Man Was Meant To Struggle

The message of Parshat Vayeshev, comes from a verse from the Book of Iyov. אדם לעמל יולד, “Man was meant to struggle.”

This is the response given to Yakov Avinu when he returned to Eretz Yisrael after having to deal with Lavan and Eisav. Yakov was seeking שלוה, peace. He was hoping that he could enjoy the remaking years of his life without strife.

He needed to be reminded that the place where such peace of mind is achieved, in in Olam Haba, the next world.

In a way, it was a reprimand to him. Isn’t it enough that you will granted eternal bliss in the future? Do you want it now, as well?

The lesson for all of us is that we are meant to have our struggles in this world. We need to learn how to embrace the challenges placed before us.

We are all very much needed to bring out the best in our people. We are to make extra efforts in our serving Hashem. We need to accumulate as many Mitzvot and acts of kindness in this world. This is the way to assure that it’s worth the struggle. Things are meant to be challenging in this world. But meeting up to the challenge is our guarantee that we will merit the same eternal bliss that awaited Yakov Avinu.