In this week's parsha we read about the episode of Yosef and his brother's who sold him into slavery. The Torah tells us that Yaakov sent his son Yosef to check on his other brothers who were tending the family livestock in the city of Shechem. As Yosef approached his brother's they conspired to kidnap him which eventually led to them selling him into slavery.

R'Avraham the son of Maimonodes asks how could it be that Yaakov sent Yosef to check on his brothers? Yaakov knew that the brothers harbored animosity towards Yosef. Furthermore, Yaakov had been careful not to let Yosef be alone with the brothers as he feared what they might do to him. Yosef as well was aware of the hatred his brothers had towards him and he too was careful. It seems unbelievable that Yosef and Yaakov would seemingly cast aside these fears and to go check on them.

He answers that when the time comes for G-d's "Plan" to move forward it doesn't make a difference what a person wants or thinks. Nothing can prevent Hashem's Plan and part of His Plan was to have Yosef go to Egypt and become a world leader. The brothers kidnapping and selling Yosef into slavery helped to facilitate this so no matter how counterintuitive it was for Yosef to go meet his brothers he nevertheless did. 

We can see that although we need to take the necessary precautions and put in our effort with everything we do, the ultimate success or failure is dependent on Hashem. No matter how elaborate or sophisticated our plans our if Hashem wants something different He can place in our heads to do the exact opposite of what we think is the most logical. 

Chanukah is a time when Hashem saved the Jewish People from the Greeks, not only phsyically but spiritually as well. They attempted to destroy our entire worldview. They wanted the Jewish People to declare that (G-d Forbid) "we have no portion with the G-d of Israel". They wanted us to adopt a view that nature, human strength and human intelligence are the supreme factors in success or failure. The tremendous miracles that we experienced as 13 Jewish men defeated the massive Greek armies showed everyone that only Hashem runs the world

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Chanukah,

Heath