Joseph! Judge or Redeemer? GEN 41:1-44:17

[Ben Abraham]

Parashah: “Miketz” (at the end of)

GENESIS 41:1-44:17.......1 KINGS 3:15-4:1.......MATT 16:1-17:27


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 Melech 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 a prominent position in Potiphar's house, from house to the 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.

We may not completely understand the happenings around our lives, yet nothing happens by accident, everything, all things are ordained by our Heavenly Father who is looking out for us, yet He must try us by fire, by pressure, through testings, trials, hard times, yet He sees the light at the end of the tunnel when we can only see darkness yet.

Yet we see that Yosef did submit himself to the perfect will of HaShem, and he was finally taken out of prison via the “cupbearer” (Oh yes, now I realize my shortcomings, there IS a guy in prison that 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 weakness 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 “calamity” if there is no solution to the problem? It is kind of like saying; “Hey king, your country is doomed, 7 years of famine, starvation, death...well OK.... nice meeting you Mr. King.” 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 “rags to riches” He is now in a position to sort of “run the country” and we see that in time, 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 as “judge” yet when he tested them, using Benjamin, he sees true repentance through Y'hudah, now that he sees this, he reveals his true self, “Ani Yosef!!” (I AM Yosef) He is no longer in the position of “judge” but “family”

When we were lost sinners, Yeshua was in the position as our “judge” As many who will continue to reject the free 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”. “Y'hudah” symbolizes “Israel” who, in the future will recognize “HE who was pierced” and those in Israel will say, “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of YHVH” as Yosef then “Talked” with his brothers, so YHVH desires to “talk” with us, through prayer and fellowship. As Yosef invited ALL his family to Egypt, so ALL who come to recognize Yeshua as Mashiach, are invited to join the “Heavenly family”

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!

1 KINGS 3:15-4:1


In this scripture portion, we see Solomon lifting up “burnt-offerings” and “peace-offerings” after also having “dreams” In his dream, YHVH asked him what he wished for, “For wisdom, and an understanding heart to judge this people” and YHVH thus granted him what he wished for.

This should be a guide for us when we wish for things. I think the best wish would be knowledge of the Torah and wisdom to put into action what we learn from God's Holy Writ. As we see. God gave Solomon that and more.

” Burnt-offerings” symbolize our sinful nature and the “peace-offerings” speak of our happiness and joy because of our salvation experience. Today these offerings are “offered up” in “prayer and thanksgiving” the prayers of confession of sin are always heard, and so are the prayers of praise and thanksgiving, because we know we have been forgiven.

MATT 16: 1-17:27


The “leaven” of the Pharisees is non-the-less “unbelief” as Yeshua said this reminds us of when He was visiting the temple during this same time of Hanukkah, and the Jews came around him and said; “tell us plainly if you are the Messiah or not!” yet He rebukes them saying “I have already told you and you do not believe!” He had already given signs through his miracles of healing, raising of the dead, how much more proof did they need? What does “leaven” do in bread? It “puffs up the bread” and that is what pride does, it “puffs up” and person, and sometimes, stubborn pride brings on unbelief.

Kefa exhibits his faith when he said; “You are Messiah, the Living God” Faith is “believing what we cannot see” yet Kefa sees Yeshua and sees the miracles, and so he believes, yet Yeshua says later on after the resurrection, “You have believed because you see, blessed are those who do not see yet BELIEVE!

1 CORINTHIANS 2:1-5


Rav Shaul (The Apostle Paul) is speaking to the local believers of Corinth. This was one of the churches that this Rav started. I was in Corinth in 1999. He is stating very simply that he witnessed about Yeshua very plainly, without fancy words, without an intense religious vocabulary, just simply, “Yeshua died on the cross, was crucified for our transgressions, for our sins He gave up his life.”

When we are given the opportunity to tell others about Yeshua, not by force but by invitation. Not in a condemning way, not using scare “fires of hell” tactics, just a message of love and sacrifice. Thus we can allow the Spirit of God to work on the person, It is the Holy Spirit who opens the hearts of unbelievers so that they may become believers. Not our work, but HIS work.

Shabbat Shalom............ Rabbi Ben Avraham

PIC: View of the Sea of Galilee and Tiberius from a mountain park.

 

[Jay Ross]

Now, he is elevated to “assistant in command” to Pharaoh and goes from “rags to riches” He is now in a position to sort of “run the country” and we see that in time, 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 as “judge” yet when he tested them, using Benjamin, he sees true repentance through Y'hudah, now that he sees this, he reveals his true self, “Ani Yosef!!” (I AM Yosef) He is no longer in the position of “judge” but “family”

You have not considered the importance of Gen. 38 nor Gen. 46 in establishing the timeline of when Joseph was bundled into a cistern, stripped of his coat that his father had given him and dispatched down to Egypt, and then a number of years later, see his brothers when they go down to Egypt to buy grain, some thirty-eight or so years later.

In chapter 38 we are told that Judah around the time of, or shortly after Joseph being sold as a slave going to find a wife, having three sons, marrying off his first son to Tamar, who died at the hand of God, forcing his second son to take Tamar as his wife, but who was not prepared to father any children with Tamar, having spilt his semen, also died at the hand of God. Judah, then refused to give Tamar, his third son, fearing that he to would died. After a number of years waiting, for Judah third son to be given to her, Tamar, and after Judah's wife had died, Tamar throw off the cloths of mourning and dressed as a prostitute and waylaid Judah as he went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah and Judah went into her and Tamar fell pregnant to him.

