The First Aliyah, 41:1-14

41:1a “It happened at the end of two full years…”(HNV) – Yosef had to spend a total of twelve years in prison. This represents the Messiah ben Yosef, who had to suffer for the twelve tribes of Israel.

The two years also refer to the resurrection of the Messiah, which happened after two days, as it is written in Hosea 6:2,

 “After two days will he revive us. On the third day he will raise us up, and we will live before him.”(HNV)

The two days also speak of the restoration not only of the state of Israel after almost two thousand years, but also of the ten lost tribes of the house of Yosef. Just as Yosef came out of prison at the end of two years, so his descendants will come out of the nations at the end of two thousand years, in order to return to their place within Israel.

The Hebrew word that has been translated “at the end” is mi-ketz[1], which means “at last”, “at the end”, “by the end”. This teaches us that Paroh’s dreams not only speak of what happened at the end of Yosef’s last two years of imprisonment, but also of that which will happen at the end of the two thousand year Messianic era.

The death of the chief baker and the exalting of the chief cupbearer, which happened before the two years, speak of the Messiah’s death and resurrection before the two thousand years. Just as the chief cupbearer forgot about Yosef for two years, so Yeshua has been ignored by the majority of both the Jewish people and the population of the world for two thousand years.

At the end of the two years, Yosef was exalted as co-ruler over the whole land, as second in command after Paroh. That teaches us that Yeshua ben Yosef will be the ruler over all the nations of the world at the end of the two thousand years, counting from his death and resurrection.

The word “awoke”, in Hebrew yakatz[2], which is found three times in this text, in verses 4, 7 and 21, is similar to the word ketz, “end”, found in verse 1. It also speaks of the fact that Paroh’s dreams contain a message for the last days. The dreams are repeated twice in the story. That also hints to us that they are not only speaking of something that will happen during the time of Yosef, but also at the end of this age in connection with the coming and rule of Messiah ben Yosef.

41:14 “Then Par`oh sent and called Yosef, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon. He shaved himself, changed his clothing, and came in to Par`oh.”(HNV) – The Hebrew word that has been translated “dungeon” is bor, which means, “hole” or “well”. The English word “to bore (a hole)” comes from this ancient Hebrew word. It speaks of, as mentioned, the Messiah’s death both for the people of Israel and the gentile world

“brought him out” – this speaks of the resurrection. The Messiah did not come out of death by his own power. He was raised up by the Father, as it is written in Acts 2:24,

“whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.”(HNV)

In Acts 2:32, it is written,

“This Yeshua whom God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.”(HNV)

In Romans 10:9, it is written,

“that if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Yeshua, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”(HNV)

It is written that God raised him from the dead. Yeshua did not raise himself up. He did not have the power to do that. It was the Father who resurrected him from the dead.

"hastily” – The resurrection happened very quickly, according to Zechariah 3:2b, where it is written,

“Isn’t this a burning stick plucked out of the fire?”(HNV)

“he shaved himself” – This is a picture of the yetzer harah, the evil urge that was removed through the resurrection of the Messiah. Sin entered the world through a physical act, when the first man ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The seed of evil entered the human body through the mouth. This is why the human body is the seat for sin. Even though sin has affected both the soul and the spirit of man, the body is the place where it dwells, as it is written in Romans 7:17-23,

“So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don’t find it doing that which is good. For the good which I desire, I don’t do; but the evil which I don’t desire, that I practice. But if what I don’t desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the law, that, to me, while I desire to do good, evil is present. For I delight in God’s law after the inward man, but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members.”(HNV)

In Romans 6:6, it is written,

“knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.”(HNV)

Yeshua took our sins, not in his soul or his spirit, but in his body, as it is written in 1 Peter 2:24,

“who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.”(HNV)

Sin was, therefore, transferred to the most external part of the Messiah Yeshua’s being before he died. There are several examples in the Scriptures that mention shaving the hair for cleansing. They are pointing to the Messiah being cleansed of our sins, which were in his body.

