Our sages wrestled with it too.
Let's dive into a fascinating little corner of Bereshit Rabbah (Genesis Rabbah), a classic collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Genesis. Specifically, we're looking at section 68, where they're pondering the lives of Jacob and Esau.
Rabbi Ḥizkiya throws out some interesting calculations. He says Jacob was 63 when he received those blessings from his father, Isaac – the ones that rightfully belonged to Esau. Then, he spends 14 years hidden away in the house of Ever (that's a whole other story for another time!). After that, he works seven long years for Rachel. Add it all up, and Jacob doesn't marry until he's a ripe old 84! Meanwhile, Esau is already 40.
What's the takeaway? Rabbi Ḥizkiya concludes that HaKadosh Baruch Hu, the Holy One, Blessed be He, delays things for the righteous but speeds them up for the wicked. Think about that for a moment. It's a pretty provocative idea, isn't it? It suggests that challenges and delays might actually be a sign of divine favor, a way of preparing the righteous for something even greater.
Then, Rabbi Hoshaya picks up on another intriguing detail from the text. We read, "Jacob heeded his father and his mother" (Genesis 28:7), but then the verse also says, "Jacob departed from Beersheba." Why repeat that?
Rabbi Hoshaya suggests that Jacob wasn't just blindly following orders. He was being thoughtful, even a little cautious. He thought to himself, "When my father wanted to leave the Land of Israel, where did he seek permission? From Beersheba! So, I'll do the same. If God gives me permission, I'll go. If not, I'll stay put." That's why, Rabbi Hoshaya argues, the verse had to specifically mention Jacob leaving Beersheba. It shows he was acting with intention, seeking divine guidance every step of the way.
So, what does it all mean? Maybe it's a reminder that the path of the righteous isn't always a straight line. It might involve delays, detours, and moments of careful consideration. Maybe the delays aren't punishments, but opportunities for growth. And maybe, just maybe, the extra time allows for a deeper connection to something bigger than ourselves, a connection that guides us, even when we think we're just following the map.
Something to chew on, isn't it?