YOSEF (Joseph)
For me personally, I think one of the most obvious and profound examples of G’milut Chasidim - one that is very close and dear to my own heart is that of Yosef and his brothers in B’reshit chapter 45. In chapter 37 we read of a young 17 year old Yosef whose favouritism by Ya’akov - and the behaviour that then caused in Yosef - was creating such a stir among the brothers. So much so that there came great hatred and jealousy to the point where Yosef’s brothers throw him into a pit. We then read on to see how Yosef’s life unfolds as he becomes a slave TO THE ISHMAELITES!!! but then quite remarkably becomes “a father to Pharaoh” [Ch. 45 v 8] … and a type of saviour for all of Israel … is this not a reflection or foreshadowing of Mashiach who came as Ben Yosef? I look to see that Yosef’s character was being refined by the hand of HaShem in order to fulfil the plans and purposes of G-D through all he would endure. It is as though Yosef’s heart was being circumcised as he was being transformed from being one who perhaps revelled in the fact that he was favoured by his earthly father … to eventually becoming one who would pour out the favour of The Heavenly Father to others … to his brothers … even to the point of saving all of Israel. In some way, was it that Yosef grew from the immature place of “look at me” and “what’s in it for me” to a place of maturity in recognising authority and taking rightful responsibility to the point of saying, “what have I to contribute to this story as I surrender to the authority of the G-D of Israel?” BUT also to the authority HaShem places over Yosef ...” The words of chapter 45 vs 5-8 just move my heart to tears before HaShem!! Yosef says to his brothers … the very ones who sought to destroy his life … the very ones whose anger and perhaps sense of injustice lead them to sin: Yosef tells them, “Now, do not be distressed or reproach yourselves because you sold me hither; it was to save life that G-D sent me ahead of you.” And in verse 7-8: “G-D has sent me ahead of you to ensure your survival on earth, and to save your lives in an extraordinary deliverance. So, it was not you who sent me here, but G-D …” WOW!!! What a statement! I don’t know why, but as I was writing, I was caused to see a very small glimpse of Yeshua’s parable of “the lost son” in Luke 15. I see the Father’s heart for the restoration and reconciliation of brothers! And I weep!!! For it just hits my heart so profoundly I cannot explain with words … only tears! I look to see how it often first begins with our own hearts … I am reminded of the statement I have so often heard, “We cannot help others out of a pit if we ourselves are in one.” When we allow HaShem to deal with our pride, to shape and mold our own character, allowing Him to circumcise our own hearts, we can then become a powerful instrument in His hand … I hear the whisper of Ezekiel 37:19 blowing through my heart … becoming One stick in His Hand. In this story, for me, I see the most obvious example of G’milut Chasadim found in Chapter 50 vs.15-25. Verse 15 begins by telling us that the brothers, upon seeing their father was dead, became fearful that Yosef was still bearing a grudge and perhaps would do to them what they did to him. Perhaps they even thought that the only reason Yosef showed loving-kindness to them was to impress their father … but now that Ya’akov was gone, would Yosef show his true colors and turn on them? When they send message to him, asking forgiveness, we see Yosef moved to tears; they were even prepared to make themselves slaves to him. It is the response of Yosef that displays the Great Chesed of HaShem … the Great I AM! Yosef first recognises the authority of G-D by saying, “Am I a substitute for G-D?” [v. 19] Do I hear the familiar sound from the words of another foreshadow of Mashiach when Moshe strikes the rock and says, “shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” In both of these statements, were both Yosef and Moshe not ultimately bowing their hearts before The G-D of Israel as they proclaimed that authority is given by G-D alone? But … back to the point…
As “father to Pharaoh” and all that was given to him at the Pharaoh’s command, Yosef held both the authority and the power to make his brothers his slaves if he wanted to do so. He could have very easily chosen to pay them back for all they did to him, counting them unworthy and undeserving of his loving-kindness or compassion. But perhaps Yosef saw within his own heart somewhere through the suffering he endured, that he also was undeserving of the favour - the Chesed - HaShem bestowed upon him in all that he had become through the process? As I read the words of verse 20, I see a heart that has become completely humbled and made low before G-D as he proclaims to his brothers, “Besides, although you intended me harm, G-D intended it for good, so as to bring about the present result - the survival of many people.” It was as he was brought low, humbled by G-D Himself through all Yosef walked through, that he was then lifted up … and did he not then hold “resurrection power” to save many people. And can I just add here … because I was SO excited to discover the “end of the story” if you like … as if for the first time! I was AMAZED as I read the end of chapter 50! Yosef actually encourages his brothers just as he is about to die. Verse 24 says, “At length, Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. G-D will surely take notice of you and bring you up from this land to the land that He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” My heart just froze in awe of HaShem as I read … left completely stunned! I found myself whispering to HaShem, “WOW!!! Was that Yosef’s way of saying, “my brothers, I now see all the times you felt unseen by our earthly father. I understand how you may have felt rejected and I did not show compassion or care about your hurt, but only cared for myself and the fact that I was getting all the attention. I played my part in bringing strife between us as brothers … BUT … my brothers, can I now reassure you that our Father in Heaven SEES! He is El Roi … and He will take notice of you and bring healing and restoration for all the times where perhaps our earthly father did not. And He WILL fulfil the promise given to Abraham.” I see this as GREAT restoration between the brothers! Yosef who once caused the wrong kind of jealousy became a powerful instrument in HaShem’s hand to bring about restoration and reconciliation for them all … AMAZING!!!
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