 In Leviticus 14:8, it is written,

“He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water; and he shall be clean. After that he shall come into the camp, but shall dwell outside his tent seven days.”(HNV)

In Numbers 8:7, it is written,

“Thus shall you do to them, to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of cleansing on them, let them shave their whole bodies with a razor, and let them wash their clothes, and cleanse themselves.”(HNV)

“changed his clothing” – This is referring to the moment when the old man, which is symbolized by the old dirty clothing, is removed, and the new man is created through the Messiah’s death and resurrection, as it is written in Zechariah 3:3-4,

“Now Yehoshua[3] was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel. He answered and spoke to those who stood before him, saying, ‘Take the filthy garments off of him.’ To him he said, ‘Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with rich clothing.’”(HNV)

In Luke 15:22, it is written,

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.’”(HNV)

In 1 Corinthians 15:42-54, it is written,

“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption (the old clothing); it is raised in incorruption (the new clothing). It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body. So also it is written, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living soul.’ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However that which is spiritual isn’t first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is from heaven. As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let’s also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can’t inherit the Kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this corruptible will have put on incorruption, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’”(HNV revised)

In 2 Corinthians 5:2-3, it is written,

 “For most assuredly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven; if so be that being clothed we will not be found naked.”(HNV)

In Philippians 3:20-21, it is written,

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Yeshua the Messiah; who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working by which he is able even to subject all things to himself.”(HNV)

In Romans 6:5-6, it is written,

“For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.”(HNV)

“came in to Paroh” – In the same way the Messiah, after having been raised from the dead, was elevated to the highest position and presented before the heavenly Father in order to serve him as High Priest according to the order of Malki-Tzedek, as it is written in Psalm 110:1 and 4,

 “A Psalm of David. HaShem says to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet.’… HaShem has sworn, and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever in the order of Malki-Tzedek.’”(HNV revised)

In 1 Peter 3:22, it is written,

“who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.”(HNV)

In Philippians 2:9, it is written,

“Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the Name which is above every name.”(HNV)

The Second Aliyah, 41:15-38

41:25 “Yosef said to Par`oh, ‘The dream of Par`oh is one. God has declared to Par`oh what he is about to do.’”(HNV) – During his lifetime.

41:28 “That is the thing which I spoke to Par`oh. What God is about to do he has shown to Par`oh.”(HNV) – In the end times.

41:29-30 “Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. There will arise after them seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land”(HNV) – The two last years of Yosef’s time in prison are counted from the time that Paroh’s one servant died and the other was restored. In the same way, the last two thousand years of the present age are counted from the Messiah’s death and resurrection. At the end of these two thousand years, it is probable that there will be seven years of financial plenty, possibly in the whole world. After that will come seven years of great need, “the Great Tribulation”. The last seven years correspond with the last of the seventy-year weeks that the prophet Daniel speaks about in 9:24-27. During that time, there will be great persecution of those who keep God’s commands and have the testimony of Yeshua, as it is written in Revelation 12:17,

“The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep God’s commands and hold Yeshua’s testimony.”(HNV)

During this time there will be a great hunger for the Eternal’s word in the land of Israel, as it is written in Amos 8:11-14,

“’Behold, the days come,’ says the Lord HaShem, ‘That I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of HaShem. They will wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they will run back and forth to seek the word of HaShem, and will not find it. In that day the beautiful virgins and the young men will faint for thirst. Those who swear by the sin of Shomron, and say, ‘As your god, Dan, lives;’ and, ‘As the way of Be'er-Sheva lives;’ they will fall, and never rise up again.’”(HNV revised)

Here we see that the idolaters will not be able to find the Eternal’s Word. That is because they do not seek in the right place, in Yerushalayim, but in the false religions of this world. But there will be multitudes of people who will know where they can find the Eternal’s Word during the last days, as it is written in Zechariah 8:20-23,

“Thus says HaShem of Hosts: ‘Many peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come; and the inhabitants of one shall go to another, saying, “Let us go speedily to entreat the favor of HaShem, and to seek HaShem of Hosts. I will go also.” Yes, many peoples and strong nations will come to seek HaShem of Hosts in Yerushalayim, and to entreat the favor of HaShem.’ Thus says HaShem of Hosts: ‘In those days, ten men will take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, they will take hold of the hem of the mantel of him who is a Jew, saying, “We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”(HNV revised)

There are some very interesting things here. We can see how many people and powerful gentile nations will come and seek the Eternal in Yerushalayim “in those days”. The expression “in those days” is referring to the end times. Later it speaks of ten men of different languages and nations who will take hold of the hem of the mantel of a Jew and ask for spiritual guidance. The ten men symbolize the ten lost tribes who exist among the gentile nations and who will rise up during this time. They will come to the Jews who walk with the Eternal, i.e. those Jews who follow Yeshua, who is the way. The ten tribes of the house of Yosef will be united with the house of Yehudah to be instructed in Moshe’s Torah as it was explained by the great Rabbi Yeshua the Messiah and his messengers, as it is written in Ezekiel 37:19,

“tell them, Thus says the Lord HaShem: Behold, I will take the stick of Yosef, which is in the hand of Efrayim, and the tribes of Yisra'el his companions; and I will put them with it, even with the stick of Yehudah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in my hand.”(HNV revised)

And in Matthew 28:18-20, where it is written,

“Yeshua came to them and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Therefore go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in my name teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”(HNV)

And in Acts 24:14, it is written,

“But this I confess to you, that after the way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets”(HNV)

There will come a time when the two houses of Israel will be reunited.

