Parsha Page

  Shalom
  to you,

Wellsprings of Torah,  www.TorahWellsprings.org
Rick Wills - Messianic Elder,  Mishareth@TorahWellsprings.org

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Sidra Overview

The Ancient Triennial Sedarim
Sidra 37 B'eyni, His Opinion

 

Torah, Genesis 41:37 - 42:13

    The plan pleased Pharaoh and all his courtiers. And Pharaoh said to his courtiers, “Could we find another like him, a man in whom is the spirit of God?”

    Because he has interpreted Pharaoh’s dream in a way that pleased Pharaoh, and exhibited a true relationship with Adonoi, Yosef is set up as second in command and given total authority over the land. He is given Asenath (Osnath), the daughter of the priest Poti-Fera as his wife. Rabbinic tradition claims that this is the same Poti-Fera he served as a slave; others claim that Asenath is actually the daughter of Dinah. However, the name Asenath identifies her as belonging to the goddess Neith, in this regard tradition also depicts Asenath as a convert to Judaism. Whichever is correct, Yosef has two sons, M’naseh (Cause to Forget) and Efrayim (Fruitful).

    Yoseph takes the seven years of plenty to prepare for the seven years of famine. When the famine comes it affects not only Egypt, but all the surrounding nations. Yosef begins to sell the stored food to the Egyptians, and then to those from other nations who come to buy relief from the famine. Thus Yosef begins to bring enormous wealth into the coffers of Pharaoh. Chapter 42 begins with the first trip of Ya’akov’s sons to purchase food from Egypt. Binyamin was left behind because Ya’akov feared for his safety. The ten brothers come before Yosef, even though he recognizes them, he hides his identity and treats them harshly, accusing them of being spies.

Qeriath, Isaiah 11:2-16

    Yesha’Yahu (Isaiah) begins his Messianic description of the future under Messiah, who is an ideal King. This King will have the spirit of the Lord upon Him, and will have wisdom, insight, counsel, valor, devotion and reverence for the Lord. He shall sense truth and judge the poor by His reverence for the Lord. There will be peace, even among predators and their prey. All Isra’el will be gathered from all the nations, coming back to the Land of Promise, and dominate the neighboring countries.

Da'ath, Ephesians 6:10-18

    Rav Shaul is writing to the Messianic Congregation at Ephesus, which is best known for it’s temple to Artemis (Diana). He is telling them how to live obediently to Adonoi; this passage is the well-known “Armor of God” exhortation. The passage begins by telling us to be strong in the Lord, then describes the armor of God as the way to stand firm against the schemes of Satan and his spiritual forces of evil. This armor all originates from God, and includes truth, righteousness, the Gospel of peace, faith, salvation and the Word of God.

Igarath, James 2:14-26

    Ya’akov (James) continues his letter by getting into the meaty, and sometimes controversial, subject of action versus faith. He questions what good is it for someone to claim to have faith, but does not have actions to prove it? What good does this do? He declares that faith without action is dead, and this was shown by examples of Avraham preparing to sacrifice Yitzchak, and Rahab helping the spies in Yericho. Ya’akov never says that faith is not important, or that works alone can save us. He consistently says that works that glorify Adonai and build up the congregation of believers demonstrates faith in Yeshua. Without those works, there is no completion of our faith in our lives.

Conclusion

    Torah shows Yoseph as a national leader providing for his subjects through the wisdom given by Adonoi. Qeriath describes the ideal King, who gets all wisdom and leadership from his relationship with Adonoi. Da'ath lists truth from Adonai as part of our armor, the same truth that Yoseph follows in Torah. Igarath concludes with the argument that our works must complete our faith. Those works are to be our halachah – how we live out the mitzvoth of Torah in our lives, and live in obedience to HaShem.

 

Barukh HaShem,
George Robinson