Avraham: "Father of Multitudes"

12 Marcheshvan 5787
Erev Shabbat Kodesh
Parashat Lech Lecha 

Yesterday, I discussed some ramifications of holding to the halachah and being honest with the gentiles about their proper place among Klal Yisrael should they wish to live in Eretz Yisrael.

The rabbis who are very eager to welcome them clearly do not publicize the "downside" of the requirements calling for service and tribute.  They may be planning to discard this halachah  to make things easier.  Their job is already difficult enough with selling them on the Seven Laws of Noah.  Some don't even want to admit the truth about Chr*stianity being avodah zarah for fear it will drastically reduce the numbers of interested parties. 

In this week's parashah we read about Avraham Avinu's similar concern in his own time and how he worried that a requirement of circumcision would be a deal-breaker and a hindrance to people acccepting his message.  As demonstrated by 4000 years of the practice of circumcision, Avraham Avinu remained obedient to HKB"H and in the end, "multitudes" of his offspring fulfilled his hopes and dreams for success in service to HKB"H.

Excerpted from Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin's Insights in the Torah on Lech Lecha...

התהלך לפני והיה תמים - Walk before Me and be perfect. Publicize My Name in this world, as you have been doing until now. This may require you to meet and debate idolaters and heretics, to listen to their distorted views about God in order to make them aware of the truth. Such arguments could possibly taint your perfection. But strive to eradicate them completely, both them and their views, and you will remain "perfect," a tzadik of perfect faith!

ויפל אברם על-פניו - Abram fell on his face:  Abraham's life goal was to bring all the nations to faith in the Living God. As is known, he would attract passersby by offering them drinks, and then some would heed his call to convert.

But, when he heard the new condition for conversion, namely circumcision, he was seized with trembling, for henceforth his goal would be beyond reach.  What fool would listen to him to undergo an operation on his own flesh?  Abraham fell on his face in great anguish, like a man whose ship had sunk at sea.

This is what is behind Chazal's statement (Breishis Rabbah Ch. 46), "Before I underwent circumcision they would come and join me, but who will come now that I am circumcised?" God answered him:

אני הנה בריתי אתך - As for Me, this is My covenant with you.  I do not need a lot of "converts", who come to "look for God" among the food and drink, and who are unwilling to shed their blood on the altar of faith.  It is sufficient for Me that you keep My covenant.  I am content to have one believer like you, who goes through fire and water to sanctify My Name.

"If you accept circumcision upon yourself, then you and I shall suffice for the world" (Tanchuma, Lech Lecha 24).  And although "The king's glory is in great multitudes" (Mishlei 14:28), those multitudes would emerge from Abraham himself, who was destined to become "father of a multitude of nations" (17:5).

והקמתי את בריתי ביני ובינך - I will ratify My covenant between Me and you.  But do not fear that you will remain the only believer in the world.  I promise that the covenant will also apply to "your offspring after you throughout their generations" (ibid.).

The recurring message throughout the entire Tanach is that HKB"H values quality over quantity.  Furthermore, human beings do not value what comes cheaply, or too easily.  Anything worth doing, or having, requires some sacrifice on our part. 

~ SHABBAT SHALOM ~