This week’s parsha contains the famous battle between Yaakov Avinu and Eisav’s Guardian Angel (Saro shel Eisav). Eisav’s Angel requests that Yaakov release him “because the dawn had come” [Bereishis 32:27]. Chazal elaborate on this request: “I am an Angel and from the day I was created, my turn to recite Shirah [Song] in Heaven never came until today.”
Rav Chaim Soloveitchik explained this as follows: An Angel is not allowed to say Shirah in Heaven until it fulfills its “tachlis” – the purpose for which it was created. When an Angel fulfills its “tachlis,” the Angel can approach the Almighty and say “I have done that which I was sent to do” and at that point, the Angel is allowed to say Shirah.
Our Sages equate the “Saro shel Eisav” with the Satan, with the Yetzer HaRa [evil inclination] and with the Malach HaMaves [Angel of Death]. Why, then, did he only fulfill his purpose of creation NOW? Rav Chaim explains that he fulfilled his “tachlis” NOW because he was defeated by Yaakov Avinu NOW.
The “tachlis” of the Evil Inclination, contrary to what we would think, is not to trip us up. The opposite is so — its “tachlis” is to present temptation before us, but allow us to strengthen ourselves in order to overcome that temptation.
The victory — the fulfillment of the “Yetzer HaRa” in the Master Plan occurs when the “Yetzer HaRa” is defeated. He reaches his spiritual completion when he fails. Thus in this epic battle between Yaakov Avinu and the Saro shel Eisav, the Angel – upon having lost – can tell Yaakov “Now is my time to say ‘Shirah’ – precisely because you were able to beat me.”
