Special holiday reading for Sukkot Day 6 on 20 Tisrei, 5765 - October 5, 2004 Sukkot Chol Ha Moed Intermediary Day 4: Holiday Torah reading Just the Maftir; Maftir: Numbers 29:26-34; Haftarah: None; Mei Kituvim: Ecclesiastes (Kohelet) 10:1 to 12:14; Brit Chadashah: variable reading or verses

The Bagel: Greater wisdom. Joseph was a wise man. He suffered persecution and jealousy from his brothers, and imprisonment from Potipher, but God used that to make him wise. He also must have received wisdom by revelation from God through those dreams.

Mei Kituvim:
Ecclesiastes (Kohelet) 10:1 to 12:14. In the reading of the Kituvim, Solomon indicates that wisdom is an enduring quality "under the sun." It is if it is true wisdom, which source is from God. Joseph's experience was described by Solomon: "The hearts of the wise lead them to do right, and the hearts of the foolish lead them to do evil" (Ecclesiastes 10:2 NLT). Joseph did right and got more wisdom. Eventually, God brought out Joseph and made him ruler of Egypt. Even Pharaoh acknowledged the greater wisdom of Joseph. Thus under Joseph Egypt was blessed.

Brit Chadashah:
When we get to the Brit Chadashah, we discover the source of greater wisdom, which is in the person of Yeshua, who rose from the dead. Joseph rose out of prison, but he looked forward to the day when Israel would arise out of Egypt. This was evident in the fact that he didn't want to be buried in Egypt: "And it was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, confidently spoke of God's bringing the people of Israel out of Egypt. He was so sure of it that he commanded them to carry his bones with them when they left (Hebrews 11:22 NLT)! Just as Joseph knew of Israel's release and return to the Land, so we can confident of our ultimate destination. It will be in heaven for the believer for that is why Yeshua rose from the dead, so we could go home to be with God. This is the greater wisdom.

Cream Cheese: A wise man sees death for what it is - a passing show....because of the resurrection.