Reply To: Chanukah Thoughts

When the shevotim, in Parashas Mekeitz, found their money doubled, Yosef said Hashem your G-d provided a find in your sack and your money came to me. Asks the Ksav Sofer it should have said that your money came to me first? So he explains in great detail that a blessing must come on something already there. By Chanukah the Taz says that some oil was left over on which the the blessing of the additional oil, or long burning of oil came. The Chashmanaim knew that they cannot defeat the Greeks but did their own part. Similarly Ruvein did his own to save of Yosef even though it was not a complete save as snakes and scorpions were there. He figured that they have no bechira, free choice being being in the hands of Hashem compared to human beings.