Parshas Vayeira: If you Sacrifice for Hashem you Can’t Lose
Rabbi Aron Shear
In this week's Parsha, after the angels leave Avraham on their way to Sedom, an interesting thing happens. The scene freezes, and Hashem, so to speak, has a conversation with Himself. Hashem says “how can I hide from Avrohom that which I am about to do (meaning the destruction of Sedom)? Avrohom doesn’t know my plan to destroy Sedom, and therefore can’t pray on their behalf. I need to tell him so he can do so.”
The Chasam Sofer says, Avrohom had not reached the level of prophesy that Hashem would feel that it would be his business to know about the destruction of Sedom. But how can this be, since know Avrohom had found Hashem by himself in a world of idolatry, and Chazal say Avrohom’s Maseches Avodah Zarah was four hundred Dafim, folios. The answer is that he could have worked on himself and became a great prophet worthy of being privy to all the plans of Hashem. In fact, the Torah told us about Chanoch, that he walked with Hashem and was no more, for Hashem had taken him away. Chanoch had worked on his own personal spiritual growth to the extent that his soul left his body, and he became like an angel. However, this was while the rest of the world was spiraling downward, until they needed to be destroyed by the Mabul. Avrohom, on the other hand, decided that he had a different mission in life. He felt that he was in this world to bring the existence of the creator to the Pagan world. So he gave up his own spiritual growth for this purpose. Now, before the destruction of Sedom, Hashem said, “it really isn’t Avrohom’s business to be made aware of the coming catastrophe.” However, the reason that it isn’t his business is because he sacrificed those lofty levels of spiritual growth, not for his own gain but for My sake. To help bring the knowledge of My existence to the world. How can I not treat and deal with him as if he had worked on himself and reached those spiritual heights?
In another place, the Chasam Sofer brings the posuk, “A righteous man will flourish like a date palm, like a cedar in the Lebanon he will grow tall.” He explains, a cedar is very tall but does not produce fruit, whereas a date palm produces fruit but is smaller because most of its nutrients are used up by its fruit. We can apply this posuk to Avrohom. When a righteous person is like a date palm, like Avrohom, he is not only concerned for his own growth, but also worried about helping others. We could therefore say he lost out on those spiritual heights he gave up on. Dovid Hamelech tells us not to think like this. If the righteous person sacrifices for the sake of Hashem, then he will be dealt with as if he had become that lofty cedar, and he won’t lose out.
Many times we have arguments with people, where we feel that by giving in we would be giving up our position and dignity. But if we take this lesson to heart, that by giving up for the sake of Hashem we cannot lose out, then we can be Mevater, give in, and bring peace to our lives and the world. I heard many times that when someone would come to Harav Aharon Leib Shteinman zt”l with a matter between himself and his neighbor, Rav Aharon Leib would say, if you are Mevater for the sake of peace, you will never lose out. Let’s take this message, which is the message of Avrohom Avinu’s life, and always be the one to be Mevater Leshaim Shamayim, for the sake of Hashem. Hopefully, through this, we will merit mercy from Hashem, and see an end to all of our suffering.
