“Then, starting with Moshe and all the prophets, he (Yeshua) explained to them the things that can be found throughout the Tanakh concerning Himself” – Luke 24:27.

“Pharaoh was enraged at his two courtiers…” – Genesis 40:2. God uses the wrath of His enemies against them by increasing the power and influence of His people through it.  So, Joseph was ultimately raised to greatness through the initial wrath of his brothers, followed by Potiphar’s wrath, followed indirectly by Pharoah’s wrath of his courtiers (castrates-eunuchs).  In other instances, Nebuchadnezzar’s rage was the vehicle with which Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego gained in stature when they walked out of the furnace unharmed.  And ultimately, Satan’s rage against Yeshua played a part in Satan’s own defeat and Yeshua’s complete victory. 

Like vengeance, wrath is not suitable for men to exercise.  It belongs to God’s realm only.  Like vengeance, God alone has the authority to exhibit and execute wrath.  In contrast to all the biblical references concerning God’s wrath:

“Refrain from anger and turn from wrath…it leads only to evil” – Psalm 37:8.

“But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these; anger, rage, malice      slander, and filthy language from your lips” – Colossians 3:8.

If our enemies exhibit wrath towards us they’ve already lost.  Our victory will only be lessened if we respond in kind.  

Torah is making a point when it states the vocations of Pharaoh’s courtiers.  It is probable that the two Courtier’s were the supervisors of cupbearers and bakers for Pharaoh. 

“…That the cupbearer of the King of Egypt and the baker transgressed against their master…the king of Egypt” – Genesis 40:1.

“Pharaoh was enraged at his two courtiers, the Chamberlain of the Cupbearers and the Chamberlain of the Bakers” – Genesis 40:2. Thus, the offense to Pharaoh was in nature related to the duties of a cupbearer and baker, and that their supervisors were held responsible.  Oral tradition suggests that a fly was found in Pharaoh’s wine goblet while a pebble or a stone was found in Pharaoh’s bread.  This is an interesting idea when coupled with the numerous instances in scripture when “wine and bread” have been used metaphorically  (not least of which is Yeshua’s usage of “wine and bread.”   (I think there’s more here but I’m not getting it).

“The Chamberlain of the Butchers (executioners) appointed Joseph to be with them” – Gen 40 2. Even though the text states the Chamberlain of the Butchers appointed Joseph to be with the newly imprisoned courtiers, it is possible that the Butcher’s supervisor, Potiphar (captain of the guard) desired his fallen colleagues to be looked after by his old entrusted servant, Joseph.

Joseph’s long incarceration with political prisoners gave Joseph the opportunity to learn the workings of Egyptian government.  This would prove invaluable when Joseph would later control the Egyptian government.  Likewise, Yeshua’s long “earthly incarceration” gave Him the opportunity to learn obedience which resulted in His victory:

“Even though he was the Son, he learned obedience through his sufferings.  And after he had been brought to the goal, he became the source of eternal deliverance to all who obey him” – Hebrews 5:8-9. Just as as all of Egypt would later obey Joseph, and just as Joseph’s family was delivered from the famine by trusting Joseph, all of creation will obey Yeshua, and Yeshua’s family (those who trust in Yeshua) will be delivered from the wrath of God.

“The two of them dreamt a dream, each one had his dream on the same night…” – Genesis 40:5. What made these dreams so special is the fact that both prisoners, who were sent to prison at the same time, together had powerful dreams on the same night. An added possibility is that oral tradition states (Oanaim l’Torah) that the evening of these dreams was Rosh HaShanah (New Year) and that even gentiles of that time gave special attention to dreams on that day as being prophetic for the coming year.

The interpretation with details and severity needed to be explained by Joseph.  Likewise, Yeshua answered all the questions brought to Him. 

“And they said to him, ‘We dreamt a dream, but there is no interpreter for it.’  So Joseph said to them, ‘Do not interpretations belong to God?’” – Genesis 40:8. Presumably, these Egyptian officials would have sought a professional Egyptian soothsayer had they not been incarcerated.  At this, Joseph discredits such trust in gentile metaphysical thought and exclaims, “Do not interpretations belong to God?”  It’s as if Joseph meant, “Do not interpretations belong to God alone?”  At this, the officials change their attitude and place their trust not in false religious thought but upon their mere servant, Joseph, and the Hebrew religion/God he represents.  Likewise, gentiles have been abandoning their false religious ideologies for centuries to place their trust in Yeshua, and His Father whom He represents.

