Reflection for Mikkeitz
“Divine Interpretive Wisdom”
Acts 7:9-16 (esp. vs. 10b-12)
Psalm 105:19-21
excerpted from TorahScope Apostolic Scriptures Reflections
The life and times of Joseph and his brothers, continue to be highlighted in our Torah examination this week, in Mikkeitz (Genesis 41:1-44:17). What we are considering, once again plays a role within Stephen’s defense before the Sanhedrin, as he was being challenged for his faith in Yeshua. Stephen referred to the severe famine which required Jacob to send his sons to Egypt to buy grain. In his emotional plea, Stephen briefly mentioned Jacob’s sons’ first trip to Egypt, found in our parashah (Genesis 42:1-28), after speaking to his listeners about the wisdom Joseph received from the Lord to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams:
“The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. God was with him and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction. Our fathers found no food. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers the first time. On the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was revealed to Pharaoh. Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his relatives, seventy-five souls. Jacob went down into Egypt and he died, himself and our fathers; and they were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the children of Hamor of Shechem” (Acts 7:9-16, WMB).
Joseph gaining favor from Pharaoh, as a result of receiving Divine wisdom and the ability to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, is something which modern-day Believers should seriously contemplate. How many of us may be put in future situations, where we will have to employ the unique spiritual gifts God has given us? We might not be put before world leaders, but we will surely need to demonstrate godly insight to people seeking answers to life’s questions. The critical thing to remember, is how Joseph clearly recognized and gave due honor to the Lord, from whom his interpretation skills originated—just as we should thank God when we get to use our abilities:
“Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon. He shaved himself, changed his clothing, and came in to Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.’ Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, ‘It isn’t in me. God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace’” (Genesis 41:14-16, WMB).
Pharaoh recognized Joseph’s Divine gifting, and rewarded him, by appointing him second in command over all in Egypt:
“The thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. Pharaoh said to his servants, ‘Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?’ Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Because God has shown you all of this, there is no one so discreet and wise as you’” (Genesis 41:37-39, WMB).
One wonders, that after more than a dozen years in Egypt—having gone from Potiphar’s house to the prison—if Joseph still looked passionately to the dreams he had received as a youth. Once again, I am reminded of words from Psalm 105:19, as the time of his elevation required great patience:
“until the time that his word happened, and the LORD’s word proved him true. The king sent and freed him, even the ruler of peoples, and let him go free. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all of his possessions, to discipline his princes at his pleasure, and to teach his elders wisdom” (Psalm 105:19-22, WMB).
Joseph became the viceroy of Egypt, and after more than seven years of plenty, when the famine had become severe in Canaan, Jacob sent ten of his sons to Egypt to purchase some grain. It was by this time that Joseph was able to finally visualize the completion of his dream, as his brothers would literally bow down to him. Joseph wisely used this situation to teach his brothers a great lesson:
“Joseph was the governor over the land. It was he who sold to all the people of the land. Joseph’s brothers came, and bowed themselves down to him with their faces to the earth. Joseph saw his brothers, and he recognized them, but acted like a stranger to them, and spoke roughly with them. He said to them, ‘Where did you come from?’ They said, ‘From the land of Canaan, to buy food.’ Joseph recognized his brothers, but they didn’t recognize him. Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed about them, and said to them, ‘You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land.’ They said to him, ‘No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food. We are all one man’s sons; we are honest men. Your servants are not spies.’ He said to them, ‘No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land!’” (Genesis 42:6-12, WMB).
A great drama unfolds in Genesis chs. 42-47, as God used Joseph’s position as viceroy, the famine, and the unrelenting love of Jacob for his son Benjamin, to instruct the frightened sons of Jacob. In many regards, Stephen’s recollection of this point in Biblical history, could recall how there are important connections seen in the Scriptures between Israel and Egypt. Matthew’s Gospel makes a specific reference to Hosea 11:1, connecting the Messiah coming out of Egypt, with how Ancient Israel was delivered from Egypt in the Exodus:
“He arose and took the young child and his mother by night and departed into Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, ‘Out of Egypt I called my son’ [Hosea 11:1]. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men. Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more’ [Jeremiah 31:15]. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, ‘Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into Eretz-Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.’ He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into Eretz-Israel” (Matthew 2:14-21, WMB).
Here, we can note how God continued to use dreams—this time to speak to another Joseph, the stepfather of Yeshua. The parallels are exciting to contemplate, as the Almighty has weaved together His salvation history story for humanity.
Today, we have the privilege of considering the testimony of the Holy Scriptures, when we need encouragement for our lives. We can read about figures like Joseph, Stephen, and Joseph and Mary—and understand how they were filled with great righteousness and piety. They can each be examples of mortals who received great gifting from the Holy One, and accomplished something quite important in His ongoing plan of redemption! May we each benefit from these great forerunners of the faith, with whatever Divine gifts we have been given!
