Parshat "Toldot" - Hidden Things

In Parshat "Toldot" the sequence of events is brought up to the blessing of Yitzchak Avinu to Yaakov Avinu, and all this took place in the course of a single day[1]. First, Yitzchak Avinu asked Esav to bring him delicacies, so that afterwards he would bless him before his death. Rivka heard about this, and persuaded Yaakov to hurry and bring Yitzchak delicacies, before Esav would come, and thus he would be blessed by his father. And immediately when Yaakov Avinu left his father's tent, Esav arrived.

The initial impression from reading the matter is that all these events happened with speed and haste. But if we examine, we will find that Yaakov and Esav were 63 years old at the time of the blessing[2], and Yitzchak Avinu was 123 years old. And in total, Yitzchak Avinu lived 180 years. And if so, why did Yitzchak Avinu hurry to bless his sons so long before his death?!

One of the explanations is that although the blessing was long before the death of Yitzchak Avinu, Yitzchak Avinu did not know when his day of death would occur. And therefore, when he approached the age of his mother, Sarah (127 years), he hurried to bless his sons[3].

Our Sages said that there are several things that are hidden from human beings, and one of them is the day of death, and this is for the benefit of the world[4]. If a person knew when his day of death would be, he would suffer from worry, and would also be negligent in returning in teshuvah (repentance) until close to his day of death, and would plan when to act for the settlement of the world and when not to. Instead of acting in the world, he would be somewhat like a passive observer on the sidelines, or one who acts partially. But when a person does not know when his day of death is, then he has the possibility to act with all his strength, and to change his reality and that of the world.

Another thing that is hidden from a person is the depth of judgment.

And in the book "Ben Yehoyada"[5] it was explained that it refers to afflictions (judgment) that come upon a person in this world, and a person should think that from them great good will be born for him even though before his eyes he now sees evil. And there is a hint to this in the letters of the word "din" (judgment) when they are spelled out: Dalet-Yud-Nun. The letters of the spelling are: "noladot" (born), meaning one should look at the depth of the judgment and suffering to see what will be born from them - great good. And the depth of judgment is hidden from a person. That is, what good will grow from the evil for him, in what manner, in what matter, and when.

The covering and lack of knowledge of a person allows room for a person's faith and trust to grow and develop, and thereby there will be correction (tikkun) for the person and the world. Those same things that are hidden from a person are revealed before the Creator of the world, and therefore we must trust in the Creator of the world that He will guide us and the world toward good and truth.

[1] Bereishit (Genesis) chapter 27.

[2] Masechet Megilah page 17 side a.

[3] Rashi's commentary on Sefer Bereishit chapter 27 verse 2.

[4] Midrash Bereishit Rabbah section 65:12, and in the commentary Etz Yosef.

[5] On Masechet Pesachim page 54 side b, discourse beginning "omek hadin" (depth of judgment).