GC#27 - When the slave Became King - Omer Day 13

If Yitzchok was the master of self-discipline, Yosef was the master of self-control. The former was the perfect burnt offering - the עולה תמימה; the latter was the perfect Tzaddik. 

Yosef is thrown consistently to the bottom of the pile... and consistently rises to the top. The slave becomes the master. Rejected by family, rejected by his own master, somehow his 'chen' (to be explored more in future episodes) allows him to do on a microcosmic level, what the people, for whose presence in Egypt he was the catalyst, did on a macrocosmic level. They went from the lowest point - slaves - mired in the lowest levels of negativity that Egypt could offer, to become a Mamleches Kohanim - a kingdom of Priests.

And that is the Sefira too...if we learn to control the baser desires which control us, like Yosef; If we recognise that our skills and achievements are from G-d, like Yosef - then we are on the path to royalty.