Reflection for V’yeishev
“Character, Dreams, and Words”
Acts 7:9-16
excerpted from TorahScope Apostolic Scriptures Reflections
After thirty-six chapters from the opening of the Torah scroll—as the narrative on personal stories transfers from Adam to Noah to Abraham to Isaac to Jacob—the illuminating lens finally focuses on the life of Joseph, for the final fourteen chapters of the Book of Genesis. With slightly more than a third of Genesis dedicated to the details of Joseph’s life, and the sojourn of Jacob’s family from Canaan to Egypt, one should easily expect more references to this great and influential man in the Apostolic Scriptures.
There are a number of points made in V’yeishev (Genesis 37:1-40:23) this week, which we could reflect upon further in the Apostolic Scriptures. However, other than a listing of the different tribes in reference to the 144,000 of Revelation 7, and a brief recollection about the faith of Joseph in Hebrews 11:21-22, I would instead like to look at the reference which the martyr Stephen made to Joseph in Acts 7:9-16. There are some distinct similarities in the character and witness of Stephen, which in some regards parallel the life of Joseph. For the next few weeks, as we prepare to close out our readings through the Book of Genesis, we will encounter some of the attributes, trials, tribulations, and triumphs of Joseph—who in many ways played a role as a Messianic prototype of Yeshua—which can be seen in Stephen’s defense.
But before delving deeper into the life of Joseph, it is critical to first consider the unique call upon his life, and how at a young age he received dreams which became literal “words” from God, which sustained him through his life challenges. Many centuries before Stephen’s apologetic speech before the Sanhedrin, the Psalmist presented another historical synopsis, directly connected the dreams or words Joseph received, with the fortitude he maintained as he waited patiently for the Lord to accomplish His promise (cf. Jeremiah 1:12). The key is noting that Joseph was incredibly impassioned for life, by the words for his life received in his childhood dreams. The Psalmist decreed,
“‘Don’t touch my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!’ He called for a famine on the land. He destroyed the food supplies. He sent a man before them. Joseph was sold for a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles. His neck was locked in irons, 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. Israel also came into Egypt. Jacob lived in the land of Ham. He increased his people greatly, and made them stronger than their adversaries” (Psalm 105:15-24, WMB).
The statement made, “until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him” (Psalm 105:19, NASU), is a vivid testimony on how Joseph was positively impacted by the dreams he received from the Almighty. When at a relatively young age, it was revealed to Joseph that he would rule over his family, it was something he took to serious heart. Nevertheless, with boyish enthusiasm, Joseph was compelled to tell his brothers, and even his father, about the dreams:
“Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a tunic of many colors. His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, and they hated him, and couldn’t speak peaceably to him. Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more. He said to them, ‘Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and behold, your sheaves came around, and bowed down to my sheaf.’ His brothers asked him, ‘Will you indeed reign over us? Will you indeed have dominion over us?’ They hated him all the more for his dreams and for his words. He dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, ‘Behold, I have dreamed yet another dream: and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me.’ He told it to his father and to his brothers. His father rebuked him, and said to him, ‘What is this dream that you have dreamed? Will I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves down to the earth before you?’ His brothers envied him, but his father kept this saying in mind” (Genesis 37:3-11, WMB).
Even though it appears Joseph was unwise in so openly sharing his revelations, provoking jealousy among his brothers—it is clear from Genesis that his “dreams” or “words” sustained him through the trials of betrayal, rejection, sexual temptation, false accusations, and imprisonment he endured, in the years after he was sold into slavery. Joseph knew the reality of who the Creator God was, and he feared Him as seen in his righteous lifestyle. Is it not amazing how a true appreciation for the reality of God, can significantly transform and mold the character of a person?
Moving ahead to Acts 7, the martyr Stephen defended himself for believing that Yeshua was the Messiah, and he sought to establish how the arrival of Yeshua was the culmination of what had been foretold in the Tanakh Scriptures—covering a great deal of space and incorporating a great deal of detail (Acts 7:2-53). Stephen had just transitioned his speech, from detailing the covenant of circumcision established with Abraham, and continued describing Isaac and Jacob, and the sons of Jacob who became jealous of Joseph (Acts 7:8-12). Stephen did not describe the details of the brothers selling Joseph to the Midianite traders (Genesis 37:28), who were responsible for him being transported to Egypt. But, some of the afflictions found in this week’s parashah, along with some of the favor Joseph received from Potiphar, are mentioned:
“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).
While Stephen encapsulated Joseph’s life and actions in Acts 7:9-16, the information seen in V’yeishev from this week, is only detailed in Acts 7:9-10a, up to the point of Joseph being able to interpret the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker (cf. Genesis 40). It is not until the next Torah reading, Mikkeitz (Genesis 41:1-44:17), when Pharaoh sought an interpretation of his own dreams, that Joseph was granted the favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, and he was made as a governor over Egypt.
It is easy to see how Stephen possessed many of the same godly characteristics which Joseph had. Reviewing Luke’s record in Acts 6 of the Hellenistic Jews who received Yeshua, we see seven different attributes, which in various ways describe Stephen as one very much like the Patriarch Joseph. Recall how the Twelve Apostles were expanding their number, by selecting new leaders and servants with obvious virtuous and righteous traits, evident in their respective walks. Stephen was one of those highlighted:
“‘Therefore, select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.’ These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch, whom they set before the emissaries. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. The word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. But some of those who were of the synagogue called ‘The Libertines’, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen. They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke” (Acts 6:3-10, WMB).
Apparently, Stephen was recognized as a mature Believer who
- had a good reputation
- was full of the Holy Spirit
- was full of wisdom
- was full of faith
- was full of grace
- was full of God’s power
- was able to perform signs and wonders on behalf of God
Stephen was actually chosen to fulfill a relatively minor ministerial role, to serve tables (Acts 6:2-3), in order to free up the Twelve Apostles, to share the good news and expound upon the Scriptures. Like the similarly spiritually endowed Joseph, Stephen took on a humbling role as a servant of others, before he was placed in a position to let the Holy Spirit (cf. John 16:13) speak through him—eventually to the accusing members of the Sanhedrin.
Another personal parallel, which Stephen shared with Joseph, was the false accusations of some brought against them. Joseph dealt with the false claims of Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:11-20), just like Stephen had to deal with the false statements made about him (Acts 6:11-14).
As you consider the life of Joseph this week, have you also taken a look at the life of Stephen? Perhaps you will see how these two servants of God—with characteristics which exemplify a genuine walk with Him—are people to be imitated by modern-day followers of Messiah Yeshua. May their examples inspire each of us to humbly submit to God’s will for our lives!
