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Christian News and Media Agency Shabbat Shalom Teaching by Ron Wexler, CEO of the Ten Commadments Commission. 2006-01-06 -- WDC Media News -- Shabbat Shalom In this week’s reading portion (Genesis 44:18-47:27) Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers, after making sure they didn’t resent him any more. However, prior to this revelation, is the story of Benjamin and the “stolen” goblet, Benjamin was an apprehended thief who had been caught in action. Now he and his brothers stood at the mercy of the hostile, indigent powerful Egyptian, who ruled that Benjamin will remain as his slave in Egypt while the rest of the brothers could return to their father in Israel. All the brothers were dumbfounded and in a state of shock, but Judah stepped forward risking his own life to intercede. Judah’s speech was simple but eloquent, controlled yet full of emotion, respectful yet firm. Judah, as a good legal defender knew that he was in no position to protest the fairness of the verdict, because the goblet was found in Benjamin’s sack. Instead, he offered himself as a slave, not realizing that he was offering himself to the same person whom he had once sold into slavery! The sages teach that the brothers were shivering as they watched the two men confronting one another. They sensed that this was not only a confrontation between two strong and mighty men, but between two opposing philosophies. Ultimately, both antagonists triumphed, for Joseph and Judah and the ideas they represented remained integral parts in the formation of the nation of Israel. Rabbi Bressler points out from Rabbi Haber’s commentary, what’s more amazing in this story is that Joseph all together forgave his brothers, after being stuck in a dangerous pit crawling with poisonous snakes, screaming out for help while catching a glimpse of his brothers sitting down to break bread, ignoring his pleas for mercy. If one’s brothers sold them as a slave, would they ever be able to forgive them, kiss and embrace them, and adhere to all the families’ laws and customs after they caused you such profound pain? Joseph did all of these things. He didn’t assimilate; he didn’t become an anti-Semite. He defied every law of human nature. How? Rabbi Haber goes on to explain that Joseph was empowered by one sentence: "You didn’t send me here, God did!" The fact is they did send him there, but from Joseph’s perspective that was something THEY had to deal with. As far as Joseph was concerned, it was all an act of God. He was not the judge, he was a brother and he was a Jew. He would act like a brother and he would act like a Jew. We can learn SO much from Joseph today! It is not for us to play God. If we could just memorize and adapt one line into our lives – "it wasn’t you that sent me here; it was God" – we’d all be closer to all our "brothers", and we’d all be better people. May God continue to bless you and your ministry. Ron Wexler www.tencommandmentsday.com |
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