In this study I will be examining a lot of material. It will be quite long. It is my prayer that each insight addressed in this article be prayed over and examined scripturally and historically so that each reader will verify that the contents are factual. We are each responsible for reading, praying, and studying the Word of God for ourselves. We should never take another human beings word for anything because we can be led astray. That, of course, is never my intent but judge for yourself after much of the above.
First, I need to begin by talking about the exile of the kingdom of Ephraim and the kingdom of Judah.
The prophet Jeremiah makes a statement in chapter 31:15:
A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.
Jeremiah, by the voice of the LORD, is giving a prophecy here that the people of Israel, first the northern kingdom of Ephraim and then the southern kingdom of Judah, will be carried away into exile. The Assyrians carried away the northern kingdom and the Babylonians carried away the southern kingdom about 100/125 years later.
Rachel was the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. She died on the journey to Bethlehem and was buried near Ramah. Ramah was in the territory of the land allotment of Benjamin. The analogy here is that Rachel, from her grave, is mourning for her children, the Ephramites, or the northern kingdom that is being carried away to Assyria. She is mourning over the exile of her people. This exile brought about the death of many of her children from Joseph, Benjamin, and the children she claimed from her handmaiden, Bilhah. However, we find that in the book of Matthew he makes a statement declaring:
Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more. Matthew 2:17-18
We see here that the Apostle Matthew ties the prophecy of Jeremiah to the killing of the infants in and around Bethlehem, by Herod the Great, during the time of the childhood of Yeshua. Notice, that this is also when Joseph took the young Yeshua and his mother, Miriam, down into Egypt. Matthew states that this “fulfilled” the prophecy of Jeremiah.
How is this connected? Just as in Jeremiah when Rachel weeps for her children being carried away into Assyria, she is futuristically also mourning for the kingdom of Judah which will be carried away into Babylon, for the captives of Judah were rounded up and taken to Ramah, near her grave, before they were carried off to Babylon. Jeremiah 40:1 tells us this:
The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him bound in chains among all who were carried away captive from Jerusalem and Judah, who were carried away captive to Babylon.
What is happening here is that Matthew is showing that the killing of the infants by Herod, and the exiling of the young Messiah in Egypt, is foreshadowing that another exile is coming for Judah in the near future. The Messiah Yeshua follows prophetically in line with what is going to happen to Israel.
Here is another example. In Hosea 11:1 we read where the LORD refers to the calling out of His people from their exile in Egypt, or the exodus. Then in Matthew 2:15, again when we are told that the young Yeshua was taken to Egypt, we read:
and was there (in Egypt) until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the LORD through the prophet, saying, 'Out of Egypt I called my Son'.
So, the parallel is that just as the Israelites went into exile in Egypt but were brought out, so Messiah is showing us that He too went into Egypt and was brought out, and that there is going to be another exile and a second exodus for Messiah's people in the future. Messiah walked through the prophecies of exile and redemption just as some of the prophets were told to give physical demonstrations before the people of the LORD's words.
We know from history that this second exile of Judah that Matthew mentioned did happen in 70 AD and then in completion during the time of Emperor Hadrian in 135 AD.
I pray that you see the connection that I have made in all of this: that Yeshua walked out the coming exile of His people, and His on exile – like Joseph, but He also walked out the coming future exodus. Now, if you continue reading in Hosea and Jeremiah surrounding all the scriptures above, you will find that there is much talk about exile and redemption, for both the northern and southern kingdoms.
If you read also Jeremiah chapters 16, 30, and 31 you will clearly see that a second, greater exodus is coming for Israel. Both kingdoms will be gathered from the north, south, east, and west, all over the world from where she has been scattered by the LORD for her sins. If you read Jeremiah chapter 3:16 you will see that in this second coming great exodus that there will be no more need for the ark of the covenant for the very presence of the LORD will be ruling and reigning with us, through His Messiah, king and priest, Yeshua.
Now, let's talk about Joseph. In Jewish literature the concept of a Messiah Son of Joseph and Messiah Son of David is discussed. The first time Yeshua came He came as Messiah Son of Joseph, and the second time He comes He will come as Messiah Son of David. The first time He came as a suffering servant and the second time He will come as a conquering king. When we look into scripture we will find many parallels between the life of Yeshua and the life of Joseph.
