Mikeitz: What Dreams May Be

In a lot of good literature, ancient and modern, there is a moment of ultimate accountability. Some call it karma, retribution, just desserts, or even - oddly enough - a “come to Jesus” moment. One way or another, things come full circle. The Bible loves this type of literary device. To be sure, it is a major feature in this week’s reading. My question, therefore, isn’t so much about IF it happens (it does), but rather: when does the actual MOMENT of comeuppance occur? In our particular story, Joseph is living in Egypt and the seven years of plenty have - as predicted - been followed by seven years of Covid... sorry, I meant to say “famine.” Joseph’s family, back in Canaan, have of course been afflicted by the scarcity as well, and Jacob ultimately sends ten of his remaining eleven sons to procure food from Egypt. And I cannot help but wonder - when exactly does it hit the brothers that the decades-old prophecies have come true?

You see, years earlier, when the brothers were forced to deal with their maddeningly bratty younger sibling, who just pranced around in his multi-colored coat and tattled on them to daddy, something TRULY sent them over the edge. Joseph, that little runt, had the insufferable chutzpah to tell them that he dreamt that eleven sheaves of wheat would bow down to him, and soon after, that eleven stars AND the sun and moon would also be prostrating before him. “It isn’t bad enough that you’re a spoiled brat, the favored child, and oblivious to the pain you’re causing the rest of us... now you think you’re one day going to be our KING?!?!?” They can’t take it anymore; they throw him in a pit, and soon after sell him as a slave to nomadic merchants passing by. But that was long ago. Ancient history. In our parashah, that little punk is no more, and instead the brothers are facing Tzafenat Paneach, the grand vizier of Egypt, second-in-command to Pharaoh! And they have NO CLUE that the two are one and the same.

Joseph realizes it first. Not only because he recognizes them, even when they do not know him, but the Torah wants to link this moment back to those prophecies from way back when: “For though Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. Recalling the dreams that he had dreamt about them, Joseph said to them, ‘You are spies! You have come to see the land and it’s vulnerabilities!!” (Gen. 42:8-9) Deep down, Joseph is stunned and awed at this moment; here they are, bowing, begging, and groveling before him. Who would have ever thought?? However, just a few verses later, the Torah does something really interesting. As this powerful Egyptian lord keeps pressing them and bullying them, they recall - unprompted - what they did to Joseph! They have absolutely no idea that their long-lost, enslaved brother is standing in front of them, more powerful than any of them could EVER have imagined. Yet they turn to one another and say: “Alas, we are being punished because of our brother. We looked on at his anguish, yet paid no heed as he pleaded with us. That is why this distress has come upon us.” (v. 21) I guess that (festering...) pain wasn’t hidden too deep under the surface, was it?

But the brothers won’t actually have their “come to Jesus (Joseph?)” moment for a few more chapters. Joseph will keep them squirming for a while. When he finally reveals himself, however, I wonder how quickly the light bulbs went off over each of their heads? Or oil lamps, I suppose, if we’re being period-appropriate. That sinking realization that the eleven of us look an awful lot like bowing sheaves of wheat right now... And the point, I suppose, of all this is that we are meant to examine and reexamine ourselves as well. What we do, and say, and convey; it matters! Karma can indeed boomerang around and come flying back at us! When we put goodness and kindness into the world, it may return to us at the most unexpected - yet greatly appreciated - moments. And hurtful, vindictive things not only leave a mark on others, but may plague us too... for decades! As we prepare to launch into a new year, we can indeed begin with a clean slate. But that doesn’t erase the past, or heal wounds that were never addressed. It just means we have a new opportunity to grow, mend, feel, and learn for the future. Don’t let that precious chance go to waste.

CC images in this blog post, courtesy of:
1. Willis Lam on Wikimedia Commons
2. Rolfmueller on Wikimedia Commons
3. Nick Youngson on Alpha Stock Images
4. Pixabay.com