12 24 25 – Bloodied and Torn Garments

If you're like me, you have all kinds of "why" questions in life. Why did this have to happen this way? Why did they say that? Why wouldn't they do this? Why couldn't they call? Why didn't they come? Why didn't they care? Why aren't they here? Why? Why? Why? The story of Joseph is filled with "why" questions that we often overlook. However, if we stop to look at some of them a little closer, we may find answers to many of our life's "why" questions—seeing that the Torah was designed to guide our lives!

Have you ever had a situation that looked completely hopeless, but in the back of your mind you always had this small glimmer of hope, and in time, it all worked out? Or are you in one of those situations now, but in the back of your mind still hoping and waiting for it all to work out, and you refuse to give up hope?

After Judah shows Jacob Joseph's torn and bloodied coat, we see something very strange that may match our "hope" scenarios. Let's examine it with a "why" question that will unlock this week's Torah portion, Vayigash ("and he drew near").

Why did Jacob refuse to be comforted when he heard about the loss of Joseph (Gen. 37:33–35)? When we lose something in life, there is always a grieving period. Scripturally, we see seven- and thirty-day periods of grieving, as well as one year. But eventually grieving comes to an end—or it should. However, it does not come to an end with someone who is MIA (missing in action). When you do not know what is really going on, your heart always mourns the loss even to your grave.

Many of you know that Scripture uses the physical to teach us the spiritual (1 Cor. 15:46). An example of this is when Scripture relates the donkey, ox, sheep, and camel to mankind. Exodus 22:10–13 tells us that if the animal of an owner is torn to pieces, let him be shown the evidence, and restitution for the loss of that animal does not have to take place by the caretaker.

Judah has brought back Joseph's coat of many colors, torn and dipped in blood. Jacob has the physical evidence of his "lost animal" and concludes that it has been "torn to pieces" by a wild beast. The brothers, who were supposed to be "his keeper," with the evidence in hand, are now externally exempt from having to pay restitution for the loss of their father's possession.

From the beginning, God has laid out a plan for us that we are supposed to be our brother's keeper (Gen. 4:9). What was supposed to be from the beginning, and what is, are sometimes different realities. Although Jacob was "forced" to acquit the brothers of any wrongdoing from the evidence given, it is obvious that he did not believe Joseph was dead by his refusal to be comforted.

Even though Jacob knew this "brother's keeper" instruction, he went beyond what was required while he was watching over Laban's flock. For twenty years, he was devoted to watching and guarding the flock, and if any animal was torn apart, Jacob paid for it personally at his own expense (Gen. 31:38–40). Jacob went above and beyond what was required and kept his brother Laban protected.

Jacob's unending mourning gives us that wonderfully miserable feeling of hope that his son was still alive. Similarly, the prophet Jeremiah testifies that Rachel, even after her death, refuses to be comforted for her children because she knows that they are still alive, waiting for the day when they will be regathered again as one family under one Shepherd (Jer. 31:15).

Rachel, the shepherdess, refuses to be comforted because she does not believe the "torn apart" evidence. The wild, red beast of the boys' flesh may have torn Joseph away, but she knows the children are still alive, and she cannot stop mourning, prophetically, until they are back together again.

Sometimes the gut feeling you have is stronger than the evidence. Don't give up hope! There are many details we are not discussing here, but Jacob's spiritual insight (Gen. 42:1) and his gift to the "savior of the world" (Gen. 43:11–13) are a pretty good indicator that he did not fully believe the "torn to pieces" garment of Joseph. Jacob's intuition came true (Gen. 45:26). His weeping stopped! Rachel is still weeping, and she is waiting for the whole family to come back together again under one Shepherd (Jer. 31; Rom. 11:13–32).

The story of Joseph gives us an incredible pattern that is repeated throughout history, and it still awaits its ultimate fulfillment. Between now and then, we have an option to be the best "brother's keeper" we can be and have fewer torn and bloodied garments to deal with—always anticipating the unification of what God has scattered across the world (Deut. 30).

Shalom!
Alan

Enjoy family!

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