Palestinian rioters torch Jewish holy site Joseph's Tomb [Messiah Ben Joseph]

Palestinians have torched a Jewish holy site in the West Bank city of Nablus, amid soaring tensions with Israel. Rioters set fire to a tomb revered as that of the biblical figure Joseph. The site, where Jews go to pray, was badly damaged. It came hours after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu called on the Palestinian leadership to stop a wave of attacks. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas condemned the arson and said the site would be repaired. Elsewhere in the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian disguised as a news photographer stabbed and moderately wounded an Israeli soldier, the Israeli military said.

It said the Palestinian attacker was shot dead in the incident in the Jewish settlement of Kiryat Arba, next to Hebron. Violence between the two sides has spiralled, with near-daily stabbings by Palestinians of Israelis this month. Seven Israelis have been killed and dozens wounded in the stabbings and some gun attacks. At least 30 Palestinians, including several of the attackers, have been killed in the growing unrest. The upsurge began last month when tensions at a flashpoint holy site in Jerusalem revered by Jews and Muslims boiled over amid rumours Israel planned to relax long-standing rules to increase Jewish rights at the complex. Israel has repeatedly denied such claims...

It is no secret that Arab Muslims are determined to destroy all factual evidence regarding ancient Israel and Jewish ownership of the land of Israel. But is there something more behind their particular hatred of Joseph's tomb? I would argue yes! The many attempts to destroy this tomb show that their determination is out of the ordinary. Why is there extraordinary hatred of Joseph's tomb by Muslims? Joseph, perhaps more than anyone in the Bible was a type or foreshadow of the Messiah is Israel, Jesus Christ. It is the Jewish Messiah who is like Joseph that will return to harshly judge the Islamic world for their everlasting hatred.

Isaiah 53 is a very well known prophetic passage about the Messiah. Even Jewish Rabbis before the time of Jesus said that this passage was Messianic. What does it teach concerning the Messiah? It shows that the Messiah would actually be rejected and suffer! But not for Himself… the punishment that servant Messiah would take upon Himself would bring us peace and healing, like Joseph.

Regarding the many seemingly contradictory verses regarding the Messiah, with some showing His righteous rule and reign and others showing his death, the Rabbis said there must be a double Messiah. A Messiah like David and a Messiah like Joseph. What they did not realize is that there was only one Messiah, but there would be two comings! Looking briefly at the life of Joseph we find the following pictures of Jesus in his life:

1. Joseph, like Jesus, was his father’s beloved son.
2. Joseph was despised by his brothers.
3. Joseph was betrayed for silver coins after his brethren plotted, betrayed and sold him.
4. Joseph was falsely accused and imprisoned.
5. Joseph was imprisoned with two criminals; one lives, one dies! Likewise Jesus was crucified with two criminals – one who found spiritual life and one didn’t.
6. Joseph was then exalted to the right hand of Pharaoh, authority given to Him over all Egypt. Likewise, Jesus was exalted to the right hand of the Father and given all authority.
7. Joseph then took a gentile bride. Like Jesus took a bride (spiritually) for Himself predominantly from the gentile nations.
8. Later, during 7 years of hard famine, Joseph’s brothers were forced to come to him. In the future, there is still seven years of hardship (called the day of Jacob’s trouble) that Israel as a nation will have to go through. They will at this stage be brought to the place where they will acknowledge Jesus!
9. At first they don’t recognise Joseph, and he treats them harshly to bring repentance.
10. Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and they are reconciled amongst many tears. Likewise, there shall be great weeping once Israel finally acknowledges their Messiah Jesus. See Zech 12:10-11.
11. Joseph treats his brothers with kindness saying ‘What you meant for evil, God meant for good, to accomplish… the saving of many lives.’ What a great picture of Jesus!

Isaiah 53 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed…

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