Parasha 39: The Way Up Is Down: When Adonai Lifts the Lowly

 

The Way Up Is Down: When Adonai Lifts the Lowly

-- T O R A H   P O R T I O N --

Introduction:

Have you noticed how blessings are often preceded by seasons of suffering? How do you respond in those moments of trial?

Last week, Pharaoh had two dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for him. Finally, the cupbearer remembered Joseph, and he told Pharaoh how Joseph had interpreted his dream and that it came to pass just as he said. So Pharaoh called Joseph from the dungeon; he shaved, changed his clothes, and met Pharaoh.

Pharaoh began to share his dreams, and Joseph immediately told Pharaoh that his two dreams were one. There would be seven years of great plenty, but after that, seven years of famine would follow. Joseph gave Pharaoh instructions on how to deal with the famine, and he listened.

Our Torah portion deals with how Joseph experienced blessings after his sufferings:

Pharaoh appointed Joseph to rule over all the land of Egypt (vv. 39–41) – Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” When Joseph suggested to Pharaoh to select a discerning and wise man to rule over the land, Pharaoh did not think twice. To him, only Joseph was qualified for the mission of working out the good plan. After two years of being forgotten by the cupbearer, we see here that from the dungeon, Joseph was now on the throne. It's worth the wait, in other words—just like when Abraham and Jacob waited to have a son. Joseph was not seeking any higher position. In fact, he merely suggested something to Pharaoh, but God exalted him in perfect time. His coat of many colors had now been replaced by a royal garment. Pharaoh also gave him a signet ring, a gold chain around his neck, and a new name—a total transformation and new beginning for the favorite son of Jacob.

Joseph had a family (vv. 50–52) – And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah, priest of On, bore to him. Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.” And the name of the second he called Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

Since Joseph had been away from his immediate family, this time Pharaoh gave him Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah, priest of On, to be his wife, and they had two sons. Joseph called the firstborn Manasseh, meaning “Forget,” and the second he called Ephraim, which means “Fruitful.” This family of Joseph was very controversial because of the origin of Asenath. Some say that she was an ethnic Egyptian but must have converted to marry Joseph. Others say that she was the daughter of Dinah and was left outside Egypt’s wall and found and raised by Potiphar. But I believe the reason why Adonai YHVH allowed Joseph to have a family inside Egypt is because He had a wonderful plan for the Gentiles. We have to remember that even Boaz married Ruth the Moabite, and Ruth was mentioned in the genealogy of Yeshua (Matthew 1:1–17).

Joseph became an instrument for his family to survive the famine (42:1–17) –

When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us so that we may live and not die.” Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him. So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also. Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.

The famine reached Canaan, and Jacob, as a father, heard that there was grain in Egypt. He told his sons to go there and buy food so they may live and not die. The good thing is Joseph was in Egypt, and he was second in command. Let's move forward to Genesis 47:7–8: “So God sent me here ahead of you. This was to make sure you have some descendants left on earth. And it was to keep you alive in an amazing way. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. God has made me the highest officer of the king of Egypt. I am in charge of his palace. I am the master of all the land of Egypt.”

He was governor over the land (v.6), and part of this blessing to Joseph was that his dream about the stars and moon bowing down to him came true when his brothers came.

We can learn two things from our Torah portion:

Our trials are God's tool to mold us – For a while, we face many trials, but these trials will mold us so we can see that our faith is genuine, as it can't grow without a challenge. The grapefruit needs to be crushed in order to get the best juice. And so are we—trials will squeeze us so the best of us will come out. Isaiah 48:10 says, “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” Instead of seeing trials as hindrances, we can choose to observe them as tools for strength and growth. In exploring the storms and trials of life, let’s remember that each trial is an avenue to deepen our faith and improve our patience. Soon we will realize that everything happens for a reason—to glorify God.

