וְתוּ אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן לְיָנוֹקֵיהּ דְּרֵישׁ לָקִישׁ דְּיָתֵיב וְאָמַר: ״אִוֶּלֶת אָדָם תְּסַלֵּף דַּרְכּוֹ וְעַל ה׳ יִזְעַף לִבּוֹ״.
The Gemara relates another story about the precociousness of this child. And furthermore, on a different occasion Rabbi Yoḥanan found the young son of Reish Lakish, when he was sitting and studying and he was reciting the verse: “The foolishness of man perverts his way, and his heart frets against the Lord” (Proverbs 19:3). This verse means that when someone sins and every manner of mishap befalls him, he complains and wonders why these things are happening to him.
יְתֵיב רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְקָא מַתְמַהּ. אָמַר: מִי אִיכָּא מִידֵּי דִּכְתִיבִי בִּכְתוּבֵי דְּלָא רְמִיזִי בְּאוֹרָיְיתָא? אָמַר לֵיהּ: אַטּוּ הָא מִי לָא רְמִיזִי, וְהָכְתִיב: ״וַיֵּצֵא לִבָּם וַיֶּחֶרְדוּ אִישׁ אֶל אָחִיו לֵאמֹר מַה זֹּאת עָשָׂה אֱלֹהִים לָנוּ״.
Rabbi Yoḥanan sat down and wondered aloud about this verse, saying: Is there anything that is written in the Writings that is not alluded to in the Torah at all? I cannot think of any hint of this idea in the Torah itself. The child said to him: Is that to say that this idea is really not alluded to in the Torah? But isn’t it written, with regard to Joseph’s brothers: “And their heart failed them and they turned trembling to one to another, saying: What is this that Hashem has done to us?” (Genesis 42:28). This verse exemplifies the notion that when one sins and encounters troubles, he wonders why it is happening to him.
This is perfect! The brothers wondered what Hashem is doing to them! Why are they being given such a crazy run around??!!!
The answer is that when they made the decision to sell Yosef - they brought this upon themselves. So DON'T BLAME HASHEM!!!
We all have free choice. That is what makes us HUMAN. When we use our free choice in foolish ways then we pay a price. אִוֶּלֶת אָדָם תְּסַלֵּף דַּרְכּוֹ וְעַל ה׳ יִזְעַף לִבּוֹ.
