In this week’s study, Parashat Miketz (Bereshit / Genesis 41:1-44:17), Pharaoh has two dreams that deeply disturb him and he seeks a man who can interpret his dreams (41:1-13). Pharaoh calls for Yoseph (Joseph) and asks him to interpret the dream. Yoseph replies וַיַּעַן יוֹסֵף אֶת-פַּרְעֹה לֵאמֹר בִּלְעָדָי אֱלֹהִים יַעֲנֶה אֶת-שְׁלוֹם פַּרְעֹה saying “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” Note here that Yoseph says that only God can give an answer of Shalom (שְׁלוֹם, peace) and then Yoseph gives Pharaoh the interpretation from God (41:16-38). As a result, Pharaoh places all the power of Mitzrayim (Egypt) into Yoseph’s hands (41:39-46). The seven years of plenty come and Yoseph stores away the grain (41:46-53) then the seven years of famine comes and everyone buys food from Yoseph (41:54-42:6) including his brothers. Yoseph recognizes his brothers and tests them and accuses them of being spies (42:7-15) and places them in jail for 3 days. Yoseph keeps Simeon and allows the other brothers to return home to fetch their brother Benjamin (42:16-38). This week’s Parashah ends with the brothers returning to Mitzrayim with Benjamin, they speak to Yoseph and retrieve their brother Simeon, have dinner, and begin making their journey back home with more grain (43:1-34). Yoseph tricks them placing his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack of grain (44:1-17). When the brothers returned to bring their brother Benjamin to Mitzrayim they grieved their father Yisrael (Yaakov) and Yaakov prays to the God of his father Yitzchak (Isaac) and Avraham. As Yisrael sends his children back to Mitzrayim (Egypt) he prays for his children saying וְאֵל שַׁדַּי יִתֵּן לָכֶם רַחֲמִים לִפְנֵי הָאִישׁ וְשִׁלַּח לָכֶם אֶת-אֲחִיכֶם אַחֵר וְאֶת-בִּנְיָמִין וַאֲנִי כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁכֹלְתִּי שָׁכָלְתִּי calling upon the name of God as “El Shaddai” (אֵל שַׁדַּי) recognizing the all sufficiency of God. Today, do we recognize God as אֵל שַׁדַּי in our lives like we should? Read More here.
