Parashah: “Miketz” (at the end of) GENESIS 41:1-44:17.
When we look into this parashah study, we see Yosef, who was, in a way of speaking, in the “pit.” He was cast into prison for something he did not do, yet he continued to trust YHVH for his needs. This reminds us of King David's words, “You will not leave my soul in Sheol.” This was a time of testing for Yosef. It was out of his hands.
He came to Egypt as a slave, got a good position in Potiphar’s house, went from a common slave to the comfort of a house, from house to prison, and from prison to fame and fortune. All in YHVH's perfect timing and planning. We might ask ourselves, if Yosef could have managed an escape from the house of Potiphar, or even from prison, he probably would have headed straight back to his home in Canaan. No one would have been in Egypt to interpret Pharaoh's dreams, and thus, save the world from starvation.
Yet we see that Yosef did submit himself to the perfect will of God, and he was finally taken out of prison via the “cupbearer” (Oh yes, now I realize my shortcomings, there IS a guy in prison who can interpret your dreams, your majesty...) Yet Yosef gives all glory to God, “God will give the interpretation,” which is a positive witness to YHVH. Pharaoh probably saw the shortcomings and weaknesses of the Egyptian priests who were “supposed” to get their wisdom from Egyptian gods, yet this foreign “Hebrew” gets his wisdom to interpret dreams from an “invisible” God.
Another thing we see is that Yosef not only gives the interpretation, but also the “solution”. For what good is an interpretation of a dream that speaks of “calamity” if there is no solution to the problem? ” Yet Yosef is faithful and brings a solution, through YHVH's wisdom and perhaps the experience he already had in agriculture and livestock when he was in Canaan as a teen.
Now, he is elevated to “assistant in command” to Pharaoh, and goes from “prison to royalty.” He is now in a position to sort of “run the country.” We can see a bit of Hanukkah in this Torah portion. Yosef is the "HaNer HaTikvah," the light of Hope to a doomed country and nations around during the years of famine. Just like Judah the Maccabee was that "Light of Hope" that would free Israel from the reign of terror of Antiochus. Also, "Hanukkah" is from the verb "Chanak," which is "to dedicate, educate, habituate."
During the time of Hanukkah, there is a special 9-branched Menorah. One central candle holder and 4 candle holders on each side. In this Bible study section, we can imagine Joseph as being the middle branch, offering "hope" and "light" to Egypt and to the nations around the area. The other branches could symbolize the nations coming to Joseph for "physical salvation" (receiving grain for 7 years to avoid starvation).
This is just a thought and commentary.
It is customary to light the central candle holder and then the other candles, using the flame from the central "shamash" (helper, servant)
Just like Jesus is our "Central Light" and we get our "light" from HIM
So Joseph will dedicate himself to serving Pharaoh and Egypt and to "educating" those around him as to the methods of building grain storage houses and storing up grain in the years of plenty. In Egypt, there were three seasons: Flooding (of the Nile), Planting (after the Nile left the rich topsoil), and harvesting the crops. Perhaps, one reason for the famine might have been that the Nile did not flood over the land and leave behind the rich topsoil for 7 years; thus, no good soil, no planting, and no grain to harvest.
The Bible tells us that Yosef's brothers come in search of food, of course, they do not recognize him, in Egyptian clothing, some 20 years later, no beard, etc. The brothers have to be tested to see if they are really sorry for what they did to Yosef; Yosef needs to see “true repentance”. Yosef is now in the position of “judge.” Now, he tests them using Benjamin.
When we were lost sinners, Yeshua was in the position as our “judge” As many who will continue to reject the gift of salvation, they will be “judged” guilty by Messiah Yeshua at the Great White Throne Judgment, yet once we come to Yeshua and accept Him as our Savior and LORD, then, we come “Family” members, and we will be treated as “family”.
As the brothers didn't recognize Joseph, due to the fact that 13 years had passed, and he looked Egyptian, many people do not recognize Yeshua as the Messiah. perhaps out of hardness of heart, or just simple rejection. Yet when the "light" is turned on inside the hearts, the mask of unbelief is taken off, and the Messiah and Savior are revealed.
Yosef is a “Messiah type” who saved the local world from physical famine, Yeshua saves the world from “spiritual famine” to all those who come to HIM and accept him as Savior and LORD! So, don't starve yourselves, get into God's Word.
Today is the last day of Hanukkah (Dec 22). Happy Hanukkah
"Just a last thought. I uploaded one of my short stories for this last Day of Hanukkah under the "Books, music, and Television" Forum section, (literature and poetry) subforum entitled "One Hanukkah in Auschwitz" (A Hanukkah tale from the Holocaust), if anyone is interested in reading it.
