Page 585 - BERESHIT
P. 585
Yosef’s position was the perfect cover-up for his real identity. No one
would ever have thought that Yosef would become the Viceroy of Egypt.
The brothers originally despised Yosef and refused to accept the dreams.
To accept the reversal of fortune would have led them to challenge their
basic premise of his abduction. A person sees only what he wants to see.
The name Yosef represents Hashem, as its numerical value equals six
times the numerical value of Hashem’s Four-Letter Name. Just as the
brothers didn’t recognize Yosef, so too, many Jews do not recognize
Hashem. The word describes the essence of sin. Our ultimate goal of
life is to renew our former relationship with Hashem.
After a man dies, his soul ascends to the Heavenly realm Above. Hashem
appears and declares, as Yosef did to his brothers, “I am Hashem.” Those
who are entrapped in sin cannot answer back. They are too overcome with
remorse and humiliation at their lack of recognizing their ‘family’
connection. Only by staying far from sin can we appear before the
Ultimate ‘Yosef’ without being embarrassed into complete silence.
“Yosef said to them on the third day, ‘Do this
and live; I fear G-d’”
(Bereishit 42:18)
