A Life in Technicolor
Photo: https://broadway.com
Parashat Miketz, Genesis 41:1-44:17
Suzy Linett, Devar Shalom, Ontario, California
Several years ago, I had the opportunity to see a live production of the classic musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, with roots and themes from the story of Joseph, eleventh son of Jacob. The musical numbers were well done and quite lively. The flashy colors, dance moves, and dramatics put a different flair on the narrative than one might receive by reading the text alone.
Joseph was a dreamer and interpreter of amazing dreams, full of meaning. He was in an Egyptian prison after a convoluted sequence of events triggered by a gift–the Technicolor Dream Coat (Gen 37:3)—the resulting jealousy of his brothers, and his own dreams of his brothers bowing to him. Miketz, meaning “at the end of,” picks up at the end of two years during which Joseph was forgotten in prison. Now Pharaoh had disturbing dreams. Finally, Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams was remembered, and Joseph was brought to appear before Pharaoh. According to Genesis 37:2, Joseph was about 17 when he was sold into slavery, and was about 30 when he was called up to Pharaoh. After being summoned, “He shaved, changed his clothes, and came to Pharaoh” (Gen 41:14b).
Release from prison and entry into Pharaoh’s court must have been like switching from old black-and-white broadcasting to vibrant Technicolor indeed!
This time, instead of simply providing an interpretation, as he had done for two fellow prisoners, “Joseph answered Pharaoh saying, ‘It’s not within me. God will answer with shalom for Pharaoh’” (Gen 41:16). After Joseph interpreted the dreams correctly, he was appointed to oversee the project of building storehouses and saving for the lean years to come. Within a moment, Joseph was released from prison, given an Egyptian name which meant “decipherer of secrets,” and given an Egyptian priest’s daughter as a wife. Joseph built the storehouses, and ran a food distribution program during the famine. Cue the music – Joseph was in charge of the land and his world was turned into technicolor. Joseph had matured. No longer the prideful young son showing off his gifts, he had developed a servant’s heart for the people. As his dream foretold, the Egyptians, who worshiped the sun, moon, and stars, bowed down to him.
Meanwhile, believing Joseph was dead, Jacob sent ten of his remaining eleven sons to Egypt to buy food. He kept Benjamin, Joseph’s full brother, at home. The brothers came to Joseph and “bowed down before him,” in fulfillment of Joseph’s other dream years earlier, which had set off the chain of events leading to his current position. Joseph recognized them, but they did not know he was their long-lost brother. Joseph accused them of spying, imprisoned them for three days, and then released nine of the brothers, keeping Simeon as a hostage, and instructing them to return with Benjamin. The brothers realized that this disaster was due to their treatment of Joseph all those years ago, and repented. They did not know Joseph understood them. He heard their cries of teshuvah. Joseph had his stewards return the brothers’ money by placing it in the sacks of grain. The narrative continues and eventually Joseph is reunited with his brother Benjamin, but again does not reveal himself. The parasha ends with Joseph demanding that the brothers leave Benjamin behind, and letting the others go home.
As we review this story, several things come to mind.
Joseph never sent word to his father that he was alive during the years he was in bondage. As I wondered about that, I realized if Jacob had known, the events leading to Joseph saving his family from famine would not have occurred. Joseph knew the truth of his own dreams, and understood the events must come to pass. He had two dreams about his future that are recorded in Genesis. The first was that his brothers would bow to him, and the second that the sun, moon, and stars would do the same. Egyptians worshiped the sun, moon, and stars. As Joseph saved that nation, its inhabitants bowed to him.
It is interesting to me that this parasha always comes during this time of year. The days are shortened, darkness is increased. Yet we have the light of Hanukkah, and the days will get longer again. Joseph was in dark places, the pit and the jail, yet the light of the dreams and word of God promoted him into full technicolor.
I am struck by the revelation of the Technicolor prophecies both fulfilled and promised.
In 1 Corinthians 13:12, Paul wrote, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.” A life in Messiah is a life in Technicolor, and we will see clearly in the world to come. We are to wrap ourselves in the “garment of praise” (Isa 61:3). In Ephesians 6, Paul exhorts us to put on the “armor of God.” Our spiritual lives can be vibrant Technicolor despite the dreary black-and-white around us. We, like Joseph, can put on our own “Amazing Technicolor Dream Coats!”
With the love of our Heavenly Father, we can forgive. When the brothers repented—made teshuvah—they were saved from death and reunited. They, like Joseph, moved from black and white lives into full Technicolor of what the Lord had for them. The Lord offers us a Technicolor life in him also. When we repent and make teshuvah, we are saved from eternal death and darkness to be reunited as the Body of Messiah. Olam ha-zeh—this present world—can be gray and dreary. When we put on the coat, we enter into the Technicolor world here on earth and in Olam ha-ba, the world to come. “I will rejoice greatly in Adonai. My soul will be joyful in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation” (Isa 61:10a). Live a Technicolor life!
Scripture references are from the Tree of Life Version, TLV.