The Hebrew word that is translated as “hem of the mantel” in Zechariah is very interesting. It is the word kanaf[4], which means “wing”, “edge”, “hem”, “corner”. It is the same word that is used in the text where the children of Israel receive the commandment to use tassels in the “corners” of their square piece of clothing.

As it is written in Numbers 15:37-41,

“HaShem spoke to Moshe, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Yisra'el, and bid those who they make them tassels (tzitziot) in the borders (knafei) of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put on the tassels (tzitziot) of each border (kanaf) a cord of blue: and it shall be to you for you a tassel (tzitzit), that you may look on it, and remember all the commands of HaShem, and do them; and that you not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you use to play the prostitute; that you may remember and do all my commands, and be consecrated to your God. I am HaShem your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am HaShem your God.’”(HNV revised)

In the four corners of the garment of a Torah-practicing Jew hang tassels, in Hebrew tzitziot, which serve as a reminder to fulfill all the commandments of the Eternal. These tassels represent obedience to all the 613 commandments, which the Eternal gave to Israel through Moshe. Here we see, therefore, how the ten tribes, who were assimilated among the nations, come home. They are willing to submit to the practical instruction given by a Jew who walks with the Eternal and obeys the commandments, which the Eternal gave through Moshe to the twelve tribes of Israel.

In the same way that Yosef’s eleven brothers came to Egypt during the seven years of famine, it seems that Israel’s twelve tribes will be reunited during the Great Tribulation. In the first eight verses of Revelation chapter seven, it speaks of the twelve restored tribes of Israel. These Israelites will go through the seven years of great suffering, and will win the victory.

From verse 9 and on, Yochanan gets to see with his own eyes the great multitude that no one can number, from all nations, tribes, peoples and languages. Verse 14 says that this multitude consists of former gentiles who have come out of the great suffering, the Great Tribulation. This teaches us that the harvesting of the majority of the population of the world for the Kingdom of God will take place during the last years before the Messiah returns.

41:38 “Par`oh said to his servants, ‘Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?’”(HNV revised) – God’s Spirit is in the Anointed ben Yosef more than in any other man. He has the fullness of the Eternal’s Spirit, as it is written in Isaiah 11:1-2,

“There shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Yishai, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit. The Spirit of HaShem shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of HaShem.”(HNV revised)

In Isaiah 62:1-2, it is written,

“The Spirit of the Lord HaShem is on me; because HaShem has anointed me to preach good news to the humble; he has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of HaShem’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn”(HNV revised)

In Matthew 3:16, it is written,

"Yeshua, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.”(HNV)

In Luke 4:16-21, it is written,

“He came to Natzeret, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the day of Shabbat, and stood up to read. The book of the prophet Yesha`yahu was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.’ He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began to tell them, ‘Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’”(HNV)

In John 3:34, it is written,

“For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure.”(HNV)

The word “Messiah”, means, “anointed with oil” and it speaks of the Spirit of the Eternal coming on a man so that he can fulfill a specific assignment.

The Third Aliyah, 41:39-52

41:40 “You shall be over my house, and according to your word will all my people be ruled. Only in the throne I will be greater than you.”(HNV) – This clearly illustrates the relationship between the Son and the heavenly Father. The Father has given the Son power to rule over his house. But it is a delegated power, not one that replaces the Father. The Father remains greater, as it is written in John 14:28b,

“for the Father is greater than I.”(HNV)

In 1 Corinthians 15:27-28, it is written,

“For, ‘He put all things in subjection under his feet.’ But when he says, ‘All things are put in subjection,’ it is evident that he is excepted who subjected all things to him. When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all.”(HNV)

“and according to your word will all my people be ruled” – The wrath of God remains over everyone who does not obey the Messiah Yeshua, as it is written in John 3:35-36,

“The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”(HNV)

41:41 “Par`oh said to Yosef, ‘Behold, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.’”(HNV) – Since Egypt represents the world, we can see here that the Messiah will reign over the whole world, as it is written in Hebrews 2:8,

“’You have put all things in subjection under his feet.’ For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don’t see all things subjected to him, yet.”(HNV)

It is not only the physical world that is submitted to the Messiah, but the invisible world as well, as it is written in Matthew 28:18,

“Yeshua came to them and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.’”(HNV revised)

In 1 Peter 3:22, it is written,

“who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.”(HNV)

