This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Va-yeishev, which translated into English means, "and he settled". The title comes from the first verse of the reading portion: "Now Jacob dwelt (yawshav - dwell, abide, inhabit, remain, continue, to cause to be inhabited, to marry in order to give a dwelling to, endure establish, to sit down, be seated, thrones, where judges sit) in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan." (Gen. 37:1). As we can see from the Hebrew meaning of "settled/dwelt", it means more than to live in a place. What the meaning also tells us is that a seated place of authority is being established, like the throne of a king, or the judicial chair of a judge. This idea is also used as scripture tells us that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. It is a position of high authority. Paul wrote of Christ's seated position: "...and what is the exceeding greatness of His (God's) power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He (God) worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He (God) put all things under His (Christ's) feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all." (Eph. 1:19-23, see also Ps. 110:1-2, Acts 2:32-33 and 36, Heb. 1:3-4).
As the verse above speaks about the physical dwelling place of Jacob, something even more powerful is being established in Jacob's yaw-shav "dwelling/settling place" - a seat of spiritual authority that will be established in Jacob's generations to come. Verse 2 says: "This is the history (toldot - establishing generations, origin of generations) of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) his brothers. And the lad was with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the sons of Bilhah and (*vaw-aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought a bad (ra' - wicked, evil, hurt, mischief, bad, harm, grievous, ill) report (diba - slander, defamation, whispering, spread a rumor) of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) them to his father."
These sons were Jacob's sons by his wives' two maids. Those sons would also become part of the twelve tribes of Israel along with the sons of Leah and Rachel. So we also see a very important family of sons who will also dwell/settle in this land. These sons are also signified as having spiritual importance by the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega (*see note below) directly modifying them in the written Hebrew and connecting them with the identity of the Messiah/Christ (see *note below). Joseph brought an evil, false or slanderous report against these particular sons to his father according to the Hebrew meaning of the words above.
It is important to understand that when God is establishing a powerful foundation in the earth that will change the toldot history of generations, we should not speak evil against it, including false accusations or unsubstantiated rumors.
Joseph, the second youngest of Jacob's sons would then have dreams in which his eleven brothers and his father, Jacob, would bow down to him. (Gen. 37:5-11). As Joseph ran to tell them of the dreams, his father and brothers were offended by the dreams which Joseph shared, but his father kept the dreams in mind.
Joseph's prophetic dreams would come to pass at the appointed time later in his life, but Joseph would have to learn to exercise his prophetic gifting and office from the position of a most humbled servant first, tried by extreme and bitter circumstances, before the LORD would exalt him into his prophesied position of rulership in Egypt. Joseph had to learn that his rulership would not come about because of how important he thought he was, but because of his submission as a servant to God. Even as he would rule in Egypt with the favor of God, acknowledging God's power (see Gen. 41:15-16), making a way of survival for both Egypt and his father and brothers through a long-lasting famine, he would still do so as a servant to Pharaoh and Egypt (see Gen. 41:39-46), and ultimately as a servant of God, for the rest of his life. Even Pharaoh would discern the glory of God upon Joseph's life and rename him Zaphnath-Paaneah, thought to mean "God speaks and He lives", also "Salvation, Savior of the Age/World." (Gen. 41:44-45). Not only was Joseph elevated in position because of the spiritual gift which God had given to him, but it would also be made evident to Egypt that the LORD was alive and all-powerful.
Why is it so essential that God is glorified by the giftings given to us, rather than an individual such as Joseph? God must receive back to Himself the glory of our service to Him in these spiritual giftings so that Israel, and the world can know with absolute assurance that God is more powerful than any other god, or any man. Jesus, the perfect Servant according to Isa. 52:13-15, Isa. 53:11-12, spoke and prayed that God would glorify Himself through Jesus. (see Jn. 12:27-30, Jn. 13:31-32, Jn. 17:1-5). Even the glory that Jesus has given to us is for the purpose of revealing and glorifying Himself and the Father to the world. (see Jn. 17:22-23). This revealing of the LORD by His servants assures the world that God IS, and He is able to deliver the individual, the family, the nation, the world out of any difficult circumstance, heal any disease, redeem out of every wickedness and debt owed, and save any soul that believes His power and authority to do so. The LORD intends everyone to know that it is He who can forgive sins, raise the dead and grant eternal life, through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. The Book of Hebrews says: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him (God), for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Heb. 11:6). The spiritual gift does not testify only of the individual who has it, but, more importantly of God, Who gave the gift and operates through it. We, as servants, are a living testimony by word and deed through the gifts that have been given to us that God IS.
I am calling this study 'The Tale of Two Prophets' because a second prophet will learn from a young age the servant principle that Joseph only learned through extreme hardship. We will see a difference between the two prophets from their beginning. I think it is a difference that impacts our lives also as we walk in and with Christ.
Our second of two prophets comes from another part of the Va-yeishev Sabbath reading portion. This is the prophet Samuel, who was not only a prophet, but the judge of Israel. He was an anointer of kings over Israel, including David, from whose royal line the Messiah/Christ would descend.
