Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman begins our story in Bereshit Rabbah 68, by interpreting a verse from Psalms (121:1) as referring directly to Jacob’s experience. “A song of ascents. I lift my eyes to the mountains [heharim]” – but Rabbi Shmuel doesn’t see literal mountains. Instead, he sees those who came before: “I lift my eyes to the parents [hahorim], to my teachers, and to those who raised me.” It’s about looking back to our foundations, to those who shaped us.
Then comes the gut punch: “From where will my help come?”
Jacob is about to embark on a journey, a potentially dangerous one. He's being sent away from his family, from the safety of his father's home, to find a wife. He’s venturing out into the unknown. And he's comparing his situation to that of Eliezer, Abraham's servant, when he went to find a wife for Isaac. Remember that story? "The slave took ten camels…" (Genesis 24:10). He was loaded with gifts, provisions, everything he needed! But Jacob? Jacob laments, “…but I do not have even one nose ring or one bracelet.”
Ouch.
The Rabbis debate why Jacob was sent off so seemingly empty-handed. Rabbi Ḥanina says plainly: Isaac sent him empty-handed. Harsh! But Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi offers a slightly different take: He did send him with gifts, but Esau, ever the troublemaker, rose up and took them from him!
Either way, Jacob feels stripped bare.
So what does he do? Does he despair? Does he give up before he even starts?
No. Instead, he declares, “What, will I lose my confidence in my Creator? God forbid, I will not lose my confidence in my Creator.” He recognizes where his true help lies. Instead, “My help is from the Lord” (Psalms 121:2).
It's a powerful moment of faith. Jacob understands that material possessions aren't everything. His trust is in something far greater.
The passage continues, drawing strength from the Psalms: “He will not let your foot give way; He who watches over you will not slumber” (Psalms 121:3). “Behold, [the Guardian of Israel] neither slumbers nor sleeps…” (Psalms 121:4).
This idea of God as a constant, watchful protector is a recurring theme in Jewish thought. It's a source of immense comfort, especially in times of uncertainty.
“The Lord will guard you from all evil" (Psalms 121:7) – from Esau and from Laban; “He will guard your life” (Psalms 121:7) – from the angel of death. “The Lord will guard your going and your coming” (Psalms 121:8) – “Jacob departed.”
Even as Jacob departs, seemingly vulnerable and alone, he's surrounded by divine protection. This isn't just physical safety; it's a safeguarding of his very essence, his life force.
So, what can we take away from this? Maybe it's this: we might not always have the "ten camels" we think we need. We might feel unprepared, ill-equipped, facing a daunting journey. But like Jacob, we can choose to place our trust in something deeper, something more enduring. We can remember that our help comes from a source that never slumbers nor sleeps, a source that guards our going and our coming. And that, perhaps, is the most powerful resource of all.