Tamar had twins, and the first born was called Perez. In Chapter 38 we are not told how many years this chapter covered in its story telling. My guess is that at least 20 or so years passed in this chapter. The next piece of information provided in the Book of Genesis that provides a clue as to the time period that passed between Joseph being sold as a slave down to Egypt and Jacob actually going down to Egypt, is found in Gen. 46:12 where we are informed that Perez took with him his two son down to Egypt. Perez could have been around 20-22 years old when he went down to Egypt.

The Book of Genesis provides no information as to when Jacob's sons, grandsons and great grandson were born. All we have are our best guesses as to how and when Judah married, had his three sons, fathered Perez, and Perez fathered, Hezron and Hamul.

The timeline from Joseph being 17 years old and seeing his brothers some 38 or so years later has a bearing on when Jacob was sent by Isaac up to Haran to find for himself a wife from among his brethren living there. We know that Joseph was around 6 years old when Jacob left Haran to return to the land of Canaan, to see his father, Isaac. We also know that Jacob was a little older than 40 years old when he fled from his brother and went up to Haran.

This also confirms that Jacob in all likelihood spent 40 years working for Laban in Haran.

Sadly, what I have written above does not fit well with the Jewish understanding and tradition.

Perhaps it is time for you to go back and begin to read the Bible more thoroughly.

Shalom

PS: - I would like to acknowledge that the timeline presented above is somewhat fluid, but I believe that it fairly accurate and consistent with the Biblical record.

 

[DPMartin]

without checking, the OP seems to have quoted Rashi or a similar commenter. there's no mention that the cupbearer said oh yes now I realize my shortcoming. that's made up. which is something a guy like Rashi did.

and the OP is way cloudy on the fact that it was God who told Joseph the answer of which is not a interpretation. the pharaoh was to receive the dream so that the pharaoh would believe joseph for the sake of the Hebrews, seeing the Egyptians had distain for sheep herders. And it was the pharaoh and his court that could see and acknowledged the Spirit of God was with Joseph.

 

[101G]

Addressing the OP, Yosef was sent as a saviour, Genesis 45:7. this was God plan all along.

PICJAG
101G The "Spiritual Saboteur"

 

[Jay Ross]

without checking, the OP seems to have quoted Rashi or a similar commenter. there's no mention that the cupbearer said oh yes now I realize my shortcoming. that's made up. which is something a guy like Rashi did.

and the OP is way cloudy on the fact that it was God who told Joseph the answer of which is not a interpretation. the pharaoh was to receive the dream so that the pharaoh would believe joseph for the sake of the Hebrews, seeing the Egyptians had distain for sheep herders. And it was the pharaoh and his court that could see and acknowledged the Spirit of God was with Joseph.

The Egyptians hated all Hebrews and joseph was a Hebrew and although he enjoyed the privileged life of a Ruler in Egypt, the Egyptians did not accept Joseph into their social networks as can be seen by their not eating food with him.

Around 215 years before Jacob journeyed down to Egypt, Abraham had visited Egypt and because of his fear for his life because of the beauty of Sahar his wife, he chose to lie about his relationship with Sarah and cause problems for the Egyptian people and they kicked Abraham out of their land and held a grudge against the Hebrews ever since.

There is much more to the background story that is not directly recorded in the Book of Genesis, but only hinted at as the storyline unfolds.

Shalom

 

[DPMartin]

The Egyptians hated all Hebrews and joseph was a Hebrew and although he enjoyed the privileged life of a Ruler in Egypt, the Egyptians did not accept Joseph into their social networks as can be seen by their not eating food with him.

Around 215 years before Jacob journeyed down to Egypt, Abraham had visited Egypt and because of his fear for his life because of the beauty of Sahar his wife, he chose to lie about his relationship with Sarah and cause problems for the Egyptian people and they kicked Abraham out of their land and held a grudge against the Hebrews ever since.

There is much more to the background story that is not directly recorded in the Book of Genesis, but only hinted at as the storyline unfolds.

Shalom

I think the story line is what it is because when Moses wrote it down, in its official capacity as a part of the Torah he could only go by what two or more witnesses agreed on. there's the book of Jasher and the book of jubilee for instance that seem to agree on what is in genesis but have very different stories about Abram before his calling by the Lord his God to pack and go to the promised land.

anyway I'm aware of most of what you've posted, but I do disagree with Abraham lied. there is a great difference between lying and not volunteering information. Abraham even explains later when he was concerned about another people was going to take his wife by killing him by stating to them after God set them strait in a dream, something to the effect that it is true that Sarah is his sister. telling people she is his sister isn't a lie, is it? and he didn't come clean about her being his wife until he was asked, or confronted if you like.

 

[DNB]

but I do disagree with Abraham lied. there is a great difference between lying and not volunteering information. Abraham even explains later when he was concerned about another people was going to take his wife by killing him by stating to then after God set then strait in a dream, something to the effect that it is true that Sarah is his sister. telling people she is his sister isn't a lie is it? and he didn't come clean about her being his wife until he was asked, or confronted if you like.

agreed