“Let this stone I have set up as a pillar become a temple to G-d …”
(Bereishis 28:22)
Let’s examine Yaakov Avinu’s position at that time. Instead of sitting in the tents of Torah as would befit a person whose image is on the Merkavah he was fleeing from his father’s house because his brother wished to kill him. He was in a desert and surrounded himself with stones to protect himself from wild animals. And where was he heading? To the home of Lavan the Arami who wished to destroy everything. He needed the generosity of this wicked man since he was arriving without a stitch of clothing or any other possessions after Elifaz had taken everything he had. (Lekach Tov).
Sometimes Hashem sends me into the desert. I don’t choose to be there. I’d much rather remain in my well-tended city with the people I love … but Hashem sent me to the desert.
What “desert” is that? Each person has his own desert and in our desert we are absolutely completely alone.
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