God's presence: Miketz

 As I read this week’s parsha, Parshat Miketz, the songs from the musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, flash through my mind. Constant reminders of song and dance numbers dance across an imagined stage and I cannot take the parsha seriously. Rather, I recognize that I am reading a segment of a longer saga, set in the time of Egypt, but with serious ramifications when considered in today’s language and backdrop.

Miketz begins with Pharoh in a dream, unsure of the meaning (regardless of the two years passage between this and the last parsha). Pharoh dreams in multiples of seven, first seven big and hearty things, followed close behind by seven slim and poor crops. The seven less fortunate consume the seven better endowed. The only reason Joseph is brought upon the stage is because the chief cupbearer (translation unclear) finally remembers Joseph and his dream interpretation in the prison. Therefore, once mentioned, Joseph is quickly released from his prison cell and brought before Pharoh. Instead of immediately interpreting the dream and knowing the meaning (as Pharoh implies will be Joseph’s good fortune), Joseph reminds Pharoh of God’s presence, saying in Genesis 41:16 biladai, eloheim ya’aneh et shalom paroh, not I! God will answer (see to) Pharoh’s welfare.

We are quickly reminded that God does not stray far from Joseph’s side, despite Joseph’s stint of imprisonment. Considering this, I am reminded of the many times throughout my life I have doubted God’s presence. Constantly questioning and unsure that I am lifted up by a supportive being, I walk along dispirited and alone. Yet, time and time again, something occurs to remind me of God’s presence. However here, Joseph does not even mention God in relation to himself. Rather, he reminds Pharoh that God will make God’s presence known in how God assists this high-ranking man.

After the presence of God comes up time and again in the previous installment of this story, it isn’t surprising that God comes up rather quickly into the parsha. What does strike as interesting is the lack of continuity between the characters. The cup bearer forgets to mention Joseph when re-installed in his former post and Joseph remains lonely in jail. Yet, the moment dreams are mentioned, when his memory is jogged (despite his forgetfulness right after being released), the cupbearer remembers Joseph. Here, Joseph begins his second upward climb (the first being in Potiphar’s house).

God’s presence is always an interesting topic to broach. Who believes in God and what form does that belief take? How many of us truly can say that God has an impact in our lives or that we walk with God? Who really believes enough to put their trust in God, and does that trust remove the necessity for personal onus?

These questions are ones that will plague us our whole lives, if we are human and desire to continue encountering God. Unfortunately, there may never be concrete answers or direction. But that is the beauty of Judaism. Each person is entitled and able to have his or her own unique relationship with God. The personal relationship helps shape the person’s connection to Judaism and often impacts how they interact with it.

However, we cannot turn our back’s on God or Judaism when the going gets tough or God seems conspicuously absent. Rather, we must remember that God remains there, although unseen and silent. God is still present. We may not know when God will show God’s presence or even the significance the lack of God may have. Maybe we need to make some necessary changes in our behavior before God demonstrates God’s hand again. Maybe we have hit a place where a friend or family member is sick and our belief has been stumped by sickness and loss. Maybe we simply have traveled down a road that leads us in a wrong direction and we must rely on our own self-awareness to traverse the path back to a more positive way.

Regardless of the reason God is not present or just not visible, God is still present. We need simply to remind ourselves, as Joseph reminds Pharoh, that God is still with us, that God will look after us. Whatever way we personally envisage God and God’s impact and connection in our lives, God is still present and we must remain open to accepting whichever way God does eventually appear.

The question becomes, so what? If a person doesn’t believe in God and all of a sudden God comes into the conversation, that person becomes oddly silent. There is an impassable chasm which has opened up and that person is stuck on the other side. That is the person for whom Joseph makes his presence felt. Joseph is our reminder that even for people who may not believe or understand God, God is still there. We must simply be the conduit through which God speaks and assists.