Lech Lecha Parsha Lesson- Authenticity
For Year 2 of Parsha Lesson, I will be focusing on one practical middah, character trait, to think about in the week ahead and steps we can take to attain it.
Background
Hashem came to Avraham and told him to ‘go to the land that I will show you.’ This was, the sages of the Talmud tell us, one of the difficult tests of faith in Hashem that our forefather Avraham was put through in order to determine just how devoted he was to Hashem.
Hashem reassured Avraham that even though he was commanding him to go on a journey of ‘blind faith,’ he would nonetheless bless him with fame and honor, wealth and offspring.
Question
Avraham was arguably the GREATEST person of ALL time, the true G.O.A.T.! How could it be possible that Avraham needed reassurances of fame and wealth in order to follow the command of Hashem!?
One needs only to look at the great pious men of our recent history, men who have endured tremendous suffering for the sake of Hashem, to appreciate what true devotion to Hashem is. Avraham was far more devoted! In fact, as we know, at a very young age Avraham risked his life and was thrown into a burning furnace for the sake of Hashem! How is it possible that this great, pious and devoted person needed reassurances of honor and wealth in order to do Hashem’s bidding?
Answer
Avraham did not need these reassurances to follow Hashem’s command. Surely, Avraham would have followed the command of Hashem regardless. However, Hashem wanted Avraham to follow him wholeheartedly. Hashem did not want Avraham to reluctantly follow his command. Hashem wanted Avraham to be fully committed to doing the will of Hashem with his entire being.
Being that even a pious person would have legitimate concerns of financial well-being on such a journey, as well as becoming a displaced vagabond, Hashem needed to reassure Avraham of these blessings that he would shower him with in order that Avraham could fully and wholeheartedly follow Hashem’s will.
Lesson
Hashem wants us to serve him wholeheartedly. Hashem wants us to serve him with both our Yetzer Hatov (positive inclination) and Yetzer Harah (evil inclination). The truly proper service of Hashem is when a person’s drive for pleasure and enjoyment and his drive for goodness and righteousness are both bringing him closer to Hashem and going in the same direction. This is what our sages refer to as a ‘straight person’ or famously the ‘Mesillas Yesharim,’ otherwise known as the ‘Path of the Just.’
Hashem does not want us to have to constantly battle ourselves, deprive ourselves and have inner turmoil and struggle. At times it may be necessary, but the goal and destination of the one serving Hashem properly must be the peaceful and pleasant service of Hashem with his entire being.
We often think of straightness as honesty of speech. Chazal, our sages, are opening our eyes to a higher level of straightness and honesty- a honesty which permeates our entire being and encompasses all of our behavior. An honesty whereby the consistency of the person and their authenticity can be seen from how their whole being is moving in the same direction.
First Step
Rabbeinu Yonah in his commentary on Mishlei (11:3) recommends a person to bring along his desires and lusts towards Hashem’s service. If a person can focus on the enjoyment of serving Hashem, of the pleasure of doing that which is correct- a person can slowly grow into a straight person.
If a person can ‘indulge himself’ in Hashem’s service- focusing on enjoying himself while learning or while doing a kindness for someone else- a person can bring along his Yetzer Harah (evil inclination) to be positively inclined towards Hashem’s will.
Have a wonderful Shabbos!
Rabbi Eli Meir Kramer
