Parashat Miketz: For God’s Sake!!
Our journey with Joseph continues this week as Parashat Miketz (Genesis 41:1-44:17) takes us into his life’s next chapter. We first hear about Pharaoh’s two troubling dreams: seven sturdy, healthy cows eaten by seven gaunt cows; and then, seven healthy ears of corn devoured by seven thin, scorched ears of corn. None of Pharaoh’s wisest advisors is able to help decipher the meaning of the dreams. However, the chief cupbearer, with whom Joseph was imprisoned in Egypt, tells the Pharaoh about Joseph’s dream interpretation skills.
When Joseph is finally brought before Pharaoh, Pharaoh asks him to interpret his strange dreams. Quickly, Joseph corrects the Pharaoh’s assumption:
וַיַּ֨עַן יוֹסֵ֧ף אֶת־פַּרְעֹ֛ה לֵאמֹ֖ר בִּלְעָדָ֑י אֱלֹהִ֕ים יַעֲנֶ֖ה אֶת־שְׁל֥וֹם פַּרְעֹֽה׃
Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “Not I! God will see to Pharaoh’s welfare.” (Gen 41:16)
This act – both brave as it disagrees with Pharaoh, and humble as it attributes his skills to the Divine – seems so different from the Joseph we first met at the start of last week’s parsha. The arrogant, bratty teenager now appears more measured, mature, and wise. We see much greater potential in him, and God’s gift of dream interpretation also adds merit and credibility to his status. It is not Joseph who is the master dream interpreter; rather, it is God working through Joseph. To put it another way: God chose Joseph for this special talent – and now we must strive to understand why.
Our special Haftarah portion (Zechariah 2:14-4:7), for Shabbat Chanukah, reiterates the message of God working through humanity to shape the course of events. The most obvious connection with Chanukah is the mention of the seven-branched menorah in the Temple. Yet it is another quote which reminds us of the role of the hand of God in our people’s story:
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י מָ֥ה אַתָּ֖ה רֹאֶ֑ה ויאמר [וָאֹמַ֡ר] רָאִ֣יתִי ׀ וְהִנֵּ֣ה מְנוֹרַת֩ זָהָ֨ב כֻּלָּ֜הּ וְגֻלָּ֣הּ עַל־רֹאשָׁ֗הּ וְשִׁבְעָ֤ה נֵרֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ עָלֶ֔יהָ שִׁבְעָ֤ה וְשִׁבְעָה֙ מֽוּצָק֔וֹת לַנֵּר֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־רֹאשָֽׁהּ׃
He said to me, “What do you see?” And I answered, “I see a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl above it. The lamps on it are seven in number, and the lamps above it have seven pipes
and by it are two olive trees, one on the right of the bowl and one on its left.”
I, in turn, asked the angel who talked with me, “What do those things mean, my lord?”
Do you not know what those things mean?” asked the angel who talked with me; and I said, “No, my lord.”
Then he explained to me as follows: “This is the word of the Eternal to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit—said the Eternal of Hosts. (Zech 4:2-6)
The prophet, Zechariah, lived during the period of return to Israel following the Babylonian exile. The Persian ruler, Cyrus, allowed the Jews to return, and the work on the second Temple was now beginning. Zechariah’s words to Zerubbabel, the local Judean governor, remind him that his political power will not lead to the Temple’s restoration. Instead, it is God’s power that will bring the project to fruition.
Together, dear Scrollers, let’s discuss this theme – how much of our lives to we ascribe to our own sense of will, determination, and choices? And how much do we ascribe to God? Are our talents or skills evidence of our own grit or did God plant them within us? Are there differences in which events or incidents we attach to each category? Conversely, how might we discern if we are living contrary to God’s will, or “out of tune?”
I look forward to studying with you this Shabbat. Chag Urim Sameach and Shabbat Shalom!
