Daily Chizuk #1026

Parashat Vayetzeh: Just The Messenger
In this week’s parasha Vayetze, we read about Yaakov being swindled by Lavan time and time again. Yaakov worked in good faith for seven whole years, anticipating marrying Rachel. Lavan had clearly agreed to give Rachel to Yaakov in exchange for that work, but then when the time came to make good on his end of the deal, Lavan deceivingly switched Rachel for Leah. A regular person most probably would have gone into a rage if that happened to him, demanding that he get what he worked for. Yaakov Avinu, on the other hand, accepted his fate with emunah and worked an additional seven years for Rachel. And Rashi writes the second seven years were with the same good faith as the first ones. Yaakov was also swindled numerous times regarding the wages due to him for his work the last six years there, and he never took revenge or let up on his own efforts in work. How was Yaakov able to act with such superhuman strength for the 20 years that he was in Lavan’s house?
Hashem is always in charge. Nobody can help or harm us. There is no reason to get angry at the messenger and, anyway, everything that happens is for our ultimate good.
Shabbat Shalom!