Humility Born of Divine Kindness Vayishlach תרל”ה 2
קטנתי מכל החסדים.
I have been diminished by all the kindnesses.
Jacob states that God’s kindness itself causes him to feel small and humbled.
מו”ז ז”ל הגיד בשם הרב מלובלין כי גם מה שקטנתי הוא ע”י החסדים כו’.
My grandfather of blessed memory said in the name of the Rabbi of Lublin that even Jacob’s feeling of smallness comes through those very kindnesses.
The Sefat Emet explains that true divine kindness produces humility, not pride.
ובמדרש כדאי אני כו’.
And in the Midrash: “I am worthy…”
The Midrash suggests Jacob recognized the worthiness arising from humility born of kindness.
פי’ כי מכל חסד צריכין לבוא להכנעה ובושה ע”י שמבינים שאין זוכין לזה רק בחסדו ית’.
Meaning: every act of kindness should bring a person to humility and shame, realizing that one merits it only through God’s grace.
True kindness awakens awareness of unearned divine favor.
וזה סימן שהוא חסד אמת.
And this is the sign of true kindness.
Authentic divine kindness always deepens humility.
כי חסד לאומים חטאת.
For the kindness of the nations is sin.
Earthly or ego-driven kindness leads to self-exaltation rather than inner refinement.
שבאים על ידי זה לגאוה ואינו דבר של קיימא.
Since it leads to pride and does not endure.
Human-centered kindness collapses because it feeds ego.
וז”ש חז”ל כי הקב”ה משהא לצדיקים וממהר לרשעים פירוש שלהרשע נותנין מיד כשעושה דבר טוב ומתגאה ונופל לשאול תחתית.
Thus the Sages said: God delays reward for the righteous and hastens it for the wicked—meaning that the wicked receive immediately, become arrogant, and fall.
Immediate reward can corrupt; the wicked cannot handle divine gifts.
אבל לצדיק אין השי”ת נותן לו עד שמתקן עצמו כראוי שיוכל לקבל בטוב ולידע כי הוא בחסד עליון.
But to the righteous, God gives only after they refine themselves to receive properly and recognize it as higher kindness.
The righteous are prepared so the gift deepens humility, not pride.
ונראה דכמו דאיתא שמי שסומך על מעשיו מבקרין פנקסו.
And it seems similar to the teaching that one who relies on his deeds has his record examined.
Self‑reliance triggers scrutiny of one’s actions.
כמו כן להיפוך שמי שמכיר שמה שעושה לו השי”ת הוא רק בחסד עליון עי”ז אינו נחשב לו זה מזכיותיו.
So too the opposite: one who knows that what God does is pure kindness does not have these acts counted against his merits.
Humility protects a person’s spiritual credit.
וז”ש קטנתי מכל החסדים שלא בא לו גאוה ח”ו רק אדרבה נתוסף לו הכנעה.
Thus “I have been diminished by all the kindnesses”—they did not bring him pride but increased humility.
Jacob’s self‑effacement proves the authenticity of the kindness.
ועי”ז נשאר לו כל זכיותיו.
And through this, all his merits remained intact.
Humility preserves one’s accumulated spiritual merit.
וז”ש כדאי אני וקשה א”כ מה ויירא ויצר.
Thus “I am worthy.” But it is difficult—then why was he afraid and distressed?
The Sefat Emet asks why Jacob still feared Esau if he felt worthy through humility.
אבל נראה כי זה הי’ כל היראה שלא יצטרך להשתמש בזכיותיו כי ירא שיבוא עי”ז לידי גאות.
But it seems that his fear was precisely that he would need to use his merits, fearing they might bring him to pride.
Jacob feared losing humility through reliance on merit.
וגם כי בזכותו אין לו כל כך קיום לדורות עולם כמו שיש מחלוקת בגמ’ אי תמה זכות אבות.
And also because merit alone does not endure for generations, as debated regarding whether ancestral merit has ceased.
Merit is fragile compared to pure divine grace.
ולכן ביקש הצילני נא בחסדך לא מצד זכיותיו.
Therefore he asked: “Save me, please, through Your kindness,” not through his merits.
Jacob preferred salvation rooted in divine grace, not earned entitlement.
וז”ש ואתה אמרת היטב איטיב פי’ שיהי’ ההטבה מצדו ית’ כנ”ל.
And thus: “And You said: I will surely do good,” meaning that the goodness should come from God’s side, as explained.
Jacob appeals to God’s promise of unearned, gracious beneficence.
The Sefat Emet teaches that true divine kindness generates humility, protects a person’s merits, and is preferable to relying on one’s own deeds. Jacob seeks salvation rooted only in God’s pure grace.
