Chapter 12 of THE JOSEPH ANOINTING [Transforming Jacob to Israel in You]

Chapter 12

The Power of Praise

W

e must never underestimate [or cease in learning] the power of praise. As long as we live, we must allow the Lord to perfect this in us. It is what we were created to do; for our lives to be a praise and worship song to God. Everything we do, whether in common sense, ordinary, or spectacular, our lives are to give glory to God.

Gen. 29v35: “And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she said now I will praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.”

Leah’s first three sons were named and birthed to please Jacob. We feel that if we first try hard enough, study hard enough, behave better, prophesy more, etc., people will accept and love us more. But like Leah, there’s that moment of reckoning where we realize our lives are praise dance for an audience of ONE: THE GREAT I AM, ELOHIM, and God ALMIGHTY.

Leah birthed [and blessed] her fourth son from a place of praise, and called him Judah, because she finally realized no matter how mistreated she was her true happiness came from the Lord, the real object of her affection. Praise changed her life. It changed her mind set and the atmosphere in her home. Leah (who was not a beautiful as her sister Rachel) represents the areas we have that are not as desirable as the Rachel (gifts, splendor) in us; they are those areas we want to hide and we are ashamed of. Leah is trapped in a vicious triangle of injustice: her father’s treachery, her husband’s unkindness and her sister’s mockery. The voice of her pain is silenced by her insecurities of insignificance, being undesirable, and the lack of options. The Leah in us has a silent scream that no one hears but the Lord. So he gives her the opportunity to speak by allowing her to birth out what is in her. She begins to speak with the hopes to be desired by her husband but soon learns her voice was made to glorify God and names her son Judah. May you discover the same purpose for the voice of your life! 

Golden Nugget: Rejection is my friend ~ Thank you rejection for teaching me true worship. I birthed for people what I thought would make me acceptable to them but you have taught me to birth fruit for an audience of one. The ONE who has already accepted me!!!

1 Chronicles 5v2: For Judah prevailed above his brethren and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s.

Genesis 49v8-12: Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise;
Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father’s children shall bow down before you.⁹ Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?¹⁰ The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
¹¹ Binding his donkey to the vine, And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine,
He washed his garments in wine, And his clothes in the blood of grapes.
¹² His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.

In this chapter, we look further at the maturity and character development of Judah and why he was raised up as the leader of his brothers. We first hear him speaking in Genesis 39 when he saves Joseph from being killed by his brothers and ten chapters later (over 20 years later) he is given the title as the first born of Israel. While Joseph was being perfected in Egypt, Judah was maturing in Canaan. As I mentioned earlier, it’s not only about your dream coming to pass, it’s about your whole being (Israel) maturing to be sustained by your dream. Trust that your dream is not forgotten but rather regard its silence as the season your spirit man/praise is developing into the leader it is. When the armies of the Lord were sent out to battle Judah was always first in line (then Issachar and Zebulan) because praise is powerful, chain breaking, wall crushing and atmosphere changing. Your vision is tarrying to strengthen the ultimate warrior in you.

Golden Nugget: The Power of  Worship ~ The SHOUT of praise at Jericho was the first war the children of Israel won in the promised to show them that praise is their greatest weapon and a first fruit offering to the Lord!!!

Let’s pick up the story at Genesis 43 where Jacob is unmovable on his decision to release Benjamin to his brothers at the governor’s (Joseph’s) request, as incentive for Simeon to be released.  The famine had gotten worse and the corn from Egypt from the previous trip ran out and Jacob is in conversation with his sons about returning to Egypt for more food.  But the terms for more still stood, Benjamin had to accompany his brothers. Mourning the loss of Joseph and imprisonment of Simeon, Jacob was understandably struggling with the conditions. Reuben, as I further explain in Chapter 15, is proving himself to be a dysfunctional leader with his poor reasoning and lack of foresight to their future. In Gen. 42v37-38, he offers the lives of his sons if he is unable to return with Benjamin. Jacob denies this offer for three reasons;

1.       The word of a leader, who is willing to destroy today what is meant for the future (his two sons) over food, is not to be trusted. Jacob saw Esau in his son. Esau lost his birthright over a bowl of soup and his son was heading down the same path.

2.       Jacob had suffered enough loss over the years. Those dear to him had died or been taken away and the thought of losing another child, disheartened him.

3.       The word of a leader, who doesn’t sympathize with people, is not to be trusted. Wisdom teaches when to speak, act or wait. Reuben is unable to see the pain his father is in even after all these years all because he has a hunger to satisfy. Love is patient. It knows when to act. Judah knew this and waited for the right moment to plead with his father.

So we now see a matured Judah able to respectfully reason with their father over the releasing of Benjamin to them. This conversation is night and day in respect to Reuben and Jacob’s. Here are some of the differences that qualify Judah to receive the title leader over his brothers:

a.       Unlike Reuben, Judah pleads with his father to put the fault on him if Benjamin doesn’t return. He didn’t offer his future (his children) as a ransom but offered his own life. Sound familiar? Jesus laid down for us so we can have salvation today.

b.       Colossians 4:6 ~ Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how you ought to answer every man. A leader that belittles and talks down to people is an inadequate one. Your tongue carries life and death: like Judah season your speech with grace to obtain favor with man.

c.        Praise is a strategic weapon. It knows how to strike and when. Reuben’s timing to speak to his father was a grave oversight. But Judah who waited on the leading of the Lord knew exactly when to reason with his father. Praise will accomplish what other things can’t. Live a praise-filled life. In that place God reveals strategy and answers to road blocks you can’t get past.

d.       Judah is requesting the release of Benjamin not for a personal need but for the sake of survival for Jacob’s household. A mature praiser honors leadership and looks out for the well-being of others by requesting the impossible for their benefit. A mature praiser is a prophetic intercessor, who pleads to God on behalf of others, for their success, health and prosperity. But mainly pleads to God for others so that GOD is glorified. (As Moses pleaded to God for the sake of HIS name).

