In this week's parsha Vayechi, Yaakov Avinu, while on his deathbed, gathers his son's and blesses them. The prophetic blessings are explained by our Sages. In the blessing given to Dan, the midrash tells us that Yaakov saw into the future the descendants of Dan namely, Shimshon HaGibor (Samson). Shimshon became a leader of the Jewish People and fought valiantly against the Philistines. The Midrash says that although Yaakov thought that Samson would be (or join with) the Messiah, when he saw that Samson would die, he realized that this would not be the case. Afterwards Yaakov stated that "to your (G-d's) salvation we hope".  No matter what the situation is, even if we think that we are on the brink of redemption and it doesn't come to fruition, we should never give up hope. The Midrash tells us that it is in the merit of our faith and hope that we will be able to bring the end of our suffering. The act of strengthening our faith and hope in G-d is itself sufficient reason to merit Divine Assistance.

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath