The Talmud explains that this “man” was actually the angel Gavriel who came to guide Yosef. The Kotzker Rebbe Z”l explains homiletically that this angel came to teach a lesson. Whenever one finds himself “wandering” on the pathways of life, confused and searching for answers, he should first clarify his goals. The first step on the road to certainty is the ability to define a purpose in life for oneself. We may suggest that when one knows what he is seeking, he will accept an intelligent answer to his question. When he doesn’t know what he is searching for, however, he will never find a solution to his inquiry.
