This week's Torah portion Vayeshev begins with the story of Joseph. This beloved son of his father Jacob was betrayed by his brothers, sold to non-Jews, and became the second most powerful ruler in Egypt. Eventually, he reveals himself to his brothers, and he and his family are reunited amid great joy and tears. This is a beautiful foreshadowing of the Messiah Jesus and His Jewish family today.
Lord Jesus, we thank You that even though You are the King of the Jews, You died to unite Jews and non-Jews in Your eternal kingdom
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Eph 2:14
Messiah, we praise You that we hear of the exponential growth of Your kingdom in so many parts of the world and for the multitude of Jews who are being grafted back into their own tree
And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for G-d is able to graft them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? Rom 11:23-24
‘Rabbi, thou art the Son of G-d; thou art the King of Israel.’ (John 1:49b) Amen!
Abba, even though it is still a mystery to us, we thank You that You have blinded the eyes of Your people in Your sovereignty so that the Gentiles might be saved
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed G-d, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For G-d hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. Rom 11:25-32
Thank you, G-d, for your faithfulness to Israel and to us
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lam 3:22-23
G-d is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Cor 1:9