A picture of Israel’s eyes being opened in the last days is revealed within the Genesis account of Joseph and his brothers. At seventeen years of age, Joseph had received from God a dream of his family bowing down to him. Already aware that their father loved him more than them, his brothers hated him even more when he told them about his dream. One day his father sent him to his brothers to see if all was well with them and their flocks. They wanted to kill him when they saw him coming, but Reuben, the oldest brother, spared his life by suggesting they throw him into a pit instead.
As they sat down to eat, a caravan of Ishmaelites came by on their way to Egypt. Through Judah’s idea, they sold Joseph to them for 20 shekels of silver. After many years of successes and trials, he eventually interprets Pharaoh’s dream and is raised up to the second highest position within Egypt. God reveals in the dream that seven years of great abundance would be followed by seven years of famine. Pharaoh then placed Joseph, the one with a “divine spirit,” in charge of gathering and storing the food in preparation of what was about to occur.
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “‘See I have set you over all the land of Egypt.’ Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed (“to be fully clothed”; another reference to the fullness Paul speaks of in Romans 11) him in garments of fine linen, and put the gold necklace around his neck.” (Genesis 41:41-42) What we see in the elevation of Joseph by Pharaoh is the restoration of power and authority that his jealous brothers thought they had forever stripped from him thirteen years before. Satan could not stop the plan of God for Joseph that He had revealed to him in a dream. Suddenly, when all hope seemed to vanish of the dream ever occurring, everything changed.
As I said earlier in the discussion of Genesis 37:3, the first thing Joseph’s jealous brothers did when they wanted to kill him was to strip off his varicolored tunic that Jacob had made for him. The covering garment of his father was symbolical of his love and favor toward him, rather than his brothers. Joseph’s tunic from his father is a picture of the covering tunic of grace the Heavenly Father clothes His favored ones with. This authoritative mantle is Christ’s that He places on those that walk in obedience to Him and are, therefore, closest to His heart. It’s a mantle that will inevitably cause others in the family of God, much like Joseph’s brothers, to become jealous and envious.
Eventually, through a pagan leader, God vindicated Joseph by once again placing the garment of fine linen, the garment of the priesthood, back on him. This time it came with even greater honor and glory than he had at first. Likewise, the first time Jesus came with glory and honor to the earth was to suffer and die at the hands of the wicked, which He did willingly. His garment of favor from His Father was stripped from Him at Calvary by His envious Jewish brothers. At His second coming He will be cloaked with a garment of ALL power and authority (Matthew 28:18), crushing all His enemies as the reigning King of kings and Lord of lords.
The reaction of the brothers to Joseph, the highly favored one, is a picture of what Jesus’ Jewish brothers did when the Heavenly Father sent Him to them. Filled with envy and jealousy, they too desired to kill Him, and in fact did. As we will see, like Joseph’s brothers they also think that He is “no more” (Genesis 42:13). Fear will fill their hearts when Jesus appears in the near future and, beholding His glory, they see that He’s alive! Like Joseph, this fearful revealing of Himself to His “brothers” draws near.
The Forced Encounter
When the famine came, just as the Lord had said it would, all the people of the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph. The Bible says he opened all that which was within the storehouses he had filled. Those among God’s people today with a calling like Joseph will do the same in the last days. God has been filling them with that which will keep others alive during the time of great difficulty that is coming upon the entire world. The Bread of Life is being placed within them even now. In the near future, they will give to others out of their inner “fullness” (Romans 11:25).
I find it interesting that, two years into this seven-year period, the humbled brothers were forced to come to the place where their exalted brother reigned. Many people are now storing up physical provisions for what they, and I, believe is coming. I’m not saying they shouldn’t or aren’t being led by God’s mercy to do so. What I am saying is that whatever they do have stored up will eventually run out and, in humility, they will be forced to come to those who, like Joseph, will give them the Bread of Life that will keep them alive. The inner storehouses within the favored deliverers are being filled with the Spirit’s provisions at this very moment. They too are being sent ahead for a great deliverance of God’s people(Genesis 45:7).
