Amo 8:11 KJV Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: Gen 41:56-57 KJV And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. (57) And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands. Gen 42:1-8 KJV Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? (2) And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die. (3) And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. (4) But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him. (5) And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. (6) And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. (7) And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. (8) And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
Jesus was born in a manger, and the world today has been celebrating His birth.
I want to talk about how TRUTH is considered BREAD and FOOD.
The picture of a famine in the promised land speaks a message to us today about Christians and churches in a state of spiritual famine where the Word of God is lacking.
Joseph was prepared of God to be sold and imprisoned in Egypt in order for him to be the means of God saving Israel during this time of famine.
It was then that Gen 42 comes into play and Jacob sends his ten boys to Egypt for food, leaving Benjamin home with him lest he lose Benjamin as he did Joseph. Jacob had twelve sons who became heads of the twelve tribes of Israel, where the tribes were named after these sons.
There are some aspects to this entire story and situation that portray a message about Jesus Christ and SOME TRUTHS we need to know in order to cease struggling and gain strength to serve God properly, as Jacob's family required food in a time of famine. Joseph represents Jesus Christ, sold by his own people, the Jews, in His rejection and take to die.
And Benjamin was the youngest of the 12. Benjamin represents PAUL THE APOSTLE and HIS MESSAGE. Benjamin came LATER to see JOSEPH in Egypt, after the elder ten brothers went there previously to obtain food in a time of famine.
Rom 11:1 KJV I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. In fact, speaking about Jesus' resurrection, Paul said... 1Co 15:7-8 KJV After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. (8) And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. Not only did the apostles see Jesus physically resurrected, but Paul saw Him after He resurrected and ascended to glory!
Eph 1:18-20 KJV The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, This above sums up Paul's ministry and what he got in revelation beyond what the others received. But it was power of God towards us according to the degree of Power God raised up Christ and put him on the right hand! BENJAMIN means SON OF THE RIGHT HAND. When Benjamin was born, his mother was dying, so she named him SON OF SORROW.. BENONI. Gen 35:18-19 KJV And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. (19) And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. Born near Bethlehem at Ephrath, where Jesus was born, Rachel died and Benjamin was born.
Paul's whole ministry was one of turning sorrow over Christ's death to one of JOY since POWER OF GOD was accessed through this death! And so when Benjamin came LATER to see JOSEPH, during the time of famine, that Jacob's family might have food, we see a connection to the thought of Paul's ministry, coming after the rest of the apostles, to truly feed us great and profound truths of God's power towards us. And notice what Joseph did with Benjamin. First of all, the 10 went away from Joseph with sacks filled with money and food.
FIRST TRIP FROM EGYPT: Gen 42:25 KJV Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them. SECOND TRIP FROM EGYPT: Gen 43:34 KJV And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him. Gen 44:1-2 KJV And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth. (2) And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. Not only did Benjamin have FIVE TIMES AS MUCH as the others, but Joseph also put a SILVER CUP in THE "MOUTH" OF BENJAMIN's sack. Gen 44:12 KJV And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. THE metal SILVER was always used in connection with the thought of REDEMPTION since the time silver was required to REDEEM each person when a count was made in Israel.
And a CUP is very important in the gospel story. Before Jesus was taken to be crucified, He prayed.... Mat 26:39 KJV And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. THAT CUP was death.
And it was put into THE MOUTH of Benjamin's sack. Gen 44 (2) And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. PAUL'S MOUTH was filled with truth and so much revelation ABOUT THE FACT THAT JESUS DIED FOR US ALL.
2Co 5:14 KJV For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: Rom 6:6 KJV Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. And he stressed KNOWING THIS. In a famine of KNOWING and HEARING THE WORD, Paul's message shines like a bright, blazing torch!
Benjamin was always the smallest tribe of Israel. Psa 68:27 KJV There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali. And Paul always commented how he was least of all apostles. 1Co 15:9 KJV For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But he did far more due to more grace being upon him. 1Co 15:10 KJV But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Benjamin had FIVE TIMES MORE food than the rest of the brethren!
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