“Then the Chamberlain of the Cupbearers recounted his dream to Joseph and said to him ‘In my dream --- Behold!  There was a grapevine in front of me!  On the grapevine were three tendrils.  And it was as though it budded --- its blossoms bloomed and it’s clusters ripened into grapes.  And pharaoh’s cup was in my hand and I took the grapes, pressed them into pharaoh’s cup, and I placed the cup on Pharaoh’s palm” – Genesis 40:8-11. The three tendrils (branches) represented 3 days that would elapse until the Cupbearer would rise out of prison and return to the King.  Likewise, Yeshua rose after 3 days in the grave and returned to the King of the Universe.  I would suggest that the three tendrils also represent 3 total years that would elapse until Joseph would rise out of prison and ultimately rule Egypt.  I would further suggest that the three tendrils may also represent 3 thousand years until the Messiah is revealed on earth.

“…If you please, mention me to Pharaoh, then you would get me out of this building.  For indeed I was kidnaped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing for them to have put me in the pit” – Genesis 40:14-15. Joseph declares his innocence even though he has suffered tribulations one would expect a guilty person to endure.  Being kidnapped (or exiled) from the Promised Land is something Yahweh does to his people when they break His laws.  Being put in a prison usually means one is guilty of breaking civil laws.  But, in both cases, Joseph is suffering the penalties without committing the crimes.  Likewise, sinless Yeshua suffered like a criminal; suffering from a civil authority (Rome), a religious authority (Israel’s chief priests), and ultimately from Yahweh Himself as he poured the sins of the world onto the Messiah’s dying body. 

Unlike Joseph, Yeshua’s faith persevered flawlessly through His trials, as he never solicited help from men.  Like the other biblical figures who typify Yeshua, Joseph’s minor flaws are exposed revealing that the real Messiah was still to come.

Also, the entire Hebrew nation could have repeated Joseph’s words to the cupbearer.  “If you please Moses, mention us to Pharaoh, then you would get us out of this land.  For we were enslaved away from our land, and have done nothing for the Egyptians to have put us in this pit of slavery.”

“Behold!  Three wicker baskets were on my head.  And in the uppermost basket were all kinds of Pharaoh’s food --- baker’s handiwork --- and the birds were eating them from the basket above my head” – Genesis 40:16-17. Besides the immediate interpretation given by Joseph, I’d like to suggest that the three wicker baskets also represent three successive gentile kingdoms that will subjugate Israel.  Namely, the Babylonian empire followed by the Greek empire and lastly the Roman Empire.  As the birds were eating from the top basket (which represents Rome) in the baker’s dream, we’re told in the book of Revelation that the birds will geourge on the flesh of the fallen soldiers of the revived Roman Empire.

I would also suggest that the top basket containing the baker’s handiwork might also represent Yeshua Messiah (bread of life).  This top basket was supported by two others.  Those baskets represent the Law and the Prophets.  So, Yeshua, attested by the law and the prophets, will be scattered (His gospel) around the world (shown by the birds eating the bread from the top basket).  

Why was the baker to be put to death, and the cupbearer to live?  Both had, seemingly, equally enraged Pharaoh.  Let me suggest that this alludes to God’s sovereignty and choice.  We are all guilty of sin against the supreme King.  We have all enraged God with our sin.  And as the cupbearer was freed and the baker was executed, we who by God’s choice have been given faith in Yeshua are freed, while the others are condemned.  Now, today’s unbeliever could be tomorrow’s believer.  We do not know whom God will choose or when he will make His choice.  So, we cannot be arrogant against specific people.  But we can know how the ultimate process works so that God gets all the glory.

I think the Cupbearer exhibited faith in the man of God (Joseph) where the Baker was merely impressed with signs and wonders; or in this case, Joseph’s masterful interpretation of a dream.  The cupbearer responded to Joseph’s exclamation that dreams belong to the Hebrew God, while the baker responded only at the sight of a miracle (Joseph’s interpretation).  These two kinds of people are seen in the gospels: those who respond by faith, and those who respond to a show.

I also think we may be getting a glimpse of Yeshua’s crucifixion here as well.  Just as the cupbearer, who expressed faith in the man of God (Joseph) would be freed to later serve his new king (Joseph), so too at the crucifixion did one of the robbers, who expressed faith in the man of God (Yeshua) enter into paradise to serve His new King (Yeshua Messiah.)  Both the baker in Joseph’s story and the second robber in Yeshua’s story perished. 

In fact, it could be said that Joseph’s error in seeking the help of the cupbearer upon his release was the error of reading someone else’ lines.  To parallel the crucifixion scene, the cupbearer ought to be asking Joseph to remember him when Joseph becomes King and enters the Egyptian kingdom --- not the other way around.  Joseph’s failure meant that this parallel to Christ was reversed.  If we were to look at the errors of all the men of God in the tenakh, we may discover that the most serious aspect of such errors was the alteration of their parallel to Yeshua Messiah.

