Torah reading Miketz (מקץ): Genesis 41:1–44:17

Readings

Genesis 41:1–44:17
1Kings 3:15–4:1
Psalm 22
Matthew 27:15–46
Luke 24:13–29

Miketz discussions

The following are notes and recordings of studies by Hallel Fellowship teachers on passages from and discussions on Miketz.

Trials and transcendence: Joseph’s divine evolution beyond envy (Genesis 41–44)

Daniel December 16, 2023

The section of the biblical story of Joseph (Yosef) covered in the Torah reading מִקֵּץ Miketz (“he settled,” Genesis 41:1–44:17) explores greed and jealousy in human nature. In this study, we see that Yosef’s testing of his brothers demonstrated their positive transformation and growth beyond greed.

Why it’s better to be open to what Heaven has planned (Genesis 41–44; Luke 1; Matthew 27)

Jeff December 24, 2022

The startling rise of Joseph to multicolored coat and in-your-face-dreams fame then seemingly inglorious fall into slavery and imprisonment in Egypt seems a cruel lot for the favored son of Israel. But the Torah passage מִקֵּץ Miketz (Gen. 41:1–44:17) further reveals why his journey occupies such a large section of Scripture and foreshadows Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus). Together with Miriam’s “Magnificat” prayer (Luke 1:26–56) at Chanukah, we can see seeking Heaven’s wisdom can point us to the purpose in seeming purposelessness.

Joseph & Messiah reveal what true repentance looks like (Genesis 42–44)

Daniel December 4, 2021

The strange imagery of seven emaciated cows and seven fat ones in Pharaoh’s dreams that Joseph interpreted — with Heaven’s help — grab one’s attention in the Torah reading מקץ Miketz (“from the end,” Gen. 41:1–44:17). But beyond the lessons of Heaven’s supreme wisdom and the importance of preparation for lean times is the key teachings from Joseph’s intrigue-filled reconciliation with the brothers who sold him into slavery. In this we see key attributes to look for when Heaven’s Son, Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ) seeks to reconcile with His people — and the world.

Matthew 24 and Chanukah: Why Yeshua warned believers to run to the hills

Jeff December 8, 2018

Why Yeshua (Jesus) went to the Temple on Chanukah, aka the Festival of Dedication and the Festival of Lights, wrapped in the history recorded in 1-4 Maccabees. Those are prequels of sorts to the Gospels. You see why the Romans are in the Holy Land, why Yeshua warned in Matthew 24 that in the last days God’s people will have to “run to the hills,” and what the “abomination of desolation” (Dan. 11:31; 12:11; Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:14) actually looks like.

Chanukah: Dare to be a Daniel, Joseph, Judas Maccabeus

Jeff December 16, 2017

Yosef (Joseph) a betrayed brother turned slave turned prime minister in Mitzraim (Egypt). Daniel a war captive turned wise man turned second to an emperor in Babylon. יהודה המכבי Yehudah ha-Makabi (Judas Maccabeus) a priest of Yisrael turned leader of a successful insurrection against the Seleucid empire’s campaign of forced conversion. Yeshua ha-Mashiakh (Jesus the Christ) in the Temple during the Festival of Dedication. These four accounts may seem to quite disjointed, but the conjunction of the Torah reading מקצ Miketz/Miqetz (Genesis 41:1-44:14, “from the end”) and the celebration of Chanukah/Hannukah helps underscore that ongoing lessons from both help us…

Genesis 37–40: Joseph and Judah’s school of hard knocks

Daniel December 9, 2017

God prepared two self-centered “brats” — Yosef (Joseph) and Yehudah (Judah) — and their descendants to become the saviors of their families. Yosef was a tattle-tale and a bit of a braggart, but Yehudah was willing to throw weaker, younger people to the wolves, either figuratively or literally to obtain a higher status in his society. God really cares about how you treat other people, especially those who are weaker and less fortunate. In the Torah reading וישב Vayeshev (Genesis 37–40), we learn from Yosef and Yehudah their life lessons the hard way.

