Chazal teach us that Yosef was forgotten because he was wrong in placing his trust in a mere human being. Did Yosef really behave inappropriately? What about the concept of hishtadlus, endeavor? Is one to sit back with folded hands doing nothing whatsoever, expecting the blessing to descend from Hashem? Horav Elyakim Shlesinger, Shlita, surmises from here a significant principle regarding the idea of hishtadlus. He cites the Midrash which quotes Hashem’s statement to Yosef, “The Sar Ha’Mashkim, wine steward, forgot you. I will not forget you. Who waited for Avraham and Sarah to attain old age before they had a child? Who waited for Yaakov as he left his parents’ home with nothing but a staff and later became wealthy? Who waited for Yosef to undergo his various trials only to ascend as Viceroy over Egypt?” It was Hashem who waited, as His plan reached its goal. There is a time and place for everything. Hashem does not forget. We must wait patiently until that moment arrives.
We see from Chazal that hishtadlus is permissible and even essential. Hashem blesses us in our maas’e ya’daim, actions and endeavors. We must realize and remember, however, that even if we do not see an immediate response from Hashem to our hishtadlus, Hashem does not ignore or forget us. The time has simply not arrived. Yosef was correct in turning to the wine steward for assistance. His error was in imploring him to remember him. Hashem does not forget! Yosef should have simply said to him, “Speak to Pharaoh in my behalf.” To ask him to remember is tantamount to insinuating that Hashem might forget about him. Yosef should not have performed his hishtadlus in the area of remembrance, since that is an area with which we do not concern ourselves. Hashem never forgets!
