Kabbalah Library
Zohar for All, Volume 3
The Lord Was with Joseph
204) “And the Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.” “For the Lord loves justice and does not forsake His godly ones; they are preserved forever.” This verse is explained concerning Abraham.
205) Wherever the righteous walk, the Creator watches over them and does not leave them. David said, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear evil, for You are with me, Your rod and Your staff, they will comfort me,” for wherever the righteous walk, the Shechina walks with them and does not leave them.
206) Joseph went in the valley of the shadow of death and was brought down to Egypt, and the Shechina was with him, as it is written, “And the Lord was with Joseph.” And because the Shechina was with him, everything he did succeeded. And even if he had something and his master would want it from him in another way than what it was, the thing would be turned in his hand into the way his master wanted it.
207) “And his master saw that the Lord was with him” means that everyday he would see with his own eyes the miracles that the Creator performed in his hand. Hence, “…the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house because of Joseph.”
The Creator watches over the righteous; and because of them, He watches over the wicked, too, for the wicked are blessed thanks to the righteous, as it is written, “…and the Lord blessed the house of Obed, Edom, for the Ark of God.”
208) Others are blessed thanks to the righteous, but they cannot be saved thanks to them. Joseph’s master was blessed because of him, but he himself could not be saved from him and be liberated thanks to his merit.
209) And afterwards, he was imprisoned, as it is written, “They afflicted his feet with fetters; he himself was laid in irons,” until the Creator finally liberated him and made him ruler over the whole of the land of Egypt. This is why it is written, “…and does not forsake His godly ones; they are preserved forever.” Thus, the Creator protects the righteous in this world and in the next.
