Traditions that replace factual events are deceiving. There was no drummer boy that played his drum for the baby Jesus and even the three wise men didn’t show up to bow down at the manger. However traditions have become so engrained in all of the trappings surrounding Christmas and the secular so intertwined with the religious that many people accept the traditions as truth.

“Yah, if you kept a record of sins, who, Adonai, could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that you will be feared. I wait longingly for Adonai; I put my hope in his word. Everything in me waits for Adonai more than guards on watch wait for morning, more than guards on watch wait for morning. Isra’el, put your hope in Adonai! For grace is found with Adonai, and with him is unlimited redemption. He will redeem Isra’el from all their wrongdoings.”
‭‭Tehillim (Psa)‬ ‭130‬:‭3‬-‭8‬ ‭CJB‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/1275/psa.130.3-8.CJB

SERIES B --- A CHOSEN PEOPLE --- LESSON 11

SOLD

STRANGE DREAMS AND A COLOURFUL COAT

From Genesis 37:2-36

When Joseph was seventeen, he often went out to the fields to help his brothers take care of the family’s sheep. His brothers were really half-brothers, for although they were all sons of Jacob, they had different mothers. They did not have a very good reputation and Joseph often told his father how they were hurting the family name. Like most fathers, Jacob loved all of his children. However, because Joseph had been born when Jacob was an old man, he had won his way into the old man’s heart. To show his special love for Joseph, Jacob gave him a beautiful coat with many colours in it. It was a coat that clearly set Joseph above his brothers and showed that he was his father’s favourite son. Joseph was hated by his brothers because he was the favourite son. They said unkind things to him every time they talked. The situation became worse when Joseph began telling his brothers about his dreams. These dreams put an even greater distance between Joseph and his brothers. [Let me tell you about my dream,] Joseph said to his brothers one day. [We were all out in the field, tying bundles of grain together. Suddenly, my bundle of grain stood up straight and tall. Then your bundles of grain gathered around and bowed down before it.] [Are you trying to tell us that you will be our ruler?] the brothers complained. Their hatred grew as they talked about this dream, for it was not proper for a younger brother to think of himself as being above his older brothers. But Joseph had another dream which involved his brothers. He couldn’t keep it to himself, so he told his brothers about it. [Listen to this dream!] Joseph said to them. [The sun and moon and eleven stars bowed down before me.] The brothers, of course, knew what that meant, for there were eleven of them. When Joseph told his father about the dream, his father knew what it meant, too, and began to scold Joseph for thinking such things. [Are you saying that your mother and I and your brothers will all bow down before you?] he asked. Among Joseph’s people, mothers and fathers and older brothers did not do that kind of thing. The relationship between Joseph and his brothers grew worse each day. But Jacob was wise enough to wonder about the dreams and what they might be saying about the future. About that time, Joseph’s brothers took the family sheep to some new pastures near Shechem. Before long, Jacob talked to Joseph about going up to see them. [Why don’t you go to Shechem and see how things are with your brothers and the sheep?] Jacob said. [When you come home, you can tell me what you have found.] Joseph agreed to go, for he was always anxious to please his father. Leaving his home at Hebron, he went sixty miles to the north, to Shechem, to find his brothers. When he arrived, he wandered about the fields, looking for them. Finally, a strange man noticed him. [Who are you looking for?] the man asked. [For my brothers!] Joseph answered. [They are taking care of our sheep. Can you tell me where they are?] [They have already left here,] the man said. [I heard them say that they were going to Dothan.] Then Joseph left Shechem and went another fifteen or twenty miles farther to Dothan. As he approached his brothers, they saw him coming and knew that it was Joseph. Their hatred flared so intensely that they began to make plans to kill him. [Here comes the lord of Dreams!] they mocked. [This time we’ll kill him and throw him into an old well. When father asks what happened, we will say that a wild animal ate him. That will take care of his wild dreams!] But Reuben didn’t want to go home with such a story because he was the oldest of the brothers and therefore had the greatest responsibility for Joseph. [We must not kill him,] said Reuben. [At least, we should not do it ourselves. Why don’t we throw him into this old well where he will starve to death? That would be better than murdering him, wouldn’t it?] The other brothers didn’t know that Reuben hoped to come back later and take Joseph from the well, so they decided to follow his plan. When Joseph arrived, they tore off his coat of many colours and threw him into the old well, which was empty at that time. While Joseph sat alone and hungry in the old well, his brothers gathered together to eat their supper. Before long, they noticed a camel caravan coming from Gilead and recognized the men as Ishmaelite traders, taking gum, balm, and spices to Egypt. [Why should we kill Joseph when we can sell him? Judah said to his brothers. By doing that we won’t have to commit murder and live with guilty consciences.] This seemed like such a good idea that the other brothers agreed to it. They pulled Joseph from the old well and sold him to the traders for twenty pieces of silver. Since Reuben was not there at the time, the nine brothers shared the twenty pieces of silver, which had been paid for their young brother Joseph. Later, Reuben slipped back to the old well to pull Joseph out and send him home. When he saw that Joseph was gone, he was so upset that he began to tear his clothes. [Joseph is gone!] he moaned to his brothers. [What shall I tell our father?] When the other brothers explained what had happened, they decided on a plan. They would kill a goat, splash some of its blood on Joseph’s coat and take the coat to their father. They carried out that plan before they returned home to Jacob. [Look what we found,] they said. [Do you think this is Joseph’s coat?] They knew that it was, and so did Jacob. [Some wild animal has eaten him,] Jacob cried out. [He must have been torn into pieces.] Jacob tore his clothes to show how sad he was. He put on rough cloth and began to mourn for Joseph, beginning a time of sadness that would last for weeks. Jacob’s family tried many ways to help him feel better, but they could not console him. [I will continue to mourn for Joseph all of my life,] Jacob answered, crying like a boy.

