The Yoseph Analogy
Ephraim Frank
Shalom Fellow Israelite,
Over the years you have heard me say or write that the story of the Patriarchs in Genesis makes up a microcosm of what is a macrocosm in our day and age. In the latest Parashot (plural for “parasha”) we have been reading about the life of Yoseph. There are some who claim that “Yoseph” of today is represented by western nations. If this is true, then we can draw an analogy regarding these powerful people groups who are seated like Yoseph, whom YHVH placed with Pharaoh’s consent of course, in a strategic and timely position. I would not go so far as to maintain that all the people groups that live in these nations are from the stock of Israel, but those who have the faith of Abraham most certainly are descendants of the forefathers of old. If so, they, along with the rest of the Melo HaGoyim (fullness of the nations), have been given a place in history like Yoseph: "’You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.’ And Pharaoh said to Yoseph, ‘See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.’ Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Yoseph's hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, ‘Bow the knee!’ So he set him over all the land of Egypt” (Gen 41:40-43).
While Yoseph was in this position, there was a period of time that the earth enjoyed a great abundance of life sustaining grain. We too are in a time in which YHVH is blessing humanity with great material substance and spiritual insight and revelation into His Word (the whole bible). His Spirit is being poured out (latter rain) like never before. However, could we be heading for a great famine in these areas of physical sustenance and of His anointing and divine presence? Could there come a time during which the heavens will be like brass, and the earth will be covered by gross darkness? Through the prophet Amos YHVH, addressing our ancient forefathers, warned: “days are coming… that I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of YHVH. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of YHVH, but shall not find it” (Amos 8:11-12). If we are indeed in the days of the latter rains, of necessity they must come to an end, at which time we will be greeted by the hot dry summer months. What did Yoseph do to prepare for that which he knew to be an inevitable eventuality?
We have a tendency to think like our forefathers of old who attributed their prosperity to the works of their own hands. But when the prophets came and prophesied that the time for the consequence of their sin and an unrepentant heart had come, they simply could not believe that the wonderful life style, along with its religious expression, could change for the worse. But even in the midst of judgment YHVH raised up one, Yoseph (whose name means “to add” and “to gather”), who understood the prophetic picture via a dream. Living up to his name and to his God-given position, he faithfully served in order to gather enough grain to preserve life during the time of severe draught.
We, of the Yoseph-company of today (especially in the Western countries), are being offered spiritual grain and oil in abundance; ministries are popping up all over the place, the Word of YHVH is going forth on every venue imaginable. But the question still remains, will this continue, or are we headed for a rough and tough drought?
Yeshua told us a parable about ten virgins (House of Yoseph), who were to prepare themselves for the coming of the bridegroom. They were given ample time to buy, gather and store enough oil for the darkest hours of the night. As we know from that story, five were wise and five were foolish. The foolish were thinking that the bridegroom would not tarry into the night, but would sweep them away into his arms and house before it got dark, or shortly after. This perhaps is why they did not prepare for the entire night. When darkness descended they needed to use the oil that was in their lamps, but they had no extra with them. Apparently the lamps were still lit while they slept and so all the oil burnt out. When the announcement came that the bridegroom was on his way, the lamps needed to be trimmed and filled again with oil before the maidens could go out to meet him. I sometimes wonder if some of the teachings in the body of Messiah today are deceiving believers into thinking that we will not have to prepare for the darkest hours that humanity will have to experience.
We have just celebrated the festival of lights, may we not only fill our lamps, but have the extra on hand as well. I wonder why Yeshua told that parable of the ten virgins after his dissertation describing the end times that will occur before His return (see Math. 24). Will the Yoseph company of our day know and understand why they are here on this earth at a time such as this? Will they have their lamps and flasks full when the evening comes? Will the storehouses be full of grain when the need arises?
Yoseph’s wise advice was to “collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years”. He was then appointed for a position so that he could fulfill his own counsel. “So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them. Yoseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable” (Gen 41:34; 48-49).
May it be so today!
Have a thoughtful rest-filled Shabbat