Mikketz (And Then It Came to Pass) B’resheet/Genesis 41:1-44:17
Haftorah Reading: I Kings 3:15-4:1
1.In Genesis 42:21-22 the brothers blamed their plight on how they treated Joseph when they threw him in the pit. Were the brothers remorseful for what they had done and for their hatred and jealousy they felt toward their younger brother? Is this a picture of true repentance? Is it okay to just repent for the results of our actions or must we go deeper? What is true repentance and true forgiveness?
Genesis 42: 21-22, “They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us. 22 Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.”
Is this true repentance?
We all make mistakes.
Is it enough to just repent for the results or must we go deeper to actually fully repent?
Admitting we have sinned is very hard for us to do.
Sometimes we minimize our guilt as much as we can.
Reuven was calling his brothers to be honest about what they had done.
What is true repentance?
This is taken from the book “When the Church Harms G-d’s People”, by Diane Langberg
True repentance: For habitual sin repentance can be a slow process. It is more than a few words of apology. Paul, in II Corinthians 7:10 described repentance as an intensely G-d-ward sorrow. Often our repentance is more for those around us who listen to our words than directed toward G-d. Obadiah Sedgwick described in his book The Anatomy of Secret Sins, described something called superficial repentance which is no repentance at all. This repentance is only for things one has done that others can see. Also the superficial person regrets their loss of position or loss of reputation. This person cares more about being spared consequences. They do not open themselves up to the conviction of the Holy Spirit or G-d’s word.
When the Heavenly Father convicts us of sin (as opposed to our simply getting caught) it is not our relationships with others that trouble us primarily but our relationship with G-d Almighty.
Oswald Chambers teaches that repentance destroys the lust of self-vindication. Repentance is a work begun and carried out by the Spirit of G-d. It is far more than words emotions and promises. Paul says in Galatians 6:1, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.”
True repentance is when confronted with the opportunity to commit the same sin we refuse and do something different. Judah suggested selling Joseph to a passing caravan. When confronted with leaving Benjamin behind. He chose a different path. He offered himself to take Benjamin’s place.
What is true forgiveness?
Quote: Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.
To forgive means to set aside, let go, put away or pardon.
Forgiving a debt first requires an accounting of what is owed.
G-d’s forgiveness begins with an account of what we owe.
It does not come naturally to us to forgive as G-d forgives.
Sometimes we choose to hate or seek revenge instead of forgiving.
Forgiveness does not mean relabeling something to make it more palatable.
Forgiveness was perfectly demonstrated at the cross.
Forgiveness does not compromise the holiness of G-d.
It does not deny truth.
It is costly beyond words.
At the cross G-d took our debt and paid it with His son Yeshua.
He did not deny the debt or say it did not matter.
It did matter and it had to be paid or justice would have been compromised.
G-d as the offended One paid the debt.
Do we have to forgive someone who has not repented?
Key aspects of biblical forgiveness:
- Releasing the debt: You cancel the obligation the person owes you, like tearing up a promissory note, refusing to hold it against them anymore.
- Not excusing the sin: Forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending the wrong didn’t happen
- A choice to let go: It’s a conscious act to stop nurturing anger, bitterness, and a victim mentality, allowing you freedom and peace.
- Boundless mercy:
Yeshua taught to forgive not just seven times, but seventy times seven (unlimited times), reflecting G-d’s infinite mercy.
2.What important spiritual lessons can we learn from Judah and from Joseph in this Torah portion?
When we look at Judah’s life what do we see?
Genesis 37:26-27 He was the brother who proposed selling Joseph to the Midianites.
Genesis 38:1 He is described as “going down,”
He intermarried with Canaanite women.
Lost two of his sons because of sin,
He went into a prostitute, who unknown to him was his daughter-in-law Tamar.
This reads like a man in a moral decline.
We see change in Judah in Genesis 38:26.
He said of Tamar, “She is more righteous than I.”
This is the first time in Torah we read of a person admitting they were in the wrong.
The primary Hebrew word for “confess” is yadah.
It means admitting fault and also means to praise or give thanks or agree with G-d.
Judah’s name comes from the same root word yadah.
What can we learn from all this?
We all make mistakes. We all sin.
There was only one perfect One and it was not us.
The question is what do we do with that sin.
Judah teaches us the importance of confession.
What did Joseph teach us by the way he lived his life?
Joseph had many trials to face as a young person.
Through it all he kept his eyes on G-d.
If we keep our eyes on G-d we will not get sidetracked when difficulties come.
Vayigash (And He Approached) B’resheet/Gen 44:18-47:27
1.Is there evidence in this Torah portion that Joseph was able to reframe what happened to him and no longer saw himself as a victim? Can you think of a personal example where you were able to reframe something in your own life?
What was Joseph’s attitude while he was in prison?
Genesis 40:14-15, “But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”
What was Joseph’s attitude when he spoke to his brothers?
Genesis 45:4-8, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that G-d sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But G-d sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but G-d. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.”
This is the first recorded moment in history in which one human being forgave another.
Joseph changed his thinking about what happened in his life.
Reframing doesn’t change the facts but it changes the way we perceive them.
Facts:
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers.
He did sit in prison for something he did not do.
He was separated from his family for twenty-two years.
We would understand completely if he felt resentment for his brothers and wanted revenge. Maybe he even wanted to kill them such as Esau wanted to kill Jacob.
But he didn’t. He looked back and saw G-d was at work in his painful experiences.
Joseph reframed his entire past.
He no longer saw himself as a man wronged by his brothers.
He saw himself as a man with a mission from G-d.
Everything that had happened to him was in G-d’s plan.
He was to save a region from starvation
He was to provide for his family.
This single act of reframing allowed Joseph to live without a burning sense of anger. It enabled him to forgive his brothers and be reconciled with them.
Can anyone share an experience in your life where you were able to reframe a negative experience and see it as G-d working in your life?