And they told him, “Joseph is still alive; yes, he is ruler over the whole land of Egypt.” His heart went numb, for he did not believe them (Bereishis 45:26).
Only after she had told him a bit more and he saw the wagons did he believe her and find true solace and comfort. What was in the second pasuk that allowed Yaakov Avinu to feel the true nechamah?
Rav Kallus beautifully answered these two questions: Yosef HaTzaddik did not just share with his father that he was viceroy of Egypt. Actually, his words were very intentional and deliberately chosen, as he told them to tell his father: “Hashem made me the viceroy of Egypt.” In his inimitable fashion, Yosef expressed, very clearly, that he did not just happen to be a leader; it was only Hashem Who had made him a leader; and he, even 22 years in Mitzrayim, was fully aware of that, 24 hours a day.
As Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky zt”l pointed out (in Emes L’Yaakov), every time Yosef opens his mouth to speak in the Torah, he always mentions Hashem! Always! Hashem was so ever-present on his lips...and that is specifically the message he wanted to give his father.
When Yaakov heard that Yosef was viceroy, he was despondent, thinking the worst possible view of his son’s connection to Hashem and His Torah. But then, when Serach gave him more details and shared with him exactly that which Yosef said... then, and only then, did he find true comfort. As the pasuk says:
וַיְדַבְר֣ וּ אֵל ָ֗יו אֵֵ֣ת כׇּל־דִּבְרֵֵ֤י יוֹסֵף אֲשֶ֣ר דִּבֶ֣ר אֲלֵהֶֶ֔ם וַיַרְ א֙ אֶת־ה ֣עֲג לֶ֔וֹת אֲשֶר־ש לַַ֥ח יוֹסֵֵ֖ף ל שֵ֣את אֹת֑וֹ וַתְחִִּ֕י רֵ֖ וּחַ יַעֲקַֹ֥ב אֲבִּיהֶֶֽם׃
But when they recounted all that Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to transport him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived (Bereishis 45,27).
When Yaakov Avinu heard all the words that Yosef had said, and how Hashem Yisbarach was so ever-present in his every word; the spirit of Yaakov returned once again.
What a lesson for us this is. To speak about Hashem, in our every paragraph and conversation, is everything; for it reveals just how present He is in our lives. If life is about Hashem, then should He not be part of that which we talk about?
B’Siyata DiShmaya.
