Descargar Miketz porción de la torá

It is customary for religiously practicing Jews to read from an annual cycle of weekly Old Testament readings called Torah Portions. This is said to be the same reading schedule that was taught every Sabbath in the Synagogues during the times of Jesus in the first century.

As Christians exploring the Torah portion cycle we must maintain a balance of including the Old Testament, the prophets, and the gospels in our weekly bible study.

Torah Portion Name and Readings-

Miketz is the Hebrew word for “at the end”, this is the name for the weekly Torah Portion reading for the Genesis starting in chapter 41 verse 1 and going through chapter 44 and verse 17.

Prophets and New Testament-

It is also important to point out that along with the Torah portion readings and teachings, there are what are called Haftarah portions which are readings from the Bible in the books of the prophets.  This week’s haftarah readings come from the book of 1 Kings in chapter 3 verse 15 through chapter 4 verse 1. 

The gospel readings incorporated with the weekly Torah portion readings come from the book of Luke in chapter 24 with verses 13 through 29.

Torah Portion Overview-
In this Torah portion we get more of the story of Joseph.  The story starts with Pharaoh having two dreams; one about seven fat cows and seven thin cows, and the other about seven plump and good ears of grain that are swallowed up by seven thin ears.  He is disturbed and no one can interpret the dreams.  The chief cupbearer remembers Joseph and suggests him to Pharaoh.  Joseph gives glory to God and explains that He interprets dreams.  He then interprets the dreams for him and offers wise council.  The Pharaoh can see the wisdom in Joseph and so appoints him as the second over Egypt underneath himself.  Joseph undersees the rulership of Egypt and the storage of grain during the years of plenty.  His Egyptian wife gave birth to Manasseh and Ephraim.  Then Egypt and the lands around enter into the seven years of famine.  Joseph sells grain to the Egyptians and all the surrounding nations.  Thus it comes to be that his brothers travel to Egypt in order to purchase grain.  Joseph immediately recognizes them although they do not recognize him.  Joseph wishing to test them arrests Simeon and sends his brothers away with grain and secretly returns their money as well, telling them to bring Benjamin back with them.  Returning to their land they ask their father if they can take Benjamin back (in order to set Simeon free) but Jacob refuses to send him.  Eventually they eat through all their grain and Jacob sends his sons, including Benjamin, to Egypt.  He grieves because he believes they will all die.  Joseph restores Simeon and eats with his brothers.  They are amazed when they realize that they have been seated in their birth order.  Benjamin is given five times more food than his brothers.  The brothers stay the night and leave the next day.  Joseph sends his brothers away with the grain and secretly adds their money again.  However, this time he instructs that his divination cup be sent as well in the sack of Benjamin.  He sends his steward to confront them and the cup is found with Benjamin.  Believing that their sins have found them out, the brothers return with Benjamin to try to save him from certain death or slavery. 

Today I want to focus on the story of Joseph and his brothers.  The last Torah Portion covered Josephs dreams and the jealousy that his brothers felt (Genesis 37:5-11).  Not only was Joseph loved more by his father, and treated with special garments, possibly meaning that he would lead the family, but Joseph boasted about his dreams that his brothers would bow to him!  His brothers hate him and sell him into slavery.  We know the rest of the story, how Joseph wouldn’t betray his master and so was framed for raping his master’s wife.  This time he was thrown into prison but found favor and helped watch over the other prisoners.  Around thirteen years after his dream he finds himself standing before Pharoah as a second to him.  After seven more years the famine strikes and Joseph finds himself standing before his brothers, although they don’t recognize him.  He proceeds to test them.  He throws Simeon in prison and sends them away.  Will they abandon Simeon as they abandoned him?  Well, it seems that they will, as they are gone until they have used up all their grain.  Understanding that they must return only with Benjamin they persuade their father to let him go with them, Judah standing in as surety for him.  So he tests them again.  This time he frames Benjamin for stealing his divination cup and watches to see what they will do.  Instead of betraying Benjamin his brothers explain the plight of their father and ask to take Benjamin’s place.  At last Joseph knows the truth, his brothers have changed.  Not only does he hear them discussing their guilt, but he can see that they want to save Benjamin even at their own cost. 