Joseph is rejected by his brothers and they throw him in a pit. From the pit he is sold into slavery in Egypt. Joseph goes into exile in Egypt. Note that it was Judah who had the idea to sell him into slavery (Genesis 37:26). Upon discovering what they had done, Reuben, the eldest son of Jacob, makes a statement upon discovering that they had sold him:
And he returned to this brothers and said, 'The lad is no more; and I, where shall I go?' Genesis 37:30
We can interpret this many ways but one interesting interpretation that a Rabbi brought out was that Reuben here spoke a prophecy. As the oldest sibling of the clan and thus the protector of the others, his statement indicated that just as Joseph had gone into slavery/exile by their own hands, likewise he and the other brothers would follow him into exile/slavery because of their sin against him. They followed it up by giving a bloody garment to Jacob to make him think his son was dead.
In Hebrew the grave (Sheol) is also referred to as a pit. Joseph was considered to be dead to them at this point. Reuben stated “the lad is no more”; he is dead, he does not exist.
Yeshua was rejected by His own. He went down to “the pit” or the grave. Joseph came out of the pit and went into exile and was hidden. Yeshua came out of the grave and went into exile in that He also has been hidden.
Let's continue.
Joseph arose to power in Egypt but was given a new name by Pharaoh – Zaphnath-Paaneah (Genesis 41:45). This was a purely Egyptian name, and of course not Hebrew. Although Bible theologians can't agree, many say this name means “creator” or “preserver of life”. Some Egyptologists at least say that the last part may contain the word “life”. Some say it means “the god speaks and he lives”. Some say the first part means “he who explains hidden things”. While we can't be certain all of these would make sense considering the fact that Joseph was the one who saved the known world from starvation during the seven year famine, because of what the LORD had shown to him and he surely brought life.
Joseph began his rule in Egypt when he was 30 years old (Genesis 41:46). Yeshua began His ministry when He was about 30 years old (Luke 3:23). Yeshua also was to be a “preserver of life”.
Joseph married an Egyptian priestess and she bore to him two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim. Manasseh means “causing to forget”, for Joseph said, 'God has made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house'. Ephraim means “doubly fruitful”, for Joseph said, 'God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction' (Genesis 41:51-52).
When the brothers of Joseph came down to Egypt they did not recognize him. He had a new name, he was dressed like an Egyptian, he was married to an Egyptian priestess, he spoke Egyptian. By all accounts he was an Egyptian and he had accepted his new position in exile. Even his sons were Egyptian since they were born and raised in Egypt and they had mixed blood; half Hebrew and half Egyptian. The sons of Jacob would have never recognized Joseph as their brother except that he revealed himself to them. Joseph would later state that 'you intended evil against me, but Elohim intended it for good, in order to do it as it is this day, to keep a great many people alive' (Genesis 50:20 - TS2009).
The family of Joseph would make their home in Egypt and live in exile for over 200 years, eventually becoming slaves. The LORD would bring them out with great wonders, called plagues, a great exodus of people, and they would eventually return to their homeland.
This story has so many similarities to what has happened, is happening, and will happen, in these last days through Messiah Son of Joseph, Yeshua HaMashiach. The last days began when Yeshua ascended back into Heaven.
Just as Joseph had taken on all of the qualities of an Egyptian and his true identity had been “hidden”, likewise Yeshua Messiah's identity has been hidden. At this time Yeshua is still completing the role as Messiah Son of Joseph. As mentioned above, he went down into the pit (grave), and then came out of the pit. He metaphorically went into exile with His people so that a greater exodus would come about and what seemed bad – the exile of all the children of Israel – would turn into good so that a great many people would be kept alive (or have life).