In Ephesians 1:20-23, it is written,

“which he worked in Messiah, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”(HNV)

41:42 “Par`oh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it on Yosef’s hand, and arrayed him in robes of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck”(HNV) – Having the ring meant having the authority to act in the king’s name. Yosef could now stamp documents, using Paroh’s name. Here he received the name that was above every other name in that world. The same thing happened with Yeshua, who was given the Name that is above every other name. Yosef was not called Paroh, but he could act in Paroh’s name and stamp documents in that name. In the same way, Yeshua does not have the greatest Name in himself, but has received it from God to reign in that Name, as it is written in Philippians 2:9,

“Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the Name which is above every name”(HNV)

"fine linen” – Linen was used in the tabernacle and temple ministry before the Eternal. All the priests of the Eternal wore linen.

Angels are clothed in linen, see Ezekiel 9:2, 11; Daniel 10:5; Revelation 15:6.

The High Priest had to wear linen clothes that were made especially for Yom Kippur, the great Day of Atonement (see Leviticus 16). When Yeshua was buried, he was wrapped in a linen cloth (see Matthew 27:59). The linen represents the resurrection of the Messiah, according to John 20:5-7. When he was raised from the dead, he was clothed with a new body and he also received a linen mantel that reaches down to his feet, as it is written in Revelation 1:13,

“And among the lamp stands was one like a son of man, clothed with a robe reaching down to his feet, and with a golden sash around his chest.”(HNV revised)

The Messiah’s bride will be clothed in fine linen. It represents her righteous deeds in obedience to the commandments, as it is written in Revelation 19:8,

“It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the holy ones.”(HNV)

41:43 “and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had. They cried before him, ‘Avrech!’ He set him over all the land of Egypt.”(HNV revised) – According to Rashi, the word avrech comes from two words, av, “father” and rech, “king”. Even though the word av means “father”, it can in some cases also mean “counselor” or “best friend”. In 45:8, Yosef says of himself that God has made him to be av, “father”, to Paroh.

According to Rabbi Yossi ben Durmaskit, who is quoted by Rashi, avrech has to do with birkayim, “knees”. Therefore, the word should be understood as a command to kneel.

When people acknowledged Yosef’s new position, and kneeled before him, they were actually acknowledging the power of the one who had given him that position, the king of Egypt. It was Paroh who commanded the people to kneel before Yosef. In the same way, the Father has commanded the world to bow before Yeshua. By doing this, they acknowledge His delegated power. But if they worship the Son as if he was the Father, there is confusion. The Son is not the Father and the Father is not the Son.

In Revelation 5:8a, it is written,

“Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb”(HNV)

In Isaiah 45:23, it is written,

"By myself have I sworn, the word is gone forth from my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to me (the Eternal) every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”(HNV)

In Romans 14:11, it is written,

“For it is written, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘to me every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess to God.’”(HNV)

In Philippians 2:10-11, it is written,

“that at the name of Yeshua every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Yeshua the Messiah is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”(HNV revised)

Anyone who did not bow before Yosef was not in submission to Paroh who had commanded it. It is the same way with anyone who will not bow before Yeshua and acknowledge him as Lord; that person is not obedient to the Father who commanded it, as it is written in John 5:23,

"that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.”(HNV)

The idea that a Jew can honor the Father without acknowledging Yeshua as being appointed by Him as ruler over heaven and earth, is a lie.

In 1 John 5:9-12, it is written,

“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is God’s testimony which he has testified concerning his Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who doesn’t believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn’t have God’s Son doesn’t have the life.”(HNV)

41:45 “Par`oh called Yosef’s name Tzafnat-Paneach; and he gave him Osnat, the daughter of Poti-Phera Priest of On as a wife. Yosef went out over the land of Egypt.”(HNV revised) – When Yosef was recognized as lord in the gentile world, his Hebrew name was changed to a gentile name. In the same way, the gentile world has changed the name of Yeshua HaMashiach and given him a Greek name, “Jesus Christ”.

According to Rashi and Flavius Josefus, the name Tzafnat-Paneach means, “he who reveals secrets”. Tzafnat could come from the root tzafan, which means, “hide”, “keep secret”.[5] The Septuagint and the Coptic version translate the name as “savior of the world”.

According to Rashi, Poti-Phera was the same person as Potifar. The Hebrew word that is translated as “priest”, kohen, can also mean “chief”, which is the case when it is referring to David’s sons, see 2 Samuel 8:18; 1 Chronicles 18:17.

