M’roni’s dedication page, which was included as the Title Page in the 1830 edition, lists one of the purposes of the Stick of Joseph as “to the convincing of the Y’hudi and Goy that Yeshua is the Mashiach, the Elohi Kadem, manifesting himself unto all nations.”

I have often asked myself how the Stick of Joseph could be useful towards such a purpose. It certainly testifies of Messiah, but so does the so-called “New Testament.” In thinking about this issue, it has seemed to me that it would not be any easier to convince a Jew that Yeshua is Messiah using the Stick of Joseph, than it would be to accomplish the same thing using the Tanakh and/or New Testament. In fact, until recently, it has seemed to me it would be harder to accomplish this with the Stick of Joseph. 

Let’s walk through a thought experiment to consider how this might all work, and why my thinking has changed. 

Suppose someone hands you a book that they claim is an authentic, ancient Jewish record, that teaches the true nature and identity of the Messiah. There really are two claims there to consider. 

First, you must consider whether the record really is an authentic, ancient Jewish record. And second, assuming it is, you must consider whether the message it teaches is true—in other words, were the authors correct in their conclusions? After all, just because a record is ancient and authentic, doesn’t necessarily mean its teachings are true.

The matter really does hang on both of these issues, in the order presented, if one is to accept a scriptural testimony and change their beliefs to accept Yeshua as Messiah. 

And, like I said, in the past it has seemed to me that using the Stick of Joseph would be twice the work, because it would first require convincing someone of the authenticity of the book. Would it not be easier simply to convince a Jew of one thing (that Yeshua is the Messiah) rather than two (that the Stick of Joseph is an authentic record AND that Yeshua is Messiah)? You see what I mean?

The “New Testament”

So why not just use the New Testament instead? Wouldn’t that be simpler? Surprisingly, the answer is “no.” Let’s continue my thought experiment a little further to discover why this is the case. 

In the case of the New Testament, it’s certainly possible to accept it as an authentically historical Jewish book, with a Jewish origin, but still maintain that its Jewish authors were wrong. In other words, one can accept the origins and authenticity of the record, but still question the conclusions of the authors regarding Yeshua. This generally seems to be the case in many circles. Though the New Testament was demonstrably written by Jews around the first century, many modern Jews simply do not accept its teachings about the Messiah.

The “Old Testament” 

So what about the Tanakh (a.k.a. the so-called “Old Testament”)? How does it fare in testifying that Yeshua was the Messiah? Well, as we demonstrated in our recent blog series on Lost Prophets of the Brass Plates, much of the information about Messiah that was once in the Tanakh has been lost. What remains is subject to much debate, and falls short of making clear, direct statements identifying Yeshua as Messiah, though such clear, direct statements were in the Brass Plates record. 

One can bolster the case for Yeshua by using the Tanakh and Oral Law sources like the Targums, Talmud, Midrashim and Zohar, but many Jewish people still do not accept Yeshua as Messiah. Though the records are unquestionably ancient and Jewish, the teachings are not unquestionably clear, and can still be rejected. 

The Stick of Joseph

As far as clear and direct statements go, the Stick of Joseph is unsurpassed in making it absolutely known that Yeshua is the Messiah, and is unparalleled in its excepts from the Brass Plates version of the Tanakh that teach this as well. But clear and direct statements don’t seem to be enough, thus far. 

Here’s where it gets interesting—as we consider what is distinctly unique about the nature of the Stick of Joseph record, as compared with the New Testament.

Unlike the New Testament, which has come down to us by natural means through historical transmission, the Stick of Joseph comes down to us by distinctly supernatural means. In the case of the New Testament, you have a record that has demonstrably been around for nearly 2000 years and came to us through copying. In the case of the Stick of Joseph, you have a record that suddenly burst on the scene in 1830, in the hands of a farm boy in New York, who spoke of angels, visions, miracles, and ancient records hidden in the ground. 

The first question from my thought experiment suddenly becomes extremely important. If it can be demonstrated that the Stick of Joseph is, in fact, an authentic, ancient Jewish document, its existence can only be explained by miraculous means. Therefore, it becomes impossible to suggest its authors were wrong. 

As an authentic, ancient Jewish record, the Stick of Joseph simply has no other plausible origin than the one explained by Yosef ben Yosef, who translated and published it. Therefore, the question changes considerably in the case of the Stick of Joseph; the two considerations become one. If it is ancient and Jewish, then it is necessarily what it claims to be and is a miraculous record sent by Elohim for the purposes stated in the book. 

I realize this approach runs counter to what Stick of Joseph apologists have said in the past. But in my opinion, they sold the record short, and did not make nearly a strong enough case. They present evidence to support the book’s authenticity, only to back pedal and conclude with something like, “But the only real evidence for the book is the testimony one receives in one’s heart.” This approach sounds like it comes from someone who is not convinced of the historical authenticity of the record, and who therefore hedges, just in case their conclusions are proven wrong. 

I advocate a much bolder approach. The Stick of Joseph in the Hand of Ephraim is undoubtedly, unequivocally an authentic, ancient Jewish record, and it has come to us by miraculous means. I will declare this from the housetops for all to hear! This alone is reason enough to heed its message! Of course one can, and should, receive a spiritual witness that its message is true, but you’ll never get that until you can rationally understand and accept the nature of the record and what it means. 

This is why I write, and will continue to write here about the authentic, ancient Jewish nature of this record. It cannot be explained away as a forgery, a hoax, or something produced from the imagination of Yosef ben Yosef. That leaves us with the shocking and miraculous conclusion that Elohim’s hand is moving again and that the covenants to our fathers are yet in play and will be fulfilled! 

The time has come for the Stick of Joseph to begin fulfilling its true purpose—a purpose that will be strengthened by undeniable evidences that the Stick of Joseph is an authentic, ancient Jewish document, written by ancient Jews, for the purpose of convincing modern Jews that Yeshua is the Messiah.

The coming forth of the Stick of Joseph is the first important step in accomplishing this great work for those whom YHWH calls “my ancient covenant people.”  This work is just beginning! In the coming months and years, more and more information will be coming forth demonstrating the authentic, ancient Jewish nature of this record. Thus, there can be no doubt that its testimony is true. Yeshua is the Messiah!