Spiritual Priorities (Vayishlach – 12/06/25)

Spiritual Priorities

Jacob is determined to reconcile with his brother, Esau. Twenty years ago, he disguised himself as Esau, deceived his father, and stole the blessings that his older brother was supposed to receive.

Now, he wants to return home and make amends. He sends messengers to let Esau know that he’s on the way.

When his messengers return, they have scary news.

וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֖ב לֵאמֹ֑ר בָּ֤אנוּ אֶל־אָחִ֙יךָ֙ אֶל־עֵשָׂ֔ו וְגַם֙ הֹלֵ֣ךְ לִקְרָֽאתְךָ֔ וְאַרְבַּע־מֵא֥וֹת אִ֖ישׁ עִמּֽוֹ׃

The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau; he himself is coming to meet you, with four hundred men!”

If Eisav is coming to let bygones be bygones, he doesn’t need 400 men. Obviously, he’s still holding a grudge.

Jacob devises a three-pronged plan. He’ll send gifts to Eisav to mollify him. He’ll divide his family, some to fight and some to flee, and he’ll pray to God for help.

Now, of the three, what should be his first step?

I would have chosen to pray first, so that God would bless the gifts or the escape plan.

That’s not what Jacob does.

וַיִּירָ֧א יַעֲקֹ֛ב מְאֹ֖ד וַיֵּ֣צֶר ל֑וֹ וַיַּ֜חַץ אֶת־הָעָ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֗וֹ וְאֶת־הַצֹּ֧אן וְאֶת־הַבָּקָ֛ר וְהַגְּמַלִּ֖ים לִשְׁנֵ֥י מַחֲנֽוֹת׃

Jacob was greatly frightened and distressed so he divided the people with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, the other camp will escape.”

Only after securing his family’s survival does he pray.

וַיֹּ֘אמֶר֮ יַעֲקֹב֒ אֱלֹהֵי֙ אָבִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם וֵאלֹהֵ֖י אָבִ֣י יִצְחָ֑ק יְהֹוָ֞ה הָאֹמֵ֣ר אֵלַ֗י שׁ֧וּב לְאַרְצְךָ֛ וּלְמוֹלַדְתְּךָ֖ וְאֵיטִ֥יבָה עִמָּֽךְ׃

Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, who said to me, ‘Return to your native land, and I will do good with you’! Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear he may come and strike me down, mother and children alike. But, You have said, ‘I will protect you and make your offspring as the sands of the sea.”

Only when Jacob had secured his family did he pray.

He took care of what he could control first, then he prayed for the things beyond his control.

One of the things that people admire about Judaism is that it’s a down-to-earth religion. It focuses on people and sanctifying life. Jacob epitomized this trait. When he faced a life-threatening situation, he calmly addressed what he could control by dividing his camp, and then he addressed what he couldn’t by calling on God.

I related this to the Blatt Bnot Mitzvah this past Shabbat, noting how Harvey (may he rest in peace), Harriet, and Russ responded to our synagogue’s needs by action first, taking care of what they could, then relying on God for what was beyond their control.

Jacob set the model that being Jewish doesn’t mean being fanatically religious. It means turning to our God-given abilities first, doing what we’re meant to do, and then asking God for help with the rest.

Wishing you a blessed week,

R’ Neil