Considering Moshe Rabbeinu’s advanced age, one would expect that his inability to execute the demands of his office physically would impede him from fulfilling his leadership role. But Moshe, however, asserted that “Hashem has said to me, You shall not cross this Yarden.” According to human nature, one undertakes to perform an endeavor, and “afterwards” he waits to see if Hashem is pleased with his plans. This approach is confirmed by the actions of tzaddikim who are mishtadel, endeavor, to do they can, rather than to wait passively for Divine intervention to solve every problem.
Yaakov Avinu indicated to his wives that he had decided to leave Lavan’s “hospitality” in response to the latter’s impassiveness to him. Ostensibly, Lavan’s original superficial “warmth” was not obvious. It was time to leave, while they were still able to do so. Only afterwards did Yaakov mention that Hashem had instructed him to leave. Apparently Yaakov did not recount his reasons by order of importance, but rather chronologically. Lavan’s waning relationship with him happened first, therefore, he mentioned it first.
If Yaakov perceived that Lavan was distancing himself from him, he should have responded by taking Lavan’s attitude as a clue that he should leave. While it is always beneficial to receive a vote of confidence from Heaven, it would be foolish to overlook the obvious.
