Shalom Friends,
A friend of mine, Sandy Bloomfield, wrote to me and asked about some verses that a friend of hers had asked her about. The verses were Genesis 37: 14-17:

When Joseph arrived at Shechem, a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, ‘What are you looking for?’ He replied, ‘I’m looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are grazing their flocks?’ ‘They have moved on from here,’ the man answered. ‘I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’ So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan.

The questions from Sandy’s friend that followed were, “What does this mean? Why not just say, ‘Joe headed for Shechem but found his brothers in Dothan.’ Why the wandering in the field? Why the looking for his brothers? Why the man finding him?”

The verses and questions intrigued me, so I did a search on Google and came up with several teachings on the subject, from both Judah and Ephraim. The story seems to be much like the Parable of the Prodigal, with people finding many different meanings in the text.

Interesting points were brought out by various authors. For example, Joseph went from Hebron to Shechem to Dothan. Meaning, he went from a place of fellowship; to a shoulder where burdens are carried; to a place of deep pits (wells).

Also, Joseph was a shepherd who sought his brothers, but his own received him not. They even sold him for “twenty pieces of silver.”

Rabbi Marc Gellman, in a sermon titled “What Are You Looking For?,” suggested Jacob sent Joseph to find his brothers so Joseph “could reconcile with his brothers.” Reconciliation was necessary because they were jealous of the lavish gifts and special treatment Jacob gave to Joseph, and they were jealous of Joseph’s dreams, which spoke volumes about his anointing.

Gellman suggested the man was an angel, a messenger of the Holy One, and that Joseph was being asked by him, a two word question: “Ma t’vakesh,” or, “What are you seeking?” Restated, the question might be taken to mean, “Why are you wandering around here?” Or, “Where are you in your heart?”

When Joseph went to find his brothers, as his father had asked him to do, he was wearing his famous coat, and when his brothers saw him, they were again filled with anger at him. Joseph’s earlier dreams had spoken of him ruling over them, and sharing the thought infuriated his siblings. The very idea that the eleventh-born son would one day rule over the tribes of Israel made them exceedingly angry. And ultimately, they threw Joseph in a pit and sold him to some Ishmaelite traders who were on their way to Egypt.

The many things I read about Joseph, along with meditating on some things I had written in my book, led me to write the essentially the following response to my friend. I would now like to share these things with you. 

One thing that is interesting about Joseph’s coat is that the word for “colors” is the Hebrew “pac” and can mean the palm of the hand or sole of the foot. Thus, I think Joseph’s coat was in various skin tones and spoke of his mantle to be a father of many nations—which is the essence of the blessing given to Abraham. The coat was a reminder that Joseph was the chosen heir, which gave rise to jealousy among brothers.

The brothers were angry because they thought Joseph was going to “rule” over them.

That is the essence of the problem we see today with Ephraim and Judah: those with wrong hearts want to know who is “going to rule.”

Perhaps the man asking Joseph the question can be likened to Messiah asking us where we are in our hearts. If our attitude is that we are going to rule, then we need to go to the pit. If we are jealous of that position, because we want to be the one who rules, we are headed for a betrayal of the shepherd sent to us by our father. For, the call to be the heir of Israel is one of servanthood. Israel is a called to serve. “You are my Servant, Israel…” (Isa 49:3).

One of the chapters in my new book is called “Jacob Knew…”

I think Jacob well understood the servanthood principle concerning being Israel, which is why he divided his blessing the way he did. Only when the bothers learn to serve one another will they be able to become Israel, the powerful prince who rules with the Almighty.

Until we know that truth, we are but wanderers on the way to a pit…

Until we embrace that truth, we are but brothers who seek to betray our brother, because our hearts are wrong and we want a position of authority.

With all my heart I believe that our Heavenly Father wants to raise up a Joseph company in this hour, and He wants us to find, and be reconciled with, our brothers. He wants all Israel to become one stick in His hand in this hour. However, He also is going to insist on a great change in those whom He has appointed to be His heirs. He will only allow us to serve him, if we learn to be a humble people who serve one another.

As for those who are jealous and want to rule over their brothers, Messiah Yeshua warned His followers, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all” (Mark 10:42-44).

To seek to rule over a brother is the work of a Gentile, it is the misguided effort of a heathen heart. Israel does not seek to rule over a brother, but instead seeks to serve his brother.

There is an old Spiritual hymn that I sometimes like to sing to myself, but with a bit of a Messianic twist. It goes like this: 

We are climbing Jacob’s ladder

We are climbing Jacob’s ladder

We are climbing Jacob’s ladder

Drawing closer to Yah... 

In this hour we are being called to “Come up Higher.” Abba is encouraging us to climb Jacob’s ladder of faith, that we might draw closer to Him, and even become more like our refined elderly forefather, Jacob/Israel. Abba wants this because Jacob knew and understood that, to be “Israel,” one must be conformed to the image of the Messiah, and He came as a Servant.

My prayer is that all who battle for rights to the title of Israel would understand the true meaning of the name, and would even walk in its call. May we become brothers who celebrate our differences and delight in our sameness. May we all become brothers who serve the Father, and one another.

Shabbat Blessings to You and Yours,

Batya