Rabbi Marc D. Rudolph

The Rabbis of the Talmud call Joseph “Joseph the Righteous” – “Yosef Ha-tsadik”.  No other Biblical figure is described in this way.  Why is Joseph singled out for this appellation? When Joseph is brought to Pharaoh, he makes it clear that it is not within his power to interpret dreams:

And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”  Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” (Genesis 41:15-16).

When Joseph later reveals himself to his brothers, they are unable to speak. They fear that he will use his power as second in command to Pharoah to punish them for selling him to Egypt. Joseph reassures them:

“Come close to me.” So they did. Then he said, “I am your brother Joseph. I’m the one you sold into Egypt.  But don’t be upset. And don’t be angry with yourselves because you sold me here. God sent me ahead of you to save many lives. (Genesis 45:4-5)

Joseph tells them not to fear, for it was God who brought him to this place – to save them, not to exact vengeance.

Unlike Abraham, unlike Isaac, unlike Jacob, God never speaks directly to Joseph. Yet, throughout all the troubles that Joseph encounters, Joseph never loses the belief that God is with him. In this way, Joseph is like us. God does not speak directly to us either. But, like Joseph, we must have faith that, as the psalmist assures us, “God is close to all who call, to all who call upon Him with integrity.” (Psalm 145:18)