With A Blink Of An Eye

Joseph was in prison for ten years. In the month of Elul, close to Rosh Hashanah, the episode with the Sar HaMashkin took place. Joseph knew at that time, that the 10 years of his prison term would be complete, and that he would be released on Rosh Hashanah.

We are told that because of the two words זְכַרְתַּ֣נִי and וְהִזְכַּרְתַּ֨נִי֙, (remember me, mention me), he remained in prison for two more years. Rashi explains that since Joseph relied on the butler to remember him, he had to remain imprisoned for two more years. He should, instead, have relied on G-d on not on the Egyptians.

Rabbenu Bahya, quoting Hoboth Halbaboth states that there are eight stages of developing trust (Bitahon) in G-d. The eighth level is that a person has his full trust in Haqqadosh Barukh Hu, with all his heart, that He is the One who decides everything that happens to him, whether he will be healthy or ill, rich or poor, free or imprisoned, and that there is a purpose to all of this. If he undergoes hardship or suffering, he accepts it. If he tries to find ways and devices to get out of the predicament, he is showing that he does not have this highest level of trust.

According to him, Joseph, definitely had his trust in G-d, but by asking the butler to help him get out of prison, he showed that he did not reach this highest level of Bitahon. He adds that we should not think that Joseph did not have trust in G-d, but placed all his trust in the butler. On the contrary, his intention was to have G-d’s will done, but through the butler. Nevertheless, according to his opinion, Joseph should have let G-d find the way to make it occur, without having to resort to relying on the
butler.

This is somewhat perplexing and difficult to understand. After all, aren’t we supposed to make an effort ourselves to get ourselves saved. Aren’t we told specifically, that we should not rely on a miracle - אין סומכים על הנס?

Hakham Yosef Hayyim,’a”h, says in ‘Od Yosef Hai that this is similar to a case where someone is ill and brings a doctor to cure him, which is in accordance with the commandment of Rappo Yerappeh (he shall surely heal). The patient is not going to just rely on a miracle. When he calls the doctor, he is not relying on the doctor to save him, but on G-d, to guide the doctor to provide the correct treatment.

Here too, we can be sure that even though Joseph asked the butler to remember him, his trust was not in the butler, but in G-d. His intent was that G-d would cause the butler would succeed in his mission to save him. If so, why was he punished?

The answer is as follows. Joseph knew, through Ruwah Haqodesh, Divine inspiration, that the decree of his imprisonment was for ten years, as it says in the Midrash (quoting Iyyob) קץ שם לחושך (He placed an end to the darkness), meaning that there was a fixed amount of time for Joseph to be in prison. Therefore, once he came to the end of the fixed time, which was ten years, there was no need for him to ask the butler to save him. It was obvious that he would be released.

Since, therefore, he knew that he would be released on Rosh Hashanah, it appears to show a lack of faith in G-d to rely on the Sar HaMashkin. As a result, two more years were added on to the 10 years, on account of the two words of זְכַרְתַּ֣נִי and וְהִזְכַּרְתַּ֨נִי֙.

How do we understand this apparent contradiction in the words of Rabbenu Bahye and Hakham Yoseph Hayyim, ’a”h, the Ben Ish Hai? It seems to me that Rabbenu Bahye is referring to a case where one knows that this is G-d’s will and that this is how it must be and there is nothing one can do to change it. Despite this, the person still tries to find ways round it. This is why he says it does not show complete trust in G-d.

Hakham Yoseph Hayyim, ’a”h, on the other hand, is saying that one must make the effort to do what is necessary and not just sit back waiting for a miracle to be wrought. It would seem most likely that Rabbenu Bahye would agree with that. The reason why Joseph was punished according to what we have mentioned, is that he knew what the outcome would be, which was that his release was imminent. In this sense it appears that he did not have full trust in G-d, because he knew what G-d’s intention was, but still felt the need to rely on the butler. It would seem, therefore, that both Rabbenu Bahye and Hakham Yoseph Hayyim, ‘a”h, are, in fact, saying the same thing.

Bitahon, is something we need to work on at all times.

There is a story in the Yerushalmi about a Kohen who was very poor and wanted to leave his home and the Land of Israel, to seek out his livelihood. He said to his wife that he had nothing to leave behind with her, but would pass on to her all his knowledge in the very difficult area of.

While he was teaching her, he told her that there is not even one hair on a person’s head which doesn’t have beneath it, the source from which it grows.

His wife told him that he should listen to what his mouth was saying. If the Holy One Blessed Be He, provides a separate and unique source for the existence of each and every hair, then surely He will provide for every human being. So what need was there for him to leave the Land of Israel (and his wife), in search of his livelihood?

He understood the wisdom of her words and changed his mind.

At our level, it is often difficult to know what the final decision of G-d is, and when we must try to rectify the situation. In other words, our difficulty is knowing what can be changed and what can not.

We must, therefore, do our Hishtaddeluth (make the effort) do whatever we feel is right. But when we find that whatever we do is rebuffed repeatedly, we must have the wisdom to understand that it is the Will of G-d and is for our own good. Even if at the moment times are difficult, we must remember that קץ שם לחושך, and that with a blink of an eye the situation can change.

Just as Joseph’s situation changed, with the blink of an eye, from being a prisoner to the ruler over all Egypt, so too, if times are hard we must have trust in G-d that, with the blink of an eye, times will change and we will soon be riding high.