41:46a “Yosef was thirty years old when he stood before Par`oh king of Egypt.”(HNV) – In the same way, Yosef’s son was thirty years old when he began his public ministry, according to Luke 3:23a, where it is written,

“Yeshua himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old”(HNV)

41:49 “Yosef laid up grain as the sand of the sea, very much, until he stopped counting, for it was without number.”(HNV) – This symbolizes the great harvest of souls that the Messiah will gather in the gentile world, as it is written in Revelation 7:9-10:

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. They cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”(HNV)

In Revelation 14:14-16 it is written,

“I looked, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud one sitting like a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. Another angel came out from the temple, crying with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, ‘Send forth your sickle, and reap; for the hour to reap has come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe!’ He who sat on the cloud thrust his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.”(HNV)

“the sand of the sea” – This refers to Ya’akov’s descendants, see 32:12, who were mixed in among all the gentile nations. In the end times, Yosef’s Son will harvest them and gather them into congregations of believers in the Messiah in practically all the gentile cities of the world.

The Fourth Aliyah, 41:53 – 42:18

41:51-52 “Yosef called the name of the firstborn Menasheh, ‘For, he said, ‘God has made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.’ The name of the second, he called Efrayim: ‘For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.’ The seven years of plenty, that was in the land of Egypt, came to an end.”(HNV) – Yosef’s two sons, who would later be adopted as Israel’s sons, were born of a non-Israelite woman. They grew up in pagan surroundings, but they had a Hebraic upbringing. In the same way, Yosef’s Son has children who were born in the gentile world, and who, in the last days, will be recognized as a part of Israel.

The name Menasheh[6] comes from the root nashah[7], which means “forget”. Efrayim[8] is the masculine dual form of the word efrat[9], which means, “pile of ashes” and “fruitfulness”.

Yosef’s children represent those gentiles who have had a genuine experience of the new birth through Yeshua ben Yosef. The first son, Menasheh, has to do with forgetting two things: his toil and Israel’s house. The second son, Efrayim, has to do with growth.

Their names are exact representations of what has happened in Christian history. Among the Christians, there is a majority of gentiles who are born by the Spirit of the Messiah. First they forgot the Roman persecution that they suffered because of their Jewish faith, and then they forgot Israel and the Torah. Efrayim represents the recent evangelical revivals that preach the salvation message through the Messiah Yeshua’s death and resurrection even though they call him by a Greek name. In the end Efrayim will be placed above Menasheh, and both will be vital ingredients in the Eternal’s restoration plan for the people of Israel (see Genesis 48).

41:55b “Go to Yosef. What he says to you, do.”(HNV) – Here we can see that the king sends the people to the one that he has delegated his power to. In the same way, the Father leads people to Yeshua, as it is written in John 6:44-45,

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who hears from the Father, and has learned, comes to me.”(HNV)

In Matthew 11:27, it is written,

“All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him.”(HNV)

In Matthew 16:17, it is written,

“Yeshua answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Shim`on Bar-Yonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.’”(HNV)

In the same way that Paroh commanded the people to obey Yosef, the Father commanded in an audible voice that Yeshua is to be obeyed, as it is written in Matthew 17:5,

“While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.’”(HNV)

We could ask ourselves: Is it possible to go directly to the Father, without going through Yeshua? This text shows us that where there is delegated authority, we cannot go around it. In the same way the Father delegated everything to his Son, and we cannot go around him to get to the Father, as it is written in John 14:6,

“Yeshua said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.’”(HNV)

That message was not given to a crowd of gentiles, but of Jews. No Jew can come to the Father except through the Messiah whose name is Yeshua.

It is written in John 17:2,

“even as you gave him authority over all flesh, he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him.”(HNV)

In this situation, the people needed bread. Paroh told them, “Go to Yosef. What he says to you, do.” In John 2:5 the people needed wine. Yeshua’s mother told the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.” Here we have the two most important ingredients of the Jewish feasts, bread and wine. On the Shabbat, however, the wine is taken first and then the bread (see Genesis 14:18). This turns our thoughts to the Lord’s table where the bread is served first, in memory of his body, and then the wine, in memory of his blood, according to what is written in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26,

“For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Yeshua on the night in which he was betrayed took bread. When he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me.’ In the same way he also took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”(HNV)

41:57 “All countries came into Egypt, to Yosef, to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all the earth.”(HNV) – In the same way, gentiles from all nations will receive the bread of life during the seven years of great suffering. Yeshua is the savior of all gentiles. He is the bread of life, as it is written in John 6:35,

“Yeshua said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.’”(HNV)

Those that came from other nations did not seek anyone other than Yosef. In the same way, Yeshua is the only one who can satisfy the spiritual hunger of the gentiles. We see, later on, that the Israelites also had to humble themselves in order to receive the bread of life and not die.

