The Benjamin Bridge

This week's Torah portion is a powerful part of Joseph's story: the time he finally reveals himself to his 11 brothers, who have come from Canaan to Egypt to buy grain. The part of this story that personally touches me so deeply is Genesis 44:25-26, 34. Judah steps up to Joseph, who is now ruler over Egypt, second in command to Pharaoh, and gives an impassioned plea on behalf of the youngest brother, Benjamin. His plea stirs my heart because it is prophetic of the restoration of all Israel - all 12 tribes - and it should be the passionate prayer of all our hearts in this hour.

Going back in the story we recall the time when the brothers sold Joseph into slavery, and then tore his multi-colored coat into pieces so it would look as if a wild animal had killed him. The torn coat was prophetic of the separation of Israel into two kingdoms: Ephraim (grandson of Joseph, representing those dispersed into the nations), and Judah (representing the Jewish people who kept their faith and returned to the Land). When Joseph coerces the brothers into leaving little Benjamin behind when they go back to their father Jacob, Judah gives this plea: "So now if the boy (Benjamin) is not with us when I go back to your servant, my father, and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy's life, sees that the boy isn't there, he will die. Your servants will bring the gray head of our father down to the grave in sorrow. How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? "

Can you see the glorious parallel for our time? There are several ways to see it that all mean the same thing. The Church cannot expect to replace Israel and enter the Kingdom of God if the Jewish people (the boy) are excluded! We cannot go back to the Father, to a restored Israel, without them! In other words, the restoration of all Israel cannot and will never happen until both Ephraim (Joseph) and Judah (Benjamin) are brought together - representing all 12 tribes. Jacob, the father of these 12 sons, represents Yahweh the Father in this story -- and the Father's heart for little Benjamin - even the tiny nation of Israel and all her scattered ones - is evident!

It becomes personal for me also because while I was in Jerusalem a woman unknown to me at the time prophesied over me and said, "You are of the tribe of Benjamin!" It lit such a fire in my spirit that I began to pray and ask the Ruach for clues that would validate this prophecy. I knew my maternal grandmother's name was Zeba, though I had never met her. She died shortly after giving birth to my mother. So when I learned that the word zeba (pronounced zeva in Hebrew) actually means wolf, my heart leapt! Upon the banner of the tribe of Benjamin is a wolf!

The above story from Genesis also shows Benjamin to actually be a bridge (or liason) between the "ten lost tribes" of Israel (Ephraim) and the Jewish people (Judah). Benjamin, the youngest, was loved by all his brothers, and in this story he actually served to bring them together. If I truly am descended from the line of Benjamin (and I have no proof!) then it does explain to me the great passion I carry within my spirit to be a bridge between the two in our own day. My passion is to call the Church back to her Hebrew roots, forsaking the doctrines of men and the idolatry of mixing the holy with the profane, that we might be truly grafted in to the olive tree of Israel, and help our brother Judah to be re-grafted in through acceptance of their Messiah. After all, the apostle Shaul (Paul) says, "what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?" (Romans 11:15)

How can we go back to the Father if the boy (Benjamin) is not with us? Our Father's life is closely bound up with the boy's life! (Genesis 44:30)