13 December, 2024 08:23

Jacob was very frightened and distressed. He divided the people who were with him—along with the flocks, cattle, and camels—into two camps. “Thus,” he said, “even if Esau comes to the first camp and attacks it, the remaining camp will survive.”

Recently we read that Jacob – the father of the 12 Tribes, grandson Abraham who preached Monotheism, and son Isaac, who allowed himself to be bound as a potential human sacrifice to what they believed to be the God of the Universe [and their personal God] fell asleep at what would one day be the Temple mount. And now, we see he is stated to being afraid, even though he was reported to have angels on his side!!!

I think a deep and long piece on how ridiculous it is when we speak about someone being religious or not.

Alas, no one has time, just dumbed down watered down clickbait headlines. So here is my watered down summary —

People are complicated, and fear of death, while still believing in Gods salvation is totally and utterly normal. And "religious".

Meaning – people might say, how can you believe that the creator of the Universe is with you, yet one still is afaid — and in addition in the Torah, Jacob takes reasonable / human rationale steps to save his family — divide his camp!!

No "hashem will save me" from the comfort of the kollel, or couch or beit knesset.

He took action. One might conclude that solely relying on God is actually not religious at all.

Or even on a deeper level, the idea itself to divide the camp was from God and it succeeded due to Gods Will.

On the other side, you know how football players say "I prayed to God" … what about the side that lost? Did they not also pray?

How does God work?