Parshas Lech Lecha
The Grand Prize of History
By Rabbi Label Lam
And HASHEM said to Avram, “Go for (or) to yourself from your land and
from your birthplace and from your father’s house to the place that I will
show you!” (Breishis 12:1)
With ten tests our father Abraham was tested and he withstood them all--in
order to make known how great was our father Abraham's love [for HASHEM].
(Avos 5:3) According to the Mishne in Pirke’ Avos Avraham Avinu endured
and successfully passed ten giant tests in his lifetime which serves as a
demonstration and an all-time monument of his love and devotion to HASHEM.
There is a dispute amongst authorities as to which experiences are counted
amongst the ten tests. Everyone agrees, though that, “Lech Lecha”- leaving
land and birthplace and home is one of the big ten. The question is, “What’s
the test?” HASHEM told him to go! If HASHEM told you or me to go would we
hesitate? Maybe we can say it was a test of trust. After all he is
abandoning everything familiar and going to “the place that I will show
you”- the realm of the unknown. All this is very nice and easily understood
if we read on the first verse above but if we factor in the next two verses
the picture changes. “And I will make you into a great nation, and I will
bless you (with wealth), and I will make your name great, and you will be a
blessing. I will bless those who bless you and those who curse you will be
cursed and through you will be blessed all the families of the world!
(Breishis 12:2-3)
Avraham is offered such a rich compensation package by HASHEM it’s hard to
imagine that leaving home is a test. Let us say I get a call at midnight
from a friend who had just insulted me badly that day. Therefore, in light
of the 2nd and 3rd verses we must re-ask our question, “What’s the test?”
Johnny has been pack packing throughout the far-east for 20 years. One day
he bumps into an old high school friend who recognizes him. As they exchange
pleasantries the friend informs Johnny about his father’s deteriorating
condition.
Johnny left home two decades ago after a fight with his father and is now
jarred back to reality. He jumps onto the next flight and rushes to the
hospital. Not unimportantly, Johnny’s father is wealthiest man in the world
and Johnny is his only son. All the doctors and lawyers are ready for the
bloody fight when he is soon to expire. Johnny makes his dramatic entrance
to his father’s bedside and they begin to exchange loving glances. Johnny
asks his father is there anything he can do or say.
His father asks Johnny if he remembers what his favorite drink is and Johnny
remembers correctly, root beer. The dying dad requests from Johnny that he
wants to leave this world with the taste of root beer from his boy Johnny on
his lips.
Johnny is ready to go into action when his father grabs his sleeve and
informs him that if he gets back in time he will rewrite his will and make
him the sole heir to his entire fortune. Johnny pivots and sprints into
action. As he goes onlookers wonder, “What makes Johnny run?”
Cynically, and who can blame them, they assume he is animated by $. After
Johnny returns with the root beer his father takes a sip, smiles, and hands
Johnny a document, the newly drafted will. He asks Johnny for one more
favor. Johnny is elated. “Take that paper I just gave you and put into that
candle rendering it void!”
Johnny stretches out his hand and within one inch of the flame his father
shouts, “Johnny! Johnny! Stop!” He looks into the eyes of all the assembled
and declares, “I know you think that Johnny came here to claim my money but
what he just did demonstrates that he only came here and did what he did to
be close with me.”
Sure Avraham went well aware there was greatness in store for him but later
by the Akeida he was asked to give it all away. The test is psychological.
Do exactly what HASHEM requests without being distracted by the reward. So
it states, “Avram went as HASHEM spoke to him…” not in pursuance of the
grand prize of history!
DvarTorah, Copyright © 2007 by Rabbi Label Lam and Torah.org.
