Mikkeitz
At the end
“To Him Be the Glory”
Genesis 41:1-44:17
1 Kings 3:15-4:1
excerpted from TorahScope, Volume I
This week’s parashah includes a very important verse which should immediately focus our attention on what God was accomplishing through the life of Joseph, when he was asked to interpret the dreams Pharaoh was having:
“Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, ‘It isn’t in me. God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace’” (Genesis 41:16, WMB).
Mikkeitz allows each of us, once again, to witness the sovereign will of the Creator take its course. The sons of Jacob/Israel were once more called upon to be the principal actors in a real life drama which has been preserved for our instruction. Here, the Holy One displayed His omniscient will over the affairs of the world. The Lord had a very special assignment for the people of the covenants, and He guaranteed that everything He desired went according to His script, by having deliberately selected the cast and arranged the unique circumstances. It is abundantly clear from the record left to us in the Scriptures, that our Father wants His people today to learn not only from the mistakes committed by the twelve sons of Jacob/Israel—but also from the instances when proper decisions were made by them.
The protagonist in this drama was none other than the noble Joseph, who had risen from the depths of ignominious incarceration. Now positioned as the vice regent of Egypt, he finally had a golden opportunity to return the same evil upon his brothers he received some twenty years earlier, when he was sold into slavery. But something was uniquely merciful about the character of Joseph. Even though he paid a costly price for his brother’s evil intentions, he did not harbor any residual bitterness toward them. Instead, he simply took the circumstances to teach them an indelible lesson. What was it about Joseph, which allowed him to extend such grace? What can modern-day Believers learn from Joseph’s example?
Dreamer of Dreams
Joseph learned as a youth that the Creator God is real. From the stories he certainly heard from his father, he concluded that He was a personal Deity who was intimately concerned about His chosen people and the promises they had been given. His experiences with dreams certainly had an impact on his life. For years, sequestered in dank prisons, he had plenty of time to relive and analyze not only these dreams, but also the consequences of sharing them with his brothers and father. Then, this dreamer of dreams discovered in confinement that he was able to interpret others’ dreams. But before listening to the dreams of others, he immediately proclaimed to the cupbearer and baker how interpretations of dreams belonged to his God:
“They said to him, ‘We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it.’ Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t interpretations belong to God? Please tell it to me’” (Genesis 40:8, WMB).
Joseph gave credit where credit was due. He told the wine steward and the baker how it was only in the power of the Creator to interpret dreams. But he did have the faith to ask about the dreams, and the Lord intervened. Joseph supernaturally received and repeated the interpretation without any regard to the pleasant or unpleasant report (Genesis 40:9-23). What he soon discovered, was that he was able to understand a voice which gave him the interpretation.
The critical thing Joseph learned during his years in prison, was that dreams and the interpretation of them can cause things to happen. For another two years (Genesis 41:1), he pondered the accuracy of his interpretation, until an opportunity to interpret another dream came forth.
Pharaoh’s Dreams
The next time Joseph was called upon to interpret something, the dreams came from the supreme ruler of Egypt, the Pharaoh himself. Now, the gifted young servant of the prison’s captain of the guard was summoned to hear and interpret the dreams. He already knew that Pharaoh had exacting demands upon his servants. Remember that the baker had been hanged for no stated reason. How was he, a foreign prisoner, going to be received in a society where the Egyptians widely disdained Semites? Without hesitation, upon being asked whether he could once again interpret a dream (Genesis 41:15), he responded with this concise statement:
“Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, ‘It isn’t in me. God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace’” (Genesis 41:16, WMB).
Joseph’s first response was to give all the glory to the God of his fathers. Joseph knew that the ability to interpret dreams was not something he could just conjure up with some mystical magic. God was pleased by Joseph’s attitude and he was given the proper interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams. At the conclusion of the interpretations, an interesting discourse follows:
“The dream was doubled to Pharaoh, because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. ‘Now therefore let Pharaoh look for a discreet and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt’s produce in the seven plenteous years. Let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and store grain under the hand of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. The food will be to supply the land against the seven years of famine, which will be in the land of Egypt; so that the land will not perish through the famine.’ 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. You shall be over my house. All my people will be ruled according to your word. Only in the throne I will be greater than you.’ Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Behold, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.’ Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it on Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in robes of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck. He made him ride in the second chariot which he had. They cried before him, ‘Bow the knee!’ He set him over all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I am Pharaoh. Without you, no man shall lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt’” (Genesis 41:32-44, WMB).
At this critical juncture, Joseph felt the liberty to go beyond just the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream, by giving him the solution to contend with the forecasted famine. Something prompted Joseph to go beyond just a strict interpretation. Was it possible that God had allowed Joseph to mature to a point in his walk with Him, that he was able to be a confident voice for Him before world leaders? It was clear from the resulting actions of Pharaoh, that the solutions suggested were things Joseph had been groomed to manage. He had been responsible for Potiphar’s home and his possessions, and had done an admirable job of managing his estate. Next, he had been put in charge of the prisoners during his tenure in jail. Apparently, he was again given favor and the affairs of the prison were maintained in proper order.
Now with the wisdom implanted by the Lord, Joseph was positioned to be elevated to the second highest political rank in Egyptian society (Genesis 41:38-49). This is a remarkable rise to power—simply with the blessings of the Most High working through a unique opportunity to interpret dreams! What should we learn from the example of Joseph’s life?
Dreams and Gifts
Perhaps you have been gifted with some spiritual endowment, which has been freely given to you by the absolute grace of the Creator. Perhaps you have the gift of prophecy, healing, discernment, wisdom, knowledge, or any of the other gifts our Father freely bestows upon His children for His work to be accomplished (1 Corinthians 12:28-31; Ephesians 4:11-13). You know what the gift is and have seen it operate through you at times. Just how do you operate with a recognizable supernatural gift? Your challenge is to follow the lead of Joseph.
First, remember that the gift has been given to you for purposes beyond your own personal aggrandizement. Instead, whenever you sense a spiritual gift working through you, be cautioned to give whatever glory is due to the Lord for His work to be accomplished through you. Too many times, men and women given gifts of prophecy or healing take advantage of their gifting, and begin to use them for manipulative purposes. Many times this results in people who eventually bring dishonor to our Heavenly Father. Too frequently this impedes, rather than advances, His Kingdom work.
Hopefully, we can each take the life of Joseph and his humble example, as the proper way to handle the spiritual giftings which are granted by the Lord to each one of us. We must use such spiritual gifts for the purposes of glorifying God, and ultimately drawing people unto Him. If you are straying in the other direction, beware!
Cry out to Him for mercy! Let Him receive the glory He alone deserves! Ask the Lord to give you the same understanding which Joseph received. Perhaps as you give God the glory for the gifting you have received, He will give you increased responsibility in handling additional tasks in His Kingdom, as others are impacted with the message of the gospel.
On the other hand, the Lord may decide to allow you to take credit for what He is doing through you. Then your reward may be here on Earth, rather than through eternity. Remember this reality: we all get the choice of when and by whom we want to be rewarded. Do you want the recognition of mere mortals, for a short season? Or would you prefer eternal favor? It takes faith to choose the latter option. Perhaps like Joseph, with some time in seclusion seeking the Father, we might be prepared to make the right choices. If nothing else, quietness before the Lord can certainly enhance our ability to more clearly hear His voice. Perhaps that is one of the reasons He has given us a day to rest and focus upon Him. Consider these questions as you ponder on Mikkeitz this Shabbat…
