We must accept the portion Hashem gives us and even be happy with it. Hashem destined it to be so; therefore, it is undoubtedly for best.
It states (39:20), בית אל ויתנהו אותו יוסף אדני ויקח אסורים המלך אסירי אשר מקום הסהר, "Yosef's master took Yosef and put him into prison where the king's prisoners are detained." This was a great degradation. The holy Yosef HaTzaddik was imprisoned together with criminals. But there are hints that Yosef was always happy, even in prison. The end of the pasuk states, הסוהר בבית שם ויהי, "and he was there, in prison." These words seem superfluous because where else would he be? Obviously, if Yosef was placed in jail, he was "there, in prison."
The Torah tells us that Yosef was happy to be in jail. It wasn't a b'dieved, a negative experience he had to endure. Hashem placed him in prison, and he believed that he had a mission to accomplish there. הסהר בבית שם ויהי, he was in jail with all his heart and soul. He believed that it was the best place for him to be, so he was happy with his lot.
The Sfas Emes writes, “Yosef was extremely wise, and he was also wealthy. (Potiphar gave Yosef everything he owned [see 39:8]). If Yosef wanted, he could have figured out a way to be let out of prison. But he believed his imprisonment was Hashem’s will, so he remained there and didn’t try to leave.”
The Kedushas Levi writes, “Yosef could have tried to free himself from jail, but he didn’t because he trusted in Hashem that everything was for the good.”
The Midrash says, "Eliezer served Avraham loyally, and in this merit, instead of being cursed (ארור), he was blessed (ברוך).” Another Midrash (Shir HaShirim 1:1) states לחירות יצא באמונה רבו את ששימש ידי על יוסף, “Yosef served Potiphar loyally, and in that merit, he was freed from jail."
The Sifsei Tzaddik asked his brother-in-law, the Sfas Emes, "We understand that Eliezer was blessed for his loyal service because it was a great mitzvah to serve Avraham Avinu. But why would Yosef be freed from prison for serving Potiphar loyally? What was special about serving Potiphar?"
The Sfas Emes answered the Sifsei Tzaddik that when the Midrash writes באמונה, it doesn't mean loyalty, as is its simple translation. It implies that Yosef served Potiphar with belief in Hashem. He believed that Hashem wanted him to be a slave in Mitzrayim to Potiphar, and therefore, he accepted this role willingly, and with joy. In the merit of his emunah, he was freed from jail.
Regarding Yosef's stay in Mitzrayim, it states (39:2), יוסף את 'ה ויהי, “Hashem was with Yosef.” We understand that Yosef was happy in Mitzrayim because otherwise, Hashem wouldn't be with Yosef, as Chazal (Shabbos 30) say, "The Shechinah rests with someone who is happy."
Also, about Yosef's time in Potiphar's home it states (39:2), מצליח איש ויהי, "He was a successful man," and the Midrash translates מצליח איש as קפוז גבר, “a dancing person." Yosef was dancing and filled with joy.
But how was he so happy during these trying circumstances? The answer lies in Yosef's emunah. He believed that this was Hashem's will; Hashem wanted him to be a slave in Mitzrayim, and he believed that everything was for the good, so why shouldn't he be happy?
This is an attitude that we can emulate and seek to attain. The Chazon Ish zt'l said, "Everyone passes through the world; some pass through whilst crying, and some pass through with laughter. It is better to pass through the world with laughter." It is an avodah, one which doesn’t happen naturally, if he doesn't strive for it. When a person remembers that the situation that he is in is the best situation for him, he can then be happy with his portion.
The Sfas Emes concludes, “We must learn from these parshiyos to accept Hashem’s decrees with love and joy because everything is in His hands.”
Last week's parashah discusses עשו אלופי, Eisav's large and powerful family. This week's parashah begins with the words וישב יעקב, "And Yaakov sat." The Midrash (84:5) writes, "This can be compared to a person suddenly surrounded by a pack of dogs. Since he is afraid of them, he sits down among them. Similarly, Yaakov saw Eisav's family (the עשו אלופי stated in the pasukim before). He was afraid of them, so he sat down among them."
The Chidushei HaRim zt'l explains that "sitting among the troubles" means accepting them with the belief that everything is for the good.
It states (37:34) במתניו שק וישם שמלתיו יעקב ויקרע רבים ימים בנו על ויתאבל, "Yaakov rent his garments, and he put sackcloth on his loins, and he mourned for his son many days." The Midrash (84:20) states, "From the time Yaakov took the sackcloth, the sackcloth never left him, nor his children, nor his grandchildren, and it will continue until the end of generations."
The Chasam Sofer zt'l explains that the Midrash is saying that it wasn't good to put on sackcloth. It demonstrates that we aren't at peace with what is happening. The ideal outlook is to believe that even the most challenging situations are from Hashem, for our good.
