Parshat Lech Lecha: Standing Strong
by Rabbi Lobel

(Genesis; Chapter 12, Verse 1) G-d said to Abram, "Go for yourself from your country, from your birthplace, and from your father's house to the land that I will show you."

The Medrash Rabba (39:1), according to the Mahrzu, a commentary on the Medrash, seems to be perplexed by G-d's order of instruction to Abram. Normally, one physically leaves his father's house first, then his birthplace, and lastly his country. Yet, G-d instructs Abram in these places in the reverse order.

Abram must not only distance himself from these places physically, he must abandon them mentally as well. G-d is commanding Abram to leave in the order of behavioral difficulty. Abram had to rid himself of all influences of his country, his village (birthplace), and his father's home; it is most difficult to leave the ways of you father's house.

Why would Abram, the only monotheist of his time, an individual who recognized G-d at such an early stage in life, need to leave the ways of his past in order to grow spiritually?

The Medrash Rabba uses a parable to understand Abram's struggle:

A wandering man was passing through a town. Witnessing a palace burning to the ground, with no one trying to extinguish the flames, he asks, "Does this palace have no owner? Where is he to save it?" Out comes the owner and exclaims, "It is my palace and it is my wish for it to be burnt."

The people in G-d's world were destroying themselves morally and spiritually. Abram was struggling with the fact that the owner of this world was allowing it to self-destruct. The Mahrzu, commenting on the Medrash Rabba, says that, even with all of Abram's dedication toward G-d, he was sure that G-d had abandoned this world and was not interested, G-d forbid, in man's true growth. A small sense of doubt. But as soon as Abram was asking this question, G-d appeared and told Abram his purpose and that he desires Abram's service. G-d told Abram that to attain the highest spiritual levels he must leave all of his past - country, birthplace, and father's house.

Understanding that G-d has never and will never abandon this world is a tremendous internal struggle. G-d cares. G-d wants us to grow. As we're bombarded with demoralization and temptations in every direction, we must stay strong in our true ways and not succumb to the pressures of the world.