We are in chapter 45 of Genesis with our word for today. פּוּג turn cold, grow numb, grow weary, be feeble, powerless. It is used 4 times in the Old Testament. We see it used referring to God’s law not being able to be effective in the lives of the people during the days of Habakkuk. Habakkuk 1:1-4 How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is תָּפ֣וּגparalyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
We see our word used in asking for God’s help and salvation in the time of distress. Psalm 77:1-2 I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without תָפ֑וּג wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. Psalm 38:21-22 I am נְפוּג֣וֹתִי feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart…Do not forsake me, O Lord! O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!
In our chapter for today we find our word used in the sense of becoming numb. Genesis 45:25-27 So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became וַיָּ֣פָג numb, for he did not believe them. But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. This is interesting because of the contrast between our word yesterday used to describe the shock and panic of Joseph’s brothers and numbness of Joseph’s father when they hear the same news. I think it is because while they both are in shock the reaction of panic from his brother’s is due to the evil they did to him. Whereas Joseph’s father didn’t commit any evil towards him. He was a grieving father. Notice how Joseph’s heart goes from numbness because it just couldn’t be true after all of these years and the pain of the loss not wanting to be brought up. Then we see his spirit revive when he had time to soak in all the evidence his sons brought him. The good news is that God loves and cares about our hearts whether we carry guilt from our sin or from the loss of a loved one. He is the one who heals our hearts. I’ll close with these beautiful words of Jesus. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