When we look into this parashah study, we see Yosef, who was, in a way of speaking, in the “pit.” He was cast into prison for something he did not do, yet he continued to trust YHVH for his needs. This reminds us of King David's words, “You will not leave my soul in Sheol.” This was a time of testing for Yosef. It was out of his hands.
He came to Egypt as a slave, got a good position in Potiphar’s house, went from a common slave to the comfort of a house, from house to prison, and from prison to fame and fortune. All in YHVH's perfect timing and planning. We might ask ourselves, if Yosef could have managed an escape from the house of Potiphar, or even from prison, he probably would have headed straight back to his home in Canaan. No one would have been in Egypt to interpret Pharaoh's dreams, and thus, save the world from starvation.
Yet we see that Yosef did submit himself to the perfect will of God, and he was finally taken out of prison via the “cupbearer” (Oh yes, now I realize my shortcomings, there IS a guy in prison who can interpret your dreams, your majesty...) Yet Yosef gives all glory to God, “God will give the interpretation,” which is a positive witness to YHVH. Pharaoh probably saw the shortcomings and weaknesses of the Egyptian priests who were “supposed” to get their wisdom from Egyptian gods, yet this foreign “Hebrew” gets his wisdom to interpret dreams from an “invisible” God.
Another thing we see is that Yosef not only gives the interpretation, but also the “solution”. For what good is an interpretation of a dream that speaks of “calamity” if there is no solution to the problem? ” Yet Yosef is faithful and brings a solution, through YHVH's wisdom and perhaps the experience he already had in agriculture and livestock when he was in Canaan as a teen.
Now, he is elevated to “assistant in command” to Pharaoh, and goes from “prison to royalty.” He is now in a position to sort of “run the country.” We can see a bit of Hanukkah in this Torah portion. Yosef is the "HaNer HaTikvah," the light of Hope to a doomed country and nations around during the years of famine. Just like Judah the Maccabee was that "Light of Hope" that would free Israel from the reign of terror of Antiochus. Also, "Hanukkah" is from the verb "Chanak," which is "to dedicate, educate, habituate."
During the time of Hanukkah, there is a special 9-branched Menorah. One central candle holder and 4 candle holders on each side. In this Bible study section, we can imagine Joseph as being the middle branch, offering "hope" and "light" to Egypt and to the nations around the area. The other branches could symbolize the nations coming to Joseph for "physical salvation" (receiving grain for 7 years to avoid starvation).
This is just a thought and commentary.
It is customary to light the central candle holder and then the other candles, using the flame from the central "shamash" (helper, servant)
Just like Jesus is our "Central Light" and we get our "light" from HIM
So Joseph will dedicate himself to serving Pharaoh and Egypt and to "educating" those around him as to the methods of building grain storage houses and storing up grain in the years of plenty. In Egypt, there were three seasons: Flooding (of the Nile), Planting (after the Nile left the rich topsoil), and harvesting the crops. Perhaps, one reason for the famine might have been that the Nile did not flood over the land and leave behind the rich topsoil for 7 years; thus, no good soil, no planting, and no grain to harvest.
The Bible tells us that Yosef's brothers come in search of food, of course, they do not recognize him, in Egyptian clothing, some 20 years later, no beard, etc. The brothers have to be tested to see if they are really sorry for what they did to Yosef; Yosef needs to see “true repentance”. Yosef is now in the position of “judge.” Now, he tests them using Benjamin.
When we were lost sinners, Yeshua was in the position as our “judge” As many who will continue to reject the gift of salvation, they will be “judged” guilty by Messiah Yeshua at the Great White Throne Judgment, yet once we come to Yeshua and accept Him as our Savior and LORD, then, we come “Family” members, and we will be treated as “family”.
As the brothers didn't recognize Joseph, due to the fact that 13 years had passed, and he looked Egyptian, many people do not recognize Yeshua as the Messiah. perhaps out of hardness of heart, or just simple rejection. Yet when the "light" is turned on inside the hearts, the mask of unbelief is taken off, and the Messiah and Savior are revealed.
Yosef is a “Messiah type” who saved the local world from physical famine, Yeshua saves the world from “spiritual famine” to all those who come to HIM and accept him as Savior and LORD! So, don't starve yourselves, get into God's Word.
Today is the last day of Hanukkah (Dec 22). Happy Hanukkah
"Just a last thought. I uploaded one of my short stories for this last Day of Hanukkah under the "Books, music, and Television" Forum section, (literature and poetry) subforum entitled "One Hanukkah in Auschwitz" (A Hanukkah tale from the Holocaust), if anyone is interested in reading it.