Vayechi
Genesis 47:28 - 50:26

    Today our Torah portion concludes the story of Joseph as well as the book of Genesis.   Many are familiar with the words of Joseph to his brothers “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”  We have already mentioned this from the perspective of the Providence of God.  Providence means that  God is at work through all human circumstances.  But there is another way to look at this. The Book of Genesis is all about failure.  That sounds like a harsh oversimplification but it is true.  Adam and Eve failed when they ate the forbidden fruit. Noah’s son Ham failed when he disrespected his father.  Abraham failed when he had a child with Hagar. Isaac failed when he lied to Abimilech.  Jacob failed in his deception. The sons of Jacob failed when they tried to do away with Joseph. Judah in particular failed when he had an elicit relationship with Tamar. Joseph also failed in the sense that he married a foreign woman - the daughter of a pagan cleric.  All of the principal people failed!!!  If Genesis were written in order to show the greatness of the   people they would all be flawless superheroes.  But we see them as flawed human beings.  From this point of view, those beautiful words of Joseph  mean more than the fact that God is in control of all circumstances. It also means that God does not look for perfect people to use to accomplish his purposes. He looks for faithful people.  None of us are indispensable. God can accomplish His will any way He desires!   On the other hand, God desires to have fellowship with us. He desires to make Himself known to us and he desires to meet our needs. He desires to have us join Him in working out His plans. The requirement from us in this regard is not perfection but rather faithfulness to Him.  

     This should serve as great comfort for all of us.  God does not look for flawless people. He looks for people that love Him and desire to serve Him.  In the New Covenant this is quite evident when you consider the disciples that Yeshua chose. If I were Him, I would have chosen the leadership of the Pharisees and the leadership of the Sadduces. After al, they were the people of influence. If they became followers, there would be more of a chance that the mission of Yeshua would be successful.  But looks what actually happened! He chose a bunch of “losers”. Poor fishermen, tax collectors, zealots and a few other nobodies. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,(1Cor 1:27).  The disciples were faithful men who left everything to follow the Messiah.  That is what He asks of us.  Today, God is still working out his promise plan. Just like Abraham and others in Genesis He desires to use faithful people. As we approach a new year, may we become the kind of people that God will use to further His work in this world. Remember God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to him. Shabbat shalom!

Howard Silverman