"Joseph, Overseer of Pharaoh's Granaries" by Sir Lawrence Ima-Tadema, 1874

Genesis 41:1-44:17: Yitzkhak’s and Yosef’s extended passion play

Daniel December 31, 2016

Torah section Miketz (“from the end,” Genesis 41:1-44:17) is a passion play of the Mashiakh. The suffering Yosef puts his brothers through was not only a recollection of Yosef’s own sufferings but also a foreshadowing of the suffering of the future Anointed One.

God gives Yosef the meaning of the dreams exalts him to No. 2 in Mitzraim; Yosef gets command of Egypt, a new name

The life of Yosef had many parallels with the mission of Yeshua the Mashiakh, such as being No. 2 in Mitzraim and hidden from his brothers. Can we ask God for such vision?

Yosef foretells of seven famine years in Mitzraim

Yosef rose quickly from forgotten prisoner to second in command of Mitzraim, all over two strange visions Pharaoh had of fat and famished cows then plump and withered heads of grain. Behind all this we see the Creator’s hand at work, teaching Pharaoh, Mitzraim and us about where we should put our trust.

Messianic connection between pharaoh and Yosef

Messianic figures in the Bible aren’t one-to-one representations of the Mashiakh, but the messianic figures of the pharaoh of Mitzraim and Yosef do give us a glimpse of the relationship between the Father and the Mashiakh.

Genesis 42

Sons of Israel meet the Prime Minister of Egypt

The tables are starting to turn against Yosef’s brothers. God, through Yosef, is revealing their sin against Yosef and they are confronted with their unrighteousness and start the process of repentence.

Mashiakh’s hidden meeting with Israel foretold through Yosef

When the brothers of Yosef came to Mitzraim, even the second time, they did not recognize him at all. He was concealed from them behind a new name, Zaphenath-paneakh, and new appearance, shaved and in garb of his office. Similarly, Yeshua the Mashiakh is known as Jesus Christ the Church-maker in the Gentile world, and He is hidden from the rest of the descendants of Israel.

Broken hearts bring the heart of God to tears

The life of Yosef is a shadow of the life of the Mashiakh in a number of ways. In the latter half of Genesis 42, we see another shadow: Yosef was hidden from his brothers yet wanted to weep when he heard their penitence over the death they thought they had set in motion for him by selling him into slavery. That’s the repentance God seeks from Israel for the treatment of God’s Mashiakh. The prophets and apostles foretell that day will come.

Yosef foreshadows ‘Savior of the World’

We’ve already explored how Yosef’s life parallels that of Yeshua the Mashiakh. In part 3 of this study of Genesis 42, we explore the another parallel in the ancient Egyptian name of Yosef and in the three days of imprisonment of his brothers.

Genesis 43

Yosef meets his brothers again

Ya’akov’s family finally ran out of Egyptian grain and had little choice but to return to Egypt to get more. The 10 brothers had a duty to fulfill beyond their father’s call to get more grain: get Simeon released from prison. Ben Yamin was the only key to obtain that release, but Ya’akov did not want to let him go. Once Ya’akov acquiesced, the 10 brothers went to Egypt. Yosef celebrated their arrival with a feast rather than another interrogation. “The man” was full of surprises.

Ben-Yamin appears before Yosef in Mitzraim

The account of Yosef and his once-estranged brothers reaches a crescendo in Genesis 43, as those 10 return to Mitzraim with Ben Yamin, Yosef’s younger brother. There are a number of parallels between Yosef’s life and that of Yeshua the Mashiakh in this part of the account.

Genesis 44

Yosef slips his silver cup to Ben-Yamin

In Genesis 43, Yosef hosted a large banquet for his brothers and household staff. At the time of the account in Genesis 44, Yosef was still hidden from his brothers. He is the second in command of Mitzraim, one of the world’s most powerful nations of the period. This account of the actions of Pharaoh and Yosef is a parable of what the Father and the Son planned to do to and through a group of believers in God, a group called Israel.

Haftarah: 1Kings 3:15–4:1

Wisdom of Solomon; Is the Mashiakh in the story of the two harlots?

The account of Solomon’s decision on which prostitute should get the baby is known even by those who haven’t read the Bible. More than a legend, the event has several parallels to the life of Mashiakh and His relationship with Israel.