Are You Ready For The Test?
Parasha Va-yera’ is what I like to call a “testy” parasha.
It’s chock-full of examples of tests on obedience and faith. We continue to read
about the lives of Abraham and Sarah and their nephew Lot .
Va-yera’ begins with a visit to Abraham and Sarah from 3 men who tell them that
by that time next year Sarah, who was past child-bearing age, was to have a
son. Sarah is recorded as having laughed, but later tried to lie to the L-rd
about it. The next major event is the destruction of the evil cities, Sodom and
Gomorrah. Lot , who has settled near there, is told to
take his family and depart. They are strictly warned to go forward and not look
back. Lot ’s wife cannot obey and turns around and is
swiftly turned to salt. Later, as promised, Isaac is born to Abraham and Sarah.
The final test of the reading comes in Chapter 22. The L-rd commands Abraham to
give Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham binds the boy to the wood and places
him on the altar. Just before Isaac was to be slain, Hashem stops it and
commends Abraham for his fear of Him and sets a ram in the midst to be used
instead.
As I said
earlier, this parasha is a great example of tests; not as pronounced as the
Book of Job, but it still merits being looked at. The first comes from Sodom
and Gomorrah (18:22-20:38 ). Lot , being kin to
Abraham, is to be saved from the destruction. He and his family have to trust
the L-rd to deliver them and are told to not look back. We know what Lot ’s
wife’s fate was in regards to that. This was a test of obedience. The second
test was the announcement Sarah’s impending pregnancy (18:9-15). Sarah’s
laughter was show of the result of a test of faith. The final test in the
reading was the Binding of Isaac, which was another test of faith (22:1-18).
This may be a huge cliché, but we will take tests in this life. Not just SATs,
MCATs, or LSATs, but tests that will affect our eternal future. Let’s take time
to study up and make the grade.
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