Haftarah V’yeishev
“Visions, Dreams, Prophecies”
Amos 2:6-3:8
excerpted from TorahScope Haftarah Exhortations
When you contemplate different aspects of the Scriptures, beyond the basic historical accounts which have been conveyed—you realize how much of the revelation is a reiteration of various visions, dreams, and prophetic utterances which have been recorded for posterity’s sake. V’yeishev, this week’s Torah portion (Genesis 37:1-40:23), begins to concentrate on specific actions of the sons of Jacob. We see particular attention given to the consequences of Joseph’s dreams and the activities of Judah. Increasingly, as the balance of the Genesis text reveals, these two sons of Jacob became the dominant characters of their generation. However, it was the recollections of Joseph’s various trials, and eventually how he was used to preserve the extended family of his father, which receives the most attention.
When the Sages searched for a complementary Haftarah selection for this parashah, principally about Joseph, verses from the warning messages of Amos to the Northern Kingdom of Israel were chosen. Amos was a Southern Kingdom Israelite, who tended sheep and dressed fig-bearing sycamore trees in Tekoa (Amos 1:1; 7:14-15), a small village located some twelve miles south of Jerusalem. The two vile actions in which Judah participated, the selling of Joseph to the Ishmaelite traders (Genesis 37:26-28) and impregnating his daughter-in-law (Genesis 38:1-26), are described in this parashah. In Amos, we see the selling of the righteous for money (Amos 2:6) and a man and his father having relations with the same woman (Amos 2:7) both mentioned, which are obviously aspects of V’yeishev:
“The LORD says: ‘For three transgressions of Israel, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals; They trample the heads of the poor into the dust of the earth and deny justice to the oppressed. A man and his father use the same maiden, to profane my holy name’” (Amos 2:6-7, WMB).
Since this week is the only time when the prophecy of Amos is considered throughout the traditional annual Torah cycle, it is good for each of us to look beyond just the selection, and perhaps to read and contemplate the entire book. After all, the historical accuracies of the prophecies in Amos which have already been fulfilled, are so precise, that those yet to be fulfilled can be confidently anticipated. Here, Amos made an often-quoted statement, which many self-proclaimed prophets throughout the ages have clinged to, in order to justify their declarations:
“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7, WMB).
There are great distinctions between the Biblical Prophets, and those who may flippantly and somewhat arrogantly claim a “prophet status” and authority today. (Much of this is based on a misunderstanding that the Prophets of the Tanakh solely gave predictions of the future, whereas a prophet is also to call the people of his generation to repentance before God.)[1] Take a look at the context of this statement, from one of the obvious mouthpieces of the Lord, based on his proven track record of declaring His words to an ancient generation:
“Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt, saying: ‘I have only chosen you of all the families of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all of your sins.’ Do two walk together, unless they have agreed? Will a lion roar in the thicket, when he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing? Can a bird fall in a trap on the earth, where no snare is set for him? Does a snare spring up from the ground, when there is nothing to catch? Does the shofar alarm sound in a city, without the people being afraid? Does evil happen to a city, and the LORD hasn’t done it? Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared. Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken. Who can but prophesy?’” (Amos 3:1-8, WMB).
After declaring that the Lord “roars” from Zion (Amos 1:2) His irrevocable judgments on the transgressions of Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, and both Judah and Israel[2]—Amos said that a fear for the Lord compelled him to prophesy. His analogy of roaring like a lion likely came from his experience of shepherding and protecting sheep, but it was also reminiscent of the Spirit of God simply using a willing servant as a mouthpiece to proclaim His Word given the circumstances of blatant transgression.
The significant problem Amos confronted is how all of Israel—which then was divided into the two Kingdoms of Judah and Israel—was guilty of great sin before the Lord. Among many transgressions, they were not walking together in agreement and must be punished for their iniquities. As Amos asked, “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” (NIV). In His mercy, God chose to send a spokesperson to forewarn. In this case, the Northern Kingdom must be told that the judgment due upon it was coming.
As you read the balance of Amos’ prophecy, the accuracy of the iniquities was contrasted by the various punishments to come. Historically speaking, the judgment which God brought about via the Assyrian hordes upon the Northern Kingdom, was not only foretold, but confirmed by accounts of what actually transpired. This roaring lion named Amos from Tekoa—while not turning the Northern Kingdom Israelites to repentance so they might avoid the explicit ravages of God’s judgment—gives us today some thought provoking descriptions of why God is compelled to judge obvious transgressors. The hope today is that those who are considering the punishment of Ancient Israel, will recognize how prophetic words, sent visions, and induced dreams from God, do eventually see fulfillment.
We get a glimpse of such a reality in the story of Joseph’s dreams, which God ultimately brought to fruition. Of course, the most famous dreams included Joseph’s foreknowledge about ruling over his family as related in this week’s parashah:
“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).
