Torah Portion of the Week
Building Character through the Themes of the Weekly Torah Portion
וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ שְׁנָתַיִם יָמִים וּפַרְעֹה חֹלֵם וְהִנֵּה עֹמֵד עַל־הַיְאֹר׃
Vai-hi mi-ketz sh’na-ta-yim ya-mim u-Far-oh cho-lem v’hi-neh o-med al–hai-or.
And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the Nile.
Genesis 41:1
Mikeitz means “at the end.” Mikeitz begins by giving a descriptive narrative about Pharaoh’s two dreams—nightmares—along with the interpretations given by Joseph. As a result of interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph was made viceroy of Egypt—and that quickly, he went from the prison to the palace. The Almighty had orchestrated every step of his life and set him up to be a leader.
Because Joseph was known for interpreting dreams, God caused Pharaoh to dream so that Joseph would be called upon. Pharaoh dreamed because of Joseph—because God put within him the ability to interpret dreams. So when He wanted to advance Joseph to viceroy of Egypt, He gave Pharaoh the need to find someone to interpret his dreams.
Like Joseph, God has given you an ability, a skill set, and when He wants to expose you and take you to a higher position, He makes someone else in need of that ability, that skill set. Realize that someone else is in need of the ability that you have been given.
Effort and Divine Intervention
Two years prior to interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph had accurately interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s chief steward and baker. In an attempt to secure his freedom, Joseph asked the steward to intercede on his behalf with Pharaoh. But the steward forgot about Joseph, and he remained in prison until God divinely intervened two years later by giving Pharaoh himself a dream.
Remaining in prison for an additional two years could have broken Joseph’s confidence in his abilities to the point where he no longer wanted to make an effort to use them. He had interpreted a dream for a fellow prisoner, thinking he was helping him out, but then he was forgotten. As Joseph sat in jail, he probably wondered if any of his abilities would ever be able to save him from where he had been for such a long time. It may have seemed to him that his dreams of becoming a great and powerful ruler would never happen (see Gen. 37:5–11).
Joseph silently learned that perfect effort on his part alone would not free him to pursue his dreams. It would take his efforts (interpreting the steward’s and baker’s dreams, and pleading for freedom) along with Divine intervention (God giving Pharaoh a dream that needed interpretation) to free him from prison.
Working Together With God
Have you ever been at a place in your life where you questioned your abilities and where they have gotten you? Sometimes you might feel like your abilities haven’t taken you anywhere, or that they’ve been overlooked and forgotten. Sometimes you may feel like the dreams you’ve had no longer seem attainable. But don’t give up on yourself. Success requires patience and effort. At the end of the nightmares, dreams come true.
At the right time, God gave Joseph the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities to the one who would appoint him as viceroy of Egypt. Likewise, the ability that has been inside of you comes out when a need arises and you meet that need. And that need only comes by Divine intervention. Nothing can be achieved without our efforts; but our efforts can achieve nothing without the help of God.
Pronunciation Guide for Transliterated Hebrew Words
| a | [a] as in arm |
| ai | [ai] as in Thailand |
| e | [e] as in red |
| ei | [ei] as in eight |
| i | [i] as in ski |
| o | [o] as in score |
| oi | [oi] as in oil |
| u | [u] as in rule |
| ui | [ui] as in gluing |
| ch/kh | [ch] as in the Scottish loch |
| g | [g] as in good (not as in giant) |
| tz | [ts] as in hats |
| ‘ | short “eh” or “uh” sound |
The Hebrew Scriptures in this text have been derived from the Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC), and the English translation is based off of the JPS 1917 Tanakh.
Simchat Torah Beit Midrash®
