Hashem will be for me Elokim

Towards the beginning of Parshas Vayetzei, it says "Vayidar Yaakov Neder Laymor...", and then it says "V'haya Hashem li l'Elokim". Yaakov made the following neder. "If Hashem will be with me and guard me on this path that I am embarking on, and He will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, and I return in peace to my father's house, then Hashem will always be for me as a Elokim."

The Medrash says that Hashem made the expressions of the Avos into the "keys" for future redemption of their children (part of "Ma'asei Avos Siman l'banim"). For instance, in response to Yaakov's expression "V'haya Hashem li l'Elokim", the Medrash says that all the redemption and consolations that will be given to Klal Yisroel will be given through the expression, "V'haya". As it says "V'haya bayom hahu bashafar gadol yitakai" and "V'haya bayom hahu yavo mayim chaim m'yerusahlaim". These and many other psukim that announce the Geula Shelaima, begin with the expression "V'haya". In exchange for Yaakov's use of the expression "V'haya", in his promise, Hashem promised that he would console Yaakov's children with promises that begin with the expression "V'haya" as well.

The Sefas Emes offers a beautiful interpretation to this Medrash. It is very difficult to give a person consolation for troubles in this world. Unfortunately, words often do not serve as much consolation. We, as basar v'dam, with limited understanding on how events are connected in the world around us, are not in a position to give or understand true consolation. It is only Hakadosh Barush Hu who can deliver true consolation. Only Hashem can show how each individual tragedy was the eventual reason for the entire redemption and how through the pain will come Geula. Only then will it be a true consolation.

The Sefas Emes says that this is the interpretation of the Medrash. What does the word "V'haya" mean? "Haya" means the past (it was). The prefix "v'" is "vov hamehapeches" (changing the grammatical tense from past to future). The meaning of the Medrash is that Hakadosh Barush Hu will take all the past history of suffering symbolized by the "haya"s, and turn it into the future, creating the consolation and the redemption out of those sufferings.

While consolation from pain often seems unimaginable, we should believe with the same Emunah Shlaima that we believe in the Geula Shleima, that Hashem will bring us nachama for personal pain as well. As is said in a Bais Avel, "Hamokom Yinachaim Eschem Bsoch Shaar Avlei Tzion Vliyirushalaim". We should believe that Hashem will grant us a true Nachama with the same absolute bitochon that we believe in the future Geula Shlaima in Yerushalaim.

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