True Faith Faculty Dvar Torah by Rena Coren

True Faith

Faculty Dvar Torah by Rena Coren

Rav Yaakov Naiman (Darchei Mussar, Moadim) makes a fascinating observation on the passuk:

"Vayomer Par'oh el Yosef acharei hodeeya Elokim otcha et kol zot, ein navon ve'chacham kamocha" (Breishit 41,39).

It's interesting to note that the Pharoah in the days of Yosef, upon hearing the interpretation of his troubling dreams, immediately believes in the word of G-d. This is in spite of being the scion of a society which was entrenched in idolatry. In stark contrast, the Pharoah in the days of Moshe who despite being witness to outright miracles and signs, belligerently states "Who is Hashem that I should listen to him?" Why the blatant discrepancy?

Rav Naiman answers that the Pharoah in the days of Yosef hears an interpretation that is pleasing to him and in his best interest; that while the rest of the world would face starvation, he and his kingdom would be a wealthy super power. Pharoah very much wanted to believe this fortuitous tiding. In the days of Moshe however, the word of Hashem was not to Pharoah’s liking. There he was being asked to set free an entire nation that was enslaved to him and his empire would be sure to lose a lot of wealth and status. In that case, Pharoah did not want to believe and have to face the repercussions of that belief.
The attitude of these two Egyptian monarchs highlights for us the difference of what true emunah entails for a Jew. As Rav Hutner comments on Tehillim 92, “lihagid baboker chasdecha ve’emunatcha baleilot”- When things are clear to me (like the morning which is a time of light), when things are pleasant for me, I recognize the chessed in what Hashem does for me. Yet, even when things are hard for me and dark (like night time), I still believe in Hashem and follow in His path. A Jew’s faith in Hashem never wavers regardless of the time period in which he finds himself. He constantly is connected and working on the precious relationship that he has with his Creator, from a place of loyalty and belief.
Bezchut the emunah we have in joyous times and the little lights of faith that we ignite inside ourselves even the darkest times, may we be zoche to experience a time that will be only light, b'mheira beyameinu.
Shabbat Shalom!