He gave each one of them a change of clothing (Bereshis 45:22)

At the end of last week’s parsha, Yosef wanted to test his brothers to see if they truly had repented. Yosef took his goblet and had it hidden in Binyomin’s sack. He then accused Binyomin of stealing his goblet to see how his brothers would respond. When they heard what happened, they ripped their clothes and mourned.

In this week’s parsha, Yosef reveals himself and gives clothing to his brothers. The reason is because he made them rip their clothing and therefore was responsible to buy them new clothes. Now, think about this. Yosef did not want his brothers to rip their clothing. His intention was to test them, not to make them tear their shirts. Even though it was not his intention, though, he needed to reimburse them because it was through his actions that they lost their clothing.

Just like someone is responsible for paying back someone when the other person loses something because of his actions, a person is rewarded when something good comes because of what he did, even if he didn’t intend for it. Let’s say someone drops $100 and does not even realize he did this. If a poor person picks up the money and then uses it for food that he greatly needed, the original owner of the money gets a reward.

Now if this is true even when someone doesn’t intend to do good, how much more so is it true if someone intends to do good. If you mean to do something good and do it, imagine how much reward you will get!

Good Shabbos!
-y.e.s.
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