IMAGINE LEAVING YOUR HOME to live in an unfamiliar country. Perhaps you go with your family to better your lives. One of your family has a transfer. Or parents are members of the military.There are many in this country who have done just that including one of the authors of this blog. The subject of this week's portion of the five books of Moses, the Chumash, did just this. It was an astounding scene, avram (his name not yet changed to Abraham, confronted by an invisible source asked to LECH LECHO, "Go for yourself, from your land, from your birthplace and from your father's house to the land that I will show you." [Beraishis/Genesis 12:1] Amazingly, abraham was not told what his destination was. He had no idea where would go although he would go for his own good. He probably thought he was headed to an "unclaimed" land, another big unknown. Although he was G-d selected Abraham to begin Judaism, a monotheistic faith for a reason . Abraham had immense faith, extraordinary morals, and closeness of a family. He kept his direction and spirit even though his descendants would not take true possession of the land for 465 years.
This is an amazing chapteer of ancient learning for Abraham was to undergo unbelievable events. The trip to Egypt where his wife needed to say she was his sister to protect him, Abraham's rescue of Lot from the the evil city-Sodom (remember that Lot's wife gets turned into a block of salt for looking baack during their escape. And G-d's promise of the Holy Land to abraham's children forevever. This is only a part of the story that has been accepted by three major religions.
These Bible portions or parshas are supposed to teach a lesson, to be applied to one's life. This part of the Bible gives many places that can be applied to life:abraham's leaving his home, Abraham's rescue of Lot as a family often assists another family member, and Abraham's involvement in a war. Enjoy and make an effort to use these lessons for self improvement.
When G-d commanded Avram - his name had not yet been changed to Avraham - to go to the Land of Canaan, he was told to "Go for yourself, from your land, from your birthplace and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you." (Beraishis/Genesis 12:1) Rashi explains that Avram was to go for his own good and his own benefit, that he would not merit to have children outside of the promised land, and that it was only in the promised land that his reputation and renown for righteousness would become publicized. Nevertheless, Avram's reality was that he had no idea where his destination was; he had no foresight as to what land he would be shown.
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