So You Want To Be Successful – Parshas Vayeira 5771
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Loading ...On the third day after his circumcision (which is the most painful day in the recovery process) Avraham Avinu was sitting at the entrance of his tent, looking for the opportunity to host guests. Thepossuk tells us that the weather that day was hot. Rashi explains (Beraishis 18:1) that Hashem took the sun out of its sheath (causing it to become extra hot) in order not to trouble him with guests. Once Hashem saw that he was pained that guests were not coming, Hashem sent him angels in the form of men to serve as guests. There is a pressing question that arises: Hashem knows the thoughts and actions of every being, he knew that Avraham would not desist in his desire to host people. Why is it then that Hashem made it so hard for him on the toughest day of his recovery from circumcision? It should have been a day with fair weather, and an ample number of guests.
The answer is as follows: Of course Hashem knew that Avraham Avinu would host people regardless of his physical situation. Hashem knows everything! However there is a big difference between the existence of potential to perform an action, and actual performance. This also answers the question of the ten tests that Avraham underwent. Even though he would pass them, he was given them anyway, in order to bring out all the existing potential.
There is no healthy person when posed with the question “Do you want to be successful?” that will answer in the negative. Of course everyone wants to become great. However, the will is not enough; a
person must put his potential into action. It is only then that he can become great. If someone wanted to become a professional body builder, and have a healthy body, with bulging muscles; the dream can only become reality once he starts training. If he never starts, he will end up being in the same shape he started off with. Avraham Avinu needed to perform the task of serving guests even in difficult scenarios. It is this that helped build him.
It is not only when things are easy that we are meant to perform well in our service of God, but even when things are difficult, it is our job to keep going. It is not in the easy times that we build our spiritual muscle; rather it is through the difficulties that we become stronger. A woman commented to her Rav in reference to the eulogy he gave her late husband saying “Rabbi, I really enjoyed your speech”. Shortly after the twelve month mourning period began, she told her Rav “Rabbi this mourning period is difficult”. Things aren’t scaled on the level of enjoyment or difficulty involved, rather how much work and effort we put in to the task at hand. R Noach Orlowek once said “You should not cease doing something because of the hardships involved, and one should not necessarily start something because of its easiness”.
Avraham Avinu continued to perform his kindness, even while it was difficult for him. It is through the hard times that we grow. When something is easy for us, it is no test. We are rewarded for the amount of effort that is put in. As it says in Avos 5:26, “In proportion to the exertion is the reward”. You know you want to be great and successful, but what are you willing to do to get there?
Categories: Parshas Vayeira
