Parshat Vayishlach: Seeing Hashem’s Plan Chaos

Unsettled Hearts, Uncertain Times

These are confusing times, and much of what is happening around us is hidden from our eyes. Will there be more wars, like the tension between the United States and Venezuela? Or fewer wars, like a possible piece-treaty (or peace treaty) between Russia and Ukraine? What will become of New York City? What should our Jewish communities be thinking and doing? What will happen with the bnei Torah in Eretz Yisrael? And how is it that nearly the entire world has accepted the lie that Israel is the greatest criminal among nations?

So much instability. So many unknowns.

Parshat Vayishlach offers two powerful insights that speak directly to our moment.

 

Yaakov’s Message to Eisav — And to Us

Yaakov sends a message to Eisav: “Im Lavan garti” — “I lived with Lavan.” Rashi, quoting the Medrash, explains that Yaakov was saying: “I lived with Lavan and still kept all taryag mitzvot.”

Garti and taryag share the same letters. Despite Lavan’s corruption, Yaakov remained spiritually intact, and his merits would protect him.

Another Medrash tells us Yaakov was also sending a veiled warning: “I arrived at Lavan’s house with nothing but a staff, and despite his constant deceit, I became wealthy and powerful. If Lavan couldn’t defeat me after twenty years, you certainly won’t.”

Yet the mefarshim say Yaakov was faulted for initiating the encounter with Eisav at all. He should have gone to Yitzchak first and dealt with Eisav later.

The Netziv explains why Yaakov acted this way. He believed he had erred with Lavan by fleeing without permission. Lavan chased him and would have harmed him had Hashem not intervened. Yaakov concluded: “Since my previous approach was wrong, I should now take the opposite approach — and initiate contact with Eisav.”

But this backfired. When the messengers returned reporting that Eisav was coming with 400 men, Yaakov was shocked.

From here, the Netziv teaches a critical life principle: Never decide in advance how your personal salvation must come. Do your best in each situation — and allow Hashem to bring help in any form.

This message is tailor-made for the chaos of today. We cannot predict the path, only trust the One who guides it.

 

Eisav’s Fear — And Why the Wicked Flee

The second insight comes from the Medrash on the pasuk: Reshaim berach v’ein rodef…” — “The wicked flee even when no one pursues them.” (Mishlei 28:1)

When Yaakov returned home, Eisav gathered his family and wealth and moved away “mipnei Yaakov”, to wherever he could find a place. Not because Yaakov chased him away — but because he was embarrassed and spiritually unsettled.

Rav Avigdor Miller zt”l explains: Eisav couldn’t bear being second to Yaakov. His shame from the bechorah sale and his jealousy of Yaakov’s greatness drove him into a self-imposed exile.

But if Eisav already lived in Seir earlier in the parsha, why is he now leaving again?

The Chizkuni answers: Eisav had a presence in Seir, but only now did he move there permanently. And it wasn’t simple. The Medrash says Eisav had to conquer Seir to settle there. He wasn’t welcomed.

Why? Because, as the pasuk in Mishlei says, he was fleeing from his own fear.

Eisav’s nervousness goes back to Toldot, when he heard Avraham Avinu had died. He spiraled, denying Hashem’s hashgachah and rejecting the reality of Divine involvement. That instability became the emotional inheritance of Edom. Even at the Yam Suf, the Torah says: “Nivhalu alufei Edom” — the officers of Edom became bewildered. Not merely afraid — deeply shaken, pained, unable to tolerate Israel’s success.

 

Putting It Together — Guidance for Our Times

These two lessons intersect beautifully:

Lesson 1: Do not lock yourself into a single way that redemption or safety must unfold.

Hashem has infinite paths.

Lesson 2: Do not fall into the fear, suspicion, and emotional collapse of Eisav.

Fear leads to mistakes. Bitachon leads to clarity.

We are deep in galut, close to the arrival of Moshiach b’karov. The world feels unstable because the pieces are shifting into their final positions. The wrong response is to panic. The right response is: Strengthen emunah. Strengthen bitachon. Trust that Hashem is running every detail. Believe that even the chaos is part of His plan.

And there is one place in our daily tefillah that expresses this perfectly: “Ein od — efes zulato.” There is no power besides Him.

May we be zocheh to greet Moshiach b’karov!

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R’ Dovi Chaitovsky and his family have the zechut to live in Eretz Yisrael, where he dedicates himself to Torah learning and teaching in Yerushalayim Ir HaKodesh. His divrei Torah often draw from the shiurim of Rav Yisrael Altusky, shlit”a, Yeshivas Torah Ore, Yerushalayim which can be heard at kolhalashon.com.