Blind Faith

Piaget and other child psychologists commend and encourage parents to play peek-a-boo or ‘I See’ with their children It develops trust, an understanding of object permanence where items continue to exist even though they (temporarily) may not be able to be seen. On a deeper level perhaps that in essence enables the ability to believe… in God who we cannot see, or the audacity to hope despite the desired reality not (yet) being visible.

The game makes an appearance in this week’s portion of Vayigash, albeit, in a counterintuitive manner. Jacob has received the sensational news;  “Joseph is still alive; yes, he is ruler over the whole land of Egypt.” Chapter 46, opens with Israel, (not Jacob) beginning the journey down to Egypt. With understandable trepidation, knowing that he and his family are traveling on a one way ticket, God appears to him. The text is staggering, 46:3-5;

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּמַרְאֹ֣ת הַלַּ֔יְלָה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֣ב ׀ יַעֲקֹ֑ב וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הִנֵּֽנִי׃

God called to Israel in a vision by night: “Jacob! Jacob!” He answered, “Here.”

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אָנֹכִ֥י הָאֵ֖ל אֱלֹהֵ֣י אָבִ֑יךָ אַל־תִּירָא֙ מֵרְדָ֣ה מִצְרַ֔יְמָה כִּֽי־לְג֥וֹי גָּד֖וֹל אֲשִֽׂימְךָ֥ שָֽׁם׃

“I am God, the God of your father’s house. Fear not to go down to Egypt, for I will make you there into a great nation.

אָנֹכִ֗י אֵרֵ֤ד עִמְּךָ֙ מִצְרַ֔יְמָה וְאָנֹכִ֖י אַֽעַלְךָ֣ גַם־עָלֹ֑ה וְיוֹסֵ֕ף יָשִׁ֥ית יָד֖וֹ עַל־עֵינֶֽיךָ׃

I Myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I Myself will also bring you back; and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.” 

God speaks to Israel and calls Jacob, Jacob, and he responds Hineini, I am here. This astonishing call, inviting if not causing a mistaken if not a crisis of identity, is a theme we please God will address on another occasion. It is the closing words or more poignantly the closing eyes that draw my attention all the more,- Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.

Iben Ezra, and Chizkuni  biblical commentators of the middle ages  “see” this disconcerting image depicting Joseph closing your eyes at the time of your death. Hakatav v’hakabalah,  Yaakov Tzvi Mecklenburg, offers an alternative and remarkable insight. God, through Joseph, is protecting Jacob from seeing the inevitability of the prophecies given to him and his ancestors, in a way that one may cover the eyes of children or friends from seeing disturbing images. As we will be reminded in the opening of next week’s portion, Jacob lived seventeen years in Egypt, protected from the horrors that were to occur. It is a remarkable image, one of parental protection played out by the children, a profound and intimate expression of the fact that I am and was here even though you did not or may not see me. The joy of the child discovering the hider or the hidden, the parent reuniting with their child  is the joy we all so desire and deserve. May it happen speedily.