It’s a pretty universal experience, and it seems even Jacob, one of our patriarchs, felt it too.
Our story begins with Jacob's reunion with his brother, Esau, after many years of separation – a reunion fraught with potential danger. Genesis 33:1 tells us, “Jacob lifted his eyes and saw, and behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. He divided the children among Leah, and Rachel, and the two maidservants.” It's that initial moment – "Jacob lifted his eyes and saw…" – that Bereshit Rabbah, the ancient rabbinic commentary on Genesis, really dives into.
Rabbi Levi offers a fascinating parable to illuminate Jacob's mindset. Imagine a lion, enraged and terrifying all the other animals. They desperately seek someone to appease it. A clever fox steps forward, boasting, "I know three hundred parables! I can placate him." Eagerly, they follow the fox.
But then, the fox falters. “I forgot one hundred,” it admits. The animals, still hopeful, say, “We'll manage with two hundred.” Further along the path, the fox stops again. “I forgot another hundred!” The animals, growing anxious, reply, “One hundred will suffice!”
Finally, as they reach the lion, the fox confesses, “I forgot them all! Instead, let each and every one placate for itself.”
Kind of a letdown, right? So, what does this have to do with Jacob?
Well, Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon and Rabbi Levi offer different interpretations, both linked to Jacob’s initial confidence. Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon suggests that Jacob initially believed he had the power of prayer to save him. Rabbi Levi, on the other hand, suggests that Jacob initially thought he could organize a war, ready to defend himself.
But then, reality hits. Esau is right there, with a small army at his back. And what does Jacob do? "He divided the children…" He realizes his own strength, his own strategies, might not be enough. Instead, he places his hope in something else.
As the text says, “He divided the children…he said: Let the merit of each and every person stand on his behalf.” He entrusted them to God. He acknowledged his own limitations. He relied on the inherent zechut, the merit or righteousness, of his family.
Think about it. Jacob, a man who wrestled with angels, a man known for his cunning, ultimately puts his faith in something beyond his own abilities. It's a powerful reminder that even in our most challenging moments, sometimes the best thing we can do is acknowledge our limitations and trust in something larger than ourselves. Maybe that's family, maybe that's community, maybe that's faith – but whatever it is, it's a humbling and ultimately hopeful message.