Joseph’s Journey: Choosing Growth Over Resentment in Parashah Miketz

What would you do if the people who betrayed you came seeking your help? 

Would you seize the opportunity to grow, or would you stay entangled in the past? Joseph’s story in parashah Miketz challenges us to confront this question—and ourselves. 

Our previous parashah left off on a haunting note. Joseph accurately analyzed the dreams of both Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer and chief baker, and the interpretations came to pass. In exchange, Joseph made a request: “Do me the kindness of mentioning me to Pharaoh, so as to free me from this place.” But the chapter ends with a devastating line: “Yet the chief cupbearer did not think of Joseph; he forgot him.” 

We begin Miketz with two long years passing before Pharaoh himself has dreams that need interpreting: seven sturdy cows devoured by seven gaunt ones, seven healthy ears of grain swallowed by seven scorched ones. None of Egypt’s magicians or sages can interpret the visions. Only then does the chief cupbearer finally speak on Joseph’s behalf. 

Pharaoh summons Joseph from the dungeons at once, and Joseph seizes the moment. He interprets the dreams as a divine warning: Egypt will experience seven years of great abundance, followed by seven years of famine.

But Joseph doesn’t stop there. He offers Pharaoh a plan: “Let Pharaoh find someone who is discerning and wise” that he can “set over the land of Egypt.” He tells Pharaoh that this person should collect, gather, and organize food during the years of plenty and monitor that reserve during the years of famine. 

Pharaoh pauses and then declares, “Could we find another like him—a man with the divine spirit?” With that, Joseph becomes the second most powerful man in all of Egypt. 

This parashah unfolds like a masterful drama. Joseph’s predictions prove true, and famine brings his brothers to Egypt in search of food. Though he recognizes them immediately, they do not recognize him. Joseph toys with them, sending them back for the youngest brother, Benjamin. The parashah ends on a cliffhanger as Benjamin is told he must remain in Egypt as a slave.

Joseph’s journey is one of highs and lows, marked by resilience and ambition but also moments of revenge and manipulation. His story invites us to consider how we respond to challenges and power: Do we use it to grow, or do we let past wounds define our actions? I’ve spent time this week reflecting on Joseph’s character. My father noted that Joseph has a remarkable ability to turn challenges into opportunities. Yet, he also appears manipulative and vindictive, perhaps using his position to fulfill his youthful dream of dominance over his brothers. 

Last week, I explored jealousy and envy among Joseph and his brothers—emotions that often surface in our own lives. As we grow and change, we may find that people in our lives unintentionally (or intentionally) hold us back, whether out of fear of change, guilt over their own stagnation, or insecurity. 

But what happens next? How do we move forward? 

Joseph’s journey reminds us of the power of choice—and his character demonstrates both possibilities that are available: seizing opportunities to change our circumstances and seeking to enact revenge. 

We can use our strengths and talents for good—for  improvement and the betterment of the world—just as he did in preparing for and managing reserves during the famine. After his years in the dungeon, Joseph wasn’t waiting around anymore for his life to change. He saw an opening to get himself out of there, and he was extremely successful. 

Or, we can channel our energy into punishing people who held us back. Joseph spends considerable time manipulating his brothers, raising the question: How often do we focus on proving others wrong or inflicting suffering instead of simply moving forward? 

True evolution requires forgiveness. It is not about forgetting—it’s about choosing growth over resentment and operating from a place that reflects the progress we’ve made.

A journal prompt for your week ahead: Are you investing your energy in growth and opportunities, or are you stuck in old patterns of resentment? What might forgiveness free you to achieve? Write about a time you let go of resentment and how it felt, or consider an area in your life where resentment is holding you back. How might forgiveness open a door to something greater?