As the story of Joseph and his brothers reaches its climax, it becomes clear that Joseph is testing his brothers’ feelings towards Benjamin.
Keep in mind that Benjamin is the only brother that had nothing to do with Joseph’s betrayal.
When the brothers return to Egypt, Joseph orders his servants to bring his brothers inside his house for a banquet.
The first point of interest is that the servant carefully seated each brother in perfect order from the youngest to the oldest.
The brothers were baffled and astonished at this because there is no way this could have happened by chance.
Mathematicians have calculated a 1 in 40 million probability (don’t ask me how they figured this out) that the order of their seating arrangement could have been a coincidence.
Nevertheless, as amazed as the brothers were, they still weren’t able to connect the dots concerning the true identity of this mysterious Egyptian ruler who had kept their brother Simeon in prison and asked them so many pinpointed questions about their father and younger brother.
I couldn’t help thinking, isn’t this just like the many fervent Orthodox Torah scholars in our day who spend hours daily poring over the texts of the Torah in meticulous detail, yet can’t seem to connect the dots as to the true identity of Yeshua of Nazareth?
Just as Joseph’s brothers remained blinded to the true identity of Joseph who stood right in front of them, I feel that many scholars who deny Yeshua also remain blinded to the true identity of the Messiah even though all the clues and prophecies are also right there in front of them.
Next, we’re told when the meal was served, Benjamin was given five times more food than his brothers.
Why did Joseph do this?
I believe Joseph was testing them to see if the brothers were going to be jealous of Benjamin as they were with him.
Joseph really wanted to know if his brothers had changed.
Did they pass the test?
I think they did because we are told that they ate and were all merry with him.
There were no signs of animosity, jealousy or envy.
It’s also interesting to note that in Egypt, a prince or ruler was given five times as much as everyone else as a sign of royalty.
Could this in some way be connected to the fact that the very first King of Israel will be a descendant of Benjamin?
Before closing, there is an important spiritual lesson here that I want to go over.
Notice that before Joseph can reveal himself to his brothers, he needs to see if their hearts have changed.
Isn’t our relationship with Yeshua the same?
Before Yeshua can reveal Himself to us, we can’t be in a state of bitterness, envy or hate.
We have to be in a state of openness and surrender.
Then He will reveal Himself to us.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
Here, I’m standing at the door, knocking.
If someone hears my voice and opens the door,
I will come in to him and eat with him,
and he will eat with me.
-Revelation 3:20
I am curious about your statement: “Before Yeshua can reveal Himself to us, we can’t be in a state of bitterness, envy or hate.” How do you explain Saul’s encounter with our Lord? Everything indicates he was on a mission of hatred. He had just approved Stephen’s death and was on his way to Damascus to further persecute Christians – not exactly a loving mission!
At the same time, I see Saul (who later becomes Paul) as still being able to reject our Lord on the road to Damascus: for he tells King Agrippa, “I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven” (Acts 26:19). This indicates he still had the capacity to reject our Lord in his personal encounter with him, but did not do so. I find this a sobering reminder of the choices God gives us and the freedom we have even in the face of God’s intervention.