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B"H

Thursday, Mar-Cheshvan 9, 5779 / October 18, 2018

 

In this week's Parsha, Lech Lecha, the Torah tells us of our forefather Abraham's  experience with fear and G-d's response to it.

 

In Chapter 15 verse 1 we read: "After these things [the battle with the four kings] the word of the L-rd came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Fear not Avram (at this point his name was Avram, his name was only later changed to Abraham); I am your shield, your reward shall be exceedingly great."  G-d then tells him that just as the stars in the heaven cannot be counted, "so will be your children."

 

G-d alleviates Abraham's fears by telling him "I am your shieldYour reward is exceedingly great!"

 

Our sages discuss the reason of Abraham's fears.  After all, G-d promised him in the beginning of the Parsha, "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you."  Why, after winning the battle against the four mighty kings, did Abraham become fearful?

 

One explanation is that Abraham was afraid of future reprisals by the four nations (as a result of his winning the battle).

 

Another explanation according to our sages is that Abraham's fear was a direct result of all the miracles and blessings that he experienced!

 

The great miracle of winning his battle with only 318 men against the four Kings and their mighty armies, caused Abraham to worry that he is receiving G-d's blessings and reward in this world at the expense of the spiritual reward in the World-to-Come.  This caused Abraham great fear.

 

To eliminate his fears, G-d told him, "I am your shield and your reward is exceedingly great."  In other words, "I will shield you from any harm which anyone may want to cause you in this world.  In addition, your reward is also great in the World-to-Come.

 

Just as Abraham found comfort knowing that G-d is his shield and protector, so too, we must always remember the words of King David in Psalms, "I will fear no evil for You are with me!"

 

Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sasov had a unique way of dealing with worries and difficult situations, so that they do not get in the way of his serving G-d with happiness.

 

He would say: "What is in the past is already in the past and there is nothing I can do about it anyway, so why worry about them.  As for the future, it didn't happen yet, so why worry. I put my trust in G-d that things will be good.

 

The only worry I may have, concerns the present.  But the present is so short, it lasts only a moment, and anybody can handle a little trouble for a moment!"

 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY