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MiKetz—“At the end” of two years, Pharaoh has a dream, a two-fold dream that troubles him greatly. He searches for an interpreter, but none of the wise men of Egypt can help. Only then does the Chief Cupbearer remember an incident that occurred exactly two years earlier. He was in prison and a young Hebrew fellow-prisoner correctly interpreted a dream he had dreamt there, and a dream of the Chief Baker, who was imprisoned with him. Now he is sure that this Hebrew, whom we know of course as Joseph, can interpret Pharaoh’s troubling dream as well.

At this point, the Torah says of Joseph, “They brought him hastily,” or “rushed him” out of the prison to prepare to come before Pharaoh (Genesis 41:14). The Sforno comments on this phrase,

The Divine salvation always comes hastily, as it is written, “For my salvation is near to come” (Isaiah 56:1), and also, “Oh, that My people would hearken to me… I would soon subdue their enemies” (Psalm 81:14-15). And so it came to pass in the Egyptian bondage, as it says, “because they were thrust out of Egypt’ (Exodus 12:39), as our Sages have taught us (in the Passover Haggada), “Their dough had no time to rise, for the King of kings, the Almighty, revealed Himself to them and redeemed them.” And so it shall be in the future, as it is written, “And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His Temple” (Malachi 3:1).

The Divine salvation always comes suddenly, but it most often comes after long years of bondage. Joseph is sold into slavery as a youth of seventeen, and is a grown man of thirty when he is finally brought before Pharaoh. Israel groans under Egyptian bondage for generations before Moses appears to bring deliverance. The exile leading up to the final deliverance has extended to multiple centuries and is only now in our day drawing to a close amid great suffering and difficulties.

The Divine salvation comes suddenly, but it comes after a time of longing, endurance, and prayer. The message to us is clear: we must never give up.

Today’s Messianic Jewish community needs to apply this truth. We are growing and maturing in many ways, but we know there is a divine purpose that we have not yet fulfilled. We long to see the knowledge of Messiah Yeshua multiplying among our people, and the next generation of Messianic Judaism thriving in numbers and strength. At times we may wonder if this vision will ever be fulfilled. But the Scriptures instruct us to persevere in this hope, and to look to God, for His deliverance comes swiftly and even unexpectedly.

Parashat MiKetz is usually read during the season of Chanukah, a time when we celebrate another act of Divine salvation. During Chanukah, we read from the prophecy of Zechariah, ending with the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’” (4:6-7).

Zerubbabel is facing the impossible task of restoring the temple of Jerusalem and the Jewish presence in the land of Israel after years of exile in Babylon. Zechariah, perhaps like us, has a vision of restoration that seems far off in light of the realities around him. His message, however, is that salvation comes suddenly because it is not the product of human effort and preparation. Rather, it is an intervention from above that transcends our efforts and preparation. We have a vital part to play, just as Joseph remained alert and ready to serve throughout his years of bondage, Zerubbabel gave himself to the task of rebuilding, and the Maccabees took a stand for the Lord in difficult times. The real hope, however, is not in our accomplishments, but in God’s spirit, now freely given to us in Messiah Yeshua. Let us keep this hope alive on behalf of our congregations and our people this Chanukah season and beyond.