Parsha Miketz

(See Parsha Miketz commentary below)

From Rabbi Jack

John {17:4} (Yeshua said). "I have glorified You on the earth: I have finished the work which You gave Me to do." 

God has a special plan for each one of our lives. Psalm 139 tells us that God knew each one of us before we were even born. He tells us that He fashioned us in our mother's wombs and recorded everything about us in His special book. Yes, God has a plan for you and me and it has all been prepared and laid out before we were ever born. There was even a plan for Yeshua’s life which had to be worked out before He went to the cross.         

The key word for us to understand here is PREPARATION. We all need to be prepared by God before we can be used by God. Some people require more preparation and some less, depending on the task that God has for them and their level of spirituality. I believe that what each of us is going through in our lives right now is part of God's preparation for what He has for us in the future.  

There are three major tests, I believe, we need to pass during our preparation. There is the test of our SPIRITUALITY and the test of our MORALITY. To pass these tests we will have to give something up in our life so that we can die more to ourselves and live more to Yeshua. To do so we all need to be prepared to give something up in our lives; we all have to be prepared to suffer the discomfort of dying to ourselves so that we can receive the best that God has for us in Messiah Yeshua. Then there is the test, the extreme test of the SOUL.  

Last week I quoted Romans 8:28. I asked if you believed Romans 8:28 and for you to examine your life to see how committed you are to your belief of Romans 8:28. Does this Scripture dominate your life as God brings you through your difficult preparation period? What would have been your reaction had you been trying our hardest to please God, to live a life of righteousness only to receive as our reward physical discomfort, or perhaps illness, loss of your job, financial difficulty and loss of your good friends? Would you doubt God's promise in Romans 8:28? Would you be questioning whether being godly and righteous really paid off? Would you be giving in to temptation for the sake of your physical comfort? Would you just give up and say. “Well, what's the use of trying anymore, what’s the use of serving God anyway? What's the use of trying to be faithful to God? What's the use of trying to be righteous for God? After all, look at what God has allowed to happen to me!” Have you ever felt that way in your walk with God? Have you?? Or would you continue to do what is right despite the circumstances, all the while claiming Romans 8:28 as our personal assurance of God’s promise to work things out for your good in the end? Well then think about Romans 8:28 and be strengthened, because the God of the spirit and the body is also the God of the soul and mind. 

From Ellen
Hi Ellen here…We are in the midst of Chanukah.  A blessed time of the year whereby we rededicate our lives to Yeshua, light candles each night and eat greasy and sweet foods. Well first of all and traditionally speaking, greasy foods are eaten to represent the oil in the lamps of the eight- branch menorah known as a chanukiah.  There is so much symbolism in this later part of the Hebrew month Kislev linking it to the next month of Tevet and even extending to Shevat, the preparation of Esther's reign.  Much of what I will write to you is my speculation and may not even be fact, but all in all, I will write… 

The Hebrew months of Kislev and Tevet are winter months here in Israel.  These are difficult months with heavy rains and lots of mud but thank you Lord for the rain. As we rededicated our lives during Kislev we are blessed with the next month of Tevet.  During Tevet, spiritually speaking, we have the opportunity to pray with divine guidance for illumination in a dark world and gain holy strategy and vision from our Lord.  Remember, we have just rededicated our lives to Yeshua in all areas, and serving and worshiping are at the top of my list.  The powers and principalities of darkness have their feathers ruffled by our display of rededication, so warfare is heightened.  

As we battle through the month of Tevet with victory, we enter the month of Shevat.  This was the time of Queen Esther's entry and again there is preparation for great warfare and opposition.  The Jewish people were being set-up for annihilation as we enter the month of Adar and the feast of Purim.  But alas our God is faithful and He and His army fought for us so extinction was out of the picture.  Wait!  We are not finished as I want to show you everything in life is connected when the Lord is present!  After Purim we prepare for Passover, also filled with warfare, but also blessings as the Hebrew people and a mixed multitude crossed over from death to life in the spirit.  We then have a fifty-day period to get filled and meet on Shavuot to receive more of the Ruach haKodesh, the Holy Spirit and the Torah.   

