She relentlessly pursued him, but he resisted. But the Yalkut Shimoni, that incredible compilation of Midrashic interpretations, gives us a glimpse behind the curtain.
Rebbe – and the Yalkut Shimoni doesn't specify which Rebbe, leaving room for speculation – offers a fascinating explanation. He says that Joseph did listen to her, at least initially. Can you imagine that? But then, in the nick of time, the Holy One intervened. How? By presenting Joseph with an image of his father, Jacob. The shame and respect for his father overwhelmed him, and he fled.
But the story doesn't end there. The Yalkut continues, saying that the second time Joseph went in, the Holy One literally lifted the even shetiyah, the Foundation Stone – traditionally believed to be the stone upon which the world was built, or the stone in the Holy of Holies in the Temple. And God said, "If you touch her, I will throw it down and destroy the world!" Talk about high stakes!
This dramatic moment, according to the Yalkut Shimoni, is alluded to in Genesis 49:24: “…and his arms were gilded from the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob; from there he sustained the rock of Israel.” The implication is that Joseph’s righteousness, his ability to withstand temptation, literally sustained the world.
Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani, quoting Rabbi Yochanan, takes this idea even further. He teaches that every good deed, every mitzvah (commandment) we do in this world precedes us, paving the way for us in the World to Come. As it says in Isaiah 58:8, "...and your righteousness shall go before you…"
Conversely, every transgression clings to us, preceding us to the Day of Judgment. This is illustrated by Job 6:18: “The paths of their way are held [by them]; they go up in waste and are lost.” The Yalkut paints a vivid picture: our actions, both good and bad, have consequences that extend far beyond this earthly realm. They shape our destiny.
So, what does this all mean for us? It’s a powerful reminder that our choices matter. Every single one. They resonate through eternity, impacting not only our own souls but, in a very real sense, the very fabric of the universe. It's humbling, isn't it, to think that even our seemingly small acts of kindness, or our moments of resistance against temptation, contribute to sustaining the world?