Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Weekly Parasha
Parasha #10: Mikketz (At the End) B’resheet (Genesis) 41:1-44:17
Halftarah: M'lakhim Alef ( 1 Kings) 3:15-4:1
B’rit Chadasha: Acts 7:9-16 (specifically vs. 11-12)
Parasha:
In this Parsha we learn of Yosef's imprisonment, his dreams, and his elevation to the second most powerful man in Egypt. He has two sons: one named Menashe, which means "G-d has made me forget all my troubles," and Efraim, which means "G-d has made me blossom in the land of my affliction."
Later on in the narrative we meet Yosef's brothers who are guilty of having sold him into slavery. Yosef becomes the instrument of G-d's saving the Israelites.
We have two Midrashim concerning Yosef that are seemingly contradictory. One that he always put his faith in G-d and the other accuses Yosef of a breach of faith. The latter because he put his faith in the butler to help get him out of jail instead of trusting in G-d. These two contradictory Midrashim are resolved when we understand that Yosef trusted G-d, but, at the same time, wanted to do something to help himself. The need to remedy a bad situation is normal and we should not wait around for miracles.
A good illustration attesting to this fact in in the following illustration.
A man remained on a sinking ship while everyone else was jumping in to lifeboats certain that G-d would save him. Soon alone on the ship the Coast Guard came to rescue him and he waved them away secure in his knowledge that G-d would save him. Unfortunately, after refusing everyone's help to rescue him, he drowned. When the man appeared before G-d, he asked why G-d had not saved him. "After all," he said to G-d, "I depended on You, and You alone." That's fine," G-d answered, "Bit when I sent the Coast Guard to rescue you, you refused to be saved!"
People must trust in G-d but also help themselves. Bit what if you see G-d's hand helping you? Do you make your own plans in case G-d's plan doesn't work fast enough?
Yosef saw clearly that G-d was manipulating events to get him to a certain point in life. Yet Yosef decided to ask the butler for help, just in case. It was a backup plan.
But we see that when the butler does mention Yosef to Pharaoh, he doesn't mention the promise he made to Yosef. This shows us that G-d designated the time and place for the butler to remember Yosef. That is why Yosef was punished for what he did, and had to wait two years to be rescued. Indeed, Yosef accepted his punishment and regretted what he had done.
Halftarah Relevance to Parasha: (M'lakhim Alef ( 1 Kings) 3:15-4:1
In both the Parsha and the Haftarah the kings have a dream. In the Parsha, Pharaoh has a dream concerning the future of his people. In our Haftarah G-d appears to King Solomon in his dream and grants him one wish. The King requests wisdom. Both Pharaoh and Solomon upon awakening realize that their dream is more than just a dream; it is something sent from heaven.
Sayings of the Sages:
"And Egypt became starved and the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread and he said to then, "go to Yosef and do whatever he tells you to do," (41:55)
Rashi explains that Yosef instructed the Egyptians to circumcise themselves before he would supply them with food. The Sfat Emet is of the opinion that Yosef was wrong in forcing them to circumcise themselves. Yosef should have been tolerant even of those who represented the exact opposite of the values he stood for.
Some things to think about:
1. Yosef keeps one of the brothers as a prisoner to make sure the others will return with Binyamin. Why does he pick Shimon to be the prisoner?
2. When Reuven tries to convince his father to let Binyamin go with them, he tells his father he can kill his two sons, Yaacov's grandchildren, if Binyamin does not return. Yaacov refuses the offer. However, Yehudah says that he guarantees that Binyamin will be brought back safely and Yaacov agrees. Besides the need for food what prompted Yaacov to accept Yehudah's offer over Reuven?
Gematria:
In many editions of the Bible at the end of each Parsha you can find a record of the number of the verses for that Parsha. Mikketz is the only Parsha where the number of words 2,025 and the number of verses are listed. What is the reason for this? The B'nai Yisashar points out that Mikketz is almost always read on the Shabbat of Hanukkah. The symbol for Hanukkah is the candle, which in Hebrew is called ner. The numerical value of ner is 250. Multiply the 250 by the number of days in the Hanukkah, 8, and you get 2,000. Hanukkah always falls out on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. Add 25 to the 2,000 and you have 2,025, the exact number of words in the Parsha.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Davis