There were months and years between all the events I mentioned, but they all are connected.  With God there are no coincidences, there is only order and balance, blessings and insight. I trust you can recognize that nothing happens by accident in our walk with the Lord! Remember, as we are obedient to Him, He will order our steps and our lives can truly be supernatural…let us pray,  

"Heavenly Abba, give us a willing spirit to know Your Word, follow the narrow path and by all means…Look Up!  Amen in Yeshua." 

CLICK https://youtu.be/3YddE9BHMX8 for the Torah commentary on Parsha "Vayeshev" by Gilbert Shilaho. 

CLICK https://youtu.be/-SFySSyA2SE for the Torah commentary on “Vayeshev” by Rabbi Jack. 

CLICK https://youtu.be/n0MiOapZN2w to watch the full Shabbat Service of December 13, 2025. 

CLICK https://youtu.be/Ud8L7acJVik for the video of sermon “The Ministry of Angels” by Rabbi Jack. 

 

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Titus 2:13…while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua.”

Yours in Messiah Yeshua,

Shabbat Shalom

Jack & Ellen

D’VAR TORAH

MIKETZ – AT THE END OF

B’RESHEET – (GENESIS) 41.1-44.17

This week’s Parsha begins with Pharaoh of Egypt having two dreams that defied the ability of those in his court to interpret. 

Genesis {41:9} "Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying, "I remember my faults today."

I have often wondered what the chief baker did that merited him to be executed by Pharaoh. Why was he hanged and the chief butler, who obviously also offended the king, was restored to his position without any question? What was different about these two men? Was one man’s crime more serious than the other? We are not told, we only know from the chief butler’s explanation that they both landed up in prison. Have you ever noticed that you can tell a person’s character by the little things they say; by what comes out of their mouth? It could be something insignificant that slides out in the midst of a conversation, but by it you get a hint, a little insight, of what is truly in that person’s heart.

Mark {7:20-23} "And He was saying, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. {21} "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, {22} deeds of coveting {and} wickedness, {as well as} deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride {and} foolishness. {23} "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man."

I have asked God to train my ears to hear the subtle remarks that proceed from people’s mouths so that I might have insight into their personality, character and more importantly, into their relationship with God. Most of us do not even realize what we say when we babble on, but with the insight of God we can hear into the heart of the speaker. The chief butler was self-absorbed after being released from prison and restored to his position before Pharaoh. It is understandable, seeing he had been released with his head still on his shoulders. But he still should have remembered Joseph as soon as he was released. However, when he finally remembered, the five words he spoke to Pharaoh gave us insight into this man’s heart, insight which I believe speaks volumes about his character and perhaps explains the difference between him and the chief baker. He said:

"I remember my faults today….”

The chief butler certainly did not have to phrase his sentence this way. He could have tried to score points with Pharaoh and make himself look good by just saying, “I know someone, king, who can interpret your dream,” but he did not. Instead, he did what was right and apologized before the king and before the Lord that he was at fault. He confessed that he had done wrong and in so doing he wronged Joseph by not remembering him sooner; two years had passed since his imprisonment.

The chief butler showed himself to be an honest man and did not grandstand in front of Pharaoh to make himself look important. He may have been guilty of having a bad memory but at least he was not self-serving, self-aggrandizing, selfish and self-centered, traits which may have been evident in the chief baker. I know I am speculating here, however, there had to be a difference between the two men. Judging from the humble, repentant heart of the chief butler, evident by the words that came out of his heart, one can only think that such a heart was not present in the chief baker.

What comes out of your heart? When someone with godly insight hears you

speak, will you be identified with the chief butler or the chief baker? 

It is important for you to know because your life could one day depend on it.