On the two occasions when Yaakov leaves Eretz Yisrael for the Diaspora God speaks to him specifically in the dark of night, providing him reassurance regarding his uncertain future.
Along his historic journey to Egypt, Yaakov makes a stop in Be'er Sheva where he offers sacrifices and beholds a prophetic vision. Interestingly, however, this vision takes place at nighttime, in the form of a dream. As we know, this is not the first time Yaakov receives a prophecy in a dream: Parashat Vayetze opens with Yaakov's famous dream of the ladder. The question, of course, arises, why does specifically Yaakov receive prophecy in such a manner? We never read of God appearing to either Yitzchak or Avraham in a dream. Furthermore, why does God appear to Yaakov in a dream specifically in these two instances?
The Meshekh Chokhma answers based on the obvious symbolism of nighttime: the darkness of exile. On the two occasions when Yaakov leaves Eretz Yisrael for the Diaspora God speaks to him specifically in the dark of night, providing him reassurance regarding his uncertain future. Even in the solitude and fear of the nighttime hours, God accompanies Yaakov Avinu.
In truth, our previous assumption that no prophecy to Avraham or Yitzchak occurred in a dream is not entirely accurate. In "brit bein habetarim" in Bereishit 15, God casts a deep sleep over Avraham and informs him of the subjugation of his offspring to a foreign ruler. Here, too, the image of nighttime underscores God's assistance through the terror of exile: "in the end they shall go free with great wealth" (15:14).
Yaakov's descent to Egypt marked a historic turning point in the unfolding saga of the development of Am Yisrael. Recognizing the ramifications of his move, Yaakov was nervous and anxious about the future. God reassured him, and us, that even when the skies darken over the future, even when a cloud of uncertainty and danger looms over the Nation of Israel, when difficult, critical decisions of nationwide import for decades or centuries to come must be made, God still appears: "I Myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I Myself will also bring you back… " Perhaps we should keep these words in mind as we read the news during times like these, and feel comfort in the knowledge that our future lies safely in the hands of our Father in heaven.