Truly, there is a blessing after the suffering – If we focus only on one corner of the pain of suffering in our lives, we will be anxious and weak. But if we look at the positive side of it, we will know that it is also a blessing. In fact, there is a saying that there's always a rainbow after the rain. Suffering is temporary. It’s just like how we sleep tonight, and tomorrow will be a new day. Our God Adonai YHVH is powerful and bigger than our sufferings. In His perfect time, our sufferings will turn into blessings—just like Joseph, from the dungeon to the throne. Psalm 30:6b says, “Sorrow may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.”

Adonai does not forget those who wait in faith; from the lowest pit, He lifts up kings.

Have you been in a season of waiting, wondering if God sees your suffering? Like Joseph, don’t seek the throne—seek faithfulness. In time, Adonai exalts the humble. This week, ask: Am I being faithful even while waiting? Choose to trust Him while you're still in the "dungeon" season.

-- H A F T A R A H P O R T I O N --

 

Our Haftarah is about the reign of Jesse’s Offspring. In verse 1, the prophet Isaiah used the word "Rod" from Jesse, the father of David, and I believe this Rod is Messiah Yeshua. To support this, I want to use Isaiah 9:6–7: “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” In verse 2 of our Haftarah, it says that the Spirit of Adonai YHVH shall rest upon Him—wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear. That’s why in Luke 2:52, Yeshua increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men. These characteristics qualify Yeshua to rule justly. Our Haftarah is a clear indication that Yeshua will come.

In verses 6–9, Yeshua's kingdom can be seen as peaceful. Isaiah used the reconciliation of animals that contradict each other to show us that shalom will prevail when Yeshua reigns during the Millennial Kingdom. For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Him, as the waters cover the sea.

The Spirit of YHVH prepares the King, and the knowledge of Him prepares the world for peace.

As you wait for Messiah’s return and His reign of perfect peace, is His Spirit already ruling in your heart? Isaiah describes the traits of Messiah (wisdom, understanding, fear of YHVH)—traits we are called to grow in. Are these traits visible in your life today? Let His Spirit shape you now.

-- APOSTOLIC P O R T I O N --

In the Apostolic portion, the talmidim of Yeshua were arguing as to who would be the greatest among them. Then Yeshua gave them two things about true greatness. First, their faith should be like the faith of a child—being dependent and knowing how to trust. Second, they need to deny themselves. In verse 48, Yeshua said that whoever receives the child in His name receives Him.

Meaning, His talmidim should be willing to obey His teachings and be ready to suffer—even to die—for His sake. In short, true greatness is achieved by humility.

True greatness is found in the low place—where the humble serve, the proud stumble, and the King Himself stoops.

Greatness in the Kingdom is not about power or prestige, but about humility and serving others. Yeshua lifted the child to reveal the posture of greatness. Do you welcome the lowly, or do you compete for position? Try to serve someone who cannot repay you—do it in Yeshua’s name.

The connection of our parasha is about greatness. In the Torah, after the sufferings of Joseph, he became great and ruled in the land of Egypt. In the Haftarah, the Great Messiah Yeshua will reign from the rod of Jesse, the father of David. In the Apostolic portion, Yeshua told His talmidim that whoever is the least among them will be great.

Returning to my introduction… just like Joseph, we have trials and sufferings in life. But these things have a good purpose, and that is for us to learn how to trust God, wait for His perfect timing, and know that soon, He will lift us up and turn our sufferings into blessings.

Before Adonai crowns you with honor, He clothes you in humility.

Just as Joseph was lifted from the dungeon to the throne, and just as Yeshua will one day reign in righteousness and peace from Jerusalem, we too are being prepared for a greater calling. But before the exaltation comes the testing. Before the crown comes the crushing.

1 Peter 1:6–7

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith—being more precious than gold, which is perishable—even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Messiah Yeshua.”

Your trials are not meaningless. They are preparation for a purpose greater than yourself: to reflect Yeshua and participate in His kingdom work. Stay faithful. Our Master is coming very soon.

Shabbat Shalom,

Topher

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-- S O U R C E S --

thetorah.com

blogs.timeofisrael.com

jwa.org

heartbeatinternational.org

jtsa.edu

wikipedia.org

desiringgod.org

The MacArthur Study Bible