This teaches us that only those messages from the Torah, which come through Mashiach ben Yosef, have enough spiritual substance to satisfy the spiritual hunger of the people.

42:6 “Yosef was the governor over the land. It was he who sold to all the people of the land. Yosef’s brothers came, and bowed themselves down to him with their faces to the earth.”(HNV) – Here we see a partial fulfillment of Yosef’s dream. There was still one more brother that had to come before the dream could be completely fulfilled.

This teaches us that there will come a time in history when the Jews, who have not been mixed in among the nations, must go to Yosef’s Son to find the bread of life and not die. It will be a wonderful time when the Jews acknowledge that the one whom the gentiles have called “Jesus Christ” has bread to give them also.

In Hosea 5:15 – 6:3, it is written,

“I will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face. In their affliction they will seek me earnestly… Come, and let us return to HaShem; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; He has injured us, and he will bind up our wounds. After two days will he revive us. On the third day he will raise us up, and we will live before him. Let us acknowledge HaShem. Let us press on to know HaShem. As surely as the sun rises, HaShem will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth.”(HNV revised)

This text is connected to the text in Matthew 23:39, where it is written,

 “For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”(HNV)

Yeshua said this after he rode into the city. He was foretelling an event that had not yet happened.

In Acts 3:12, 19-21, it is written,

“You men of Yisra'el… Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Messiah Yeshua, who was ordained for you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his consecrated prophets.”(HNV revised)

 According to these texts, there are several conditions that must be met in order for Yeshua to be able to return to the earth.

1. There must be a confession of guilt and repentance among the people of Israel for having denied Yeshua as the Messiah.

2. There must be an intense seeking after the Eternal in a time of need, which is the Great Tribulation for Ya’akov, according to Jeremiah 30:7.

3. Two days must pass, which are two thousand years, from the first coming of the Messiah.

4. The Jewish people must have power over and dwell in the city of Jerusalem.

5. Times of restoration of everything that has been spoken of and written about in the prophets’ writings must come.

6. The representatives of the majority of the Jewish population in Jerusalem must say to Yeshua, “Baruch Haba beShem Ado-nai!”

When all this happens, Yeshua will come back to the earth to rule as the Messiah son of David.

42:8 “Yosef recognized his brothers, but they didn’t recognize him.”(HNV) – In the same way, Yeshua has recognized the Jewish people, without the majority of them having recognized him. He has never rejected his people.

42:13 “They said, ‘We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Kana`an; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more.’”(HNV) – The expression “one is no more” is found twice in this story, see verse 32. In verse 38, Ya’akov says that Yosef had died (see 44:20). That is the message about Yeshua that the Jewish people have repeated for almost two thousand years. He died, but he was resurrected by Israel’s God. In the same way that Yosef stilled lived and ruled, so Yeshua continues to live and reign at the right hand of Israel’s God in heaven. And at the second meeting he will reveal himself to his brothers.

42:15 “Hereby you shall be tested. By the life of Par`oh you shall not go forth from here, unless your youngest brother come here.”(HNV) – In order for the people to experience the final redemption from the nations and be able to leave their “Egypt” at the second exodus, all twelve tribes must be gathered.

42:17-18 “He put them all together into custody three days. Yosef said to them the third day, “Do this, and live, for I fear God.’”(HNV) – This is referring to the death and resurrection of the Messiah. The Messiah represents the children of Israel.

“the third day… live”, see Hosea 6:2.

There was no desire for revenge in Yosef’s heart. He was a good Israelite, according to Leviticus 19:18, where it is written,

“You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am HaShem.”(HNV revised)

The Fifth Aliyah, 42:19 – 43:15

42:21 “They said one to another, ‘We are most assuredly guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us, and we wouldn’t listen. Therefore this distress has come on us.’”(HNV) – The reason that he treated them harshly was because the Eternal was using him to bring out true remorse in them for what they had done. It was also because they needed to pass this test and prove that they really had repented of their sin. Here they were once again in a similar situation and had the chance to make restitution by not abandoning Rachel’s child or deceiving their father. Here we see how Yosef’s treatment of them brings out a positive effect in the brothers, as it is written in 2 Corinthians 7:10,

“For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world works death.”(HNV)

“distress of his soul” – In the same way, Yeshua’s soul was in distress when he was sold by his brothers and abandoned into the hands of gentiles to die, according to Isaiah 53:11, where it is written,

“He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many; and he shall bear their iniquities.”(HNV)

42:24 “He turned himself about from them, and wept, and he returned to them, and spoke to them, and took Shim`on from among them, and bound him before their eyes.”(HNV) – Reuven, who was the firstborn, had been opposed to abusing Yosef. Shimon, who was the second, was violent as well as his brother Levi. They had murdered an entire city. Shimon needed to be dealt with in a specific way so that he could come to repentance from his sins and to humble his hard heart. This was the reason that Yosef took him and imprisoned him.

