"Ki hatachat Elohim ani?" asks Joseph in Gen 50:19. "Shall I take the place of G-d?"
All about us these days is confusion. Moral uncertainty. Selfish and cruel behaviors. Luckily for us. For in these distractions are the things we need to take the focus away from self-examination and spare us the embarrassment of dealing with our own shortcomings. How easily we declare ourselves judge and proceed to find fault with others, with situations, our employers, our families, etc.
We criticize with abandon the actions, opinions and morals of others. Both those like us and unlike us. (Lately, in fact, it seems that the favorite target of our judgments are our own Jewish brothers and sisters.)
In our delusions that our troubles are caused by others, not only do we find fault...we hold grudges, too.
Joseph knows better.
Now, Joseph really was "worked over" by his brothers. Betrayed. If anyone had a right to stand in judgment of others, Joseph surely had that right over his brothers.
"Ki hatachat Elohim ani?" asks Joseph in Gen 50:19. "Shall I take the place of G-d?"
Joseph, of course, goes on to take the teleological approach. The evil that befell him was all part of G-d's plan, and it all worked out in the end. That sure is convenient. Question is, had things not worked out the way they did, would Joseph have been so forgiving? That, I cannot answer. Were he not standing at the apex of power, would he feel the same about not standing in the place of G-d? I'd like to think so. I'd like to think that all people would always ask themselves whether they can or should take the place of G-d. It' something we might well ask ourselves each time we find ourselves standing in judgment of others.
A follow-up:
A few weeks ago I wrote about Vayishlach and "Don't Get Mad, Get Even." At the time I focused on the "don't get mad" part. In Vayechi, Jacob teaches us about the "get even" part. He pronounces his oracles for his sons, and Reuben, Simeon and Levi are called to account. In this same parasha, Joseph has the opportunity to exact some measure of judgment on his brothers. But, instead, Joseph brings down a higher form of judgment than he or any human is capable of. He forgives, forgoes, and moves on, refusing to "take the place of G-d." This magnanimous gesture is probably a more effective form of punishment, retribution and judgment than anything Joseph, even with the power of Pharaoh (and G-d) behind him, could inflict upon his brothers. Think about it.
Chazak chazak v'nitchazek.
Shabbat Shalom,
Adrian
©1998 by Adrian A. Durlester
Some other musings on this parasha:
Vayechi 5766-Thresholds
(Redux 5764 with Reflections
Vayechi 5761/5-Unethical Wills
Vayechi 5764-Thresholds
Vayechi
5763 - I Got it Good and That Ain't Bad (Redux 5760)
Vayechi 5762-The Wrong Good