Lavan was intent on destroying Yaakov. What prevented him from executing his diabolical plan? Chazal tell us that Lavan feared two things: First, Hashem told Lavan to stay away from Yaakov. Second, Lavan was aware that Eisav was coming toward Yaakov with an army of four hundred men. If Lavan had killed Yaakov, his brother Eisav would have sought revenge. Lavan was not prepared to risk his life to kill Yaakov. What an incredible statement! The four hundred men who were apparently viewed as the enemy were, ironically, actually his savior in disguise. Horav Chaim Zaitchik, zl, takes this lesson a bit farther. We are plagued with pain, affliction, and illness, periods of anguish that to the human eye are nothing more than what they seem. We do not understand the ways of Hashem. We cry, moan and hope that the suffering will soon go away.
Do we ever think that perhaps that suffering might be helping us? If we could view this painful occurence through Heavenly vision, we would see an entirely different picture. We would see good, not bad; happiness, not sorrow; joy, not pain. Who would ever imagine that an army of four hundred armed soldiers, prepared for war, could be a source of deliverance? While the human eye sees trouble, the Heavenly perspective presents a picture of salvation. Lavan realized this. Perhaps we should also open our eyes.
