The Chosen of the Patriarchs and Prophets Were Promised Yet Still Afraid

"And Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed" (Genesis 32:8). Two men were given a promise by the Holy One, blessed be He, and yet were afraid: the chosen one among the patriarchs and the chosen one among the prophets. The chosen one among the patriarchs is Jacob, as it is said, "For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself" (Psalms 135:4), and the Holy One, blessed be He, had said to him, "Behold, I am with you" (Genesis 28:15); yet in the end he was afraid, "And Jacob was afraid." The chosen one among the prophets is Moses, as it is said, "Moses His chosen one" (Psalms 106:23), and the Holy One, blessed be He, had said to him, "For I will be with you" (Exodus 3:12); yet he was afraid, as it is said, "And the LORD said, Do not fear him" (Numbers 21:34), which implies that he had been afraid. (This is written in remez 266.) Israel were fit for destruction in the days of Haman, had they not relied their judgment upon the judgment of the elder. They said: If our father Jacob, whom the Holy One, blessed be He, had assured, was afraid, then how much more so are we. "And Jacob was afraid": from here we learn that there is no assurance for the righteous in this world. It is written, "Behold, I am with you" (Genesis 28:15), yet, "If God will be with me" (Genesis 28:20); from here, that there is no assurance for the righteous in this world. It is written, "And He said, For I will be with you" (Exodus 3:12), and no evil thing will harm you, yet it is written, "And it came to pass on the way, at the lodging-place, that the LORD met him" and sought to kill him (Exodus 4:24); from here, that there is no assurance for the righteous in this world. It is written, "And Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, Amen, so may the LORD say" (I Kings 1:36). Was it not written, "Behold, a son will be born to you, he will be a man of rest"? Rather he said: many accusers will arise from here until Gihon.