When the brothers first came by necessity, Joseph recognized them, but they didn’t recognize him. As they bowed before him, Joseph remembered his dreams, as well as how they had treated him. He accused them of being spies to which they replied, “We are all sons of one man, we are honest men, your servants are not spies.” (Genesis 42:11) Honest men! You have to believe some justifiable emotions of anger filled Joseph’s heart in this moment as he remembered what they had done to him.
They continued in Genesis 42:13, “Your servants are twelve brothers in all, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest (Benjamin) is with our father today, and one is no more.” In reply, Joseph called them all spies again and threw them in prison for three days. I believe he was, understandably, dealing with feelings of resentment and bitterness toward them during this entire period of events, eventually coming to a place of forgiveness.
Benjamin’s Return
Joseph said to them on the third day, “Do this and live, for I fear God: if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in your prison; but as for the rest of you, go, carry grain for the famine of your households, and bring your youngest brother to me, so your words may be verified, and you will not die.” And off they went, back to Jacob. In the trying days ahead, the word of the Lord through His Joseph’s will also have to be adhered to in order to live. Their exalted place in Christ will grant them His authority to proclaim literal words of life and death.
After the food Joseph gave his brothers ran out, their father, Jacob, told them to go back and buy more. Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’” (Genesis 43:3) Overall, this has been the plight of the Jews since their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. Due to a “partial hardening” of their hearts (Romans 11:25), they have been unable to recognize the One (Jesus) whom they believe is “no more.” Until the day they bring Benjamin, the younger brother who is now abiding with his Father, they will not see His face. But who does Benjamin represent?
Joseph said “You shall not see my face unless your brother (Benjamin) is with you.” As previously discussed, the Hebrew for face, paniym, also refers to the presence of God. Joseph’s brothers would never again stand in his presence, before his face, until certain conditions were met. The Lord’s Jewish brothers, who make up the final piece of the redemption of mankind, will not stand in His presence either at the end of this age until the conditions now being revealed are met.
Jesus said in Matthew 23:37-39, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you shall not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Remember, Boaz’ words of approval to Ruth? He said, “May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” (Ruth 2:12) Ruth’s reward for drawing near to Boaz was his deliverance and protection of her in her dire circumstance. It will be the same in the end for all who would draw near in humility to the Lord of the harvest, Jesus Christ.
The Hebrew for “richly” in Ruth 2:12 is shalem. It means “complete, safe, peaceful, perfect, full, finished.” Once again, this rich reward by the Lord Boaz spoke of refers to the fullness of God, the perfecting of the saints, and the completion of His redemptive work at the final harvest of the earth. This is why there has been an ongoing fight throughout history for the control of Jerusalem (Jeru-shalem). The devil is very aware of its final, prophetic significance in God’s eyes. The manifested peace of Jerusalem on earth means his reign over fallen mankind has come to an end. When God’s people are perfected, he is finished. Zechariah 8 speaks of the final peace and prosperity of Jerusalem. In the millennium, the 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth, it will be the capital of the world. Zechariah 8:22-23 declares, “‘And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD Almighty and to entreat him.’ This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’” (NIV)
Interestingly, kanaph, the Hebrew for the hem of the robe, is defined as “a wing, an edge, a corner (of a garment).” Like Ruth with Boaz, those who have willingly joined themselves to the Lord of the Harvest, under His “wings” so to speak, will find a safe place of refuge for themselves during the difficult and dangerous days during the final harvest of the earth. In the Divine plan of God, Benjamin had to come back with his brothers, just like Naomi had to come back with Ruth, the highly favored one. The favor of Joseph with Benjamin was revealed when the brothers ate together at Joseph’s table. To their astonishment, they were seated before him in the order of their ages. The Bible says Joseph “took servings to them from before him (which means “face, presence”), but Benjamin's serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.” (Genesis 43:34~ NKJ)
Those whom Benjamin represents will be recognized by the favor of the Lord that will be lavishly poured out for them in the presence of their brothers seated at His table. Their portion from the Lord will be much greater. This is the abundance of God’s goodness poured out for His favored full brothers sitting at His table. It will not be difficult to identify them. Like Benjamin, those with God’s tunic of favor will also possess a greater portion of His goodness.
