This Shabbat we study the Parsha Vayera, meaning “And He appeared” (Genesis 18:1). G-d reveals Himself to Abraham three days after the first Jew’s circumcision at age 99 but Abraham rushes off to prepare a meal for three guests who appear in the desert heat. One of the three—who are angels disguised as men—announces that, in exactly one year, the barren Sarah will give birth to a son. 

Also in this Parsha is: The birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah, along with G-d’s test of Abraham’s devotion; the story of Abraham’s nephew Lot, his family and the wicked city of Sodom; Abraham and Sarah’s move to Gerar, their run-in with Philistine King Abimelech and their eventual truce; Hagar and Ishmael’s banishment from Abraham’s home.

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From Chabad.org

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Observing both of Abraham’s sons, it seems that Ishmael should have been the one to carry on the legacy of his father. After all, Ishmael shared the attribute of kindness with his father, while Isaac (who embodied the attribute of awe and fear) seemed to be very different. Why then was Isaac chosen?

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While Abraham and Ishmael both performed kindness, the motivating force behind their actions could not be further apart. Once we examine the motivation behind Abraham’s kindness, we will see that Isaac was much closer to Abraham than Ishmael could ever be.

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There are two types of motivation for kindness. Abraham’s kindness was motivated by his humility. As Abraham says while praying for the people of Sodom, “I am but dust and ashes.” The humble person perceives everyone else as being greater than him. When he sees someone else in need, he will do anything in his power to help a stranger who, the humble person believes, is more deserving than him. This was the kindness of Abraham.

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On the other hand, Ishmael’s kindness was not motivated by humility, but by arrogance. Ishmael felt that because he was greater than the people around him, he should be the one to provide for them, so that his superiority would be apparent. His kindness did not lead him closer to people. His kindness, fueled by his arrogance, pushed him farther away from the very people he helped.

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Gd’s message to Abraham was that Jewish kindness must be motivated by humility, not by arrogance. Therefore, the son best suited to carry on Abraham’s legacy, was Isaac, who embodied the attribute of awe and fear, qualities which, rooted in humility, make him like his father Abraham.

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From an article by Rabbi Menachem Feldman

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Abraham passed ten tests in his lifetime. But why did Gd need to test him? Doesn’t G-d know what is in a man’s heart? But when Gd challenges you, the challenge itself lifts you higher, much higher, to a place you could never reach on your own. It reveals entirely hidden capacities, granting you access to powers you never imagined you had.  When Gd throws you a challenge, don’t say, “I cannot pass this test. It’s beyond me.” It may be true that you were never capable. But thanks to this challenge, now you are.

Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

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Chassidut explains that the patriarch Isaac represents the aspect of fear and awe of G-d, and the consequent self-negation before Gd. It is, therefore, specifically Isaac who relates to the future era, for at that time Gdliness will manifest itself in the world, and all creatures will be moved to a sense of self-negation.

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Indeed, Isaac’s life reflected certain qualities of the Messianic era. The Zohar (I: 60a) notes: when Abraham was about to sacrifice his son (Vayeira ch. 22), Isaac’s soul departed from his body and was replaced by a soul from the “world to come.” By virtue of this new soul, related to the era of redemption, Isaac’s life was in the mode of the future era of the redemption.

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From an article by Rabbi J. Immanuel Schochet

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Sometimes, you’re trying so hard to do the right thing, and you can’t see the fruit of your labor. You wonder if it’s worth the effort, time and thought when the results are just not what you were expecting. Suppose, for example, you are a school parent arranging a parent-teachers evening because you believe that it will benefit the school community. You’ve put hours of thought into it, planning all the details of the food, venue, program and invitations.

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The special evening is scheduled in two days’ time. You started a while ago, and at this point, you can count on one hand the parents and teachers who have sent you a response at all—some of these responses simply an “unable to attend.” “Why can’t things just work out? Where is everyone?” You hope there won’t be an embarrassing flop of an evening that you put so much into.

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The clock keeps ticking, and you start hearing a nagging voice inside. “Why bother with this? Just cancel the whole thing!” Surely, if nobody else really cares for the evening, then there is no reason for you to go out of your way for it? Here’s some encouragement to stay positive, reaffirm your decision to go with your plans and believe that somehow G-d will make it all work out. Imagine this:

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A 99-year-old man, Abraham, is recovering after his circumcision. It could have been the perfect time for him to relax and take it easy. Yet being the genuinely good person that he was, he was desperate to host guests, despite his pain and weakness. Gd, loving and considerate as only a father can be, decided to set the sun’s temperature to the max, so that no wanderer would dare brave a trek in the broiling desert. Abraham would then be spared the burden of hosting guests and have the opportunity to recover.

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Abraham could have accepted Gd’s favor, “Oh, thank you, Gd! How kind of You to let me rest!”

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Instead, however, he was disappointed that nobody was around. Abraham loved hosting guests; it was part of his very being. Post circumcision or not, young or old, Avraham yearned for an opportunity to be kind to another person. Determined as ever—and knowing the almost-impossible chances of a passerby venturing out in the blazing heat—he sat himself down outside his tent, waiting for guests. “I will sit here until somebody comes.”

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And you know what Gd did? The same loving, considerate Gd who turned the sun on high for Abraham to rest now sent him angels to be his guests. Angels would survive the heat, and Abraham would be satisfied! Avraham did his bit, and Gd did the rest.

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Sometimes, doing our bit means having faith in the unimaginable. In the unlikely. And not just stopping there, at believing in our dreams. Sometimes, doing our bit means going out of our tent, our comfort zone, and demonstrating our determination to do all we can to turn that hope into our reality. Still, if we truly believe in our mission and want to succeed, if we ignore all possible excuses that Gd has given us, maybe He will send some angels our way, too.

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Gd can do anything. Let’s do our bit.

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Gitty Adler

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