In our Parasha Vayigash we learn from Joseph a lesson in humility and in particular about how divine providence works.
Joseph interprets all the events of his life, from his youth when his brothers sold him into slavery, to his rise as viceroy of Egypt, as part of a process guided by a divine plan, where he and his brothers were simply the instruments for his realization. According to him, things happened just as God had planned.
Joseph explained to his brothers that all of his success, especially reaching the position of viceroy of Egypt, had a special purpose; save humanity from a famine that lasted 7 years.
He told his brothers not to be afraid or ashamed. The sale of him as a slave was actually related to the plan designed by God for him to direct the destiny of humanity as viceroy in Egypt.
Joseph teaches us that life is planned by God and that none of us can stop the divine plan. Rather, each of us is where he is and does what he does, in the right place and at the right time, as a messenger to fulfill that plan.
Faced with so much ignorance, violence, and aggression around us, it is easy to become discouraged thinking that there is no solution. However, if we focus on fulfilling our mission by following our tradition and the teachings of the Torah, we will contribute in one way or another to that great divine plan.
Our free choice does not necessarily lie in the decisions we make in certain situations, but in our ability to live with joy and tranquility in the face of what we have to experience in life at each moment.
We can choose to live with anxiety and sadness about what is happening around us or choose joy and tranquility despite the difficulties. Joseph chose to live with serenity, joy and faith in God, convinced that everything that happened to him was for his good, although at that moment he could not see it clearly. He had faith and certainty that there is a divine plan, and he chose to feel proud and happy to be one more link in that great chain and an integral part of that plan.
Faith and joy guide us in difficult moments, allowing us to go through them with greater tranquility and without anguish and anxiety. Let’s raise our consciousness and choose to be happy in every experience we have.
Even in this very difficult time for Israel, it is when we must keep our spirits high and despite the crying and pain over the losses and tragedy of the war, we must strengthen our spirit, our Jewish identity and move forward with resilience and empathy.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Refael Cohen