Sedra of the week: Mikeitz

Yosef has been taken from his beloved father, wrongly accused and falsely imprisoned. He has languished in an ancient Egyptian jail for more than 10 years. Suddenly, there is a rush of activity. Pharoah has had a strange dream and is told that Yosef will be able to interpret it for him. Yosef is hurriedly rushed out of jail, washed, shaved, clothed and brought before Pharoah, the king of Egypt.

Pharoah tells Yosef that he needs him to interpret his dream. Imagine the moment. This is Yosef’s one big chance, his get-out-of jail-free card. Surely Yosef will respond with: “Yes sir, anything you want.” Especially when we consider that as great as this moment’s ability to help him is, so is its potential to break him – one wrong word before Pharaoh could instantly end his life.

However, Yosef’s response is powerfully shocking. He states: “It is not I, but God who will answer to Pharoah’s welfare.” (Genesis 41:15) Even with his life hanging in the balance, Yosef has the courage to stand before Pharoah, a man who is considered a god in his own right among the ancient Egyptians, and mention the overarching power of the Jewish God. Incredibly, Pharoah does not bat an eyelid at this surprising response and launches into an account of his dreams.

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As Yosef interprets the dreams, he repeatedly mentions God, reminding Pharoah who is really in charge. Pharoah responds, asking for a ‘man of God’ to implement Yosef’s plan. It seems that the Egyptian king has taken Yosef’s monotheistic message on board.

Yosef’s courageous statement is not only a message to ancient Egypt, but a reminder for us, in every generation, that we must never be afraid to remember that it is God who is
in charge.

υ Pnina Savery is a United Synagogue educator