Hashgachah Pratis in the Sefarim Hakedoshim
Excerpts from the popular shiur by Harav Hatzaddik R’ Beirish Shneebalg shlit”a
Search in the Right Place
During these weeks we are reading the story of Yosef Hatzaddik, how he was sold to the Egyptians, how he went into jail and was released and crowned as the viceroy of Mitzrayim.
From this story Chazal learn the fundamentals of emunah and bitachon. “Fortunate is the man who places his trust in Hashem” refers to Yosef (Bereishis Rabbah 89:3)
We can take a lesson from here regarding the things that relate to us as well.
In Parshas Mikeitz it is related how the holy Shevatim came down to Mitzrayim, and Yosef accused them of being spies. This begs explanation. Why did Yosef accuse them of coming to spy the land?
Oftentimes a person gets hints from Shamayim. These hints are usually very hidden. Without paying special attention, one could miss them. The point of these hints is to tell people that they should improve their deeds and change for the better.
When a person has a hard time with parnassah, this is a message from Shamayim that he is meant to examine his deeds and see what he needs to improve.
But there are people who choose not to understand the hints. When they have a hard time with parnassah, instead of examining their deeds and seeing what they are meant to do, they look for solutions in other places.
This idea is expressed in the conversation between Yosef Hatzaddik and his brothers, the holy Shevatim. Yosef Hatzaddik asked them about the purpose of their coming, and they said they came in order to get food, meaning to search for parnassah. He answered them that they had come to spy on the land – with this, he was trying to arouse them to the fact that they were seeking solutions in places outside themselves instead of within.
The brothers still did not understand, and they went on to relate the story of their younger brother “Yosef,” who had disappeared, and how they were searching for Yosef, who was actually the provider, the source of bounty. And once again, Yosef answered them that they were spies. Finally, the brothers understood the message and said, “But we are at fault” – they realized that the solution to the problem lay in their examining their own deeds.
