Rabbi Yakov Yosef Schechter
31:15הלא נכריות נחשבנו לו כי מכרנו ויאכל גם אכול את כספנו
“Are we not considered by him as strangers? For he has sold us and even totally consumed our money.” Yaakov Avinu wanted to convince Rochel and Leah to leave the house of their father, Lavan. Yaakov Avinu told his wives, Rochel and Leah, that Hakodosh Boruch Hu told him to return to the house of his parents. Additionally, there is nothing here, by Lavan, to stay for. Rochel and Leah respond that they are strangers at Lavan’s house and they will listen to the word of Hashem. It sounds as if chas v’sholom Rochel and Leah were only going to listen to Hashem because it worked out anyway. Wouldn’t a more appropriate response have been to say that they will listen to Hashem’s command – and it doesn’t matter what the ramifications of listening would be?
In truth, every mitzvah that we are to perform is not really a great test for us, for it is really easy for us to perform every mitzvah. The real truth is that there is never any loss when one performs the mitzvos of the Torah.
One who has true emunah in Hakodosh Boruch Hu knows that he will absolutely not lose anything by performing a mitzvah. Although there is a façade the yetzer hara creates that makes it look like one will be losing by performing Mitzvos – in truth, it is nothing more than a façade, and nothing is lost. Leah and Rochel were saying that they had full emunah in Hakodosh Boruch Hu, and thus knew that no matter what it may have looked like, in truth they would lose nothing by following the command of Hashem. (קול רם)
Certainly, they would have listened to the command of Hakodosh Boruch Hu, even if in theory they would deem their listening to be harmful to them. However, that is the point the Torah is teaching us that they never thought that the word of Hakodosh Boruch Hu could be harmful to them. If one has the attitude that it is difficult to listen and heed the command of Hashem for he is giving up much by doing so, then every time, it is a struggle to listen. It becomes even more of a struggle for the children – as they see their parents struggle with it – even if the parents are successful, they think it’s too hard and turn away from it.
We must instill within ourselves and our children complete emunah in Hakodosh Boruch Hu – and if it is a command of Hashem – it is so easy for us to do – for it is truly good for us. Yaakov and his family were by Lavan for many years, which generally has a detrimental effect upon people to live in such a toxic environment. Nonetheless, Yaakov and his family had complete emunah in Hakodosh Boruch Hu. Hakodosh Boruch Hu told them to leave – and it was easy for them to leave. They said they are leaving nothing behind, for all that Hakodosh Boruch Hu does is for good, and one does not lack anything due to following Ratzon Hashem. May we be zoche to live our lives in this manner – to always be excited to do ratzon Hashem, in all situations and in all circumstances, because it is good for us, and doing so will never cause us any harm.
