The Spark of Joseph

Shabbat Shalom, beloved.

I'm so humbled to be standing before you with the opportunity to serve by speaking words of Torah. I consider it such a blessing to be working together with you toward the unifying of the whole house of Israel.

A divrei Torah is a focused thought, normally from the weekly Torah portion. Vayeshev is an amazing portion to draw a thought from — it's full of profound wisdom. We meet Yosef the righteous. We see how the brothers mishandle each other — something we are still guilty of to this day. We meet Judah. We learn that Judah's status and even his reputation are tied to Joseph. Very importantly, the kingly — that is, the Messianic — line is established. And we get a clear example of how to bring glory to G-d, even in exile.

After spending time in the word and in prayer, I was led to speak with you on the function of Ephraim as a people group.

What I mean by function: the function of Judah is praise, prayer, and the service of G-d. The function of Ephraim is something that Judah desperately needs — whether they recognize that need or not. Not just Judah. The whole world.

Judah Is Tied to Joseph

Before I go further, I want to show you how Judah is tied to Joseph. We start in Genesis 38:1. At this point Joseph has been kidnapped and sold into slavery in Egypt. The Torah splits the Joseph narrative in half and inserts a full chapter about Judah's activities.

If this story wasn't placed within the story of Joseph, we might miss how connected they are.

And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren… and turned in to a certain Adullamite.

Genesis 38:1

First Joseph is separated from his brothers — and now we see that Judah is as well. We can understand this as both literally heading south and figuratively being demoted, looked down upon by his brothers. Adullam can mean refuge. Judah sought refuge from his brothers.

We don't see Judah mentioned with his brothers again until he takes responsibility for Benjamin. We know he was with them on the first trip down to Egypt, but he isn't named. And we could say that Judah being with his brothers again — taking responsibility for Benjamin — is what leads to Joseph being revealed.

Genesis 46:28 is also worth noting:

And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen.

Genesis 46:28

Goshen has the same root as Vayigash — to draw near. It implies relationship. Judah is sent ahead to Joseph, to a place of drawing near. The two houses moving toward each other is not a new story. It began here.

The Legacy of Jacob Is Joseph

The deeds of the fathers are signs for their descendants. This is one way we can understand toldot — often translated "generations," but it can mean legacy.

Last week's Torah portion ended with the legacy of Esau, who is Edom. His deeds are exemplified in his descendants. This week's portion opens with Jacob's legacy.

And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph.

Genesis 37:1–2

The legacy of Jacob is Joseph.

This is the answer to the might and power of Edom — his many kings and dukes. Joseph. Not Shimon and Levi. Not Judah. Not the whole unified Israel. Joseph.

Go back to Genesis 30:25. Our father Jacob knew that Joseph was his answer to Esau:

And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.

Genesis 30:25

Once Joseph was born, Jacob was prepared to return home and face his brother. He didn't leave immediately — he remained with Laban until Genesis 31:3 where G-d tells him to go. But it took Joseph for Jacob to be ready.

Now I said I was speaking on the function of Ephraim, so let me clarify quickly. Joseph was divided into two — becoming Ephraim and Manasseh. Twelve brothers became thirteen tribes. Ezekiel 37:19 makes this explicit:

The stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows.

Ezekiel 37:19

So to say it again: the answer to Esau is Ephraim. You are the solution to Edom.

This idea was in last week's haftarah. Obadiah 1:18:

And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the L-rd hath spoken it.

Obadiah 1:18

The house of Jacob: a fire — established, burning, raging, consuming. The house of Joseph: a flame. That is a flash, a spark, a point of ignition. The spark of Joseph ties directly to the main function of Ephraim.

Before I continue on the spark, one clarification. When we talk about Esau who is Edom, it's important to remember that the physical descendants of Edom no longer exist as a distinct people. But the spirit of Edom lives on. We see it in the pride, greed, and materialism of a western mentality — the focus on physical things instead of spiritual. The spirit of Edom wants to please the flesh, not G-d. We can see this materialism in Judah and in the State of Israel today. That is true.

