The story of Yosef and his brothers is very difficult for us to understand. However, we see many important and amazing insights that are applicable to our day to day lives and our spiritual growth.
The Midrash Rabba (Vayeishev 84-8) brings from Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish in the name of Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya. Look at the wonders of Hashem. Why did the brothers hate Yosef? Because of the special attention that he received from his father and he got a special shirt called 'pasim' spelled in Hebrew 'pey' 'samech' 'yud' 'mem'. But Hashem had something else in mind. The brothers sold Yosef, who arrived in Egypt, withstood the great test of the wife of Potifar and in that merit when the Jews came to the Yam Suf, the waters split in his merit. As the Midrash brings down, what did the waters see that made them flee and split? The coffin of Yosef.
The Midrash concludes that Pasim can also make the words 'pas yam' a strip of the sea. (Pey, samech - pas; yud,mem - yam).
Whilst everyone thought that Yosef was suffering hatred, Hashem had planned that this hatred would be part of the plan to help save Klal Yisrael at the Yam suf.
There is another Midrash (Vayeishev Rabba 85-1). Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman says that the tribes were busy selling Yosef. Yosef was busy with his fasting and suffering for being sold. Yaakov was busy mourning Yosef. Yehuda was dismissed from his leadership of the brothers and went to look for a wife. (Rabbi Bunim from Peshischa explains that Yehuda was busy doing Teshuva for giving the advice to sell Yosef. He decided to start from fresh, and the first Mitzva in the Torah is to get married).
What was Hashem doing?
Following the marriage of Yehuda and creating the light of Mashiach, who would come from Yehuda and Tamar.
The brothers are busy punishing Yosef, Yosef is suffering, Yaakov is mourning, Yehuda is repenting but Hashem is already planning the ultimate salvation of Klal Yisrael, the light of Mashiach.
The Midrash in this week's Parsha (Miketz Rabba 91-10) brings from Rabbi Levi in the name of Rabbi Chama ben Rabbi Chanina. Yaakov Avinu said to his sons, "why did you do bad to me and tell the man (Yosef) that you had another brother?" (After they told Yosef that they had another brother, Yosef demanded that they bring him to Egypt.) Yaakov Avinu's claim wasn't only to his sons, but also to Hashem for causing him such a tragedy.
But Hashem said, "I am busy trying to make his son (Yosef) into a King and he is complaining why you have done bad to me?"
So many times we go through difficult times, challenges and suffering. We see the small picture of ourselves. However, we don't realize that we are part of a big puzzle. We see our pain but don't see that Hashem is busy creating the light of Mashiach and our own future for our benefit!
Furthermore, when Hashem decides, our salvation will arrive so suddenly and unexpectedly.
The Chafetz Chaim explains that Yosef was given an unlimited jail sentence. He could have ended up remaining there the rest of his life. He had no hope. Then after ten years, there was hope. The two officers, the chief butler and chief baker of Pharaoh needed his help to explain their dream. In return he asked the chief butler to try and get his release.
Yosef waits a day, two days, a week, a month, a year, two years and nothing. He has come to the conclusion that his hope is gone.
After two years, on Rosh Hashana night Yosef goes to sleep like every other night. He has no clue that Pharaoh is having his dreams.
The next morning Yosef gets up and starts his normal routine like every other day. He has no clue of the drama in the Palace. Pharaoh is calling all his officers to explain the dream. He has no idea that the chief butler has finally remembered him. He is totally unaware that Pharaoh has dispatched officers to bring him to the Palace and today he is going to become the King's deputy.
The Chafetz Chaim concludes that the same will be with Mashiach. We are all entangled in our day to day lives and their challenges. But Hashem is busy with the light of Mashiach and when the moment arrives, it will happen so suddenly!