The Favored Bride’s Portion
In 1 Samuel, chapter one, we are told of a man named Elkanah who just happened to be from Ephraim. His name means “God has obtained, or possessed.” Every year he would go from his city, with his two wives Hannah and Peninnah, to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord in Shiloh. When the time came for him to sacrifice, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters. But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed her womb.
Interestingly, Hannah’s name means “favored,” and “grace.” Because of her barren state, Peninnah, who is described in verse 6 as her “rival,” would provoke her bitterly to irritate her. This would all change one day when the Lord blessed Hannah’s womb and she gave birth to Samuel, the prophet who would replace the corrupt priesthood in Israel led by Eli. There are those with God’s favor and grace upon them today that are in an apparent barren, spiritual state. As such, their rivals bitterly provoke them as well. Their current state seems to be marked by anything but God’s favor and grace. Like Hannah, though, I see the Lord about to act on their behalf. They too will replace the corrupt spiritual leadership that now marks the majority of the church.
Quoting Isaiah 54:1, Paul says in Galatians 4:27, “Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; for more are the children of the desolate than of the one who has a husband.” The married woman “who has a husband” represents the apostate institutional church which holds the majority of God’s people captive in a state of perpetual infancy. They have an abundance of fleshly appealing “toys” to hold the attention of the numerous spiritual children under their care. The obvious problem with this is the stunted growth of the infants held captive within a religious system that controls them from ever fully growing up in Christ. The present leadership structure prevalent within the church in America restrains them from ever maturing. Their spiritual diet consists of milk-like teachings instead of solid food.
The writer of Hebrews rebuked this type of Christian for not moving on into “meatier” teachings of God (Hebrews 5:11-14). They were reverting back to their infancy in the Lord. The mature are defined as those who put into practice what they have been taught, enabling them to move on into deeper revelations.
One day, while reading this passage in Hebrews, the Holy Spirit laid upon my heart this thought; “Maturity is revealed in restraint.” This includes words and deeds. A person who puts into practice what the Lord reveals to them will be discerning of that which is good and that which is evil. A mature Christian is harder for Satan to deceive. His plan is to keep God’s people in a state of infancy through his doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1).
Deceived teachers pass on their deception to those under their care. The present religious system keeps the spiritual children dependent upon them for their next meal. These “babes” are never weaned from their spiritual mother. They are not taught to freely feed themselves, but instead are continually held in check through controlling demonic spirits working through a deceived leader. The strange thing is the majority of God’s people like it this way. Concerning apostate Israel, the Lord said in Jeremiah 5:31, “An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so!” Some things have not changed.
The barren woman in Galatians 4:27 represents the faithful bride of Christ whose womb is presently barren to a large degree, as Hannah’s was. They are those who have been called out from the rest of the Body. She too, at the appointed time of God, will conceive and give birth to the favored son(s). In America she does not appear to have many children at the moment, but that will soon change.
The promise from the Lord in Isaiah 54:1-5 causes me to prepare by faith for those who will be released from the house of religious bondage through His righteous judgments. Together with those whom they have willingly joined themselves to, they will enter into the fullness of God’s eternal plan. Like Ruth, they will eat and be “satisfied” (made full) under the protective covering of the Lord of the harvest, Jesus Christ.
The Final Joining of Israel
In the same manner as Naomi and Ruth, through God’s grace the Jewish brothers must also come back with Benjamin, Joseph’s only full brother, before the face of their Redeemer will be revealed to them, allowing them to be joined together with Him. Benjamin’s name means “son of the right hand.” Throughout the Bible, the right hand represents the authority of God. For example, Jesus is said to now sit at the right hand of God (Matthew 26:64, Acts 2:33). Benjamin represents those who, through submission to God’s will in their life, have gained His glory at the end of this age. Like their older “brother” Jesus, they will walk on earth in His favor and authority.
