Jacob certainly did. Fresh from his somewhat…complicated…dealings with Laban, his father-in-law (and uncle!), he was on the run, trying to get back home. But Laban wasn't about to let him go without a fight.
According to Legends of the Jews, as retold by Ginzberg, Laban woke up bright and early, gathered all the folks from his city, and took off after Jacob. And get this – he wasn't just planning a stern talking-to. The text says he intended to kill Jacob! Talk about a family feud.
But hold on, because divine intervention is about to enter the scene.
Before Laban could reach Jacob, the archangel Michael himself appeared to Laban! Can you imagine? Michael, one of the highest-ranking angels, showing up with a warning. He told Laban to watch himself, to not even think about harming Jacob. The consequence? Death. Pretty serious stuff.
Now, this part is fascinating. The story points out that God only reveals himself to non-Jews in extraordinary circumstances, and even then, it's done "clandestinely," in the dark. The text contrasts this with how God appears to Jewish prophets – openly, in broad daylight. It's a powerful statement about the relationship between God and his chosen people, a recurring theme throughout Jewish tradition.
Why this distinction? Is it about deservingness? Perhaps. Or is it about the nature of revelation itself? The idea that true understanding, the kind that changes a person at their core, requires openness and a willingness to see the divine even in the mundane. Something that Laban, in this moment of blind rage and pursuit, clearly lacked.
So, Laban, faced with the archangel's warning, was forced to reconsider his murderous plan. But what happens next? We'll have to save that for another time. For now, let's just think about this encounter. What would we do if an angel showed up and told us to change course? Would we listen? And what does it say about us if we only hear the divine whispers in the dark, instead of seeing the light all around us?