This weeks Parsha describes the meeting between Yaakov and Esav after many years of separation. Yaakov is understandably apprehensive about this encounter, and when he sees Esav, he bows in front of him 7 times.
Commentators discuss whether or not this was a good decision in light of the following pasuk: (Perek 27) כט יַעַבְדוּךָ עַמִּים, וישתחו (וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ) לְךָ לְאֻמִּים--הֱוֵה גְבִיר לְאַחֶיךָ, וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְךָ בְּנֵי אִמֶּךָ; אֹרְרֶיךָ אָרוּר, וּמְבָרְכֶיךָ בָּרוּךְ.
Hashem tells Yaakov (as Esav) that the nations of the world will worship him.
In light of this pasuk, isn’t Yaakov going against his bracha? Was it a good decision to bow to Esav or was it just appeasement?
There is no problem according to the Midrash Rabbah. He says that Yaakov bowed solely to get Esav's attention. He bowed in order to make sure Esav was concentrating on him and not his family.Therefore, if Esav was going to fight, he would have to fight Yaakov first. (This would also hopefully give his family a chance to escape)
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