Miller's Musings Parshas Vayeshev: Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail

בס''ד

With seemingly superhuman willpower and fortitude, Yosef time after time was able to rebuff the repeated and intensely enticing advances of the wife of his master Potiphar.  The Gemoro tells us that this monumental feat acts as a counter to those who claim that they were simply unable to overcome their desires in this area.  If Yosef was able to resist in the most trying of circumstances, there is no one that can claim they were powerless to refrain.  Yet another Gemoro tells us that Yosef was given divine assistance, when an image of his father’s face appeared to him just as the temptation was greatest.  This was what gave him the resolve he needed at this time. That being the case, surely the claim of others, who lacked this motivation and were thereby unable to overcome their test, would still be valid!  Yosef had help. They did not!

As Yosef underwent trial after trial, he knew that there would come a point when he would be defeated and would finally succumb to his desires.  The vision of his father’s saintly appearance was not something that just happened to materialise when he needed it most, but was a tactic that Yosef had devised previously which he could employ in the most extreme moments.  It was Yosef, says the Birchas Mordechai, who conjured up this last resort path to salvation. It was not a matter of luck but a matter of planning, and if Yosef could conceive of a means of protection even when the compulsion was so strong, then we too are expected to create our own approach to defeating our negative desires. 

Deny it, avoid it, resist it, no matter what we do, we will be met in our life with situations that are sent to test our willpower and examine our true level. It is what we are here for and what gives life its ultimate meaning. Acceptance of this as a fact is the first stage towards success, but the next stage must be one of preparation. We may not know exactly what form our challenge will take, but we often know where our weaknesses lie and what the triggers are for our failings to come to the fore. This is where we must visualise those occurrences and the methods we will use to overcome them. We must confront our own flaws and begin rectifying them where we can and fortifying those elements of our character that will help us triumph in the most trying of times. Developing our faith in G-d, acceptance of His plan and tolerance towards others are fundamental tools in our life’s work, but whatever we deem crucial to achieving our purpose, we must acquire them now before we need them the most.

*May the power of Shabbos provide inspiration for the coming week*

לעילוי נשמת לאה בת אברהם 

לעילוי נשמת שרה יעל בת גרשון