Strange Helpers

Parsha: Va Yishlach – and he sent
Torah: Bereishit 32:3 – 36:43

The Scriptures are replete with references to “spiritual beings”. In the beginning of Yaakov’s journey, twenty years earlier, he went asleep on the Temple Mount and experienced the vision of “The Ladder”.

Now, toward the end of that journey, he sees a strange site and recognizes it immediately

Here is what the Scriptures tell us:

1 Ya’akov went on his way, and the angels of Elohim met him. 2 And when Ya’akov saw them he said, “This is Elohim’s camp!” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim. (Ge 32:1-2)

I will speculate and say that Avinu knew what Yaakov was going to face in the near future and sent him some help.

Here is how Yaakov used this “help”:

And Ya’akov sent messengers (angels) before him to Asav his brother to the land of Seir, the country of Edom. (Bereishit 32:3)

The “messengers” returned with some disturbing news:

And the messengers returned to Ya’akov, saying, We came to your brother Asav, and also he comes to meet you, and four hundred men with him. (Bereishit 32:6)

The messengers report struck fear in the heart of Yaakov. He was “overwhelmed” with the imagined negative consequences of Asav’s arrival. Yaakov seems to have stepped away from the Divine Promise that he received several times over the past twenty years and began to “prepare for battle”.

The “cryptic” message brought to him by the messengers wasn’t very encouraging. I think that this was specifically delivered to force Yaakov to make a decision. “ Will he live by faith and anticipate a peaceful unification with Asav or will he choose “fear” and allow all of the negative imaginations to control his life? It was his choice and regretfully, he had to live through the consequences of that choice.

His choice led him to encounter another “strange helper”.

24 And Ya’akov was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Ya’akov’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaks. And he said, I will not let you go, except you bless me. 27 And he said to him, What is your name? And he said, Ya’akov. 28 And he said, Your name shall be called no more Ya’akov, but Israel: for as a prince have you power with Elohim and with men, and have prevailed. 29 And Ya’akov asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray you, your name. And he said, Why is it that you do ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

The Scriptures call this “midnight wrestler” a “man” but Yaakov used another term:

30 And Ya’akov called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen Elohim face to face, and my life is preserved.

This strange character that Yaakov wrestled came with a message. He was sent to encourage Yaakov that Yaakov had the strength to “prevail over men and angels”. Asav could not harm him or his family!

And he said, I will not let you go, except you bless me. 27 And he said to him, What is your name? And he said, Ya’akov. 28 And he said, Your name shall be called no more Ya’akov, but Israel: for as a prince have you power with Elohim and with men, and have prevailed.