We all know the story of Joseph, the things he went thru and where he ended up; but there is so much more in the story when you do more digging. Lots of pastors and teachers will teach or preach on when you have a dream it may not happen right away, you have to go thru things to test your faith in the word you have received. They may even teach on unfairness of life, but do not fear, your day is coming.
I was told to look at something different. What do the names of Israel’s (Jacob’s) sons mean in relationship to this story? I won’t spend anytime on how Joseph ended up in charge, but starting where his brothers came to see him, not knowing it was him, and ask for food. Joseph sent them back after drilling them about their family to go and bring Benjamin the youngest back to him, and kept Simeon as a “good faith”gesture they would return. When you begin to look at the meaning of the names of the brothers, this is what I found. Simeon actually means “hearing” or “to hear”. So when Joseph kept Simeon, he actually kept his family’s ability to “hear”.
When his brothers arrived back to their father’s home and told him what happen, be became quite upset at them for leaving their brother behind. “You have bereaved me of my children: Increase (Joseph) is no more, my hearing has been taken from me (Simeon), and now you want to take my next-generation authority (Benjamin) away as well. All of these things are against me.” Genesis 42: 36.
In the beginning of the next chapter, the Praise (Judah) speaks up and says Hey, we need to do it Increase’s way or its not going to get done. So they talk Israel into letting them take the Authority with them.
Increase ( Joseph) is related to you and will be there waiting in the place where your Praise and your Authority take you. They thought they had lost their increase. They had a baby increase, a toddler increase, but didn’t think they needed that teenage increase so they got rid of it. They had no idea this adult increase was still on their side and still in the family. They hadn’t seen it in so long, they didn’t recognize it. It had gone thru a lot since the last time they saw it.
Increase forced Praise to bring the Authority in order for them to see Increase, get their Hearing back, and live in prosperity the rest of their lives. According to Genesis 43:33, When it gets together, Increase puts things in order and makes sure the Authority has plenty of fuel to keep going.
Follow your praise today. Let your praise led you and it will lead you right to your Increase.
Loved this and this is good stuff!!