We all have those moments where we feel like our efforts are fruitless. But what if even the most difficult experiences held a hidden benefit? Bereshit Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Genesis, offers a fascinating perspective on this very idea through the story of Joseph.
Our starting point is the verse, "It was at the conclusion of two years" (Genesis 41:1). Why highlight this specific timeframe? The Rabbis, in Bereshit Rabbah 89, connect this to the proverb, "In all toil there is advantage, but lips’ talk is only for detriment" (Proverbs 14:23).
Rabbi Shimon bar Abba uses a vivid analogy: it’s like the difference between drinking hot water and cold. Even the effort required to heat the water brings a benefit, as hot water was considered healthier. The Etz Yosef commentary explains that even the effort of heating the water brings an advantage. "But lips' talk is only for detriment," he continues, meaning that idle chatter and inaction lead to suffering. If someone just talks and does not take action, he will suffer.
The text then offers a curious story about a bone gatherer in Tzippori. Some say it was Rabbi Shimon bar Abba himself! This bone gatherer could discern what people drank based on the color of their bones: black for water drinkers, red for wine drinkers, and white for those who preferred hot water. What does this tell us? Perhaps it's an illustration of how even in death, the consequences of our habits remain.
But the real power of this passage lies in its application to Joseph's story. "In all toil there is advantage" – even from the suffering Joseph endured with his master’s wife, he gained an advantage. How so? He ultimately took her daughter as his wife. The text reminds us that Joseph married Asenat, daughter of Potifera (Genesis 41:45), who the Sages identify with Potiphar (see Bereshit Rabba 86:3). So, the very source of his torment ultimately leads to his blessing.
Conversely, "lips' talk is only for detriment." Remember when Joseph, in prison, asked the chief butler to "Remember me…and mention me" (Genesis 40:14) to Pharaoh? Because of this request, two years were added to his imprisonment. As the verse states: "It was at the conclusion of two years" – two years after he expected to be freed. Joseph’s reliance on words, on someone else’s action, delayed his liberation.
So what are we to take away from this? That even in our darkest moments, in the midst of our hardest work, there may be hidden benefits waiting to be revealed. And perhaps a lesson in the power of action over empty words. Maybe the secret to unlocking those hidden blessings lies in focusing on the task at hand, rather than relying on others or getting lost in idle chatter. The Midrash Rabbah is inviting us to see the potential for growth and good in every challenge we face.