This week’s Parasha starts off the story of Yosef and the brothers. It’s actually the beginning of Galut Mitzrayim. Although it looks like the actions of man, everything here is being planned by G-d.
When Yaakov Avinu sent Yosef to go find his brothers, the pasuk says Yaakov sent Yosef מעמק חברון -from the depths of Hevron. Rashi is bothered by this term, because Hevron isn’t in the depths, in a valley. Rashi explains that the Torah is hinting to us that what we are actually seeing is an עצה עמוקה
a very deep plan made by G-d, to fulfill a promise that he made to Abraham Avinu, who is buried in Hebron, that eventually they’d go down to Egypt. It looks like the brothers aren’t getting along, but that’s not the real story. The Ramban illustrates this by pointing out that when Yosef went looking for his brothers, the Torah says וַיִּמְצָאֵ֣הוּ אִ֔ישׁ וְהִנֵּ֥ה תֹעֶ֖ה בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה -a man came upon him wandering in the fields.
Yosef was lost, and asked the man for directions. This man was actually an angel, sent by G-d, to make sure Yosef found his brothers.
על פי דרך הטבע,
According to the laws of nature (without this Devine intervention) he would not have found them.
Ramban says that the Torah mentions this to teach is an important fundamental:
הגזירה אמת והחריצות שקר
G-d’s decree is true and man’s tactics are false.
Hashem sent the angel to lead Yosef there because that’s what G-d wanted. As we continue the story, we see that Yosef understood this. He knew that G-d was directing him. How so?
When his brothers sold him off to Egypt, the Arabs were carrying fragrant spices in their caravan. This was uncommon, says Rashi. They usually traded in pitch and tar, which have very foul odors. Hashem sent them with these fragrant spices so that Yosef Hatzadik should not have endure that awful smell.
Everyone is bothered by this: Would a nice smell in the back of the paddy wagon really comfort someone who was going off to a life sentence in prison?
The rabbis teach us an important lesson about this, using the following mashal:
Imagine a child going into surgery. He is petrified. He sees doctors and scalpels and nurses ... His parents want to come in with him but they aren’t allowed in. The doctors tell them they can stand by the window and watch. So, they stand by the window and bang on the glass to get their child’s attention. When he finally sees them, the child calms down. He realizes that although he doesn’t understand what ‘s happening to him, it’s obviously good for him, because his parents are there watching.
So too, Yosef HaSadik is petrified in that caravan with those Arabs. But he looks at everything with Bitachon eyes, so when he smells those fragrant spices, which he knows is not the norm, he realizes that it’s his loving Father in Heaven directing all of this, showing him that He’s there, banging on the window.
When Yosef was in Mitzrayim, he mentioned Hashem’s name every step of the way, and everyone was impressed by him. He became the leader, and the controller. This was really a sign for Jewish people throughout history. Jews in Galut end up in positions of power. This is because we are able to realize, no matter what trials and tribulations we’re going through, that when there’s a fragrance in the paddy wagon, it’s Hashem directing us.
And Hashem is with us even more in Galut than in regular situations. The Midrash of this week’s Parasha explains with a mashal: There was a man with caravan of wine barrels. One barrel, which was uncovered, was accidentally left behind. The man was afraid it might come into contact with a certain type of person which would then render it disqualified/ yayin nesach, and it would be ruined. So he left the large caravan of many wine barrels to go after the one barrel, because it was at risk, while the others were safe.
So too, all the other tribes were safe at home with Yaakov, but Yosef was in danger, so ויהי ה׳ את יוסף
Hashem was with Yosef.
Because when a person is alone and in danger, Hashem is with him even more.
BeH we will take these lessons of Bitachon from the weekly Parasha and apply them.
Shabbat Shalom