THE JOURNEY TO YOUR TRUE SELF

בס"ד

EEN GEDACHTE OVER PARSHAT LECH LECHA 5786

Lech Lecha – The Journey to Your True Self

Have you ever felt a nudge to leave behind what’s familiar and step into the unknown? The Torah tells us that’s exactly how Abraham began his life-changing journey. The words G-d spoke to him are simple yet profound:

Genesis 12:1.

No map. No explanation. Just a call: go.

A Call That Transforms

Rashi explains that this journey was not just a command but a promise. By leaving, Abraham would reach his full potential: he would have children, his name would be great, and he would fulfill his destiny. Chizkuni highlights the literal aspect: Abraham had to physically leave his homeland. Growth often starts with a concrete step, stepping away from what’s familiar to make space for what’s to come.

Or HaChaim adds another layer: Abraham had already spent his life seeking G-d. From childhood, he recognized the Creator without guidance. G-d did not need to appear in a vision; Abraham already knew who was calling him. Lech lecha was the next step in a relationship he had nurtured for years.

Two Trials, One Call

Remarkably, the same phrase appears again during the binding of Isaac:

Genesis 22:2.

Chazal note that this second trial was far more difficult than the first. It makes sense: like in the gym, the weights increase as your strength grows. The challenges in life intensify as we grow spiritually, pushing us further toward our true potential.

Going to Your True Self

The Chassidic masters (Kehot Chumash) read lech lecha literally as: “go to yourself.” But it is more than just an inward journey, it is a call to transcend what Abraham could reach on his own. Up until this moment, his efforts in spreading Divine consciousness had been limited by his personal reasoning and convictions. Now, G-d’s command enables him to go beyond his natural abilities, to access a higher, truer self, the self he could never have reached on his own (Likutei Sichot, vol. 20, pp. 58-60, 301-308).

To reach this deepest self, Abraham, and by extension, all of us, must leave behind three layers:

• Your land: the desires that tie you to the material world
• Your birthplace: your inherited habits and character traits
• Your father’s house: even the limits of your intellect, which “fathers” ideas

Through lech lecha, we are invited not only to return to our original selves but to discover our authentic, fundamental selves, constantly uncovering higher vistas of our innate Divine personality and connection with G-d.

What This Means for You Today

Life is full of calls—sometimes subtle, sometimes loud. Every challenge is an opportunity to move closer to your true, higher self. Like Abraham, we are called to leave behind our limitations, trust the unknown, and expand beyond what we thought was possible. Every obstacle, change, or challenge is designed to bring us closer to the self we were always meant to become.

Here are three practical ways to live lech lecha today:

1. Step out of your comfort zone. Leave habits or patterns that keep you small. Growth starts with movement.
2. See challenges as training weights. The heavier the challenge, the stronger you become. Each trial is a stepping stone.
3. Connect with your essence. Ask yourself not only, what do I want? but also, who am I meant to be? With each step, you uncover more of your authentic self, the self G-d always saw within you.

Conclusion: Trust the Journey

Abraham’s journey is not just history, it’s a roadmap for our own lives. Every time we hear the call, G-d is saying: lech lecha, go for yourself.

The destination may be unknown, but each step brings us closer to our true core, the soul that has always known where it is meant to go.

Door Angelique Sijbolts
Met dank aan rabbijn Tani Burton voor de feedback

Bronnen:

Gems from the Netivot Shalom by Rabbi S. Binyomin Ginsberg p.119-123
Daily Wisdom – Inspiring insights on the Torah Portion from the Lubavitscher Rebbe V.1 p.20

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