2014-2015 CYCLE
Parash 10 Mikketz (At the end) B’resheet/Genesis 41:1 to 44:17
Synopsis
– Pharoah’s dream, the famine, Israel sends his sons
to Egypt seeking food, Yoseph/Joseph deceives his brothers, Ya’akov/Jacob’s sons
return to Egypt with Benyamin/Benjamin, the sons of Israel change their ways
Theme & Message
– The focus of this lesson is that the reality of sin in all people is seen by
God, revealed by God and can only be cleansed by God. No matter how good or
righteous a person may seem on the outside, it is God who sees the truth of sin
hidden in the hearts of people. It is only by the cleansing blood of the Lamb of
God, Yeshua, that sins can be cleansed away. No matter how old the sin is, no
matter bad the sin seems to be, the blood of Yeshua has the power to clean it
and God’s heart is always willing to forgive.
TORAH LESSON
– Although Yoseph/Joseph’s family believed him to be dead or never to be
seen again, Joseph was alive and well and the Lord was preparing him for his
true great mantle. He was greatly anointed in the interpretation of
dreams even while imprisoned. When the Pharaoh was given dreams neither he nor
his other servants could interpret, it was the cupbearer who remembered
Yoseph/Joseph’s gift and told the Pharaoh about him. The Pharaoh and the
Egyptian people could see the anointing and gifting in Joseph a lifted him to a
place of honor, respect and responsibility and trust. They trusted him
with their lives, their very futures. As he prepared them for the
impending famine he faithfully accepted the great task with respect and
care. When the great famine finally struck the land, the other nations
readily had begun to seek the bread from Yoseph/Joseph’s storehouses.
Finally, it was the sons of Israel who appeared before him seeking the same
bread. His true identity was hidden from the brothers in plain sight.
They did not recognize their own flesh and blood. . The brothers along with
their father needed to prove they had learned by Yoseph/Joseph then
uses this trial to teach his brothers a valuable lesson in humility, repentance
and forgiveness showing obedience and selflessness even if it meant
risking the life of the precious young brother, Benyamin/Benjamin. For without
this willingness of sacrifice, there would be certain starvation and death for
the entire family of Israel. In the end, we see a transformed family
who recognize their sin in selling their brother Joseph, recognize
their helplessness to restore things to the way it should be, and finally
show compassion in caring more for their brother and father than for
themselves. They give over the entire situation to Joseph and depend on his
mercy.
|