refers to the youngest of the 12 sons of Jacob, Benjamin .
Yesterday’s post was about Joseph Prince, the dynamic, tradition-shaking Singapore pastor whose message people around the globe are hungry to hear. He has coined the phrase “Benjamin Generation” to describe the changing dynamic in the years before the return of Jesus to the earth. While “Benjamin Generation” refers to youth, the term is not limited only to those that are chronologically young, but also to the young of heart and spirit, regardless of birth date. If his teaching doesn’t put new wrinkles in your brain or a song in your heart, you might want to call an undertaker.
Of course you know the story of Joseph, Jacob’s older son of his second wife, Rachel. The story of his multicolored coat, a gift from his dad, was made into a stage play. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous big brothers. That coat was a huge bone of contention! They told dad that lions had eaten him. YIKES! How do you do that to your Dad? Jealousy is a harsh mistress. However, I imagine the payback for this stunt must have cost those co-conspirators a load of guilt not easily born as they witnessed day after day, year after year the torment their father went through at the loss of a cherished child.
God works in mysterious ways, and after many years the family is reunited when they all come to Egypt to survive a worldwide famine. Of course, Joseph had interpreted a dream and Egypt had the “heads up” to stash a bunch of food. The nations came to Egypt to survive.
So what does this have to do with Benjamin? You would think we would be talking about the “Joseph Generation.”
Well, Benjamin was the youngest child of Jacob. Those two kids had been his favorites because they were the offspring of the love of his life, Rachel. The older ten had been from his union with Leah, Rachel’s older sister. Parents are not supposed to have favorites, but people just cannot help how they feel. And apparently, Jacob did a lousy job of hiding his feelings.
(And just a little side note here: If you feel as though your parent does not love you as much as (s)he does a sibling of yours, you might be right. Many people spend their lives in torment over being unloved by a parent. It can really screw a person up. But know this: God loves you more than any earthly parent ever could. Go to Him with your hurts. Eventually you will be able to forgive your mom or dad. That is when that booboo turns into joy. When you are able to see your mom or dad as a flawed human being, as worthy of God’s love as you are, the whole equation changes. That is when you can grow to love them more than they were able to love you. Through the grace of God, you may even receive insight into their childhood scars and have true compassion for them. Now listen carefully to this: and therefore, for yourself. Hang in there and take your broken heart to God.)
Benjamin was the lynchpin to bringing the family back together in Egypt. The symbolism of the passage is that Benjamin was given 5 times what the other brothers were. Five is the number of grace in the Bible. (Click here for a blog post that explains this further.)
Christians believe we are saved by grace (see yesterday’s post) so Benjamin is a picture of the saved world, and since he is youngest, the last generation before the return of Christ.
Now I find it interesting that Joseph Prince is talking about the “Benjamin Generation” because I see my kids’ generation as being very different from their parents and grandparents. Just the other day, a Facebook posting popped up, complaining about “this younger generation.” What is wrong with them, the elders wanted to know? My response was, “the same thing that was wrong with us!” The behavior and sensibilities of the young in the eyes of their progenitors have been a constant cause of vexation throughout the ages. Of course they are different; the world is in constant flux. In fact, scientists now believe that time is literally speeding up. Adapt or perish, nature warns.
I see something amazing in this younger generation, though. They have a cooperative rather than competitive nature. Yes, they are competitive in that they want to do well. Yet they compete in a way that is not combative. They give their fellow man a lot of “wiggle room.” They are more tolerant and laid back. Perhaps the parents can take a little credit because they also backed off in the corporal punishment department. Who knows?
But if Benjamin received an abundance of grace, and if this generation gives his fellow man a wide berth, is less likely to criticize and judge, to me that fits. We grown-ups, their parents, have a lot to learn from our kids.
The trick then, is to use this spirit for good. Instead of being typical acquiring Americans, let us look to the world to help others.
In fact this term, Benjamin Generation, has spawned at least one mission. Please visit their web site:
If you feel they are doing good work, be a good “Benjamin” and support them with your prayers and dollars.
hiznhirz 