Yaakov called for his sons and said, “Gather around and I will tell you what will happen to you in the end of days. Come together and listen, sons of Yaakov; listen to Yisrael, your father.” (Bereishis 49: 1-2)

Yaakov was poised to reveal the events of acharais yammim, the end of days, but then abruptly stoped and began blessing his sons. According to the Midrash, Hashem didn’t want to reveal the fate of the Jewish people at the end of time, so He removed His spirit from Yaakov resulting in a bit of a senior moment, causing him to forget the prophesy. But if Hashem was fine with Yaakov knowing the destiny, why couldn’t the sons know? And further more, why even include the line about revealing the events of the end of days in the first place?

Consider the first two blessings Yaakov gives, one to Reuven, and one for both Shimon and Levi. They don’t sound like blessings as much as rebuke. For Reuven, he loses the privileges of the first born and called impetuous for moving Yaakov’s bed into Leah’s tent after Rachel died. He had no business meddling in his parents’ marital affairs and certainly had no right to insist when they would be together. Shimon and Levi are similarly condemned but for their conspiracy to slaughter the entire city of Shechem after the rape of their sister Dina. They took justice into their own hands without the consent of their father and set the neighboring community at odds against the family. The key idea is that both instances are about rushing into action before the right time.

Striving to know the date of the arrival of Moshiach, I believe, has the same message. Too much focus on any outcome makes it hard to live in the present. We all want Moshiach to come soon. The world is getting crazy enough as is. But the desire to know the time of the ultimate salvation is a form of trying to control our fate. However, it’s trusting in Hashem and letting go of our control which is what actually is needed to usher in Moshiach. Reuven, Shimon, and Levi didn’t trust in the processes of their parents and in Hashem to bring the outcome they wanted and when they wanted it.

The brothers couldn’t know the end of the story because they are the template of the Jewish people. Because we can’t know the end of the story, neither can they. But we did need to know there would be an ending. Which is why Hashem lets Yaakov reveal there even will be an acharais yammim. There will be an end and it will be good. But in order to be a part of it, we have to let go a little, trust the process, and learn to be present.