Parashah : Vayeshev "And Jacob ( Yaacov ) dwelt"

Torah : Bereshit  / Genesis 37:1-40:23

HAFTORAH: Amos 2:6-3:8

Acts 7:9-16

Zechariah 2:14 (Additional Hanukkah reading)

The Parasha begins with the history of Joseph and his divine road to becoming head of his family, and second in command in Egypt.  It will take up most of the rest of the biblical text of Genesis 37 thru the end of the book. It is the longest narrative in the biblical account of our patriarchs.

We begin with Joseph as a young man blessed by GOD with exceptional wisdom and understanding, yet he will suffer many years before he is raised to his future high position.

Joseph was the favorite son of Jacob, by Rachel (Gen. 33:2,37:3,4: 1chron.5:2; John 4:5 ). The problem he had with his brothers is because of Jacob's favoritism towards him. This causes jealousy by his brothers (Gen. 37:4; Psalm 105:17). He was sold to Egypt (Gen. 37:27; 28) and falsely reported as dead by wild beasts to his father. In Egypt he is sold to Potiphar, an officer in Pharaoh's court. There he prospers for a while before he is accused falsely by Potiphar’s wife of trying to force himself upon her. He is taken to prison where, once again, he prospers and is placed in charge by the prison head (Gen. 39:40 ). While there he interprets dreams for both the butler and baker who fell out of favor by Pharaoh. The interpretation came to be true and we are left with the baker dead and the butler released, as was predicted. The butler, however,  forgot about Joseph's request to speak to Pharaoh so he would be released from his false imprisonment, as well as ask for his freedom to return to his home in the promised land.

Remember to be grateful, or thankful, to GOD for what HE has done for us in freeing us from the prison that he took us out from. For many of us the story of the forgetful butler is the same. We pray to GOD to free us from some difficulty.  Then, as time goes by and the business of our lives, whether good or life's thorns, comes along and makes us forget what freedom we were given by GOD'S direct or indirect dealing with us. We need to make sure we do not forget, like the butler.

Remember the teaching in Luke 17:11-19 where there were ten lepers who, after crying for mercy, were healed by YESHUA, yet only one came back to thank him, thus receiving the words, “Go, your faith has healed you.”

We also must remember to feel the joy and acceptance of GOD. We must always be grateful and rejoice before our GOD who is there for us as He was also there for Joseph.

Now may the GOD of peace be with us all.

SHAVUA TOV

Rabbi Z

Return to D'var Torah Menu