Midrash su Isaia 41:10

Another interpretation (of Gen. 32:8 [7]): AND JACOB WAS < GREATLY > AFRAID. Our masters have said: His body became like wax.²²See Gen. R. 44:3; 65:19. Moreover, the Holy Spirit cries out (in Prov. 24:10): IF YOU ARE INDOLENT IN THE DAY OF DISTRESS (TsRH), YOUR STRENGTH IS WANTING (TsR). At that time the Holy One said to him (in Is. 41:10): FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU; BE NOT DISMAYED, FOR I AM YOUR GOD. I STRENGTHEN YOU, I HELP YOU…. I STRENGTHEN YOU through Michael; I HELP YOU through Gabriel. (Ibid., cont.:) AND I ALSO UPHOLD YOU THROUGH MY VICTORIOUS RIGHT HAND. (Gen. 28:15:) SEE, I AM WITH YOU. At that time (according to Gen. 32:8 [7]) HE DIVIDED THE PEOPLE WHO WERE WITH HIM. What did he do? He armed them within and clothed them with linen without. He prepared himself in three things: in prayer, with a gift,²³Gk.: doron. and for war. Where is it shown < that he prepared himself > with a gift? (In Gen. 32:22 [21]:) AND SO THE GIFT (MNHH) PASSED ON BEFORE HIM…. Where is it shown < that he prepared himself > for war? (In Gen. 32:9 [8]:) IF ESAU SHOULD COME < TO ONE CAMP (MHNH) AND DESTROY IT >…. Where is it shown < that he prepared himself > in prayer? (In Gen. 32:10 [9]:) THEN JACOB SAID: O GOD OF MY FATHER ABRAHAM, AND GOD OF MY FATHER ISAAC…. What is written after that (in vss. 11-12 [10-111])? I AM UNWORTHY OF ALL THE KINDNESSES AND ALL THE FIDELITY…. PLEASE DELIVER ME FROM THE HAND OF MY BROTHER, FROM THE HAND OF ESAU. The Holy One said to him: You have called to me. By your life, I will save you, according to what is stated (in Ps. 89:27 [26]): HE SHALL CRY TO ME, YOU ARE MY FATHER, MY GOD, AND THE ROCK OF MY SALVATION.

[(Gen. 27:28:) SO MAY < GOD > GIVE TO YOU.] What is written above of the matter (in Gen. 27:1, 6, 17)? NOW IT CAME TO PASS, THAT WHEN ISAAC WAS OLD < AND HIS EYES WERE TOO WEAK TO SEE >…. THEN REBEKAH SAID UNTO HER SON JACOB…. THEN SHE GAVE HIM THE DELICACIES…. R. Judah b. R. Shallum the Levite said in the name of R. Helbo: She brought him in as far as her partition, as far as she had authority to enter.⁵⁵Gen. R. 65:17. She said to him: My son, I have accompanied you in this far. From here on your God will accompany you in. He entered as he said to him (to Isaac in Gen. 27:20): BECAUSE THE LORD YOUR GOD MADE IT HAPPEN FOR ME. R. Johanan said: When he said: BECAUSE THE LORD YOUR GOD MADE IT HAPPEN FOR ME,⁵⁶See above, 6:10; Gen. R. 65:19. Isaac said: This language is not the language of Esau, but the language of Jacob, as stated (in vs. 22): THE VOICE IS THE VOICE OF JACOB. You know that it is so. When Jacob entered, what did he say (in vs. 19)? PLEASE ARISE; SIT UP < AND EAT >…. But when Esau entered, [what did he say to him (in vs. 31)? LET MY FATHER ARISE. Look at] what he is saying, how he speaks with difficulty: LET MY FATHER ARISE…. Isaac began saying to Jacob (in vs. 21): PLEASE COME NEARER AND LET ME TOUCH YOU, < MY SON >…. R.Joshua said: When he said (in vs. 21): PLEASE COME NEARER, his body trembled, and he hung back like wax.⁵⁷Cf. Gen. R. 44:3; 65:19. What did the Holy One do? He spoke to two of the angels, to Gabriel and Michael, and they assisted him, Michael to his right and Gabriel to his left, with that one in his glory, may his name be blessed, supporting him from his rear. Then he said to him: Jacob, why are you afraid, with your body buckling over upon itself? I am God. My army⁵⁸Gk.: stratia. < has come > to help you, and they are supporting you. Still, you are afraid! Thus it is stated (in Is. 41:10): FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU; BE NOT DISMAYED, FOR I AM YOUR GOD. I STRENGTHEN YOU, I ALSO HELP YOU, AND I UPHOLD YOU WITH MY VICTORIOUS RIGHT HAND. FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU. Let not your body sink down, FOR I AM WITH YOU. BE NOT DISMAYED, FOR I AM YOUR GOD. I STRENGTHEN YOU with Michael. I ALSO HELP YOU with Gabriel. AND I UPHOLD YOU WITH MY VICTORIOUS RIGHT HAND. Immediately [Isaac] said to him (in Gen. 27:22): THE VOICE IS THE VOICE OF JACOB, BUT THE HANDS ARE THE HANDS OF ESAU. Your power is stronger than his. If Esau captures anyone, see, he is in his hand; but if [that one] flees, he cannot do a thing to him. With you, however, even though someone flees from one end of the world to [the other], (in vs. 22): THE VOICE IS THE VOICE OF JACOB. You say something in the synagogue; and look, it comes to pass of its own accord.

THE TRIALS OF ABRAHAM (continued)
THE seventh trial (was as follows): "After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying" (Gen. 15:1). To all the prophets He was revealed in a vision, but to Abraham He was revealed in a revelation and in a vision. Whence do we know of the revelation? Because it is said, "And the Lord appeared unto him by the oaks of Mamre" (Gen. 18:1). Whence do we know of the vision? Because it is said, "After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision" (Gen. 15:1). He said to him: Abraham ! Do not fear, for My right hand is shielding thee in every place where thou goest; it is like a shield against misfortunes, and it gives thee a good reward, (even) to thee and to thy children, || in this world and in the world to come, as it is said, "Thy exceeding great reward" (ibid.).