I’ve seen the movie, “Prince of Egypt” one and a half times.  The “Prince of Egypt” is a cartoon movie and an “adaptation” to the Exodus story.  The first time I saw it, I was visiting at my parents house who ordered the movie on pay per view.  I felt obligated to watch the whole movie even though I was furious throughout it.  All I knew, was that they were changing a biblical story and that it must be blasphemy.  Over a year later, I watched ½ of the movie again with my family and I realized why changing the Torah was a really bad idea.  All the types and parallels that God had designed into the story were obliterated.  The Torah teaches many things, but Its main purpose must be to teach about Yeshua Messiah.

“Then, starting with Moshe and all the prophets, he (Yeshua) explained to them the things that can be found throughout the Tanakh concerning Himself” – Luke 24:27.

In our Haftarah section, we see language in Amos that typified Joseph’s experience:

“…She took captive whole communities and sold them to Edom” – Amos 1:1.

Joseph’s captivity became the Israelites captivity.  Yeshua’s captivity became his disciples’ captivity when they are persecuted for their faith in Yeshua. 

“…she sold whole communities of captives to Edom, disregarding a treaty of brotherhood” – Amos 1:9.

“…Because he pursued his brother with a sword, stifling all compassion, because his anger raged continually and his fury flamed unchecked” – Amos 1:11.

Joseph’s brothers wanted to kill Joseph.  Yeshua’s brothers by race (Hebrews) wanted to kill Yeshua. 

“Her king will go into exile, he and his officials together, says the Lord” – Amos 1:15.

First Joseph went into exile, followed by his Hebrew nation.  Yeshua first went into exile, (Coming from Heaven to Earth) followed by His disciples (upon faith in Yeshua, this earth becomes our exile as we await the day we will be with the Lord).

“They sell the righteous for silver…” – Amos 2:6. Both Joseph and Yeshua were sold for silver.  Yeshua’s price was 10 pieces of silver more than Joseph’s price.

“To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine” – Psalm 33:19.

Joseph was delivered from death (from his brothers) and kept alive (with all of Egypt) during the famine.  Yeshua was literally delivered from death when he arose.  Prior to that, Yeshua was kept alive during his 40 day “famine” (or fast) in the desert. 

Israel’s spiritual condition is referred to in Revelation:

“…and their dead bodies will lie in the main street of the great city whose name, to reflect its spiritual condition, is Sodom and Egypt, the city were their Lord was executed on a stake” – Revelation 11:8. 

The Egyptians were pagan, ignorant of the knowledge of the true God.  In contrast, the Hebrews were chosen to covenant into a personal relationship with the true God.  However, the Hebrews acted as though they were Egyptians when they sold Joseph into slavery.  The Hebrews were acting like Egyptians when Amos prophesied to them.  And the Hebrews acted as though they were Egyptians when they beat their Messiah and handed Him over to be tortured and killed by the Romans.  To this day, Israel looks more like a pagan nation than the Promised Land.  Likewise, we gentiles who have been grafted in by faith, living among pagans in our exile, are tasked daily not to emulate those who have no knowledge of the true God.  We wait the day when the twelve tribes will be grafted back into Yeshua Messiah and God’s law will be written on all our hearts. 

- CB

Readings:

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Who chose us from among all peoples by giving us Your Torah.

Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the Torah."

Reader 1*  Amen. ¹Then it came about after these things, the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. ² Pharaoh was furious with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. ³ So he put them in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, in the jail, the same place where Joseph was imprisoned.

Reader 2*  Amen. ⁴ The captain of the bodyguard put Joseph in charge of them, and he took care of them; and they were in confinement for some time. ⁵ Then the cupbearer and the baker for the king of Egypt, who were confined in jail, both had a dream the same night, each man with his own dream and each dream with its own interpretation. ⁶ When Joseph came to them in the morning and observed them, behold, they were dejected.

Reader 3*  Amen. ⁷ He asked Pharaoh's officials who were with him in confinement in his master's house, "Why are your faces so sad today?" ⁸ Then they said to him, "We have had a dream and there is no one to interpret it." Then Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell it to me, please."

Reader 4*  Amen. ⁹ So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, "In my dream, behold, there was a vine in front of me; ¹⁰ and on the vine were three branches. And as it was budding, its blossoms came out, and its clusters produced ripe grapes. ¹¹ "Now Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; so I took the grapes and squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I put the cup into Pharaoh's hand."

Reader 5*  Amen. ¹² Then Joseph said to him, "This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days; ¹³ within three more days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office; and you will put Pharaoh's cup into his hand according to your former custom when you were his cupbearer. ¹⁴ "Only keep me in mind when it goes well with you, and please do me a kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house. ¹⁵ "For I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon."

Reader 6*  Amen. ¹⁶ When the chief baker saw that he had interpreted favorably, he said to Joseph, "I also saw in my dream, and behold, there were three baskets of white bread on my head; ¹⁷ and in the top basket there were some of all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head." ¹⁸ Then Joseph answered and said, "This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days; ¹⁹ within three more days Pharaoh will lift up your head from you and will hang you on a tree, and the birds will eat your flesh off you."

