PARSHAT LECH LECHA – FAITH AND TRUST IN G-D

בס”ד

The Torah portion of Lech Lecha describes the story of Abraham. In this portion, G-d commands Abram to leave his homeland and go to a land that He will show him: “Go forth from your land, your birthplace, and your father’s house, to the land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). Abrham’s obedience demonstrates faith and trust in G-d’s promises, even without knowing the complete outcome.

After Abram’s great victory over the four kings, Hashem said to him: “Fear not, Abram… your reward shall be very great.” Rashi explains that Abram feared that he had already received his reward for all his righteousness. In response, G-d reassures him: “What you are worried about—your reward is very great.” It is clear that Abram served his Creator purely, out of love, only for the sake of Heaven. How could it be, then, that Abraham was concerned about his reward, to the point that G-d had to reassure him?

The answer lies in the fact that Abram regarded himself as dust and ash—he did not see himself as a personal, individual existence, but rather as a vessel in the hand of G-d, whose entire purpose is to promote G-d’s name in the world. This explains why Abraham was concerned about his reward. He wanted to receive reward so that others would see that faith in G-d is the true path. Abraham’s worry was not for himself, but for the honor of Heaven.

Divine reward can be expressed in many ways. It can mean material abundance, wealth, success in family life, or eternal spiritual reward in the World to Come. The Creator made the world to bestow good to His creations, and the nature of the ultimate good is to bestow. However, there is a higher level—serving G-d for the sake of Heaven, without any expectation of personal reward. This is a higher stage in serving Hashem, and when one serves without expecting any reward, the reward for such service becomes infinitely greater than serving for the sake of reward.

Fighting the widespread idolatry of his time, Abraham was not so popular. He was threatened by the most powerful king in his generation, Nimrod. However, he actively instructed and converted ten of thousands of people to believe in One G-d.
Abraham was very knowledgeable in the awareness of G-d. He came to a deep insight into the infinite greatness of the Creator and the perception that all existence is void apart from Him. Abraham recognized that G-d is the only true reality. He passed this knowledge on to all tens of thousands who were his disciples. In the Messianic Era these wonderful insights of Knowing Hashem will be available for all humanity, as it is written (Jeremiah 31:33): “they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.”

By Rabbi Moshe Bernstein

Source: Likkutei Sichos Vol. 20 page 54. Jeremiah 31:33. Genesis 12:1–17:27.

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