Interestingly, in regards to the connection between the Gentile believers and Benjamin, Paul, of the tribe of Benjamin, was the apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13, Galatians 2:8). He said, “I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.” (Romans 11:1)
Another clue to the Benjamin connection is found within the description of the construction of the tabernacle (Exodus 36:1-18). It included ten curtains, five on each side, connected on one end by another equal sized curtain with the entrance on the opposite end. The sides of the tabernacle faced to the north and south. The joined end was on the west, with the entrance being on the east end.
It’s important to notice the arrangement of Israel’s tribes by God when they camped around the tabernacle in the wilderness. The divine order is described for us in Numbers 2. The 12 tribes were divided into 4 groups of three, with three per side. The tribe of Judah, along with Issachar and Zebulun, were encamped on the east side. The east entrance is an obvious type of Jesus. He is described in Revelation 5:5 as “the lion of the tribe of Judah,” as well as the only “way” into the true tabernacle of God (John 14:6).
The tribe of Benjamin was encamped on the west end, next to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh who were Joseph’s sons born to him and his Gentile wife in Egypt before the seven year famine occurred. Their names, as well as their connection with Benjamin, are extremely important.
Ephraim’s name means “double fruitfulness.” Manasseh’s name means “causing to forget.” Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh because, as he stated, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” (Genesis 41:51-52)
The joy Joseph received through His two boys born to him in Egypt caused him to forget the extreme pain and anguish he had experienced in his life. This appears to be a promise of God for the nation of Israel that, at the end of this age, when things are finally brought to completion, their double-blessing will be so great that it will literally cause them to forget the incredible hardships and suffering they have endured throughout their past.
I see the Lord looking down the road with great longing in His heart for those who like the prodigal son, come to Him with a repentant heart so that He may pour out His love in great measure upon them. It will be a day of unequaled celebration; a feast of thankfulness for the son that was dead, but is alive again; that was lost, but is found!
Genesis 48:17-20 reveals Ephraim’s connection with Benjamin in regards to the fulfilling of God’s redemptive plans for mankind. Jacob’s blessing of Joseph’s two sons born to him in Egypt were switched. Though Ephraim was the younger, he received the greater blessing that was normally placed upon the first born. Jacob’s blessing over him was that he would be greater than his older brother, Manasseh, and that his descendants would become a multitude of nations.
The Hebrew for multitude is melo which is defined as “fullness, what fills, handful, entire contents.” It’s taken from a word that refers to that which is complete, ended, and satisfied. The Hebrew for nations refers to the Gentile nations. Israel’s blessing of Ephraim becoming a multitude of nations was, therefore, that his seed would become the “fullness” of the Gentiles! His posterity, the fruit of his loins, would become the completeness of the Gentiles Paul spoke of in Romans 11.
His being half Gentile, and half Jew, confirms his placement at the west end of the tabernacle. The Gentile and Jewish connection of Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh is an essential piece in the final joining of the Israel of God, the temple of His Body (John 2:21). As with Ruth, the Gentile bride of Boaz, the willingness of a great multitude of Gentiles throughout this age to be joined to God and His people is about to be completed. When the Gentile portion is complete, satisfying the will of the Lord, the Jewish portion will then be allowed to come to its end, bringing to completion the redemptive plan of God.
The final Jewish pieces being gathered together and re-grafted into the “rich olive tree” at the end of this age are dependent upon the revealing of the western edge of God’s spiritual temple. The partial hardening of the Jews Paul described in Romans 11:25 will then be removed, allowing them to behold, like Joseph’s brothers, the One whom they thought was “no more.” (See chapter 12, “Gleaning The Jewish Remnant,” in my book “911; God’s Last Offer To The Church” for more revelation on this subject.)
