A Time and a Place for Everything- Rabbi Moishe Jacobson

Yosef is described by the Torah as being a naar – youth. Rashi explains this is referring to the fact that Yosef would busy himself styling his hair and eyebrows in order to look good. Later in the Parsha (39:6) the possuk tells us, that Yosef was very good looking and again Rashi says, that the story of Yosef and the wife of Potifar, took place because Yosef was busying himself with his hair, and was punished for seemingly ignoring the fact that his father was suffering back home. Yosef was one of the biggest tzadikim that ever lived – is it really possible that he was so materialistic and preoccupied with his hair that he could ignore the fact that his father is suffering?
Rav Shimon Schwab explains that Yosef was not obsessed with the style or appearance of his hair, rather Yosef knew from his dreams, that he was destined to be king. The Gemara Sanhedrin 22B, tells us that a king has to look presentable and has to cut his hair every day. Yosef was therefore preparing himself for this future role. If so, why does the possuk use the word naar, implying childishness?
It was not Yosef’s place to start acting like a king before his time came. Children do not understand how to wait for something, they demand instant gratification. Yosef acting as a king before his time was considered childish and therefore the possuk refers to him as a naar.
When the time came, Phaaroh, had him removed from the prison and ordered for his hair to be cut, without any of Yosefs intervention.
There are times in life when we think we know what Hashem has in mind for us, and we attempt to ‘jump the gun’ and pursue it only to be disappointed when things don’t work out quite as expected. We learn from this Parsha that everything has its time and place. When the time is ripe Hashem orchestrates things perfectly – all we have to do is wait patiently and daven.