In this passage, the immature Joseph—not necessarily recognizing the jealous hearts of his older siblings—related categorical statements about his dreams, in which he would one day rule over them. By the time a second dream is related, which expanded his rule to include even his parents, Joseph was rebuked by his father Jacob for inciting rage and fomenting bitterness in the family. However, centuries later as the Psalmist recorded some of Israel’s history, Joseph was not only considered an anointed prophet along with the Patriarchs, but the very dreams or words he received, were considered to be Divine revelations which he had to cling to during dire circumstances:
“‘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” (Psalm 105:15-22, WMB).
Here we can read in a positive and instructional way, that Joseph endured the afflictions of prison and confinement, waiting for the dreams from God he knew were to be fulfilled. He did not necessarily know how those words of ruling over his family were going to come to pass, but he was faithful to the Lord through the trials which came his way in the interim. We discover, in a unique way, how the Lord actually tested him by those words. Since Joseph knew in his heart that those words or dreams were from the Holy One, was he simply going to trust in Him through all the trials and tribulations of life to look for their completion?
How about you? Have you had any words, visions, or dreams which you (absolutely) know were from the Lord? Are you possibly still waiting for “the word” from Him to come to pass? Have you been, or are you being tested, by such a prophetic word, vision, or dream?
What about some of the final words given to Ancient Israel by the Prophet Amos, which have not been completely fulfilled? Are you confident—with Amos’ proven track record—how such words will be fulfilled? The prophetic words which await fulfillment speak specifically about raising up the fallen booth of David, something the returning Jews to the Land of Israel in the past century have embraced with great faith:
“‘Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are on the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the surface of the earth, except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,’ says the LORD. ‘For behold, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all the nations as grain is sifted in a sieve, yet not the least kernel will fall on the earth. All the sinners of my people will die by the sword, who say, “Evil won’t overtake nor meet us.” In that day I will raise up the tent of David who is fallen and close up its breaches, and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old, that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name,’ says the LORD who does this. ‘Behold, the days come,’ says the LORD, ‘that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the one treading grapes him who sows seed; and sweet wine will drip from the mountains, and flow from the hills. I will bring my people Israel back from captivity, and they will rebuild the ruined cities, and inhabit them; and they will plant vineyards, and drink wine from them. They shall also make gardens, and eat their fruit. I will plant them on their land, and they will no more be plucked up out of their land which I have given them,’ says the LORD your God” (Amos 9:8-15, WMB).
Even though God had punished Israel, either of the Northern or Southern Kingdoms, scattering many into the nations of the world—ultimately in the Last Days the fallen tabernacle will be restored. Israel will return to the Promised Land in fulfillment of prophecy.
One hint that this prophecy has been in the process of fulfillment, was seen in the deliberations of James the Just at the Jerusalem Council. There was debate over what to do with the new, non-Jewish Believers turning to the God of Israel in Asia Minor. In Luke’s record of what took place, James quoted passages from Amos (quoted by Luke in their Septuagint version):
“All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. After they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, ‘Brethren, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written, “AFTER THESE THINGS I will return, AND I WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN, AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL RESTORE IT, SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, AND ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,” SAYS THE LORD, WHO MAKES THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM LONG AGO [Amos 9:11-12, LXX].[3] Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles…’” (Acts 15:12-19, NASU).
Of course, James saw more than just Amos’ prophecies being fulfilled. His remarks also included allusions to other prophetic words seen in the Tanakh (i.e., Deuteronomy 28:10; Isaiah 45:21; 63:19; Jeremiah 12:15; 14:9; Daniel 9:19). James was as convinced in his time—as we should be today—that God will ultimately fulfill His declared Word from His prophetic voices.
As we continue to approach the End of the Age and the return of Messiah Yeshua—when “in that day” or the Day of the Lord is spoken of with increasing frequency—it is incumbent upon each of us as followers of the Most High to study His Word and seek instruction from the indwelling Holy Spirit. Remember how the Comforter or the Helper, has been sent to bring us into understanding of all things spiritual, by the Father of Lights:
“Yeshua answered him, ‘If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word which you hear isn’t mine, but the Father’s who sent me. I have said these things to you while still living with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful’” (John 14:23-27, WMB).
If you encounter some visions, dreams, or prophecies which do not come from the ancient texts of Scripture, or are being distorted in order to manipulate an audience—be on guard! Some punishments for following after false gods, or serving your flesh rather than the Holy One of Israel, are articulated by Amos for time in memoriam. Those judgments have, and will in the future, take place according to Amos’ declarations.
Do you need to study various prophecies in Scripture again, being reminded how God will test each of us by His Word—whether we know it or not? It is better to know the Word so that we can avoid its judgments, than to be judged by it. Ignorance of the Word might be bliss, but the consequences of denial will not prevent the Word from testing all to whom it is directed!
NOTES
[1] Consult G.V. Smith, “Prophet: Message of the Prophets,” in Geoffrey Bromiley, ed., International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 4 vols. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988), 3:997-1000.
[2] Amos 1:3-5 (Damascus), 6-8 (Gaza), 9-10 (Tyre), 11-12 (Edom), 13-15 (Ammon); 2:1-16 (Judah and Israel).
[3] The key difference here is how the Hebrew sh’eirit Edom, was rendered by the Greek LXX as hoi kataloipoi tōn anthrōpōn, meaning “the rest of mankind/humanity.”
