Tzadikim Must Deal With Difficulties:
Rashi quotes the Medrash (Bereishis Rabbah 84:3) that says that Yaakov desired to live in serenity. Hashem said, “Isn’t what I have prepared for tzadikim in Olam Haba enough? Do they also wish to live in serenity in the world?”
Sefer Tzemach Dovid asks: What is wrong with tzadikim wanting to live in peace? Don’t we find Hashem promising serenity to those who fulfill the mitzvos numerous times (for example in Vayikroh 9:6: “And I will give peace to the land.”)?
He answers that the way of true tzadikim is to serve Hashem with extreme love. Their love for Hashem is so great that it envelopes their entire body and they become so enthusiastic that they reach the verge of having their soul leave their body. They literally annul their entire being to Hashem and put their lives on the line to serve Him.
Due to Hashem’s great love for them, he forces them to momentarily loose focus on their all-encompassing love for him, so that they should be able to remain amongst the living. He sends them worldly difficulties that they are forced to deal with, so that they won’t reach the point of actually leaving this world as a result of their enthusiastic avodas Hashem.
This explanation is in line with the words of the Apta Rov zy”a, who asks why Hashem made this world in a way that tzadikim must deal with problems all the time. For much of the day, they have people coming to them to tell them about their troubles with health, livelihood, shidduchim, etc. Wouldn’t it be better if tzadikim would be able to peacefully learn and serve Hashem all day?
He answers that because Hashem loves tzadikim so much, He desires to hear from them. He wants them to daven to Him, so he sends them reasons to constantly do so. He adds that tzadikim serve Hashem with such fire and passion that they are in danger of being burnt up and ceasing to exist on this world. Therefore, Hashem has mercy on them and sends people to them with their problems. This forces them to come down from their lofty level somewhat in order to deal with these issues.
Accordingly, Rashi is saying that Yaakov loved Hashem so much that he wanted to serve Him all day. He did not want to be busy with troubles and problems. Hashem, however, did not want him to reach the point of ceasing to exist out of his fiery passion. Therefore, He sent the difficulties of Yosef. He said that He didn’t only want Yaakov to serve Him peacefully in Olam Haba. He also wanted him to serve Him in this world. That was why He decided to not allow him to serve Him until the extent of self-annulment, and he lowered his level somewhat by forcing him to focus on other things.
