VaYigash
Genesis 44:18 - 47:27

      The story of Joseph contains many marvelous lessons about trusting God in times of trouble as well  forgiveness and reconciliation.  However, we must remember that the purpose of the whole story is to show how that children of Israel became a nation. In our Torah portion for this week, the family of Jacob finally moves to Egypt . In addition to the great reunion of Joseph and his family, it is important to understand the role of Pharaoh and of Egypt in all of this.  When Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers he tells them that it was God who brought him to Egypt and it was God who gave him such a high position. In the same chapter we read of the benevolence of Pharaoh. He says “I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you shall eat the fat of the land.” (45:18).  When Jacob hears the news about Joseph he was elated and desired to see him in Egypt .  However, according to the Sages, he must have been fearful to leave Canaan . After all it was the promised land. In chapter 46 we read that before they embarked on the trip, Jacob offered sacrifices to “the God of his father Isaac”.  The Sages found it unusual that only Isaac is named in the prayer. Rashi suggests that Jacob is honoring his father by doing so. Ramban and others however see a deeper meaning. They suggest that the mention of only Isaac refers to the “fear of Isaac” a phrase used in the only other places where Jacob presents an offering to the God of Isaac (Gen. 31:42,53). Ramban suggests that Jacob says this in order that “divine judgment should not be aimed against him” (Ramban p. 542) for going to Egypt . Perhaps he was aware of the prophecy given to Abraham that his seed would be slaves in Egypt and he saw himself as the beginning of the slavery. The sacrifice that he offers is a peace offering. Perhaps Jacob was looking for fellowship with God as he embarked on this journey to Egypt .

    God responds to the peace offering with words of encouragement.  God tells Jacob that he should not be afraid to go to Egypt . God promises to go there with him and that the day would come when God would bring him out.  Jacob is specifically told that his children would become a great nation in Egypt .  It is interesting that it is not in Canaan that the sons of Israel become a nation but rather in Egypt .

     Perhaps the reason was that by dwelling in a foreign land they would be constantly reminded that they did not belong there and that they were a unique people among the Egyptians. It was during a time of great persecution that the family became a nation. Ultimately, it showed the power of God over the God of Egypt and that the God of Israel is a redeemer.  Throughout the Bible we are constantly reminded that God redeemed the Jewish people out of Egypt . The redemption of the Jewish people out of Egypt is seen as a type of the redemption that the Messiah provides.

     Egypt has been used by God several different times in history to preserve the Jewish people. Here they are preserved because of the famine in the land. Later in history, many Jews fled to Egypt to avoid slavery (how ironic) during the period of Persian dominance. As a result, the city of Alexandria Egypt became  a city rich in Jewish culture and identity. In fact it was here that the Hebrew bible was translated into Greek. This was very important because in the New Covenant, almost all of the quotes from the “Old Testament” come from the Greek translation from Egypt .

     While Egypt is an enemy of Israel most of the time, we learn that Egypt has also been used of God for good.  When the Messiah returns, God is going to bless Egypt . It is the outworking of the promise that God made to Abraham when he said “I will bless those who bless you and the one who curses you I will curse.” (Gen. 12:3). At the end, the bible says that Egypt will be struck and then healed and that they will return to the Lord. In fact the text calls Egypt “my people”.  Those nations throughout history that have persecuted the Jewish people will be judged, but afterwards they will also be blessed if they have blessed Israel .  In this Torah portion we see the concept of “mutual blessing”. Joseph blesses Egypt with his ability to prepare for the famine and to see Egypt prosper through it. Joseph and his family are then blessed by the goodness of Pharaoh and the fruitfulness of the land. It is here that Israel becomes “fruitful and multiplies.” 

      One great practical lesson to learn from this is that God will bless you and work in you life no matter where you are.  The hand of God can reach anyone anywhere. Even in Egypt ! Shabbat Shalom!

Howard Silverman