On his way down to Egypt, Yaakov stopped in Beer Sheba, where he offered sacrifices, “to the G-d of his father, Yitzchak.” Why did it only mention Yitzchak and not Avraham?
Rashi’s explanation that one is obligated more in his father’s honor than his grandfather’s doesn’t explain why they could not both have been mentioned.
The Sforno comments that these were offered “to the G-d who had told Yitzchak not to leave Canaan.”
The Malbim on the first posuk in Vayeishev says Yaakov wanted to stay in Canaan. It was his home and the place prepared for holiness. Therefore, he would not leave it even if there was a famine, like in the time of Avraham.
However, he continues, Hashem’s plan called for Yaakov and his children to be purified in the smelting pot of Egypt, so the entire story of Yosef had to occur to get him to go.
Perhaps, then, when Yaakov was leaving, he made a final appeal to Hashem. He offered sacrifices to the G-d who had told Yitzchak not to leave Canaan. Perhaps He would appear to Yaakov and tell him the same thing.
But Hashem did not say that. Despite Yaakov’s wishes to stay in the land, Hashem told him, “Don’t fear going to Egypt, for that is where you will become great.” We may have our wishes and calculations, but ultimately Hashem’s will must be done, and when we see the signs, we should follow them, because that’s what He wants us to do.
