Sefer Netai Eishel quotes the Imrei Emes zy”a as stating that we can learn a major lesson in emunah from this Parshah. We see that the Shevatim didn’t recognize Yosef. They thought that he meant to harm them. In the end, however, they realized that everything that occurred was for their benefit. This is as Rashi says that he only took Shimon “from before their eyes.” It only appeared to their eyes that Shimon was being imprisoned. In truth, however, as soon as they left Yosef took him out, and gave him food and drink.
This is how it will be at the time of the redemption. At that time, everyone will see that all the events of golus that seemed bad were actually for our benefit. It only seemed bad “to our eyes”, but it was actually good.
It is related that an elderly mekubal in Yerushalaim once approached the mekubal Rav Salmoun Mutzafi zt”l and tearfully told him that he had some very precious, ancient sefarim in his home that had been stolen by robbers. He had tried to track them down to no avail. Since then, he had gone to see many chochomim, but no one had been able to console him.
Rav Mutzafi saw how upset he was and said, “You should be happy. You should thank the thieves. It is a sign that Hashem loves you. That is why He sent the robbers to steal the sefarim from your house.
“You are very old. You can no longer see well, so you can’t learn from those sefarim. When you pass away, the sefarim would have complained to the Bais Din Shel Maaloh and said, ‘Why did you leave us for so many years in a house where no one read our contents?’ But Hashem had mercy on you. He wanted there to be no complaints against you in the Bais Din Shel Maaloh. Therefore, He sent thieves to steal the sefarim. They will probably sell them to talmidei chochomim who will learn from them. This will be a great zechus for you. So you should be happy!”
The old man said, “You have consoled me.”