42:25 “Then Yosef commanded to fill their bags with grain, and to restore every man’s money into his sack, and to give them food for the way. So it was done to them.”(HNV) – In spite of the fact that the brothers did not recognize Yosef at their first meeting, they still received grain that could still their hunger so that they could survive. In the same way, many of the things that Yeshua taught have been recorded in Mishna and Talmud. This is because our Rabbi was constantly surrounded by scribes and Pharisees and they were influenced by his teachings. In this way, Yosef’s Son’s bread has given nourishment to the Jewish people from the time of their first meeting, in spite of the fact that they did not recognize or acknowledge him.

42:30 “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly with us, and took us for spies of the country.”(HNV) – This is the way that the Jews feel in the Christian world. The Christians are the ones who have treated the Jews the worst during the past two thousand years. The Jew believes that Jesus Christ hates him. The most horrible crimes have been committed against the Jews in the name of Jesus. The crusades, as well as the Spanish inquisition, and the Nazi extermination were all committed in Jesus Christ’s name. Sadly, this harsh Christian treatment is one of the greatest hindrances for the Jewish people to be able to acknowledge Yosef’s Son as the Messiah. Instead of provoking the Jews to jealousy, they have been provoked to hate their own Messiah. This must change! The foundation of all of this is an anti-Jewish theology and the replacement theology, which are both at the very core of Christianity. Now is the time to crush this theology. The time has now come for the original concepts of the one faith that has passed the test of time throughout the millennia, and which applies to all men, the Hebrew faith, to be restored.

43:8-9 “Yehudah said to Yisra'el, his father, ‘Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, so that we may live, and not die, both we, and you, and also our little ones. I will be collateral for him. From my hand will you require him. If I don’t bring him to you, and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever’”(HNV) – Here Yehudah steps in and takes charge of the situation. He is willing to be responsible for the younger brother and bear the blame forever if he should not be returned. This shows us what kind of attitude the Messiah, who would be born through Yehudah, had. He was willing to be responsible, not only for his Jewish brothers and sisters, but for the whole world. In order to free us from our sins, he took our blame and was punished in our place so that we could be released from the consequences of our sins, as it is written in 1 John 2:1-2,

“My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Yeshua the Messiah, the righteous. And he is the atoning sacrifice for our (the Jews) sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world (the gentiles).”(HNV)

In 2 Corinthians 5:21, it is written,

 “For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”(HNV)

The Sixth Aliyah, 43:16-29

43:26, 28b “When Yosef came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down themselves to him to the earth… They bowed the head, and did homage.”(HNV) – At long last Yosef’s dream about his brothers was fulfilled. Here they were, all of them together, and the eleven brothers bowed before him. It is interesting to note that the dream spoke of binding sheaves in a harvest field. Here it is evident that it was a question of a harvest of the precious souls of these brothers for the coming Messianic Kingdom. During the time of Ya’akov’s trouble he, Ya’akov, will bow to the Messiah Yeshua and thus there will also be a harvest among the Jewish people, as it is written in Hosea 6:11,

“Also, Yehudah (the Jewish people), there is a harvest appointed for you, when I restore the captivity of my people.”(HNV revised)

This text teaches us that all of Israel, the twelve tribes, will also bow before Ben Yosef.

The Seventh Aliyah, 43:30 – 44:17

43:30 “Yosef made haste; for his heart yearned over his brother: and he sought a place to weep; and he entered into his room, and wept there.”(HNV) – Mashiach ben Yosef has a special love for his natural brothers and sisters, in spite of the fact that they treated him so badly. Yosef withdrew for a time in order to weep out of love for them before he revealed to them who he was. The room that is mentioned is a picture of the most consecrated room in the heavenly tabernacle, where the Messiah is ministering, and interceding right now for the children of Israel, as it is written in Romans 8:34,

“Who is he who condemns? It is Messiah who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”(HNV)

In Hebrews 9:24, it is written,

“For Messiah hasn’t entered into consecrated places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us”(HNV revised)

43:34 “He sent portions to them from before him, but Binyamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. They drank, and were merry with him.”(HNV) – The Torah has not tried to cover up the fact that they drank until they were intoxicated. (Sadly, many Christian translations have tried to do that, and have not translated the passage as it is written in the Hebrew text.) Why did they drink until they were drunk, when it is not permitted according to the Scriptures?[10] Why did the Torah not try to cover up the shameful behavior of the twelve sons of Israel? The answer is that this is a prophetic picture of what will happen when the twelve tribes are united under the Messiah Yeshua. There will be such an outpouring of the Spirit of HaShem that it will be likened to intoxication, similar to what happened in Acts 2:4, 15-16, where it is written,

