Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] A lone candle burned before Pharaoh in Egypt. Centuries later, that same light burned on the battlefield with Judah Maccabee. What's the connection between these two events that happened thousands of years apart? Join me to discover the single thread that binds these two flames together in this week's five Minute Torah.
[00:00:24] Shalom and blessings from Shalom Macon, the place where disciples of Yeshua learn to connect and grow. I'm Darren, and before I get into the five minutes of my five minute Torah commentary, let's cover a few quick facts about this week's Torah portion. This week we are studying the 10th portion of the new Torah cycle. We are in the portion of Miketes Genesis 41:1 through 4417. And here are the three things that you need to know about it. Number one. Pharaoh's dreams. God's Prophetic warning In this week's Torah portion, Pharaoh wakes up deeply disturbed by a pair of dreams, and he demands an interpretation. But none of Egypt's wise men can help him. Then the cupbearer suddenly remembers Joseph, the Hebrew who interpreted his dream in prison. And Joseph is brought before the king. Pharaoh asks if he can interpret dreams, and in true humiliation, Joseph replies that interpretations belong to God, not to him. Still, he listens carefully as Pharaoh recounts his visions. Seven fat cows devoured by seven gaunt ones and seven full heads of grain consumed by by seven thin ones. God grants Joseph understanding, and he advises Pharaoh how to respond. Number two. Joseph rises to power. From slave to savior. Joseph explains that Pharaoh's dreams foretell seven years of abundance followed by seven years of devastating famine. God has shown Pharaoh what will soon take place so that he can prepare. Pharaoh agrees with Joseph's counsel and immediately elevates him to to oversee all these preparations, making Joseph second only to Pharaoh in all of Egypt. Overnight, Joseph is lifted from the lowest point of his life to the highest position in the land. God positions him not only to preserve Egypt, but ultimately to bring salvation to the entire region and to be reunited with his family. And number three, Joseph's brothers. A secret family reunion. When the famine overwhelms the land, Jacob sends all of his sons except Benjamin to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph recognizes his brothers the moment arrive, but they do not recognize him. Years have passed and he now appears every bit the Egyptian official. Joseph devises a plan to test their character. He speaks harshly, even accusing them of being spies, yet secretly returns their money in their grain sacks. Eventually, the brothers must return to Egypt, this time with Benjamin as Joseph required and unknowingly walk straight into Joseph's final test. The portion ends on a cliffhanger as Joseph declares that Benjamin will remain as his slave, leaving us wondering what his true intentions are. Hey. The new Torah cycle has begun. Are you ready? The Five Minute Torah series is your guide to uncovering Messianic connections within each week's Torah portion. Pulling together the Torah and the teachings of the apostolic scriptures. In just five minutes, you'll discover how the Torah connects to your life as a disciple of Yeshua with with insights that are both practical and deeply spiritual. The Five Minute Torah books are the weekly Torah portion with a Messianic connection in just five minutes. Don't wait. Order yours today.
[00:03:29] This week's Torah commentary is called A Candle in the Darkness and comes from a book, Five Minute Torah, Volume one.
[00:03:36] Nearly every year, the Torah portion of Miketz is read in conjunction with the celebration of Hanukkah. Can we find any parallel or insight in this week's Torah portion that relates to Hanukkah? A few rabbis have brought insight into this correlation. Our Torah portion tells us and Pharaoh said to Joseph, I have had a dream and there is no one who can interpret it. I've heard it said of you that when you hear a dream, you can interpret it. Joseph answered Pharaoh, it is not me. God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer. This is Genesis 41, 15, 16. In this instance, we read that Joseph is brought before Pharaoh to interpret his dream. Pharaoh begins his conversation with Joseph by giving him credit for being able to interpret dreams. Rather than taking credit himself, Joseph deflects this statement and gives proper recognition to God as the true interpreter of dreams. Joseph is a true example of humility. In him we find a firm reliance upon God. He realizes that everything that happens to him, every success and every failure, is in the hands of of heaven. He is only the vessel through which the Creator can do his will. He shined his light before Pharaoh, a single candle amidst the darkness of Egypt. We see this in the leadership of Judah Maccabee as well. And Judah and his brethren saw that evils were multiplied and that the armies approached to their borders. And they knew the orders the King had given to destroy the people and utterly abolish them. And they said, every man to his neighbor, let us raise up the low condition of our people, and let us fight for our people and our sanctuary. And the assembly was gathered that they might be ready for battle, and that they might pray and ask mercy and compassion. This is first Maccabees, chapter 3, verses 42, 44 as he led his small band of freedom fighters and guerrilla warfare tactics against the Greek armies. He knew that their success was entirely in the hands of heaven. The Greeks outnumbered them and outpowered them, but they knew that victory was not entirely dependent upon themselves. Yes, they would have to do their part, but God was the ultimate determination in the outcome. They chose therefore to put their trust in Him. It is an easy matter for many to be shut up in the hands of a few. And there's no difference in the sight of the God of Heaven to deliver with a great multitude or with a small company. For the success of war is not in the multitude of the army, but strength comes from heaven. They come against us with an insolent multitude and with prospect to destroy us and our wives and our children and to take our spoils. But we will fight for our lives and our laws, and the Lord himself will overthrow them before our face. But as for you, fear them not. This is first Maccabees 31822 the result was that their small and tattered armies were able to bring victory to their people against a great and mighty foe. The Maccabees could have commemorated their victory over the mighty Greek armies the through a traditional victory March year after year. They could have had a monument built in their name. They could have done a number of things that would have been self focused and for their own glory. But they chose to do something that would bring honor to the one who had given them the victory. They chose to have an eight day celebration of the miracles that God performed for them. They chose to bring light into the world through a yearly reminder of the rededication of God's holy house. We call that reminder Hanukkah. When we light the Hanukkah lights this week, let us remember all of the miracles that our God has done for us. Joseph continually remembered and gave glory to the one whom it was due. So did the Maccabees. Let us do the same and thereby shine some light into this dark world around us. When Yeshua warned his disciples about vain repetition, was he criticizing Jewish liturgy? Most people think so, but is that really what he was saying? If you want to understand what Yeshua really meant and how Jewish prayer is designed to draw us into the presence of the King, watch our latest lunch and learn class on Jewish prayer that my wife and I recently taught together, just click on the link right here to get started.
