Parshas Toldos 5787
ותאמר אם כן למה זה אנכי ... ויאמר ה' לה ... (כה, כב-כג)
Parshas Toldos, as its name suggests, describes how Yitzchok and Rivka storm the heavens with earnest, heartfelt tefillos that they should be zoche to children. הקב"ה answers their respective supplications and Rivka is expecting a child! However, much to her consternation, the unborn child shows signs of incongruous behavior, which alarms her. Rashi explains that when she would pass by a yeshivah the baby would begin to kick, showing interest there. And when she'd pass a place of avodah zara, again the child would kick, displaying interest there as well. Not sure what to make of this conundrum, she went to seek daas Torah. The posuk then continues, ויאמר ה' לה, through his messenger שם, explains to her that it's 2 distinct babies - Yaakov and Esav. She seems pacified after hearing that piece of news. First of all, how does this news appease her? Secondly, why does it say that 'ה told her - even if it was Shem, albeit through ruach hakodesh? Third of all, why didn't she ask her husband or Avraham? And finally, why the strange phrasing of למה זה אנכי - “why is it that I am”? An incomplete sentence that Rashi needs to complete for us.
Perhaps, the Torah is teaching us a stimulating yet compelling message. Rivka assumed she was carrying a confused fetus. She blamed herself for it, saying למה זה אנכי . It’s all my fault. She went searching for reassurance – for chizuk, which at times requires an uninvolved, fresh set of eyes. Shem told her in Hashem’s name: No, it's not your fault; don't blame yourself. This is a gezeira from Him. Two children. Yidden and Goyim, whose destinies will forever be intertwined. You may sleep calmly. Rivka “got the message” and accepted it with tranquility and serenity.
This machshava is pertinent to so many situations in life. Chinuch, shidduchim, parnassah. And the bottom line is, after hadracha and tefillah, to realize that "מאת ה' היתה זאת", and accept it with full menuchas hanefesh. אמן, וכן יהי רצון.