Divine promises and opportunities
Divine promises and opportunities
 
We have been witness to wonders and miracles regarding the rebirth of this land of promise. Throughout the generations of exile there have been many periods where the yearning and call for redemption has been raised. Yet that was always due to the pain, dangers and suffering of those periods.

This is the first time in history wherein both the positive and the negative prophecies are falling into line. This gives us no indication of the timetable of redemption but it clearly indicates that incredible days are upon us.

One wonders why, then, are we witness to such hatred and attacks of brutality. Why could it not have been a time of open doors and developing opportunities?
 
Much can be learned from the voyage of Avraham (Abraham) our forefather. Here was a man that received incredible blessings and assurances.
 
That I will surely bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand that is on the seashore, and your descendants will inherit the cities of their enemies. And through your children shall be blessed all the nations of the world, because you That I will surely bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand that is on the seashore, and your descendants will inherit the cities of their enemies. And through your children shall be blessed all the nations of the world, because you hearkened to My voice (Genesis22:17).
 
In addition Avraham is promised the following;
 
And I will give you and your seed after you the land of your sojourning, the entire land of Canaan for an everlasting possession, and I will be to them for a G-d."(Genesis 17:8).
 
Throughout most of the story of Avraham, though, we hear of the promises but we encounter difficulties and tests. Avraham and Sarah encounter hunger and exile in Egypt. They endure the war fare of the kings of the north and survive sibling rivalry. Then Avraham is asked to undergo the greatest and most painful test with his son. Our sages wonder what the impact of such a test was on the relationship between father and son and on the health of mother Sarah.
 
What is Avraham to do after all that he has gone through?
 
We first read of Avraham’s difficult and humiliating negotiations to buy a piece of land in the land that had already been promised to him by G-d.
 
In Midrash Breishit Rabba (79,7), the Sages wonder why in three Biblical passages does the Torah describe financial negotiations regarding the land purchase. This is a relevant question considering that the Biblical text carries such significant eternal meaning and each word or choice of words is significant.
 
The sages declare that three places in the land of Israel which were purchased after these lengthy financial negotiations were to be metaphors  for a land that would belong to the people of Israel (by the right of purchase in addition to the Covenant from G-d)  and yet be contested by all the nations.
 
The three locations mentioned in the Biblical text are the site of the Temple in Jerusalem, the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs in the Cave of Machpelah in Hevron and the Tomb of Joseph in Shechem .
 
Avraham sets the principle with the purchase of the Cave of Machpelah in Hevron
 
And Avraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Avraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the hearing of the children of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant. (Genesis 23:16 )
 
Avraham’s next endeavor is to search for a wife for his son Isaac.  This is the son of who it is promised that “for through Isaac shall your offspring be named."( Genesis 21:12yet Avraham does not wait for the fulfilment of that promise but begins to act.
 
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks describes Avraham’s action as a prototype of what we all have to begin to do. We need to act and move forward.
 
Perhaps one could say that Avraham is aware of a great truth regarding G-d's promises. Whatever G-d promises will come to being.
 
That is an axiomatic truth.
 
Yet those promises must be seen as opportunities waiting to be seized. G-d reveals the promise as an open door but it is a door that needs to be walked through
 
When the Israelites were on the edge of the Red Sea, the Egyptians were closing in from behind and the desert was closing in on the sides. They cried out to G-d. and Moshe then tells them the following;

"Don't be afraid! Stand firm and see Hashem 's salvation that He will wreak for you today, for the way you have seen the Egyptians is [only] today, [but] you shall no longer continue to see them for eternity (Exodus 14:13).

 
But Hashem warns them to keep doing what they needed to do. “And Hashem said unto Moshe: Why are you crying out to Me? Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward.” ( ibid 14:15). G-d expects us all, in our corporate and personal walks, to take a step forward in faith, regardless of the obstacles. Only when we take that step into our destiny do “the seas split open”.
 
That is one of the great secrets Avraham bequeathed to his descendants and to all those who have a desire to hear it. G-d's plan of destiny will move forward and achieve its purpose. Yet it is incumbent on each us to seize the opportunities that come before us. By so doing we become an essential piece of the puzzle that makes up G-d's destiny
 
 
LeRefuat Yehudit bat Golda Yocheved