Good Morning.
And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.” But Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.” (Genesis 43:2-3)
This is a fascinating statement made by Judah considering that Joseph is a type of the Messiah and that the tribe of Judah will play a significant role in the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. As if to call special attention to it, Judah repeated this statement in Genesis 43:5. Here is why this is so interesting and prophetic. Centuries later, Messiah told the people of Jerusalem and those of Judea:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! See, your house is left to you desolate. 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 23:37-39)
Again, remember that Joseph is a picture of the Messiah in that, he was rejected by his brothers and they did not recognize him during their first meeting. They have been told that they will not see him again unless the whole family is reunited, in a manner of speaking. The context of Yeshua’s statement is gathering the “children together” – which is to say, the restoration of the Kingdom. According to John 11:45-52 and Ephesians 2:11-19, to restore the people together as one is why He came to die. But because they were not ready to be gathered together — “and you would not” — they will not Him until they say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.” That is a statement taken from Psalm 118 which says:
“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.” (Psalm 118:22-26)
According to rabbinical commentary, the statement, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD,” refers to the exiles who will return to the land of the fathers and the ways of their ancestors on the day “that the LORD has made” — that is, the day the Messiah appears and brings the children together. This comes in the day that the people cry out, “Save us, we pray,” which in Hebrew is “Hoshia Na” (Hosanna!).
What do these prophecies have to do with you and me? First of all, we are part of the family that needs to reunited with the other side of the family. That’s exactly what is being referred to in John 11 and Ephesians 2. Secondly, and this is my main point today, the Messiah will appear when we are crying out, “Come save us!” Until we get the point where we realize that no one else can deliver us and we begin to cry out to Him, we will not see His face. Perhaps that is why the conditions in this world are deteriorating rapidly — so that we will be motivated to do just that. Even so, come LORD Yeshua.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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