In this week's parsha, we read about Yaakov Avinu leaving his parents' home.  Until now, Yaakov had been sitting peacefully in the tents of Torah under the protection of his parents, and now journeys away to an unknown future.

He has a dream in which he sees a ladder upon which Hashem is standing.  And Hashem talks to him.

I am Hashem, Elokei Avraham your father, and Elokei Yitzchak.  I will give to you and your descendants the land upon which you are lying.  Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth.  You shall spread out to the west, to the east, to the north, and to the south.  All the families on earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.  I am with you.  I will protect you wherever you go and bring you back to this soil.  I will not turn aside from you until I have fully kept this promise to you.

The commentators point out that this promise is not only to Yaakov, but rather to all his descendants as well.  The Jewish people throughout the generations have wandered away from home carrying with them the same promise that Yaakov was given. "I will protect you wherever you go and bring you back to this soil".

What I find striking is that the first bracha of the tefillat shmone esreh (amida) very much mirrors this promise to Yaakov.  

We start  the Shmone Esreh with the words Baruch ata Hashem,Elokeinu v'Elokei avoteinu, Elokei Avraham, Elokei Yitzchak similar to Hashem's statementto Yaakov I am Hashem, Elokei Avraham your father, and Elokei Yitzchak

We conclude the bracha stating that Hashem will bring geula to their descendants - . umaivi goel livnei venaihem lema'an shmo b'ahava. - just as Hashem promised Yaakov  I will protect you wherever you go and bring you back to this soil.  There are other parallels as well.

In our tefillot every day we declare that we understand our position in history as the continuation of our forefathers - both physically and spiritually.  We are a continuation of their mission in this world.  This is definitely something worth contemplating before we begin our shmone esreh.  We are not only approaching Hashem because he runs the world and we "need" Him, but even more we are approaching Hashem with this realization and pride that we have the special merit to be part of His people and that we desire to live up to this honorable status.