not on the prophetic calendar as it should have been all along, that is Brotherly Love. I fear it has been missing for so long in so many places that we will be shocked and embarrassed by our spiritual nakedness.This is not an indictment but a cry from God’s heart. He misses the family affair atmosphere that fueled the lives of early believers. In their Hebrew Bible, they read stories such as Ruth and Naomi, and David and Jonathan who were willing to lay down their lives for each other. That is the kind of love that awakened the church and drew in the Gentiles to want the same.When we say brothers and sisters, God sees His sons and daughters. Can you imagine, or maybe have already experienced, the pain of a father when his children are estranged?Brotherly love is not a suggestion. It is central theme. We should not be surprised if Jesus does not appear on our timetable. He will return, that is certain, but He has skipped many generations until now. The ball is now in our court to hasten His appearance, or He will wait for the next generation and the next, in tears.If you agree, then renew your commitment and start your journey from disbelief to loving obedience.Sound the alarm by sharing this episode.