It states (42:6) הַמ ַּש ְׁבִּיר הוּא הָאָרֶץ עַל הַש ַּׁלִּיט הוּא וְיוֹסֵף הָאָרֶץ עַם לְכָל, "Yosef – he was the viceroy over the land, he was the provider to all the people of the land." In Yosef's merit, the entire land had parnassah. It is written in sefarim (and an early source is the Midrash), that this was because Yosef passed the test related to kedushah. This brings brachos for parnassah.
Rebbe Naftali of Ropshitz zt'l (הוא ה"ד קודש זרע המשביר) quotes the Midrash that Yosef was rewarded to be the financial supporter for the entire land in the merit of passing his test. He explains that Chazal are translating הַמ ַּש ְׁבִּיר, "the supporter" as המשבר, "the one who broke". Yosef broke the yetzer hara, and therefore, he was rewarded with being the supporter of the country and of his family. He was the עולם יסוד צדיק, the tzaddik in whose merit the world was supported and fed.
The Gemara (Kiddushin 40a) states, "Whoever had a nisayon of arayos and was saved, a miracle will happen to him." The Gemara learns this from the pasuk (Tehillim 103:20) עֹשֵׂי דְּב ָרוֹ בְּקוֹל ַלִש ְׁמֹע דְב ָרוֹ, "Who do His bidding, to obey the voice of His will." The Maharsha explains that the tzaddikim דְב ָרוֹ עֹשֵׂי, pass tests and do Hashem's will. Therefore, ַלִש ְׁמֹע דְּב ָרוֹ בְּקוֹל, Hashem will listen to their tefillos and perform miracles for them.
The Beis Avraham said that it is alluded to in this week's parashah (43:31) וַיֹּאמֶר וַיִּתְאַפ ַּק לָחֶם שִׂימוּ, "He withheld himself, and said 'serve food.'" He explains that when one is וַיִּתְאַפַּק, holds back from aveiros, the reward is לָחֶם שִׂימוּ, parnassah, for all his needs.
Rokeach writes, "Therefore, close your eyes from looking at bad... If you refrain, you will merit to be like Yosef."
Maalas HaMiddos (Midas Yetzer Hara) writes, "Whoever was tested with a yetzer hara and he refrains because of his love to Hashem, and not because he fears people, he will merit to become great (לגדולה עולה). Know that it is so, because Yosef attained greatness after he refrained from an aveirah from his mistress, the wife of Potiphar."
Similarly, the Midrash (Bereishis Rabba 90:3) states, "For every limb that one refrains from an aveirah, he merits honor and greatness on this limb."
Shevet HaLevi (parashas Vayeshev) discusses the Rashi at the beginning of parashas Vayeshev that states that Yaakov wanted to dwell in peace, יוסף של רוגזו עליו קפץ, and then he suffered from the loss of Yosef. Shevet HaLevi explains that Yaakov wanted to dwell in peace and tranquility because he figured that it would be better for his avodas Hashem. But when he saw the high levels Yosef attained specifically due to the difficult tests he had, he understood that he shouldn't seek peace and tranquility. Facing and passing difficult tests is living on a higher level.
Moments of Greatness
When Yosef passed the test, it states וימאן, he refused to sin. There is a שלשלת on top of וימאן, which is a trop that goes up, and up, higher and higher. The Divrei Shmuel zt'l explains that a person can work for his parnassah all day and into the night, but still struggle with his parnassah. When does his mazal change and everything turns around? That is when he is presented with an exception financial opportunity, and earns ten times what he invests. The same can be said with avodas Hashem. There are times when one can perform a good deed, and the reward will be enormous. It is a moment of greatness, which doesn’t present itself all the time. This happens specifically when one passes tests. Therefore, there is a שלשלת over the word וימאן. When Yosef passed this test, he rose to very high levels.
Recognizing Hashem in All
Yosef said (41:16) פ ַּרְעֹה ש ְׁלוֹם אֶת יַע ֲנֶה א ֱלֹק ִים בִּלְעָדָי, "Not I; Hashem will give an answer that will bring peace to Pharaoh." And Yosef said (41:28) פ ַּרְעֹה אֶת ה ֶרְאָה עֹשֶׂה הָא ֱלֹק ִים ֶׁראֲש, "What Hashem is about to do, He has shown to Pharaoh." Shlah Hakadosh (ט"ס אות) writes, "See how Hashem's name was always on Yosef HaTzaddik's lips. He attributed the greatness to Hashem. He said, 'Who am I? I am a nobody. It is Hashem Who gave me this honor.' This is a great mussar: A person, with everything he does, should praise his Creator. Hashem alone has the greatness, strength, and kingship; everything is His."
Rebbe Yankele of Antwerp (Pshevorsk) zt'l brought proof that shidduchim are from heaven. He said it with humor to bring out his point. He said, "There are two Yaakovs: Yaakov Avinu and me, Yankele. Shouldn't it be that my shver (father-in-law) be Lavan the rasha, and Yaakov Avinu's shver Rebbe Itzikel of Pshevorsk (a great tzaddik)? Shouldn’t the great tzaddik, Yaakov Avinu, receive a fitting shver? How did it happen that the opposite happened, that I received a holy shver, and Yaakov Avinu became son-in-law of Lavan the rasha? This proves that shidduchim are from Heaven, and as Hashem desires it, that is what will be."
He said this to a person who was turning down every shidduch because he felt that he was too honored and respected, and he couldn't do a regular shidduch. Rebbe Yankele was telling him to lower his head and accept the shidduch that Hashem chooses for him.
For our purposes, this story is a reminder that everything, including shidduchim, is from Hashem. Everything is from Hashem, and we should recognize that and praise Hashem for everything we do and achieve, because everything is from Him.
