He Approached

Torah Portion: Genesis 44:18-47:27

Vayigash (“He Approached”) is the title the Rabbis have given to this Torah portion or Parashat. This word means, “He approached” and has great significance on many levels. Let us approach this section together? It is strongly recommended that each of us read this section today. A little historical context…

This section of Genesis occurred during what we call the “Patriarchal period”. Around and about 2,000 B.C.. Approximately 4,000 years before today. This story records interactions between Hebrews from Canaan, living on the continent of Asia, and Egypt located at the tip of the African continent. The land of Canaan still hosts Israel due to the miracle of their return and settling once again the land. The distance of this journey, from Israel to Egypt, by travel standards even today is quite far. Where Israel had settled to Egypt was about 605 miles! That’s a long and dangerous trip riding donkeys and camels.

Judah approached Joseph, the brother he sold to slavers because Israel, his father, sent the brothers to Egypt, as there was need for provision and the land of Canaan could not supply it. A famine was sweeping the entire Ancient Near East. The people were under duress but Joseph, through the strength God provided him in the form of visions and dreams caused Pharoah to prepare for the famine. Pharoah in return placed Joseph second in line, only Pharoah was above him.

Joseph approached Judah and his brothers knowing what they had done to him. He did not reveal who he was to them but instead searched for his brother, from his mother, and did not find him with the ten brothers. Instead of reveal himself Joseph deceived Judah, Reuben, Issachar, Gad, Asher, Dan, Naphtali, Zebulun, Levi, and Simeon. He accused them of being spies. If they were to clear their names they must corroborate the story they told; that they had another brother in Canaan, by making this brother appear before Joseph, in Egypt. Benjamin did appear before Joseph with the ten other brothers. The famine was terrible in Canaan and Egypt had the only food in all of the region.

Israel approached his sons to get food and secure the family from certain death in the only way he knew how. Buy food from Egypt. He did not want to send his sons on that dangerous journey and when Judah explained that Benjamin must go on the second trip, Israel felt as if he was approaching death.

Benjamin approached Joseph in Egypt. He and his brothers were apprehensive but struggling due to famine. They were forced to make a difficult trip. They were forced to interact with Joseph again, who believed they were spies, and Benjamin was to be the focal point of Joseph’s investigation and indeed yet another deception. Benjamin approached his own demise had Joseph not been his brother that loved him!

The Most High God approached Joseph in the midst of his struggle having been betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused of trying to rape his Egyptian masters wife, thrown into prison, and through all of this found himself in a place to make a difference for the family who sought to destroy him. The Lord God also approached the family of Jacob humbling them to seek help from Egypt or die. He greatly humbled the men who were jealous of the love Israel had for Joseph and for Joseph’s vision that they were serve him. God humbled these betrayers and caused them to serve Joseph. The Lord of Heaven approached men and caused His purpose to stand in their lives. God approached his people as a faithful covenant keeper and caused them to prosper by intervening in history before they knew it would be history.

This Torah portion ends with the entire family of Joseph, all 11 brothers, his father, all of their wives and belongings; as well as the livestock they had acquired settled in a suitable land for their livestock. A land known to the Egyptians as “Goshen”. Through their reconciliation, after and because Joseph revealed himself to them; and because God had done such an amazing work prior to the famine to save Israel from the famine and bring them to this fruitful land… Israel as a nation, at this point known as the “Hebrews” approached the place they would live for 430 years!