Just as Joseph was given a new name and looked the part of an Egyptian (Joseph' identity was hidden), so it is with Yeshua. For almost 2000 years the identity of Yeshua has been hidden. Instead of being viewed as a Hebrew/Jewish Messiah, He has been worshiped and served as a Greek speaking, Torahlesness Christ. He has been given a new name, Iesous, which changed into different forms in different languages and time periods. In English it is Jesus. This name J-e-s-u-s means nothing linguistically in any language, but in Hebrew His name, Yeshua, means salvation. Just as the identity of Joseph was hidden to his brothers, so the identity of Jesus has been hidden to most of His Jewish kindred and to untold millions of Christians who claim to follow Him around the world. His people, the Jews, cannot accept a Greek Messiah who supposedly rejected Torah, and persecuted and murdered His own people through His Christ followers for almost 2 millennial. Likewise, the Christian church cannot see the hidden Yeshua as anything other than a Torah bashing, Sunday Sabbath keeping, pig eating, Christmas born, Easter slain, Greek appearing Christ. But, just like Joseph, His true identity is going to be revealed before He returns as Messiah Son of David, the King of Israel. Just like Joseph, He would never be known for the Jewish Messiah that He is, to the multitudes, unless He reveals Himself. This revealing is beginning to happen around the world. Followers of Jesus, or whatever His name is in various languages, are waking up and they are beginning to see Jesus for who He really is: a Torah obedient, Sabbath keeping, Kosher eating, Jewish Messiah named Yeshua. Jews are beginning to see that He is their Messiah and not some Greek wannabe who abolished Torah and taught others to do the same. God allowed this to happen for a purpose: so that many lives would be saved.
Soon all will see that this Torahlesness, swine eating, Greek speaking, Greek appearing Jesus is not what He has appeared to be. Just as Joseph appeared to be an Egyptian but wasn't, likewise this Jesus appears to be what He isn't and He is revealing Himself so that He can return as the Jewish Messiah and bring us all out of exile. He had to be hidden in order to bring about the greater good and to save many.
OK, so, we are in exile. Who? Just the Jews? NOPE! Just as Joseph had two half breed sons that Jacob took as his on sons, likewise Yeshua has a whole world of half breed children. You see, all the blessings spoken over Joseph, and his two sons, indicated that they would be a fruitful vine flowing over the wall. Prophetically spoken over them was the words that they would grow into a “multitude of nations”. The Jews make up less than 1% of the world's population. So where is this multitude of nations? God promised Abraham that his seed would be as numerous as the stars in heaven and the sand on the sea shore. Where are they? They are the Jews and the people who claim Yeshua as Messiah. Christians is what most of them call themselves. Believe it or not most of these Christians have the DNA of Jacob flowing through their veins and don't even know it because God scattered His people around the world and they intermingled with the nations. This is how they could become a multitude of nations. Not only that but the10 northern tribes never returned, except a remnant, from the diaspora after the Assyrians carried them away. So, we are like Ephraim and Manasseh – we have “forgotten the house of our fathers” and we have been “doubly fruitful”.
The greater exodus is next on the agenda but it will come by the revealed King Yeshua, Son of David. Before the exodus can come there must be slavery. We are currently held as slaves in this sinful world, this world is our Egypt. The closer it gets to our King's coming the more intense the servitude will become.
What will ultimately cause our Jewish Messiah to come? He will come when we cry out to Him to come. You may say, 'I already am'. When we look back at the Israelites in Egypt, they had become content with living in slavery. It was only when their servitude became so burdensome that they “all” began to cry out for a savior. The LORD says that He heard their cries and came down to deliver them. I don't believe that as a body we have gotten to that place of servitude, in the whole world, that we are crying out with one voice for Him to come and save us. Hoshia-na! When we finally get uncomfortable enough that we all, worldwide, Jew and non-Jew, following the same God, begin to cry with one voice for His salvation, then it is that He will come as the Son of David.
There is still one more obstacle that we have to hurdle. We must have plagues. If you think that you are going to be raptured out of here without plagues before the exodus – think again! In Revelation chapter 8 we read of the seven trumpets. Those seven trumpets are the plagues that are going to be poured out upon this world before the greater exodus. It is only the 7th trumpet that we will be excused from having to endure. The seventh trumpet ushers in the wrath of God. However, the first 6 trumpets are the plagues before the greater exodus.
