RSRH Zatzal elaborates on how Yaakov and the Avos were total Simcha, and Sameach means Tzemach (growth); i.e., only growth interested them, and deep down they didn’t really have pain like other people, who care only about having “this” and having “that”. It is almost impossible to understand how Yaakov, the greatest of all three Avos, was afraid of Eisav, especially since there is a Mitzva in the Torah of being fearless in battle.
It is also extremely difficult to understand how Yaakov, at the end of his life could tell Paroh that his life was difficult and short lived. The Ohr HaChaim says that when he’s called Yisroel it means that he’s B’simcha, and Yaakov means Atzvus (sadness). And the holy Alshich says that Yaakov means Shiflus and lowliness. Notice how he’s almost always called Yaakov even after the Torah says explicitly that he shall no longer be called Yaakov, and from now on his name is Yisroel.
The Sefer Sidduro Shel Shabbos says that Yaakov was similar to Dovid who had an unusual Yetzer Hara. Indeed, we find Yaakov with a tremendous amount of struggles and all kinds of Tzaros. Surely, they are also allusions to Milchemes HaYetzer. (By Dovid HaMelech in Tehilim there is a tradition that whenever he bemoans his many “enemies”, they really all represent his main enemy; i.e., his Yetzer Hara, as the Chovos Halvavos says that your only true enemy is your Yetzer Hara).
Chazal say that Yaakov is an ugly name; he was born holding on to the smelly heel of Eisav HaRasha, and that’s his name forever! Of course, it is impossible to really understand the secrets of the Torah, and in a million years we’ll still have no Shaychus to a Malach like Yaakov Avinu. Yet, for our simple Daas, it appears that Yaakov had a Tafkid to show how a person can always overcome the worst.
Without Your Fiery Yetzer Hara You’re Not Worth Much (But Don’t Look for Trouble!)
The Brisker Rav Zatzal said that without having fear, you cannot be a real Baal Bitachon, since Bitachon means calming down a fearful state. The holy Zohar says: light can only come out of darkness. You must have darkness first! So, although when Yaakov was named “Yisroel” it means that he was elevated to an entirely higher Matzav, yet, his very essence is a person who is always weak, and nevertheless overcomes it.
Really, Yaakov is already all the way up when he got the name Yisroel; but since his very essence is being an example of how a “low” can get “high”, he must always have a low side to him which he has to overcome. A Tzaddik falls seven times, and gets up. Surely the true Yaakov was all the way up there, especially after he was called Yisroel; just that the “challenge” and “Yetzer” side of him must always be there.
A person should know that even after he has Shteiged loads, he still needs to have a human side, and have a healthy difficult Yetzer Hara. The toughest-of-the-tough still need a soft and vulnerable side that can be hurt and pained. This is exactly his greatness, and perhaps this is a reason why Yaakov was the greatest of all three Avos, since he is the best example for us strugglers, similar to Dovid HaMelech who was an Admoni.
The same Yaakov who was always suffering, said: I have EVERYTHING (i.e., he didn’t really suffer). So when we find that even in our later years we still have plenty of Yetzer Hara’s, it’s a sign of greatness. Just as Yaakov was born a twin to Eisav HaRasha, so must he always be an example of constantly overcoming his own evil side throughout his life.
Why did Hashem make the biggest Tzaddik and the worst Rasha be born in the same stomach? To show the extent of free choice, that the very identical roots can go in two opposite directions. And throughout Yaakov’s life, he is an example of a potential low Madrega (Yaakov) who is always overcoming his Yetzer Hara and he is truly a Yisroel.
