Day 2: Vayeshev/Genesis 37:18-36

Many figures and shadows in Torah represent Messiah. Yoseph is one of those as he begins his lonely sojourning amongst the nations of the earth. As the second youngest, he was used by his father to spy on his brothers. As an informant, however, he became a nuisance to his family, touting dreams of their servitude and humility to Yoseph.

Conspiracy against their own brother consumed the other ten sons of Yacov. They saw of him and planned Yoseph’s demise. For many of the sons of Israel, the death of Yoseph was a small thing. To others, it would eat at them for decades to come.

As a Messianic figure, Yoseph part of the household of Israel, but he was handed over to a nation that did not practice the precepts of YHVH as revealed to Abraham, Isaac, and Yacov. As Yeshua’s garments would be taken by the Romans, so Yoseph’s garments were ripped from him. They were stripped away and used as propaganda to Israel. Interestingly, both Yacov and Reuben tore their garments in mourning over the assumed demise of Yacov. Both of these men were led to believe and assume that Yoseph was dead and no hope remained.

Meanwhile, Yoseph was sold to another nation. In the adversities that followed Yoseph, YHVH was with him and he would become an enormous blessing to Egypt, the Ishmaelites, Midianites, and other nations, including Israel. Those that rejected their brother as a stumbling stone to their frivolity would find that stone to be a foundation for survival in the years to come. Furthermore, what they rejected would bless other nations.

Yeshua, too, was sold by Judas and was rejected by Judaism, and their scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees being given over to the government of Rome. What was rejected by Judah was given over to the nations as a fulfillment of the promise to Abraham? Yeshua was/is the blessing to all the nations of the earth.

Yoseph had been wrapped in the royalty of his father’s household and favor. His tunic exemplified the nations, the characteristics of Elohim, and much more. It represented Yacov’s approval and was representative of this patriarch of Israel. Similarly, Yeshua was wrapped in His Father’s cloak, but not a physical garment, per se. Yeshua was, and is, wrapped in the cloak of righteousness.

Yoseph’s tunic was ignored and discarded by his brothers, even though Yacov gave it to him as a sign of his own authority. Many people of yesteryear and into today do not see the righteousness of Yeshua. To many it is invisible and to others, it’s ignored out of feelings of guilt and self-afflicted condemnation. However, Yeshua’s righteousness could not be stripped from Him like mere garments or through humiliation and degradation. Messiah’s righteousness shines brightly to every generation for those who are called and will look upon it with repentance and humbleness. His Priestly robes were not of this earth and could not be stripped from Him.

Messiah’s cloak is a cover to all of us who will call upon Him. As He reveals Himself to us and allocates grace to receive Him as the Way, Truth, and Life, we are dressed in His garments and made white from the sins that have stained us. Yeshua has been raised up with His unsoiled robe to be the deliverer of all mankind.

Those who have found themselves in famine can come to the King of kings to be dressed in royalty and given food to eat. As others see Yeshua in our lives and His righteousness surrounding us, they will ask to be fed and to be clothed and cared for. Yeshua’s cloak may be splattered with His own blood and reveal His suffering for us, but it is magnificent and beautiful to those that it covers. By bearing His robes as His ambassadors and intercessors, we are able what Yoseph could not comprehend at first. We can be vessels used to bring about salvation to the nations surrounding us.

Dwell upon Isaiah 61:10-11, “I will rejoice greatly in YHVH, my soul will exult in my Elohim; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, so Elohim YHVH will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.”