Trust in God Alone

במדרש אשרי הגבר אשר שם ה' מבטחו זה יוסף כו'.

“In the Midrash: ‘Happy is the man who has made the Lord his trust’ — this refers to Joseph, etc.”

The Sefat Emet begins by citing the Midrash, which identifies Joseph as the exemplar of one who truly places his trust in God.

פי' מי ששם מבטחו בה' צריך לשמור ביותר שלא יפנה אל רהבים.

“The explanation: One who places his trust in God must be exceedingly careful not to turn toward the arrogant.”

Trust in God demands vigilance; relying on God does not remove the danger of being drawn toward corrupting influences.

כי הם רודפין אחריו ביותר.

“For they pursue him even more.”

The more a person aligns with holiness, the more negative forces attempt to sway him.

ובודאי לא בטח יוסף בו רק שלא לנטות אחריהם אף כמלוא נימא.

“And certainly Joseph did not put his trust in ‘him,’ but only sought not to lean toward them even the width of a hair.”

The Sefat Emet clarifies that Joseph’s trust was not in any human power; his sole concern was avoiding even the slightest pull toward wrongdoing.

וזה לא שייך רק לצדיק כיוסף:

“And this applies only to a righteous person like Joseph.”

Such extreme sensitivity to spiritual deviation is unique to the truly righteous.

Summary: The Sefat Emet teaches that true trust in God, exemplified by Joseph, requires heightened caution against even the smallest pull of arrogance or negative influence — a vigilance characteristic of the righteous.