Remember, Joseph said his brothers would not see his face unless the youngest brother, Benjamin, was with them (Genesis 43:3). The wall within the hearts of the final Jewish portion that keeps them from seeing their Messiah is about to be demolished. As I stated earlier, while on earth Jesus had said to the Jews that would not believe in Him, “I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (Matthew 23:39, NKJ) I believe the time for the blessed ones of the Lord to be revealed draws near.
Jesus said “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6, NIV) The Greek for filled means “to fodder, to fill (satisfy) with food.” I believe this is the perfect description of the blessed ones of the Lord. They will be among those numbered in the fullness of the Gentiles, and the Jews, because they hungered and thirsted for the righteousness of God that can only be found in Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:21, Romans 10:3).
The Western Wall of deliverance will soon be revealed. It’s not a wall of stone, or brick and mortar, but rather of those who have been joined together through their belief in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Like the curtains used to enclose the temple in the wilderness (Exodus 36:13, 18), their uniting as one in the Spirit will bring to completion the temple of the Lord’s Body (John 2:21).
The Western Wall
In 70 A.D., the Romans destroyed the temple in Jerusalem, fulfilling Jesus’ prophecy (Matthew 24:1-2). Only one outer wall, the Western Wall, remained standing. It has stood exposed, above ground level, for two thousand years. For the Jews, this remnant of what was the most sacred building in the Jewish world quickly became the holiest spot in Jewish life. Throughout the centuries Jews from throughout the world made the difficult pilgrimage to Palestine, and immediately headed for the Kotel ha-Ma'aravi (the Western Wall) to thank God. The prayers offered at the Kotel were so heartfelt that Gentiles began calling the site the Wailing Wall.
During the more than one thousand years Jerusalem was under Muslim rule, the Arabs often used the Wall as a garbage dump, so as to humiliate the Jews who visited it. For nineteen years, from 1948 to 1967, the Kotel was under Jordanian rule. Although the Jordanians had signed an armistice agreement in 1949 guaranteeing Jews the right to visit the Wall, not one Israeli Jew was ever permitted to do so. One of the first to reach the Kotel in the 1967 Six-Day War was Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, who helped revive a traditional Jewish custom by inserting a written petition into its cracks. It was later revealed that Dayan's prayer was that a lasting peace “descend upon the House of Israel.”(http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/Western_Wall.html)
Isn’t it interesting that for almost 2,000 years the Jews have been crying out to God at the very wall that, I believe, represents God’s promised mystery of what He will do in order to join them back to Himself and the living temple of His Body. This is the Benjamin connection; the joining of the 12 tribes together so that none of the Israel of God may be lost.
The Jewish and Gentile mix that have been joined together, like Ruth and Naomi, through acceptance of the shed blood of Jesus as their Messiah will be the ones used to open the eyes of the Jewish remnant that will bring to completion the holy temple in the Lord, which is the dwelling of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:21-22). They will be used to close the breach between the two, bringing to completion the true tabernacle of the Lord which He will inhabit eternally (Revelation 21:3). Hallelujah!
During the early stages of the brother’s encounter with Joseph in Egypt, Judah made the statement that Benjamin was not with them because his life was “bound up” with His father (Genesis 44:30). This is still a characteristic of all those who are, in type, like Benjamin. The highly favored sons of the right hand continue abiding in their Heavenly Father's presence. Because of this, they will be raised up at the end of this age having become bound together into one with Him. In Christ, the two will become one.
Currently, they are being made ready by the Father for their appointed time in His redemptive plan for His people. In the proper moment they will be raised up, giving the final Jewish remnant eyes to see their highly exalted “brother,” who is Jesus, the One whom they believe to be “no more.”
We, the Gentile portion of Christ’s Body, need them, and they need us. We will work together, by the power of the Holy Spirit, for the appearing of the One who will deliver us all. The end will not come until we make our joint appearance, as did Ruth and Naomi, and are recognized as the blessed ones that come in the name of the Lord. In this manner, per the prescribed order of the Lord that is now being revealed in its time, salvation will come to completion for mankind. At this point all Israel, the Israel of God made up of both Jew and Gentile believers of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, will be saved (Romans 11:26).