“They were all filled with the Consecrated Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak… ‘For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Yo'el.’”(HNV revised)

In Psalm 126:1-6, it is written,

 “A Song of Ascension by Shelomo. When HaShem brought back those who returned to Tziyon, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, ‘HaShem has done great things for them.’ HaShem has done great things for us, and we are glad. Restore our captives again, HaShem, like the streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap in joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed for sowing, will assuredly come again with joy, carrying his sheaves.”(HNV revised)

In this Psalm we see several things that line up with the text that we are studying. The Eternal will cause the twelve tribes to come together again. Then there will be a joyful intoxication, like in a dream, with laughter and joyful shouting, as when a person is drunk. This reuniting is compared with the joy of harvesting sheaves. It relates to the restoration of the ten tribes with a great harvest of souls in the last days, as it is written in Matthew 13:39b,

“The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.”(HNV)

In Isaiah 9:3, it is written,

“You have multiplied the nation, you have increased their joy: they joy before you according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.”(HNV)

The lunch at Yosef’s house also represents the supper that will be served in the Kingdom together with the Messiah and the twelve tribes of Israel, as it is written in Matthew 26:29,

“But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”(HNV)

In Luke 22:28-30, it is written,

“But you are those who have continued with me in my trials. I confer on you a kingdom, even as my Father conferred on me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. You will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Yisra'el.”(HNV)

One of the Messiah Yeshua’s assignments is to restore and gather the twelve tribes of Israel, as it is written in Isaiah 49:5-6,

“Now says HaShem who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Ya`akov again to him, and that Yisra'el be gathered to him (for I am honorable in the eyes of HaShem, and my God is become my strength); yes, he says, It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Ya`akov, and to restore the preserved of Yisra'el: I will also give you for a light to the nations, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.”(HNV revised)

Since the descendants of these twelve tribes are among the gentiles, this restoration and reunion indicates that those who belong to the Messiah and who are among the gentiles right now, will experience a very powerful force that draws them to be united with their Jewish brothers and sisters to become one people.

The movement that is called the Messianic or Hebrew Roots movement is the beginning of this reuniting of the gentiles, where the lost tribes and the Jews are found in the Messiah Yeshua. More and more people are becoming a part of the movement of Israel’s final redemption from the nations and the reuniting of the twelve tribes. How many of you already feel intoxicated? And this is just the beginning. There will be more!!!

44:14 “Yehudah and his brothers came to Yosef’s house, and he was still there. They fell on the ground before him.”(HNV) – There are efforts being made right now, both by the Orthodox Jews and the Messianic Jews to go out and find “Yosef’s house”, the ten tribes who were lost among the gentiles. HaShem is urging us to do this, because the time is drawing near when Yosef’s Son is going to reveal himself to his brothers.

Here we see how the eleven brothers bowed once more before Yosef. The dream was fulfilled again.

This text hints to us that the Jews will acknowledge the Messiah, while in Yosef’s house. Yosef’s house represents the ten lost tribes, who are coming home at this time, mainly from the Christian world.

This text also teaches us that many Jews will bow before a gentile type Messiah, in a foreign context, which is what the Christian world is to the Jew. More and more Jews have, especially since 1967, become Christians and “Messianic” (which in most cases means Christian but with a slight Jewish flavor while still holding to the Christian theology which neither allows them to be faithful to the Torah nor to Jewish customs). They have taken up “Egyptian” practices, which have nothing to do with the Jewish faith. They have acknowledged “Jesus Christ” as their savior in a Christian environment. But they have not yet seen him as a Torah practicing Jew, faithful to the customs of his people. They will have a great surprise when he reveals himself as he really is!

44:16 “Yehudah said, ‘What will we tell my lord? What will we speak? Or how will we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants. Behold, we are my lord’s bondservants, both we, and he also in whose hand the cup is found.’”(HNV) – The sin that Yehudah is talking about is not the stolen cup, since they were innocent of that, but what they had done to their brother Yosef. Yehudah, who is the forefather of the Jews, is the one who stands in the gap before Yosef and asks for mercy. This is the critical point in the story of Yosef. This is the point where Yehudah shows remorse for having sold his brother. When the Jewish people acknowledge their great mistake in having denied Yeshua, then he will reveal who he is. We will speak more about this in the next Parashah.

Shabbat Shalom!