Following Jesus...Out of Christianity

Comment

Comment by Tom Moniz on December 12, 2009 at 8:26am

Excellent message.

Concerning who would you go listen to preach, Yehowshua or Paul? I find it interesting that Paul was of the tribe of Benyamin, the other son of Rachel. Long ago, Yoseph used Benyamin as a pawn to test their brothers loyalty to their father Yaqob. He was set up, Yoseph framed him for stealing his "cup". The evidence was clear, what other explanation could their have been? Benyamin stole Zaphnet Paneach's cup.

Later we see when the people ask for a king, YHWH gives them the king they desired. Who? Benyamin, Shaul, who's name just happens to be rooted in the same word as sheol in the Hebrew. He too was "set up" as a test to the peoples loyalty to Father. He was set up after the people rejected the sons of the prophet Shemuel, and Ephramite, the Yoseph figure, the son of Yoseph thru Ephraim.

And we see the same thing in the nt, the Yoseph figure is rejected, and the Benyamite, Shaul/Paul is set up as a test to our loyalty to Father.

Benyamin is NOT guilty of the crimes he is accused of though. Dawid didn't slay Shaul. This may very well be the thorn in Paul's side, that he knew he was being used, and what he was being used for, ie, to test the hearts of the children of Yishrael. I often wonder if Benyamin recognized Yoseph and went along with the test, for I find it hard to believe that Yoseph would frame him like that without him first knowing, but who can know for sure.

Remember, long ago, Yehudah stepped forward in the face of the clear evidence and defended Benyamin, offered himself in his stead, all for the sake of F/father, and not being willing to cause any more pain to H/him. There stood Yehudah, nearest of the brothers to Yoseph, and both of them standing for the same cause, upholding F/father's will. Yoseph in the adversarial position, and Yehudah in the defense.

The question for me is, what was going thru the minds of the rest of the brothers? They had been given freedom to leave, and the grain they needed, and not only that, they had ample opportunity to rid themselves of the other son of Rachel, for it was "obvious" that he had stolen the cup, and that would have been ample excuse for them to not bring Benyamin back to their father. Thank God Yehudah stepped forward.

I should also point out how when Yoseph sent them back after revealing his identity to them, he gave them all one "change" of clothes, but he gave Benyamin 5. You may also want to consider looking into the other siginficant Benyaminy who make up the 5, Ehud the man "shut of his right hand", with a double mouthed sword who thru deceit slays the king of Eglon. And the other 2, the John's, ie, Yonatan, the beloved diciple of Dawid who warned Dawid that Shaul was trying to kill him, and John, the beloved disciple of Yehowshua, who thru his letters warns us over and over again of the importance of keeping the commandments, the commandments which were from the beginning. This I believe is what is being referred to in Benyamin's blessing in Deuteronomy where it pictures the beloved of YHWH dwelling confidently between the shoulders of Benyamin, dwelling between Shaul and Yonatan.

Sincerely,
Tom