COMMENTARY

CARAVANS IN BIBLE TIMES

The story of Israel’s family now focuses on one son, Joseph. Joseph was his father’s favourite. But his brothers were jealous. They hated him doubly for his prophecies about a time when he would rule over them. When an opportunity came, the brothers sold Joseph into slavery. They watched as the camel caravan carrying him away disappeared over the horizon on its way to Egypt. Travel was dangerous in Bible times. Roads were unmarked, sometimes muddy, usually dusty and rock-filled, and often plagued by robbers or wild animals. Travel by night was unthinkable because of the extra danger. Travel alone was extremely hazardous, for the lone traveller was certainly outnumbered by even the smallest band of robbers or animals. Because of this, people travelled together in caravans whenever possible. The poor walked or used donkeys, which were sure-footed and dependable. Merchants and the wealthy rode on camels or used them to carry their goods. Camels could go long distances without rest or water. A large caravan might number as many as three thousand people or animals. As it progressed on the trip, some left while others joined it. Along the way, there were inns where travellers could stop for the night, refresh themselves and their animals, and share the protection that a group could give. Inns were nothing like modern motels. There was no comfortable bed, no private room, no running water, and no restaurant. Sometimes there was no building, only a place for travellers to gather for protection. Travelling caravans not only gave protection for those in a village who wished to go with them, but also brought supplies and news from faraway places. No wonder villages welcomed the caravans!

Thought for Today: Thursday December 15:

In all things today, may Yeshua be the strength of your heart, the centre of your life, the guide during today and your future, the joy of your soul. May Adonai fill you with confidence today and may you realize that you are valuable and you are blessed.

I just updated our page. Evangelist Moon Gulzar Please see if you can post from our page when you get available.
Shalom all.

I have been debating the Sabbath on discord and spent 13+ hours studying for my first rebuttal. It is 15+ pages and rather interconnected with everything. I will see about posting it online soon. I am planning to take the debate to a voice debate on discord Saturday. We will see.

NEW VIDEO UP NOW! Watch our latest short video entitled, “Better Covenant Better Promises”, on our YouTube channel and leave us a like if you enjoy these short videos! Check it out.

I am exploring the possibility that the Trinity doctrine might be false and perhaps Unitarianism might be true. Biblical Unitarianism believes that Yah the Father is God. Yeshua is the Son of God, but still a human being, and that the Holy Sprit is either another name for Yah the father or his power (depending on the context). Again, I am still exploring this and have not yet made a final decision. What do the rest of you say?

[A young man passes] in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness. And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.
#proverbs 7:9-10

Why does he keep passing by her corner at all hours of darkness? Why is she out at night dressed provocatively? Both of these people seem to be looking for trouble. It's hard enough to avoid trouble when you aren't looking for it.