The Sedra reports that Jacob sent "Malochim L'fonov-Messengers before him", to his brother Easu (Verse1). The Hebrew word Malochim is also the word for Angels. Rashi says that indeed Jacob actually commanded Angels to go to his brother "Artzo Seir Sidei Edom-To the land of Seir to the city of Edom". The Alshich asks why Jacob feels the necessity to send Angels and not men.

He supplies five reasons.

Jacob needed to know urgently how his brother Easu felt towards him after the incident where he took his blessing (see Michtav MiEliyohu Vol 2 Page 204.) If he sends men then they will have a journey of nearly three days to reach the Land which Easu had made his own. By sending Angles both the message and the response will be instantaneous. Angels are not bound by laws of velocity and time. So the verse says Messengers (i.e. Angels) before him. This suggests immediacy.

Another factor is that Easu could well hide his feelings about Jacob from men and fool Jacob's messengers into reporting that "all is forgiven". Angels could see through the master Thespian that Easu was. So the verse states that he sent them to "Easu his brother". They will be able to discern if Jacob will be met by someone who sees himself as a brother or as Easu.

A third reason is emphasised in "To the land of Seir to the city of Edom" As this country had been founded by Easu during Jacob's absence and no one of Jacob's servants had been there before, they would not know how to reach it. Angels have perfect senses of direction.

A fourth reason also suggests itself from the names Seir and Edom. Easu had named his land Seir which means "Hair".

There is a wonderful verse in a poem by the Scottish poet Robert Burns. He talks of a man returning home late to confront his wife. He describes her as, "Gathering her brows like a gathering storm, nursing her wrath to keep it warm".

Easu had been nursing his wrath to keep it warm. He named his Land, "Hair" to be a constant reminder of the hair which Jacob had used to counterfeit his identity when he took his Blessing. He named his city Edom. He nursed his wrath over Jacob having taken his Birthright for the "Edom haEdom Ha zeh - This red red stew " (Genesis 25. Verse 30). He called his city the "Red City". Knowing this, Jacob is aware that any man sent as his messenger, could be in a situation of mortal danger. Angels would be safe from Easu.

The final reason is the most interesting. Jacob was still unsure whether the taking of Esau's blessing had been the right thing to do. It was possible that G-d was angry with him. So in the second verse it says......

"And he commanded them to say, thus you will say to my lord Easu etc."

The first "say" is unnecessary in the verse. The Alshich says that Jacob was commanding them to say what G-d's feelings were towards him. Perhaps he should fear his brother because he indeed had a legitimate complaint which G-d would endorse.

The Medrash says that G-d's view was the opposite. He was angry with Jacob for feeling the need to appease Easu! The Taking of Easu's blessing had been at the command of his mother the Prophetess Rivka. G-d had told her to instruct him accordingly.

The Angels are the perfect embassy for this purpose for the first four reasons but additionally they can tell Jacob what he most wants to know, is G-d angry with me.

The asking of the question itself barred the answer. The angels see that G-d has not clarified the matter for him. It is not therefore their job to tell him the answer.

This final point is a crucial one in understanding the purpose of a Jewish life. The Ramchal in Daas Tevunos, states that the purpose of being on the planet is to perfect your self. Your reward is the fruit of what you did and achieved. Through challenge a person grows. The greater the test, the greater the opportunity to grow.

There is no test if someone has already been told the answers. Jacob has to figure for himself how to deal with his challenge. The Angels cannot rob him of the opportunity that the challenge presents.

Often we face problems and say aloud "If only I knew the right thing to do". A Jew can expect to meet many difficulties in his or her life. It is essential to ask advice to help us towards making the right decision. Finally, it still must be our choice. After prayer and counselling with authentic Torah authorities, we can expect the reward due to someone who has faced their own challenge and overcome it.