I have always loved the song, Mary Did You Know, written and sung by Mark Lowry. It is a most powerful Christmas song both in word and musical performance. It is about Mary the mother of Jesus and wondering if she knew the full implications of what her baby boy would do, but looking back have you ever wondered about other women in history?
What about Amtilai? Don't recognize the name? Don't feel bad, most people wouldn't. According to the Talmud (Baba Batra 91a), Amtilai was the name of Abraham's mother. I searched long and hard for that one and found it here: http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/586401/jewish/What-was-Abrahams-moms-name.htm
Do you think she had any clue that her baby boy would be the father of many nations? That he would become a father at the age of 100? If the Jews and their writings are correct, Abraham's father was an idol worshiper and most likely his mother was also. The story the Sages tell is a very interesting read. http://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading.asp?aid=9168&showrashi=true&p=7
If the stories the Jews have passed down for centuries about Abraham's father are true and the possibility that his mother was like the father, how does a righteous, Godly man like Abraham come from such people? Are you living in the midst of what you perceive to be an evil, ungodly surrounding? Is every day a struggle? Take heart! Don't quit and hang on.....!
Now what about those other moms. Mary did you know that your baby boy, would someday rule the nations. This line in the song is one most Christians understand has yet to be fulfilled for the Savior Jesus, but what about....Joseph? Rachel did you know.....? I want to go over the words to that song so you can really, really see what I see. Hear what I hear. Know what I know. Wow! That sounds like a Christmas song!
Mary did you know that your baby boy would some day walk on water?
Mary (Rachel) did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
(Rachel) Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
(Rachel) This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.
Mary (Rachel) did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man?
Mary (Rachel) did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when your kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.
Oh Mary did you know
(Rachel)The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, (Rachel) the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb
Mary (Rachel) did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary (Rachel) did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am
I know you may have never seen Joseph in this kind of light before, but trust me I could apply even more verses of this song if I wanted to. Don't get me wrong, Joseph wasn't super human or even deity, but he was so much a fractal of Jesus it is more than you could ever imagine!!!
I think you get the part about ruling the nations right? What about saving our sons and daughters? If Joseph had not have been placed in charge of rationing supplies he could not have saved the nations, especially the Israelite nation which would eventually lead to a Davidic line and an ultimate Savior.
As a leader of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh, Joseph had power. By his word or by the raising of his hand he could silence an entire nation. He was...the Man! He calmed a storm of grumbling, complaining, hungry people with his authority. By his hand of provision and planning he calmed the storm of famine.
Those last three phrases that I set apart are something Joseph did, but are symbols of something Jesus has yet to do. It is a story of redemption for his own people. A story of love for his brothers. Are you ready to hear that story? Chances are you have never heard this story. This story is about more than redemption or healing. This story, my friend, is about a forgiveness you and I cannot know. It is about a brothers love that you and I cannot know. It is about blinded eyes being opened, deafened ears being able to hear and those who were dead now being able to live. I know as Christians we may have applied these things to our lives, but my friend we cannot know them in this light.
I think of it in these terms; it was just this past week that the world lost a great humanitarian in Nelson Mandela. Throughout the last few days we have heard the news reports of what he accomplished during his lifetime. I will neither fully understand what apartheid was like nor the significance of breaking free of it. Although I am a white southerner in the United States who grew up in the 1960's I still cannot, nor will I ever understand the full impact of racism in America for I am not an African-American. No matter how much I may love my fellow man or feel oppression and then find release from that oppression, I cannot know true racism the way the African-American population did in the early part of the 1900's or prior to that time.
In the same manner, we as Western Gentile Christians cannot ever understand what it is like to be a Jew; one of the true brothers or sisters of Jesus. They are family by physical birth. Nothing will ever change that fact and someday He will reveal himself to them. Someday.......
Back to our song. Genesis 45. I have always loved this passage and now I know why! The compassion!!! If you know the story (if you don't, go back and read starting with chapter 37 and read forward), you know that Joseph seems to have been toying with his brothers who have not recognized him at this point. BUT that really isn't the case! Everything he did he had to do for the dreams to become reality. (The sheaves bowing down remember?) Not only that, but he recognized them.
He required they bring their younger brother with them and now all 11 brothers are present in front of him. Joseph in verse 1 is so overcome with emotion that he calls out (I'm guessing that means shouts, but that's just my interpretation), for his servants and all the other Egyptians to clear out leaving only him and his brothers.
Does that statement ring any bells with you? Hmmmm? Then it says..... "Joseph wept!" So loud that he could be heard by the Egyptians all throughout the house. Why did he weep? His brothers didn't recognize him. Then what comes next? Two words in Hebrew or three words in English. "Ani Yosef! Ani Yosef!" (or in English) "I am Joseph! I am Joseph!" I have a feeling there were great big sobs in between the words while the brothers stood there with mouths agape. Half in horror yet half in awe. What to do? Do you run toward him in an embrace or toward the door for your life? What will he do next?
Joseph's next words are probably anticipated by them. "Is my father still alive?" They know that as long as Jacob is still alive they will probably live, but when is gone.....well then Joseph will get his revenge. The scriptures say they could not answer for they were basically, "in shock." Wouldn't you be? Then Joseph does the unthinkable. He asks them to come close and tells them to not be sad and let it not trouble them that they sold him, for God sent him there for a great deliverance! (will soon deliver you! vs 7)
He continues on with his speech asking them to go tell their father that he is alive and wants the entire family to come and live with him in Egypt. He will care for them and see that all their needs are met. In verse 12 he says, "And behold your eyes see" and yes their eyes did see! Suddenly their eyes were opened and they knew that this man, this ruler over all the land of Egypt truly was the brother who had returned from the dead!"
Joseph also gives his brothers a message to give to his father. Verse13, "And you shall tell my father of all my honor in Egypt," In Rabbinic literature Egypt refers to the Gentile nations. Marinate on that one for awhile. Chapter 46:1 we read something very interesting. "And Israel and all that was his set out...." Not Jacob, but his other name is used here Israel! How significant! All the house of Israel went to live with Joseph. Hmm.
Now the last point. 46:2-3, "And God said to Israel in visions of the night and He said, 'Jacob, Jacob!' and he said, 'Here I am.' And He said, 'I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid of going down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation.'" Come to make you new maybe?
The story of Joseph must be read in light of a future time period. We will continue this discussion later, but until then do your eyes now begin to see? Do your ears now begin to hear? "Ani Yosef! Ani Yeshua!" Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? Ringing through the sky little lamb?
Until next time, Shalom!