Because his birth was an answer to his mother's prayers, Samuel's mother dedicated him from the time that he was weaned as a servant of God. He was the child of her vows. (see 1 Sam. 1:9-11). Little Samuel ministered before the LORD in the tabernacle at Shiloh and served Eli the priest there. Eli was very old, and his sons who also served in the priesthood were corrupt and led God's people into transgression through their own greed and lusts. Eli made a weak attempt to correct them, but they ignored their father. A prophet, name unknown, had come to Eli earlier and warned him that the LORD would judge Eli's house. The LORD also said through this prophet: "Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed (masiah/"maw-shee-akh" - Messiah [Christ in Greek], anointed One) forever." (1 Sam. 2:35).
Eli was old and his eyes had grown dim. The light of the Lamp of the LORD, which stood before the ark of God was about to be extinguished in the tabernacle. It was supposed to be kept lit by the priests throughout the night. The LORD began to call young Samuel during the night. Samuel had not yet heard the LORD speaking to him, so he thought Eli was calling him. Three times Samuel went to Eli that night to see what Eli needed. We can see Samuel's servant heart here. Finally, Eli realized that it was the LORD who was calling Samuel, and Eli instructed him to answer the next time he was called: "Speak, LORD, for Your servant ('ebed/'abad - servant, bondservant, slave, worshipper of God/to serve, to do, service, work, serve as subject) hears", and Samuel did so. (1 Sam. 3:9-10).
The LORD spoke to Samuel and again prophesied His judgment against Eli's house because he did not restrain (kaha - dim, utterly darkened, restrained, grow dim, rebuke, used of a lamp about to go out, eyes that become dim, a spot on the skin) his vile (qalal - light thing [as opposed to being heavy], lighter, light, lighten, curse, vile, treat with contempt and dishonor) sons. God's spiritual light and Lamp, and the light of His servant priesthood were allowed to grow dim until becoming in danger of being extinguished, but the vileness of his sons had been allowed to continue by Eli.
Samuel did not exalt himself upon hearing the Word of the LORD to him. We read: "So Samuel lay down (sakab - lie down, lay self down [see Jn. 10:15], lodge, be poured out, lie down in rest or death, to prostrate self before) until morning, and opened the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) vision." (v. 15). Unlike Joseph running to tell his brothers and father of the prophetic dreams that exalted him, Samuel did not run to tell Eli of the judgment that the LORD had spoken against Eli's house. He did not disclose the Word of the LORD until Eli insisted. (v. 17-18).
Immediately afterward, scripture says: "So Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the LORD. Then the LORD appeared (ra'a - see, look, behold, show, appear, seer, perceive, discern, distinguish, foresee, heed, consider, have vision, cause to gaze at, to be visible) again in Shiloh. For the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD. (v. 19-21). Samuel prophesied and was recognized for it by all Israel, but it is the LORD who became ra'a (see above) seen, perceived again in Shiloh because of His spiritual gift in the hands of His trusted and faithful servant, Samuel.
The Sabbath reading portion from 1 Sam. 3, above mentions the Lamp of the tabernacle, and how the corrupt priesthood under Eli neglected that Light until it was almost extinguished. This weekend, begins the Festival of Lights, also called the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah), which Jesus observed in John 10:22-25. This Feast commemorates the miracle of God which kept His Light burning in the temple for eight days, well beyond the short supply of oil available to keep it lit. The Lamp, or Hanukkah menorah, has eight candles, instead of the usual seven, representing those eight miracle days. There is also a ninth candle set apart from and set above the other candles in the Hanukkah menorah. This ninth candle is the first to be lit, and from this candle, the other candles of the menorah are lighted. This ninth candle is called the shamash. "Shamash" means "the helper" or "servant". It is not extinguished after it lights the other candles, but stays lit, ready to "serve" in case one of the other candles blows out. The shamash ninth candle uses its gift of light to make other lights shine also. It is always ready to preserve the sanctity of the other eight miracle lights, as expressed by rabbis.
As you light the Hanukkah menorah, or see one in use, pay special attention to the lone candle that serves as "the servant" to the other candles. To me that servant candle represents Jesus, the Light of the world, but us as well, whom Jesus also called "the light of the world." The purpose of this light, as Jesus said was so that men would see not just us, but our good works and glorify the Father in heaven. (see Mt. 5:14-16).
If you would like to know more about the role of servant to the LORD, you can join my prayer: "Father of heaven and earth, blessed Son and Holy Spirit, You have called us and gifted us to be Your servants, bearing witness not to ourselves, but to You, as the one true Savior of man. Our service bears witness to the fact that You ARE, You APPEAR, You SPEAK, and You HEAR, unlike the idols created by men. Your true servants know Your mind and Your heart. Help me, Lord, to be a faithful and true servant for the glory of God. Help me, Lord, to be a servant light that lights others in Your name. Help me, Lord, to keep Your Lamp lighted and lifted up for the whole world to see and believe, being able to discern and distinguish Your great presence and appearing among men. I ask this in the name and after the likeness of Your faithful Servant/Son, Jesus. AMEN."
