At the end of parshat Vayeishev, we find Yosef in jail, interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer and baker. Yosef lived with emuna and bitachon—he trusted that everything Hashem does is for the best, no matter how it looked at the moment.
Think about Yosef’s life up to this point. His brothers hated him and wanted to kill him. He was thrown into a pit filled with snakes and scorpions—certain death for anyone else—but he trusted in Hashem and was miraculously saved.
Then he was sold to the Yishmaelim, and here again, we see Hashem’s hand. Normally, these caravans transported foul-smelling goods, but the wagon that carried Yosef was filled with sweet-smelling spices.
Even in the middle of what seemed like a nightmare, Yosef was able to see Hashem’s kindness.
And yet, despite Yosef’s trust, his life seemed to go from bad to worse: from the pit to being sold as a slave, to working as a servant, to landing in jail. But through all of this, Yosef saw Hashem’s hand guiding him. Whatever he did, he succeeded because Hashem was with him.
Hishtadlus vs. Bitachon
Now, back to Yosef in jail. When he interpreted the dreams of the cupbearer and baker, he asked the cupbearer to remember him and mention him to Pharaoh. At first glance, this seems like the normal, logical thing to do—it’s what any of us would do in that situation. Yosef was trying to do his hishtadlus (his effort), which is exactly what Hashem expects from us.
So why does Rashi tell us that Yosef was punished with two more years in jail? After all, isn’t hishtadlus a mitzvah? Aren’t we supposed to make an effort?
Yosef wasn’t wrong to act, but the Chovot HaLevavot teaches us something critical about bitachon: we can never rely on anyone or anything besides Hashem. Not our boss, not our clients, not even our family. Our job is to do the work because that’s what Hashem wants from us—but the results? Those are 100% from Him.
As a parent if you ask your kids, “Can one of you clean up the toys?” Each child assumes the other will do it. But when you say, “Can you clean up the toys?”—directly asking one child—they know the responsibility falls on them.
It’s the same with Hashem. When we trust in Hashem and someone else, Hashem might say, “Okay, let’s see if that person comes through for you.” But when we rely only on Hashem, He takes full responsibility for us.
Yosef’s mistake—on his incredibly high spiritual level—was not asking the cupbearer to remember him but possibly putting even a fraction of his trust in the cupbearer instead of Hashem alone. For Yosef, who was held to the highest standard, even that tiny shift was significant.
The Bigger Picture
But here’s the thing: even when it feels like we’re being punished, it’s all part of Hashem’s greater plan. Yosef’s extra two years in jail weren’t just a punishment—they were part of a divine process to prepare him for his ultimate role. Every step of Yosef’s journey, no matter how painful, was building him into the person he needed to be.
Without being sold into slavery, Yosef wouldn’t have ended up in Egypt. Without being falsely accused and imprisoned, he wouldn’t have interpreted the dreams that eventually brought him to Pharaoh’s attention. And without those extra two years, the timing wouldn’t have been perfect for Yosef to step in as Pharaoh’s right-hand man and save the world from famine.
A Message for Us
Yosef’s story is our story. When we work hard—whether it’s at our jobs, raising our families, or pursuing our goals—it’s easy to think that our success depends on us. But bitachon reminds us that while we have to make the effort, the outcome is entirely in Hashem’s hands.
The next time something feels like a punishment or a setback, remember Yosef. Hashem has infinite reasons for everything He does, and every challenge is preparing us for something greater. Like Yosef, we just need to trust in Hashem’s plan and do our part, knowing that He’s the one running the show.
And it’s no coincidence that we always read this story during Chanukah, a time of miracles. Chanukah reminds us that even when things seem the darkest, Hashem is always preparing us for something greater. Like Yosef, we are being shaped for a great purpose, even when we can’t see it.
Let’s welcome Hashem’s Miracles this Chanuka and see the greatness that Hashem has in store for us.
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