Lech Lecha means "You Go" in Hebrew. That is genuinely the main idea of this parshat. The Torah introduces us to Abram, the patriarch of the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic people. In order to be the patriarch, God puts Abram through 4 challenges. Almost as if God is the fraternity president of "Avot V'Emihot" (Fathers and Mothers). To get your name in the prayer, you must do this, this, this, and this....no matter how out there the tasks seem. This week we explore if Abram is ready for House Aleph Bet.
At first, Abram is asked to pack everything up from his home in Haran, and move out to Canaan. Canaan is across the desert, but Abram just says okay. He brings his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot. After that, Abram and Sarai head to Egypt to escape brief famine in their land. Abram must think fast. His wife is beautiful and he will be killed if he tells the Pharaoh they are married. Thinking on his toes, Abram claims Sarai is his sister. When the Pharaoh finds out this is false, he is not even mad In facts, he applauds Abram and sends him back to Canaan with people helping him and his wife at his side. Next, our patriarch can not take his nephew any longer. Lot is everything Abram is not. In short, Abram says, "You can go anywhere in the land, but you can't stay here." Lot settles in Sodom, the original sin city. When they are under attack, everybody is caught off guard in their own selfishness. Being self-centered nearly destroys the city and its residents. Suddenly, Abram comes to the rescue. HAVE NO FEAR ABRAM IS HERE! Abram triumphantly saves the city. For his accomplishment, the people offer him all their riches. Wise Abram turns them down! Finally, Abram is put to the test of carrying on his name. He goes to God hoping to have children with Sarai. Unfortunately, Sarai is not able to bare Abram's first child, Ishmael. God appears before Abram. Making a covenant, God promises the land of Canaan to Abram's people and his numerous offspring. Then, God blesses Abraham and Sarah with a beautiful, second child, Isaac. Abraham has passed his way through God's obstacle course.
Abraham, father of fathers, what a great guy! When I imagine raising my children, I will probably refer to my father, of course, but what about Abraham. He is sort of my father. God is my parent, but Abraham is a role model. He is determined to go to Canaan, clever in Egypt, modest in Sodom, and faithful with Sarah. Much like my dad, Abraham supports his wife, is good to other people, and seems to usuallly have an answer. Abraham is not just the leader of our people, but truly our parent.
When God put Abraham to the test, it made me ponder over whether our lives are just a test. There is no answer key or perfect score, but imagine every moment as a question. Should I go to school in shorts or jeans? Should I go for a run today or eat myself silly? Life throws itself at us. God does not always appear to us and say go to the Promised Land. As my dad taught me, some of God is inside all of us. To find God, we must look deep in our hearts and minds. Faith is from a positive attitude and persistence. Faith is the SAT course in life.
So having faith is important, but Abraham found his happiness from being a parent. Abraham wants nothing more, but to be a father. We were all kids, so it is certain that parenting brings us back to youth. I am sure that almost nine out of ten parents would say their children are their pride and joy. Through good or bad times, God will guide us from within. Abraham and Sarah are the young parents who move from hustling,bustling New York, let's call it Haran, to New Jersey, let's call it Israel.
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