“Hishtadlut”

Parshat Mikeitz begins by telling us that Pharoah’s dreams occurred exactly two years after the butler was released. This was meant to be a hint that Yosef was forced to stay in prison an extra two years, because he put too much faith in the butler, and not in Hashem.

This little detail in the story of Yosef’s rise to power may have seemed insignificant, but there is a serious message here. We are to learn how to balance between doing our own “Hishtadlut,” and recognizing that all success comes from Hashem.

Hishtadlut means that we don’t sit back and wait for a miracle, and say that Hashem will provide. We set things in motion by working hard and making the proper contacts who will help us succeed.

We must never assume that just because an influential person says he will plead our cause, and direct us towards our desired goal, that he will come through for us.

Even if he does come through, he must be seen as the Shaliach, the messenger from Hashem.

The Orchot Tzaddikim makes a strong statement by reminding us that nothing that we possess is deserved. Everything is a gift from G-d. This even includes that which was given from parents or relatives. They are also G-d’s messengers.

This was the lesson to be learned from Yosef. There was nothing wrong with asking the butler to put in a good word for him. His mistake was that he did not look at the butler as a possible messenger from Hashem. That is why he needed to stay in prison two more years. He needed to understand this important lesson just as we do.