Step By Step

ויגדל האיש וילך הלוך וגדל עד כי גדל מאד.  "And the man became great, and he grew constantly greater until he had grown very great."  The possuk seems redundant, just say the man grew very great?  The Daas Shrage explains that the Torah is teaching us that Yitzchak did not become great in one giant step, but it was step after step.  First it was ויגדל, then he grew greater and greater, one step at a time  This possuk written in the context of the gashmi beracha of Yitzchak also alludes to his spiritual growth.  Yitzchak grew one step at a time.  The Avos grew by constantly improving, day in, day out.  In last week's parsha it says ואברהם זקן בא בימים, "And Avraham was old, coming with his days."  What does it mean coming with his days?  Every day for Avraham counted, every day was a day of growth.  This is the polar opposite of Esau.  Esau comes from the word עשוי, ready made.  Esau was born complete and whole; he did not view himself as someone who needed to work on himself.  He did not grow in his life.  That is why he doesn't carry on the heritage of Yitzchak.  He did not want to put in any effort to become a better person and ultimately, without effort, things do not last.     

The beracha Yitzchak gave starts ויתן לך האלקים and Rashi explains why is there a vav at the beginning of the beracha, it is not connected to something previously?  He explains יִתֵּן וְיַחֲזֹר וְיִתֵּן Hashem will give  and repeatedly give.  Why does Hashem need to give another time, he can give the beracha in one shot?  The reason to give many times is for the recipient to be able to receive the beracha step by step so that the beracha will be sustained.  If everything is given in one shot, it is easy come, easy go, it is by constantly working to receive more beracha that the beracha in its entirety will be able to be sustained for the recipient.