Seder 41: Genesis 47:2---Which Five Brothers?

 When his family moved to Egypt, Joseph presented five of his brothers before Pharaoh (Ge 47:2).  This information naturally leads to speculations about which five brothers Joseph chose, and what criteria he might have used to choose them.  

One tradition proposes that the five were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Benjamin, and Issachar, sons of Leah and Rachel who may have been at or near the top of the family pecking order. 

Another tradition proposes that Joseph does not want Pharaoh to recruit his brothers for his army, so he picks the five "weakest", identified as Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, and Zebulun.  

Seder 41: Zechariah 10-11---Shepherds Good and Bad

 In the Ancient Near East, rulers were often referred to as shepherds.  

This is a familiar image in the Bible, where God is often likened to a shepherd (Ps 23:1; 80:1; Isa 40:11; Jer 31:10; Eze 34) and the Messiah is pictured as a Shepherd (Eze 34:23; 37:24; Micah 5:4).  It is fitting, then. that Jacob and his sons were shepherds ( Ge 46); and that David, an ancestor of the Messiah, was a shepherd as well.  

Zechariah 10, like Ezekiel 34, laments the poor leadership of Israel's human shepherds and contrasts their unreliability with the faithfulness of God, Israel's true shepherd (verses 2-3).  

Another similiarity between Zechariah 10 and Ezekiel 34 is that both of these prophecies speak of the Messiah.  In Ezekiel 34:23 the Messiah is a good shepherd from the line of David.  In Zechariah 10:4, the Messiah is a descendant of Judah who is "the cornerstone,", "the tent peg," and "the battle bow," metaphors that describe his leadership and strength.  

In Zechariah 10:6-12 God promises a future restoration of Israel, with people returning to the Promised Land in a new Exodus.  

Zechariah 11 seems to indicate that before a final restoration, Israel would come under divine judgment.  Shepherd imagery is again prominent in this chapter, as the prophet Zechariah apparently is asked to act out the part of a shepherd.  He takes up two staffs called "favor" and "union."  He reports, "and I tended the sheep" (v. 7), presumably meaning that rhe epresents a good shepherd.  

Zechariah goes on to say, "In one month I destroyed the three shepherds" (verse 8).  Lots of possibilities have been suggested for the identities of these three shepherds.  Commentator Kenneth Barker (EBC) mentions several, including 

• Eleazar, John, and Simon, leaders of three factions during the disastrous revolt of 66-73 AD;
• Seleucid leaders Antiochus IV, Heliodorus, and Demetrius during the time of the Maccabean revolt; 
• Corrupt high priests Jason, Menelaus, and Alcimus of the early second century BC;
• Three classes of leaders---prophets, priests, and kings.
  

Zechariah then mentions that he was detested as shepherd, an indication of Israel rejecting a good shepherd.  As a result, Zechariah breaks the staff called "favor," a symbol of a time of divine protection coming to an end; and also breaks the staff called "union," symbolizing disunity in Israel.  

This is one of the Bible's most cryptic prophecies, so we should not be dogmatic about what constitutes its fulfillment.  Overall, we see a familiar pattern of judgment followed by restoration, with the message that God, our faithful Shepherd, is in charge.  

Seder 41: Gen 46-47---A Joyful Reunion

 After 22 years apart, Jacob and Joseph were finally reunited in Egypt.  Gen 46:29 describes their joyful reunion:  "He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while."  

It's not clear in verse 29 which one wept on which one's neck, which may imply that each did so to the other.  

Jacob told Joseph that he could now die in peace, having seen his son again (v 30).  We see here a foreshadowing of  a later event, when the elderly Simeon had the opportunity to hold the baby Jesus (Luke 2:25-32).  

Jacob also had the opportunity to meet Pharaoh (Gen 47:7-12).  Jacob was not overly intimidated by the monarch, as indicated by the fact that he blessed Pharaoh twice.  Jacob knew who he was, one through whom the nations would be blessed.  And Pharaoh accepted the blessings from Jacob, showing both his respect for Joseph and his respect for the wisdom of the aged. 

In a sermon at Church of the Messiah on January 23. 2021, Kyle Kettering reflected on arrivals and departures, times that cause much anxiety and also hold great potential.  The way to make the most of that potential is to walk in love, Kyle emphasized.    

A further example of the mission of Abraham's descendants to bless the nations is seen in Joseph's administration of the grain supply during the 7 years of famine (Gen 47:13-26).  Joseph's policies saved many lives and also enriched Pharaoh.  

There are some ironies here.  Joseph, who arrived in Egypt as a slave, ended up seeing many people in Egypt become sharecroppers, while his own family fared better.  It has been argued that his policies helped lay the groundwork for the eventual enslavement of the family of Israel.         

Joseph's treatment of the poor was not harsh, especially considering the context of the times.  (Ancient tax rates tended to be pretty high.)  Those who became sharecroppers were still grateful to Jacob for helping them through the famine (v 25).  

We can see Joseph as an example of the "faithful and wise servant" described by Jesus in Matt 24:45-47.

In Egypt the children of Israel "were fruitful and multiplied greatly" (Gen 47:27).  They were carrying out the mandate of Gen 1:28.  A return to Eden had not yet occurred, but God's plan to restore blessing to the world was well underway. 

Seder 41: Psalm 32---The Wisdom of Confession

 Psalm 32 is one of seven "penitential psalms"---the list consists of Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143.  It gives assurance that when one "in whose spirit there is no deceit" comes to God in sincere repentance, that person's sins will be forgiven (vv 1-2).  To emphasize this, verses 1-2 use three different words for "sin" and three different words for "forgiveness".  

The psalmist (traditionally David) backs up the statements of verses 1-2 with a testimony of his own experience.  Responding to God's persistent prompting, he had confessed his sins and was forgiven (vv 3-5).  

Psalm 32 is also a wisdom psalm that says the wise thing to do is to follow the example of David.  The wise thing to do is to rely upon God, who will provide protection to his people and promises to guide them in the ways of wisdom (vv 6-8). 

Verse 9 counsels us not to resist God's instruction like a stubborn animal.  That is the way of the wicked, which will not succeed (v 10).

There is much for the wise to be thankful for--God's forgiveness, protection, and instruction---and so they will be glad in the Lord and shout for joy (v 11).