The Torah seems to preface the ensuing order of events with the phrase, “At the end of two years.” What is the significance of the two years? Could the Torah not have begun by simply stating that Pharaoh had a dream? After all, is that not how it all began? The Bais Ha’Levi posits that it is precisely this case of misdirected cause and effect that the Torah seeks to circumvent. We might think that Pharaoh dreamed, and Yosef was released from prison as a result of his G-d-given ability to interpret the dream. In such a scenario, Pharaoh’s dream is the cause and Yosef’s release is the effect. This is not true! Hashem ordained that Yosef remain in prison for ten years, which was later extended to twelve years. At the end of this time, Yosef was to be released. To facilitate his release, Hashem arranged for Pharaoh to dream his famous dreams, which Yosef interpreted. Once the end of Yosef’s imprisonment approached, Hashem prepared the stage. We must remember that everything has a preordained time for occurring. When that time arrives, everything will just “seem” to fall into place.
