One of the benefits of facing struggles is that it forces us to turn our eyes to our Father in Heaven.
The Torah (26:19-22) tells us that Yitzchak's servants dug a well, and then the Plishtim claimed the wells to be theirs. So, the servants moved to a different location and dug a well there. This happened three times. At the third well, there was finally peace. Yitzchak called this well רחובות because לנו 'ה הרחיב עתה כי בארץ ופרינו, "For now Hashem has given us respite, and we will be profitable in the land.” The next pasuk (26:23) states, ויעל משם באר שבע, "And Yitzchak went up from there to Be'er Sheva." This is difficult to comprehend. He finally found a peaceful location where there was water and no disputes. Why did he move on?
Reb Shimon Shwab zt'l explains that Yitzchak wanted to remember Hashem constantly. He appreciated challenges and hardships, as these were opportunities to turn his eyes to Hashem in prayer and bitachon. But now everything was peaceful. There were no challenges in his life, so he moved on.
Yitzchak blessed Yaakov (27:28), ויתן לך ...אלקים, "And may Hashem give you..." The ו"וא of ויתן is extra. Rashi explains that the ו"וא "and" implies ויתן ויחזור ויתן, Hashem will give to Yaakov again and again. If the bounty runs out, Hashem will give him more.
Why is it necessary for Hashem to give again and again? Why wouldn’t Hashem provide enough for all Yaakov's needs at once?
Tzaddikim explain that Hashem wanted Yaakov to always be lacking something, so he would always be in need. This is a blessing, as this will force him to continuously raise his eyes to heaven.
Yitzchak said to Yaakov (27:29) ארור ארריך ומברכיך ברוך, "Those who curse you I will curse, and those who bless you shall be blessed." In this pasuk, those who curse are mentioned before those who bless. Rashi explains, הצדיקים, אורריהם ומצעריהם קודמים למברכיהם..., "For tzaddikim...those who curse them and cause them pain precede those who bless them." The Divrei Yisrael of Modzhitz zt'l asks why tzaddikim encounter people who curse them.
The Divrei Yisrael asks another similar question (quoting his father) on the words in Tehillim (109:28) המה יקללו ואתה תברך, "They shall curse, and You will bless." It seems from these words that we want the goyim to curse us. Why is that?
The Divrei Yisrael answers (quoting his father): It states (Tehillim 23:6) אך טוב וחסד ירדפוני כל ימי חיי, "May only goodness and kindness pursue me all the days of my life." ירדפוני (pursue) represents people who chase after you, those who are looking to harm you. For tzaddikim, this is אך טוב וחסד, goodness and kindness, because the opposition and the hardships raise tzaddikim to very high levels. They are forced to turn their eyes to Hashem, and they grow from the experience.
Therefore, it states המה יקללו ואתה תברך. We want our enemies to curse us because this results in ואתה תברך, that you will be blessed. You will reach higher levels from the experience.
The Gemara (Taanis 7:) says, אי הוי סני הוי חכימי טפי. The Divrei Yisrael says that סני can be translated as שונאי, enemies. If one has enemies, he becomes wiser in Torah. One grows from hardships.
We now understand why Yitzchak mentioned those who curse before those who bless (as it states ארור ארריך ומברכיך ברוך). The curses and the hardships help us grow. We become better, and that is a blessing.
