The story of the Patriarch, Joseph, draws our attention to Joseph, husband of Mary. Both were addressed by God through dreams; both went to Egypt as a result of attempts on life—the patriarch Joseph himself, and Jesus.
The chapter sets the stage for God to use a victim of fraternal strife to become the means of salvation for his brothers. Joseph anticipates Jesus. The leaders of God’s own people complete the attempt on Jesus’s life by Herod years later; the scribes and Pharisees collectively have the same power and arrogance of Herod.
The betrayal of Joseph by his brothers is not unlike that of Judas, and the denial of Peter. However, the victory will come in Joseph’s fidelity to his God and Jesus’s adherence to the Father.
How does this reading touch you and move you to trust what God is doing in your life no matter what may be coming against you?
This is the first of three parts in the Torah portion for today. The remaining two parts will occur in years B and C.
The entire portion,Vayeshev (And He Settled) is as follows:
Genesis 37:1—40:23
Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Grateful to those who love me v. 21
The Saturday passages follow the reading list that Jewish people use in their synagogue worship
throughout the world. They are taken from
“The Torah,” the first five books of the Bible from Genesis to Deuteronomy
that are read each year beginning with autumn.
For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook. You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information
The Bible Through the Seasons 