Seven years of famine will rise after them [the seven years of plenty] and all the abundance will be forgotten (Bereshis 41:30)

Napolean’s army surrounded a Russian city. It was only a matter time before the Russians surrendered, but the question was “how much time?” Weeks and months went by and the Russians refused to raise the white flag. Napolean’s own army was running low on supplies and the soldiers were were losing their focus on the mission. Therefore, Napolean came up with a plan to see if he should continue the siege. He decided to dress up as a commoner and sneak into the city to see what the people were saying: if they would surrender soon or not. Napolean took along his number one trusted servant with him. They came to a tavern and sat at a table in the middle of the room. At a table nearby, they overheard the people saying they would only be able to hold out a week more and then they would surrender to Napolean. Upon hearing this, the emperor was satisfied and signaled to his servant that they should prepare to leave. The servant stood up but suddenly smacked Napolean over the head while screaming, “Go get me a beer, you lowlife!” Napolean was fuming. Had his servant gone mad? He didn’t get a chance to ask this to his servant, though, because the servant pushed Napolean to the floor and kicked him in the ribs. Everyone in the tavern focused their attention on the “bar fight” and were laughing. The servant dragged Napolean out by the collar of his shirt. Once outside, both of them ran back to the fortress.

Upon arriving back on his throne, Napolean immediately called for the servant to tell him that he would be punished greatly for what he did. The servant shook with fear and begged for an opportunity to explain himself. He stated that in the tavern at a table behind the emperor was a group of people who pointed at Napolean. The servant read their lips and saw they were saying, “Is that Napolean dressed up as a commoner? I bet you he is here spying on us. Let’s get him.” The servant continued, “they were coming to attack you so I needed to act quickly. I hit you to try to make them think you were not really the emperor because no one in their right mind would hit the emperor. When I saw them laughing, I knew I had them convinced.” Napolean told his servant that instead of getting a punishment, he would get a great reward for he truly saved Napolean’s life.

Our Rabbis tell over this story because it has teaches a lot about how to view suffering. One lesson we can see from this story is that when a person goes through suffering, for some reason, he forgets all of the good times. Napolean had used this servant for many missions and he was so good that he was considered a “trusted” servant. Napolean forgot all of the great things the servant did, though, when the servant suddenly started acting strangely. Napolean was the one who made the error, though, not the servant.

When we go through suffering or hard times, we need to remember all of the good times we have gone through. If we focus properly on the situation, we will realize that in comparison to everything else that has happened in our life, this little suffering is not bad. This past week, I received notification that I would not be receiving a raise in my salary for the next two years. I was upset to hear this, but luckily, I had started writing this week’s Divrei Simcha. I started thinking about all of the benefits of my job and how good my management has been for the past ten years that I have had this job. Suddenly, I viewed the situation differently. I still wish I could get a raise, but I am not angry nor bothered about the lack of one. When we go through a times of famine, remember the times we had plenty. Remember all of the good of the past and it will make the future look brighter.

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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