Leadership for Heaven’s Sake

במדרש רק הכסא אגדל אנו למדין מפרשתו של פרעה כו' והיית רק למעלה ע"ש.

“In the Midrash: ‘Only the throne will I make greater,’ we learn from Pharaoh’s decree… ‘and you shall be only above,’ etc.”

The Sefat Emet notes that the Midrash derives a spiritual teaching from Pharaoh’s phrasing, emphasizing an elevation that is ‘above.’

דקשה מה הוצרך להתנות זאת הלא אמר על פיך ישק כל עמי ומהיכא תיתי שיהיה שוה למלך.

“But it is difficult: why did Pharaoh need to stipulate this? Did he not already say, ‘By your command all my people shall be sustained’? And why would it enter anyone’s mind that Joseph be equal to the king?”

The Rebbe asks why Pharaoh adds a condition if Joseph already possesses full authority, and why one would think Joseph could be on the king’s level.

וגם מה לשון אגדל.

“And also, what is the meaning of the expression ‘I will make greater’?”

The phrasing suggests intentional elevation, which requires interpretation.

רק כל כוונת פרעה שהקים ליוסף בעבור כי הוא חכם ויתגדל כסאו על ידו.

“Rather, Pharaoh’s entire intention in elevating Joseph was that, because he was wise, Pharaoh’s own throne would be magnified through him.”

Joseph’s greatness serves to enhance the king’s throne; Pharaoh sees Joseph as the means through which his sovereignty is strengthened.

וזה שהתנה רק שהכסא יגדל על ידו.

“And this is why he stipulated that only the throne would be made greater through him.”

Pharaoh’s condition signals that all enhancement flows upward, toward his own kingship.

וכמו כן אנו למדין שכל הרמת בנ"י צריך להיות לשם שמים להיות עיניהם ולבן של בני ישראל רק למעלה:

“And so we learn that every elevation of the Children of Israel must be for the sake of Heaven, that the eyes and heart of the Israelites be directed only upward.”

The Sefat Emet concludes that true spiritual elevation mirrors this pattern: Jewish ascent must point solely toward the divine, not toward self-glorification.

Summary: Pharaoh’s wording teaches that Joseph’s rise served to elevate the throne above him. Likewise, all elevation of Israel must channel upward, aimed only toward Heaven.