Genesis

בייה

Genesis 40

Observances Lift Us From Depression

Conservative people like Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel, are God-fearing, Bible-believing, moral, modest, ethical, and principled. We believe there is a message of healing, restoration and hope for us written in ‘The Torah of Truth’ (Malachi 2.6). TRUTH is singular, not broadminded! God is ALWAYS the same, not progressive or humanistic. The Observances introduced by God are just and right. Humankind does not need more laws. We need to follow the ones God Gave us. Light exposes darkness. Reading, studying, and observing the Holy Scriptures helps comfort encourage, and support us.

That is what we will learn from our discussion in Genesis 40 as we study about three men who faced deep dark depression-like dark clouds that appeared on the horizon and overtook the sky in a matter of a few minutes. Everything went from joyful and beautiful to ugly and nasty in a short time. The situation changed so fast that their heads were left spinning. Can we relate to such an exciting experience? Have we been there and done that? Are we there now? Would an encouraging word feel good amid such a dark moment? Would a hug help? Maybe! Perhaps our issues are more significant than a smile, a hug, and a word of encouragement would help.

The men in Genesis 40 were political prisoners held in a dark, dreary prison after being accused of crimes. The trustee in charge of individual cells was smelly. A stench grew on him. His hair and beard were long and dirty. It looked like he had not been cared for for the past ten years. His name was Joseph, the son of Jacob. Joseph was soft-spoken friendly, and gentle. Despite his appearance, he was joyful, cheerful, well educated, and pleasant to talk with. He was a stranger from another country who had been waiting for arraignment for ten years on charges of sexual misconduct. During that time, he became the prison trustee. The Torah Informs us that The Lord was with him. Joseph was clearly in a difficult spot. No doubt, he felt like the world had turned its back on him. Perhaps he may have thought; I will spend the rest of my life in this prison as a trustee. My father will never know what happened to me. All of my relatives have turned their backs on me. It feels like I do not exist to them. Joseph’s only hope was The Lord. We can only imagine the many times Joseph prayed to God. It may have seemed like his prayers would never be answered. It may have felt like The Lord turned a deaf ear to his cries. Sometimes life feels like this. Does it feel like no one cares? Is all hope gone?

Our discussion is about relating to severe despondency and dejection. It is about those times when all hope seems to disappear. All that looked good evaporated right in front of us. When we are depressed, it is about sorrowful melancholy, grief, sadness, and feelings of inadequacy. I know what it is like to feel depressed. I want to hide in a corner and be left alone. I sometimes experienced tremendous guilt and blame. Everything becomes muddled. The days become weeks. Everything is a blur.

Perhaps we identify with those who struggle on this dark black rugged road of DEPRESSION. We try to understand what they are experiencing. We reach out to them with hope even though we may be sharing the same rough road. Joseph did this. Joseph understood how to reach out to those in dire need of help. We ask how Joseph managed to help others, seeing as he was in such dire need himself.

Joseph was clearly in a difficult spot. He had faith in God. He believed that what he was experiencing had real purpose and meaning, even in his limited capacity as a jail trustee. He firmly believed that all hope was not lost, though all outward indications were not encouraging. What did Joseph do? Joseph practiced (Psalms 55.22).

(Psalms 55.22) says, ‘Transfer, transmit, remove, dismiss onto The Lord what you are given, for He is your support, your nourishment. He will not allow tottering, faltering, slipping, collapsing, declining for the righteous to eternity’ (Psalms 55.22). I remind myself of (Psalms 55.22) and meditate on it and other psalms. Meditating helps. Joseph trained his thoughts on The Lord. So even though he had troubles, Joseph had answers. That brings us to the political prisoner’s Joseph desired to encourage. Holy Scripture Informs us that one official was the chief of butlers, and the other official was the chief of the bakers. When we help others, we usually feel good about it!

The chief Butler of Pharaoh and the chief baker of Pharaoh each committed a crime. Regarding the Butler, a fly was found in the King’s wine glass, prepared and tested by the royal Butler, and then served to the King. Regarding the chief baker, a stone was found in the King’s pastry that he prepared. They were imprisoned in the jail Joseph was trustee over. They were sentenced to 12 months of punishment, followed by their execution. We can only imagine how they felt.

One morning as Joseph visited the Chief Butler and Chief Baker, he noticed they looked worried. Their faces were grim. They looked perplexed and troubled. So Joseph asked what the matter was. They informed Joseph that they each had a dream they could not interpret that worried them. Joseph spoke to the Chief Butler. He explained that it is God that gives dreams. He offered to pray. Perhaps God would reveal the meaning of his dreams. God answered Joseph’s prayer. The Chief Butler’s dream was positive. The Chief Butler would be reinstated to his position in three days, which was Pharaoh’s birthday. Seeing that the Chief Butler’s dream was positive, the Chief Baker asked Joseph to ask God for the meaning of his dream also. Joseph sadly explained to the Chief Baker that his dream was a judgment against him. In three days, he would be hung, and the birds would pick his flesh. Both dreams came to pass. The Chief Butler was reinstated, and the Chief Baker was executed by hanging.

The court determined that the fly in the King’s wine glass was an accident, but the stone in the King’s pastry was deliberate.

May The Lord Bless us in our daily walk, and may we stay within Torah’s Guidelines. May we help others and bring peace and healing to our world. May this coming Sabbath and every Sabbath be a blessed Day.

Good Sabbath!

Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

Author

Director of JewishPath.Org