It happened at the end of two years that Paroh was dreaming…[2]
Chazal’s[3] understanding of this verse is confusing. On the one hand, they see these two years as a consequence for Yosef’s lack of bitachon in Hashem (or more accurately, inappropriate hishtadlus) in seeking the aid of the arrogant wine-steward. The latter could have been predicted to forget about any assistance from his lowly previous cell-mate, and to disparage him even when he was moved to assist Paroh in solving his dream-interpretation predicament. (The wine butler made a point of belittling the naar Ivri, even as he recommended Yosef for the job.) On the other hand, the midrash goes on to say that Hashem delayed Yosef’s release so that Paroh would have his dream, and Yosef would be catapulted to greatness. The two lines of reasoning seem to be mutually exclusive.
The Shach points out that our pasuk literally reads “it happened after two years of days.” A year is composed of a given number of days. What is the Torah getting at by accentuating “years of days?” He explains that tzadikim accept with simcha the yesurim that come befall them. They trust, with complete confidence, that Hashem manages all their affairs, and everything that happens to them serves the cause of Good. Years of unpleasantness can pass as quickly as a few days.
Yosef, then, was not agonizing over his prolonged stay in custody because it was painful and humiliating. He longed for release for a completely different reason. He wished to clear his name. He felt that his incarceration was a continuing chilul Hashem, as the Egyptians pointed to the immoral Jew who tried to violate his gracious employer’s wife. He longed for release – and exoneration. While he remembered his dreams of decades ago, and understood that he would become a ruler somewhere at some point, this was simply not an active concern of his. Restoring the reputation of the family that was loyal to the One G-d was.
Hashem, however, had different plans for Yosef. He wanted Yosef installed as ruler of Egypt. That could not take place at any random time. Yosef’s ascension to power was bound up with the descent of Yaakov and his family to Mitzrayim, to begin the galus that would prefigure all future exiles. The time for that galus had not yet arrived. Paroh therefore had not yet had his dream. Yosef needed to wait for two years for the appropriate moment on the Divine timetable for history.
Yosef offers instruction for future generations of Jews. Yosef had indeed jumped the gun by trying to enlist the aid of the wine steward, albeit not for particularly poor reasons. He wanted out in order to minimize chilul Hashem – certainly a noble objective. While it was noble, however, it was short-sighted. Hashem had something even greater in store for him – but it would have to wait two years until the time for the Egyptian exile to begin before he would be released.
Similarly, Jews would at times seek relief from galus in order to lighten the load of oppression, or even to enjoy status among the nations. While this is understandable, it can even delay the real redemption. Rather, they should not be satisfied with half-measures that improve living conditions, but obscure the real goal of Jewish history. They should continue to daven for the ultimate geulah of Moshiach.