Devar/5768/Vayishlach
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עברית
English
And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. (Gen 32:25)
It is difficult to understand: if "he was left alone", how could it be "there wrestled a man with him"? It is clear from this as well as from the continuation of the story, that the "man" was not flesh and blood, but rather an angel of the type called "man" (who are called that because they are similar to humans, and they are the angels who speak with mankind). If so, God sent him to battle with Jacob - and the question is: why would God send an angel to fight Jacob? Indeed, he command him to return to his land - and here he is delaying him!
The key to understanding is when it states: Then Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed (Gen 32:8). Jacob was afraid lest he be unable to return in peace. However, God promised him he would indeed return: And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee back into this land (Gen 28:15), but he apparently did not know that whatever God promises for the good, he does not revoke. Therefore he was afraid that perhaps there was something he had done which would cause him to be injured by his brother. In order to strengthen him, God sent him an angel in a vision, to penetrate the message into his consciousness that indeed God is guarding him and will return him in peace just as He had promised. He showed him that he can battle with angels and beat them - so what can mere mortals do to him?!?
So we, too, need to understand that our various enemies cannot destroy all of us, Heaven forbid. God, may His name be blessed, promised us that we will return to our Land and that we will reestablish the Davidic line of kings. And we must rely upon the Rock and do everything in our power to advance that day, and not be afraid and fearful of mere flesh and blood; but rather, do the Will of our Creator.
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