The Talmud (B. Shabbat 10b) records this opinion from Rabbi Hama bar Gurya and Rav: "A man should never play favorites with his sons, because on account of two selas of fine wool that Jacob added to Joseph's coat, the brothers grew envious, and the end result is that our ancestors were enslaved in Egypt.
Rashi presents this midrash in his commentary. According to the Torah Temimah, the Tosafot disagree with Rashi and argue that the enslavement was preordained during the Covenant of the Pieces, or Brit Bein Habetarim (See Genesis 15:8-16.)
The Torah Temimah resolves the conflict as follows: The enslavement per se was preordained, but none of the details were. For instance, nowhere does it say in Genesis 15 that the enslavement would take place in Egypt. Joseph's brothers did not cause the enslavement itself, but they did cause the period of bondage to take place in Egypt. Had they not hated Joseph, perhaps the enslavement would have been easier or in a less brutal climate.
The debate about predestination is a timely one in regard to genetics and health. Does an unhealthful lifestyle cause disease, or are our ailments preordained in our DNA? Both science and the Torah Temimah suggest that although a susceptibility to a given disease may be predestined, we still have a great deal of control over the details. Will the disease strike when we are young and strong or when we are weak? Will we be blessed with health and meaningful lives until the end, or will our health slowly deteriorate over many years, forcing us to live many years in discomfort?
We don't control our destination, but we do control our route.
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