Following In The Footsteps of The Avos
Yaakov emulated the pattern established by his father Yitzchak when he offered sacrifices and prayed to Hashem as he neared Egypt. R’ Yitzchak Blazer points out that a person’s need to look to his forefathers as a model upon which to base his life is even more clearly illustrated in Sforno’s explanation of why Yaakov prayed to Hashem as “the God of his father Yitzchak”; since Hashem had instructed Yitzchak (see above, 26:2) that he was not to leave Eretz Yisrael to travel to Egypt, Yaakov understood that this restriction naturally applied to him as well. Thus, although the famine apparently called for Yaakov’s family to travel to Egypt to Yosef, Yaakov thought that he was forbidden to do so; the tradition regarding the proper way to serve Hashem that he had received from his father did not include such action. Unable to leave Eretz Yisrael, Yaakov prayed to Hashem, “the God of his father Yitzchak” — i.e., He who had given Yitzchak direction — for guidance as to what would be the proper course of action under these circumstances. In reply, Hashem appeared to him in a dream and told him that only Yitzchak was forbidden to leave Eretz Yisrael (as a result of having been brought upon the altar at the Akeidah); Yaakov, however, should have no fear of descending to Egypt.
Explaining the reason why a person must always turn to the example shown by his forefathers and teachers, R’ Yerucham Levovitz offers an example of a hiker walking in a forest. When this person reaches a route that he has never traveled before, he need not despair, for he may easily reach his destination by following the trails and signposts that have been marked by the forest rangers familiar with the territory. These people are intimately acquainted with the terrain, and the directions they leave for future hikers can safely be followed. However, points out R’ Yerucham, even when clear signs and directions are available, not everyone is able to find his way around a forest, for maps and signposts only help those who are able to read them. A child, a person unfamiliar with the local language, or someone who is unable to read a map will still get lost. The only way that such a person can reach his destination and not get lost in the maze of the forest is to follow another person who, since he can read the directions, knows where he is going. As long as one follows in this person’s path, he will make it to safety.
The same is true, continues R’ Yerucham, of a person journeying through life, who is searching for the proper way to serve Hashem. He, no different than any traveler, does not have to find the right road on his own; Hashem gave clear guidelines in His Torah that, properly followed, will allow a person to easily travel the proper path. However, these guidelines will only help a person who understands how the Torah’s message is to be applied to every aspect of his daily life. A person unsure of the proper way to serve Hashem in a particular circumstance, however, need not despair. Like the child in the forest, he has only to follow the example of others who knew where they were going; namely, spiritually greater previous generations who understood how the Torah’s “signposts for life” provide guidance in all situations. By acting as these people did when they were faced with a similar challenge, every person can be sure that he will properly serve Hashem.