Judah’s words are heard and Jacob permits Benjamin to travel with his other sons to Egypt. That’s the power of praise. In due season it releases the impossible. Jacobs equips his sons with the best fruits in the land to purchase more corn; a little balm (healing), a little honey (health), spices (flavor), myrrh (humility), nuts and almonds and double the money to buy new corn and pay for the first round that was given for free. Praise releases heaven to fund the mission you are embarking. There is provision for the mission!

How powerful that Judah (praise) was able to take Benjamin (your victorious nature, your faith) with him to Egypt. I could write a whole separate book on the revelation flowing from that gesture, My God of Zion!!! Benjamin (your faith, will power and the power of your name) gave those men access to a place they had never been to before: Joseph’s house. The Benjamin in you will grant you access to places you could never enter before. Just like Esther (a daughter of the tribe of Benjamin) found favor in the sight of the king and he extended his scepter to grant her access into his presence, when all had been previously denied. When God makes your name great, He will use YOUR NAME BENJAMIN to open doors [to the house of the governor] that you had no access to earlier. Benjamin means son of my strength or son of my right hand. The right hand is seen to possess power, influence, and strength in many cultures.  Benjamin carried with him the anointing of strength and power (the anointing of grace), that seizes an opportunity and wins. Benjamin hand in hand with Judah (who is also meekness) has a powerful quiet influence that always produces victory without saying a word. His presence alone speaks volumes, and was enough to release Simeon from prison. Reuben is the beginning of Jacob’s strength and Benjamin is, as the last born, represents his new strength. Do now you see more of who you are on the inside? This is who you are!!!

The story continues with Joseph testing his brothers by framing Benjamin as having stolen his golden goblet, with the punishment that the 10 were to go free and Benjamin would remain as a slave to Joseph. Again Judah (not Reuben) protests and pleaded for Joseph to keep them all. Joseph would not accept and demanded Benjamin be enslaved. But Judah proceeded to speak with Joseph as the mature leader he had become; showing us yet again how powerful praise is:

e.        Gen. 44v18: “Then Judah came near unto him.”

God is everywhere and always near us, but in worship we can dwell and abide in that intimate secret place with Christ. Praise and especially worship is like laying our head on the chest of God and listening to his heartbeat. It is intimate, personal and beautiful. Judah stepped away from his feelings (Reuben), his flesh (Simeon imprisoned), his judgement (Dan), his finances (Zebulun), his health (Asher), etc., and to speak privately with destiny; just him and Joseph. When all else around you looks hopeless, look into your spirit that lives the God to knows how to communicate with your promise. Your spirit is in touch with God’s promise over your life. Listen to it and not your mind, your flesh, your body or your surroundings (the guards coming to take Benjamin away). Like Elijah, his spirit heard the promise which was the abundance of rain and refused to accept any evidence that didn’t line up with that. In this place of worship, the Spirit of God uploads his word in to your spirit, which then downloads the message to the rest of you.

f.        Judah acknowledged who Joseph was and honored his leadership and power. By showing him, this level of respect is the spirit of excellence at work. One’s conviction on a matter does not permit them to be rude to others, especially those in leadership (Daniel 1). Our decorum is a tool God uses to receive favor with man.

Also remember that no matter the circumstance, speaking to God from a place of praise aligns your soul and body to receive from God. It’s not flattery or manipulation but rather that acknowledging the power of God creates an atmosphere for revelation to flow. Just like Peter, his revelation of who Jesus was, allowed him to find out his purpose (a rock on which the church would be built).

g.        Praise remembers and presents its case (44v19-31)

∙       What has God said; stand on that, decree it, praise Him for it and bless Him for it; praise Him

∙       Knows the will of God and declares “Lord you said.”

∙       It doesn’t whine nor complain but speaks with confidence and articulation.

∙       He moved in forgiveness and laid aside the years of neglect he felt by his father and spoke life for the sake of the days ahead. Praise speaks from a place of new beginnings.

h.       Gen. 43v9 and Gen. 44v32-33; Praise or the life that praises God gives of itself and is selfless. Judah asked for the blame to be on his head if something went wrong with Benjamin, to his father first, then to Joseph when Benjamin is to be enslaved. He took on the blame as he promised his father. Isn’t that what Jesus did for us? It sure is! He put aside his innocence, majesty and comfort to save us from the death we deserved and hell and in exchange for us to live in eternity with Him in glory. The spirit man esteems others higher than itself and a life of praise exists to set others free.

i.         Gen. 45v1; Joseph reveals himself when Judah speaks. At the right time, the right place and the right moment, praise will unlock what is hidden. Keep praising God during those times when you don’t know what to do and when you are backed up in a corner as Judah and his brothers were. Praise and worship God in all that you do and that which is hidden will be revealed.