Page 535 - BERESHIT

Chazal say that Yaakov desired tranquility and was given the tribulation
of Yosef. Why was he punished before he actually rested? Hashem
doesn’t accord an inappropriate thought the status of deed.

Eisav was busy in Seir pursuing vanities and preoccupied with worldly
endeavors, while Yaakov built sukkot to shelter his possessions,
symbolizing the transitivity of his possessions and reminding him of the
impermanence of this world.

We need to keep an eye out for Eisav and be wary of his furtive advances.
This refers to Eisav’s insinuating influence, besides his pilfering and
coercion. Yaakov had to protect himself from being preoccupied with
empty, worldly pursuits, in the same way that Eisav was.

Later on, Yaakov thought that there was no longer a need to worry about
Eisav’s influence. And so, Hashem sent him a message. Tranquility
merely masks the danger which lies beneath the surface. Hashem