As we wrote (quoting the Daas Zekeinim), Yaakov Avinu was upset that he was afraid because Hashem told Yaakov that He would protect him.
Furthermore, we wrote (quoting the Degel Machaneh Efraim) that Yaakov Avinu had perfect emunah. He even once split the Yarden with his emunah peshutah. So, why was he afraid of Eisav? When one has perfect emunah, miracles will happen to him.
We cannot understand the ways, nor the emotions, of the holy Avos, nevertheless, the Torah tells us details of their lives so we can learn lessons for ourselves. We therefore have a right to ask, at least for our own personal growth, what is the Torah teaching us when it states that Yaakov Avinu was afraid?
But really, it isn't a question because everyone experiences ups and downs. Our hearts aren't always at the same level. There are times when emunah shines brightly, and there are times when it is at a lower level. But it is essential that even when we are at a low moment, we remain with the correct perspective and hashkafah that we know we should be feeling in our hearts. Perhaps the emunah and bitachon aren't "shining" with clarity as they had during other times, maybe we are afraid, but our minds should know how we should ideally feel.
Yosef told his brothers (Bereishis 45:5) ועתה הנה אתי מכרתם כי בעיניכם יחר ואל תעצבו אל, "But now do not be sad, and let it not be disappointing in your eyes that you sold me here." Reb Shamshon Refael Hirsh zt'l asks, is disappointment related to the eyes? Aren't all emotions in the heart? So why did Yosef say בעינכם יחר ואל, "let it not be disappointing in your eyes."
Reb Shamshon Refael Hirsh answers that sometimes we can't control our emotions. Our heart has a “mind” of its own, and even when we know there is no reason to be angry, disappointed, sad, or worried, the heart doesn't comply. Yosef told his brothers, "I understand that you might not be able to control the feelings of your heart, but at least, בעיניכם יחר אל, let your eyes, your outlook, see things correctly. Let your minds, at least, know that there is no reason for you to be upset, as Yosef said, לפניכם אלקים שלחני למחיה כי, "Hashem sent me to Mitzrayim so I can support you and give you food. You aren't guilty; it was destined from Above."
This concept can also be applied to fear. Sometimes, we are afraid. That is fine. We can't always control our hearts' emotions. But בעיניכם יחר אל, the mind should perceive the truth of what and how we should be feeling.
Lately, many people are following the news much more closely than they generally do due to the war occurring in Eretz Yisrael and related subjects. There are several problems with the news outlets that people often listen to. One problem is that these stations don't mention Hashem's name. They make it appear as if things are happening on their own. Another problem is that they feed emotions, mostly fear, and don’t allow you to think independently. We are left without our own perspective, without the proper perspective.
It states (Shemos 18:1-11) חותן מדין כהן יתרו וישמע הוציא כי עמו ולישראל למשה אלוקים עשה אשר כל את משה ...ממצרים ישראל את 'ה, "Moshe's father-in-law, Yisro, the chieftain of Midian, heard all that Hashem had done for Moshe and for Yisrael, His people that Hashem had taken Yisrael out of Mitzrayim." Yisro knew the news. He was updated. He heard about yetzias Mitzrayim and about all the miracles that occurred.
Reb Shimshon Pinkus zt'l asks, if so, why did Moshe tell him about yetzias Mitzrayim again, as it states עשה אשר כל את לחותנו משה ויספר ישראל אודת על ולמצרים לפרעה 'ה, "Moshe told his father-in-law about all that Hashem had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians on account of Yisrael..." Why did Moshe tell this to Yisro? Yisro already knew!
The answer is that Yisro heard the news on the radio or from his neighbors, and Moshe repeated it, expressing what occurred in the light of emunah. It was the same story, but now Yisro heard it in a manner that he never heard before. Yisro said, גדול כי ידעתי עתה 'ה, "Now I know that Hashem is greater than all gods." Now that I listened to the story as Moshe described it, I know of Hashem's greatness. I heard about it before, but it was from a different perspective, that of people who lack emunah and yiras Shamayim. Moshe repeated Hashem’s miracles without minimizing them, and then Yisro discovered Hashem's greatness.
Tehillim chapter (20) begins with ביום 'ה יענך צרה, "May Hashem answer you on a day of distress..." and ends with קראנו ביום יעננו, "answer us on the day we call." The day is referred to in two ways. It is first called יום צרה, "a day of distress," and then it is called קראנו יום, a day of calling out to Hashem. We can explain that the day might begin as "a day of distress," but if one uses this problem to arouse himself to tefillah, the day becomes "a day of calling out to Hashem."
Someone told me that he went to the hospital with an ill relative. At first, he thought it was a צרה יום, a distressful day, a sad day, but after he spent the day full of emotional tefillos to Hashem, he considered the day קראנו יום, as a day of tefillah.
We are living in difficult times, and these days can be viewed as צרה יום, days of distress, or they can be viewed as קראנו יום, days to daven to Hashem, and to become close to Him through Torah and tefillah. It is up to each individual to decide how to utilize these days. We must choose to take the correct perspective and to perceive life correctly.