I started by sharing how Judah and Joseph are tied together. Judah needs Joseph. We need you. The world needs the spark of Joseph.

The Fire Triangle

The function of Ephraim is to be the spark that ignites the world to defeat Edom. But before we can fully understand what a spark is, we must understand fire.

For there to be fire, three things are required. This is known as the fire triangle.

The spark is what applies the initial heat.

Obadiah is telling us: the house of Joseph ignites the fire, which consumes the house of Esau. It is also this fire that purifies the house of Jacob.

Now look at the fire triangle again — but think spiritually.

Once you make the choice — once you choose to be hot and give your life over to G-d — the chemical reaction takes over.

The fire triangle is actually a tetrahedron. It's three-dimensional. The chemical reaction is the fourth element: fuel, oxygen, heat, chemical reaction. The oxidation of the fuel creates and increases the heat. Once this process has begun, your fire has what it needs to grow without end.

The only limiting factor becomes the amount of fuel you make available.

If Shabbat is the only time you're adding fuel — please do better. Add fuel daily.

If we don't add fuel frequently we run the risk of becoming cold. Or worse — lukewarm.

If you feel lukewarm or cold right now, this is the perfect time to remedy that. If you feel cold, find someone who is on fire. Study with them. Pray with them.

We need Ephraim on fire. Judah needs Ephraim on fire. It will change the world.

Hanukkah Is the Holiday of Joseph

Today is the winter solstice — the darkest day of the year. In several days we begin Hanukkah, which means dedication. This is the season to rededicate our lives.

There is a reason we read the Torah portions involving Joseph during this dedication season. Hanukkah is the holiday of Joseph. Hanukkah is Judah calling out to Joseph. Remember your calling — a light to the nations.

I the L-rd have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles.

Isaiah 42:6

From 2 Maccabees, written to the Jewish communities of the dispersion:

We wrote for you all of these things, so that you will celebrate this festival with us according to what is fit for you. We are hoping of the L-rd our G-d that he will redeem his nation, and return to us our portion, the kingdom, and the service of the priests that was promised in His holy Torah. So he should be merciful upon us and gather our dispersed from under the heavens, to bring them to our holy land, just like he has begun to remove us from our distant places, and he purified his temple.

2 Maccabees 1:17–19

The gathering of the dispersed. The return from distant places. The purification of the Temple. This is the prayer of Hanukkah. And it is the calling of Ephraim.

The first fire that fell from heaven — consuming the offering, filling the Tabernacle with glory:

And there came a fire from before the L-rd, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which, when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

Leviticus 9:24

And at the dedication of the first Temple:

And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the L-rd, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the L-rd had filled the house of the L-rd.

1 Kings 8:10–11

Dedication. Fire. The presence of G-d filling what has been prepared for Him.

But at the Second Temple, that fullness was missing. At Hanukkah, the Temple was purified. The altar was rededicated. The light was rekindled. But the house was still divided. Ephraim was still scattered. Joseph had not yet come home.

Judah can preserve the Temple. Judah can fight for the altar. Judah can guard the Torah, preserve the covenant, and keep the flame from going out.

But Judah cannot complete the restoration alone.

The house of Jacob is the fire, but the house of Joseph is the flame. Ephraim was scattered among the nations not to disappear — but to carry the spark into the darkness.

So Hanukkah becomes Judah's call to Joseph:

Rededicate yourself. Add fuel daily. Let the Ruach breathe on the Torah within you. Become the flame Judah needs, the flame the nations need, the flame that consumes Edom and purifies Jacob.

The day and age we live in is very much like the season we're in — cold and dark. But in the dark, all it takes is a little flickering flame. If you've never made that initial commitment — do it. It will change your life. If you feel cold, find the fire. The spark is yours to give.