In this week’s Torah portion we read about the powerful encounter Joseph experiences with his older brothers, who still remain clueless that the ruler they stand before is in fact Joseph, their younger brother. After two decades since Joseph was sold into slavery by these very same brothers, he can’t hold back his emotions any longer and must speak the truth, and he tells them “…I am Joseph…” [Genesis: 45: 3] If one were to look at the verse immediately before this confession, a question may be raised, the verse says:
“He (Joseph) gave forth his voice in weeping. Egypt heard, and Pharaoh’s household heard.”
Isn’t it obvious that if the entire land of Egypt heard this weeping, surely Pharaoh’s household would be included in this hearing!? Why was it necessary to superfluously mention “Pharaoh’s household”!?
As the Torah continues the moving dialogue between Joseph and his brothers, Joseph tells his brothers not to feel ashamed about how they wronged him and he assures them that this was all a divine plan. He tells them that God has placed him “…as a master of his (Pharaoh’s) entire household, and as a ruler in the entire land of Egypt” [Genesis: 45: 8]
We see clearly that Joseph plays a dual role in Egypt; he is involved with the trials and tribulations of the nation itself, and he also cares for his boss (Pharaoh) and his personal affairs.
Normally, one would imagine that Joseph would show an extra amount of diligence and care in his service to his boss than in his service to the people, for Pharaoh is the only one who truly has power over him. However, Joseph didn’t act this way; he gave more of himself to the people and their problems, than to Pharaoh and his problems. Joseph believed that his job entailed a higher purpose which was to take care of a nation and solve their thousands of issues, and never felt the need to “suck up” to Pharaoh. Therefore, Joseph maintained a closer relationship with each and every Egyptian citizen than with Pharaoh and his household.
So when Joseph was going through this tough time with his brothers, it was the people of Egypt who understood (Note: The Hebrew word for “hearing” is very often translated as “understanding”) and showed their support first, and only then Pharaoh and his household.
This idea can even be seen when Joseph tells his brothers to send their father a message saying that “…God has set me (Joseph) as a master to all Egypt…” [Genesis: 45: 9] Why didn’t Joseph also include his other job as “master over Pharaoh’s household” in his message to his father? It’s because he wanted the first thing his father to hear was that, although he has been away in the highly cultured and corrupt society of Egypt for such a long time, he still remains a moral individual with righteous values.
Joseph’s character can really teach us something, especially in our day and age. For those of us who work, and for those of us who are still deciding what profession to pursue, it’s important to ask ourselves: “Am I working in order to serve a higher purpose?”
Good Shabbos
taken from : Tzipiyah.com
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