Daily Devotionals

At last Yosef could no longer control his feelings in front of his attendants and cried, "Get everybody away from me!" So no one else was with him when Yosef revealed to his brothers who he was (Genesis 45:1).

There are many parallels between the lives of Yosef (Joseph) and Yeshua. However, there is one area that many tend to overlook. It is the story of Yosef's relationship with his brothers, who symbolize the Jewish people.

In the above passage, Yosef becomes emotionally moved when his brothers—those who despised him and sold him into slavery—are brought before him. It is clear that Yosef still loves them.

Yeshua loves all the peoples of the earth. He has provided a way for every nation to come to him. Yet, we can see from the climax of Yosef 's story a parallel in Yeshua, whose heart longs for his own brothers—the house of Israel. There will be no one else involved when Yeshua finally reveals himself to them. Zechariah says that when Israel sees Yeshua, they will "weep" and "grieve bitterly" because of their role in his death (12:10-11). But today's passage in Genesis shows us yet another parallel in Yeshua's life: Yeshua will gladly forgive Israel and weep for joy at their repentance.

...set my heart to long for that which Yeshua longs for— the day when he reveals himself to his own brothers.

MM