In Parshat Vayechi, Yaakov Avinu dies, leaving the brothers and Yosef in Egypt. After Yaakov’s death, the brothers get worried and feel that Yosef will be like Esav and try to take his revenge now that his father has passed. Yosef, once again, has to reassure his brothers that he is not planning to harm them and that it is all planned by Hashem.
Not only does Yosef say that it was Hashem’s plan, but he says “אַל־תִּירָ֑אוּ כִּ֛י הֲתַ֥חַת אֱלֹקים אָֽנִי,” which means do not be afraid because I am underneath Hashem. This is more than saying that he trusts Hashem and knows it’s from Him. Yosef is saying, I have learned from Hashem. He took me under his wing, and I use Him as a role model. Why is this different?
We can all have faith and trust in Hashem and recognize that everything is from Him. Everything that happened needed to happen, but the person who did the action chose to do that action. Someone else could have been the messenger, meaning Yosef had every right to be upset at his siblings. However, he emulated Hashem, as all of us should do. Yosef understood the power of forgiveness and that holding a grudge and acting with anger instead of mercy toward Am Yisrael is not good. May we all learn to be under Hashem and use Hashem as a role model, allowing us to emulate Godliness and become a more forgiving and merciful nation.
Shira Sedek is a passionate educator currently working toward a master’s degree at Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration.