In the next Torah Portion we get to see the reunion of the family and the restoration of Joseph to his brothers.  But here I have a question.  What would you do if your brothers betrayed you?  What would you do if they sold you as a slave?  This is the worst kind of betrayal, because your family should be the place where you are safe.  I’m sure that Joseph wrestled with bitterness and regret.  But in the end he came to forgive his brothers, even telling them that it was God’s will!  Forgiveness, Joseph responded with forgiveness.  Would we do the same?  Honestly, if I were betrayed by my family, sold as a slave, then thrown into prison I would have such a hard time forgiving!  I can’t imagine struggling through that!  Yet we are indeed told to forgive!

 

NRSVue Matthew 18:21-22

“Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.”

 

This forgiveness is driven from love.  We are to love our brother just as we love God.

 

NRSVue 1 John 4:21

“The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”

 

NRSVue John 15:12

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

 

Yet who is our brother and sister?  It is our family, yes, but it is also other believers.  In fact Jesus made it clear that when the Bible speaks about “loving our brother”, it is speaking primarily about loving our fellow believers. 

 

NRSVue Matthew 12:46–50

“While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him.  Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!  For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

 

Just like Joseph’s brothers, we can sometimes have a problem with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  I often see this when discussing the Bible or theology with other believers.  I have never seen such hatred and unkindness as when I disagree with someone about the Bible on Facebook.  It’s as if all compassion, love, and gentleness leave the conversation.  Indeed, I have been guilty of this myself.  However it is times that this that we need to show compassion, forgiveness, and kindness.  Indeed, if we do not love our brother the Bible says that we do not know God. 

 

NRSVue 1 John 3:10

“The children of God and the children of the devil are revealed in this way: all who do not do what is right are not from God, nor are those who do not love a brother or sister.”

 

As we enter into the holiday times, when it is easy to get frustrated with those around us who disagree on things like the feasts or Christmas and Easter, we must remember to walk in love and gentleness with each other. 

Torah Portion Scriptural Highlights-

• Genesis 41:1 The Pharaoh has two dreams and Joseph interprets them and is set over Egypt under Pharaoh

• Genesis 41:47 Egypt has seven years of plenty and stores up food

• Genesis 41:50 Manasseh and Ephraim are born

• Genesis 41:54 Egypt and other lands have seven years of famine and Joseph sold grain to the Egyptians and other nations 

• Genesis 42:1 Jacob’s sons (without Benjamin) go to buy grain in Egypt 

• Genesis 42:24 Joseph arrests Simeon and sends his brothers away with grain and secretly returns their money as well as telling them to bring Benjamin back with them.  They ask to take Benjamin back but Jacob refuses to send him

• Genesis 43:1 Jacob sends his sons including Benjamin back but believes they will all die

• Genesis 43:16 Joseph restores Simeon and eats with his brothers in birth order, giving five times more food to his brother Benjamin

• Genesis 44:1 Joseph sends his brothers away with the grain, their money and his divination cup and then sends his steward to “catch” them and the cup is found with Benjamin

• Genesis 44:13 The brothers return with Benjamin to try to save him

Haftarah (Prophets) Scriptural Highlights-

• 1 Kings 3:15 Solomon offers sacrifices to thank God for His promise of wisdom and throws a feast

• 1 Kings 3:16 Solomon judges between two prostitutes about a baby

• 1 Kings 4:1 King Solomon reigns over all Israel and Azariah the son of Zadok is High Priest

Brit (Gospel) Scriptural Highlights-

• Luke 24:13 Jesus walks with two disciples on the way to Emmaus and explains the verses about Him in the Torah and Prophets

Bibliography

• Douglas Mangum, Miles Custis, and Wendy Widder, Genesis 12–50, Lexham Research Commentaries (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2013), Ge 42:1–44:34.

To Watch an overview of this week’s Torah Portion CLICK HERE