Reader 7*  Amen. ²⁰ Thus it came about on the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. ²¹ He restored the chief cupbearer to his office, and he put the cup into Pharaoh's hand; ²² but he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had interpreted to them. ²³ Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Who in giving us Yeshua, the Living Torah, has planted everlasting life in our midst.

Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the Torah."

______________________

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Who selected good prophets, delighting in their words which were spoken truthfully.

Blessed are You, Yahweh, Who chose the Torah, Your servant Moses, Your people Israel,

and the prophets of truth and righteousness."

Amos 1:3 – 2:6

Reader 8*  Amen. ³ Thus says Yahweh, "For three transgressions of Damascus and for four I will not revoke its punishment, bcause they threshed Gilead with implements of sharp iron. ⁴ So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael ad it will consume the citadels of Ben-hadad. ⁵ I will also break the gate bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the valley of Aven, and him who holds the scepter, from Beth-eden; so the people of Aram will go exiled to Kir," Says Yahweh.

⁶ Thus says Yahweh, "For three transgressions of Gaza and for four I will not revoke its punishment, because they deported an entire population to deliver it up to Edom. ⁷ So I will send fire upon the wall of Gaza and it will consume her citadels. ⁸ I will also cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him who holds the scepter, from Ashkelon; I will even unleash My power upon Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines will perish," Says Lord Yahweh.

⁹ Thus says Yahweh, "For three transgressions of Tyre and for four I will not revoke its punishment, because they delivered up an entire population to Edom and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood. ¹⁰ So I will send fire upon the wall of Tyre and it will consume her citadels."

¹¹ Thus says Yahweh, "For three transgressions of Edom and for four I will not revoke its punishment, because he pursued his brother with the sword, while he stifled his compassion; his anger also tore continually, and he maintained his fury forever. ¹² So I will send fire upon Teman and it will consume the citadels of Bozrah."

Reader 9*  Amen. ¹³ Thus says Yahweh, "For three transgressions of the sons of Ammon and for four I will not revoke its punishment, because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their borders. ¹⁴ So I will kindle a fire on the wall of Rabbah and it will consume her citadels amid war cries on the day of battle, and a storm on the day of tempest. ¹⁵ Their king will go into exile, he and his princes together," says Yahweh.

^2:1 Thus says Yahweh, "For three transgressions of Moab and for four I will not revoke its punishment, because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime. ² So I will send fire upon Moab and it will consume the citadels of Kerioth; and Moab will die amid tumult, with war cries and the sound of a trumpet. ³ I will also cut off the judge from her midst and slay all her princes with him," says Yahweh.

⁴ Thus says Yahweh, "For three transgressions of Judah and for four I will not revoke its punishment, because they rejected the law of Yahweh and have not kept His statutes; their lies also have led them astray, those after which their fathers walked. ⁵ So I will send fire upon Judah and it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem."

⁶ Thus says Yahweh, "For three transgressions of Israel and for four I will not revoke its punishment, because they sell the righteous for money and the needy for a pair of sandals. . .”

Psalm 33    (To be sung.)

¹ Sing for joy in Yahweh, O you righteous ones; praise is becoming to the upright. ² Give thanks to Yahweh with the lyre; sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings. ³ Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy. ⁴ For the word of Yahweh is upright, and all His work is done in faithfulness. ⁵ He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the lovingkindness of Yahweh. ⁶ By the word of Yahweh the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host. ⁷ He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deeps in storehouses. ⁸ Let all the earth fear Yahweh; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. ⁹ For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. ¹⁰ Yahweh nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. ¹¹ The counsel of Yahweh stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation. ¹² Blessed is the nation whose God is Yahweh, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. ¹³ Yahweh looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men; ¹⁴ from His dwelling place He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, ¹⁵ He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works. ¹⁶ The king is not saved by a mighty army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength. ¹⁷ A horse is a false hope for victory; nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength. ¹⁸ Behold, the eye of Yahweh is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness, ¹⁹ To deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine. ²⁰ Our soul waits for Yahweh; He is our help and our shield. ²¹ For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name. ²² Let Your lovingkindness, O Yahweh, be upon us, according as we have hoped in You.

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Reader 10*  Amen. ⁶ Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷ Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; ⁹ as it is written, "He scattered abroad, He gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever." ¹⁰ Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; ¹¹ you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. ¹² For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. ¹³ Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, ¹⁴ while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Rock of Ages, righteous throughout all generations.

You are the faithful God, promising and then performing, speaking and then fulfilling,

for all Your words are true and righteous.

Faithful are You, Yahweh our God, and faithful are Your words,

for no word of Yours shall remain unfulfilled;

You are a faithful and merciful God and King.

Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, Who are faithful in fulfilling all Your words."