When we look back at the first exodus we will discover that both Goshen and Egypt had to survive the first 3 plagues. During the last 7 plagues God made a distinction between Goshen and Egypt. We read in Revelation 7:3 that the LORD will once again make a distinction between His people and those who are not His people. He will be their refuge but they will remain here on earth, not up in heaven during this time. This time period will be used to refine His people and make them ready for the greater exodus. During the plagues of Egypt the Holy One declared that the plagues were to show His mighty power, not only to Egypt, but to His children. It was by His mighty hand that they were brought out of Egypt and He will once again show His people His mighty hand and bring us out of our Egypt. Don't think for one minute that you are going to miss the show. All during this time the Jewish Messiah Yeshua will be revealing Himself even more to His bride and getting her to make herself completely ready.
When the time comes to go there must be a Passover Lamb so the blood can be over the doorpost. Yeshua has already provided that. When the Most High God sees the blood of Yeshua over our hearts then He will pass over us. Just as the Israelites had to be obedient in following the instructions of Moses and place the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of their home and then not go out from their dwelling until the last and most dreadful plague was over, so also must we be obedient in doing all that the LORD has commanded. The book of Hebrews records that we have all come to the “assembly of the firstborn”. If we have been born again and walking in ALL that He has shown us then we are a firstborn child of God. We must stay in the house until the last plague has passed and then we will be ready for our exodus.
I could keep going and going with similarities here but I just want to sum it up quickly.
When they reached the red sea they were hemmed in. The sea was in front of them, high mountainous walls on both sides and the Egyptian army closing in behind them. This is where Moses proclaimed, “stand still and see the salvation of the LORD”. His shikinah stood between them and the Egyptians and the water parted letting them each pass through the waters before it tumbled back down on top of their enemies. This was the wrath of God being poured out. This wrath being poured out we can read about in the book of Revelation with the bowls of wrath. While this is happening we will be in safe hiding with our Messiah King, Son of David. Moses stated on that day that they would never see their enemy again.
The feast of Unleavened Bread is what transpired during this whole exodus from Egypt. It was on the first day of Unleavened Bread that they left Egypt and it was on the 7th day of Unleavened Bread that they reached the Red Sea and witnessed their salvation and the destruction of their enemies. It was then that they saw the “salvation” of the LORD. Some of us think we have salvation now, but we don't. We are on a journey and we must complete the race, then will be lay up for us a crown if we hold fast until the end. Scripture bears out that He will be bringing salvation with Him when He returns.
In Exodus chapter 13 we read about the Feast of Unleavened Bread. In verse 6 it records that “for 7 days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast (chag) to the LORD.”
Now, after reading this verse carefully I discovered that only the 7th day was a feast, a celebration, a festival, a time of rejoicing. The fist 6 days denoted a very trying and difficult time as they were coming out of their exile, but it was on the 7th day their salvation came and they saw their enemies “no more forever”. I am looking forward to that day of celebration!
In the Apostle Paul's writings in I Corinthians 5:6-8, and 10:1-4, he makes reference back to the first exodus and the Feast of Unleavened Bread and uses this time of the year to encourage His readers to make themselves ready for the feast. Those who are not ready will not be making the exodus. He uses analogy of the first group who all went through the Red Sea and compares it to being baptized into Moses. We must be baptized into our Jewish Messiah Yeshua; not some Greek speaking, newly named, Torah bashing, Sunday Sabbath keeping, pig eating Jesus.
Currently we are in exile, Jesus is unveiling and revealing Himself to his brethren as the Jewish Messiah. Soon our servitude in this Egypt will intensify to the point that we will not want to stay here any longer and with one voice of unity we will begin to cry out Hoshia-na (please save us now). At that time the Almighty will hear our cry and will come down to rescue. He will send His Son, His only Son, The Unchanging One, The One who is the same yesterday, today and forever, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father,the Prince of Peace, The Wonderful, the Counselor, The Bright and Morning Star, the Savior of the world. At that time the whole world will mourn and see Him, not as the suffering servant Son of Joseph, but as the reigning King, Jewish heir of David. The one promised to Abraham. He will bring His children back to their homeland, Israel, where they will rule and reign with Him.
And the Torah shall go forth from the Holy Mountain and the whole world shall walk in it (Micah 4 and Isaiah chapter 2).
My friend, this is your heaven! If you do not see this as heaven – His identity hasn't been quite revealed to you yet and you don't quite no who you are yet either.
Pray, fast, and study His Word. We are in the eleventh hour!
Shalom,
Leisa
All scripture is from the NKJV unless otherwise noted