Monday, October 22, 2012

Can't Hide It From Avraham

Hashem says המכסה אני מאברהם אשר אני עושה. ואברהם היו יהיה לגוי גדול ועצום ונברכו בו כל גויי הארץ "Can I hide what I am going to do [destroy Sodom] from Avraham? He is going to be a great nation and all of the nations of the earth will be blessed through him." [Bereishis 18/17] 

What does the fact that Avraham is going to be a great nation have to do with the sense of obligation that Hashem felt to inform him of His plans?

It seems that the explanation is that it would fly in the face of the entire purpose of creation if Avraham Avinu wasn't told. He is going to be a great nation and all of the nations of the earth are going to be blessed through him. Such a central personality must be told. This needs further understanding. What does the purpose of creation have to do with Hashem revealing his plans?

When Hashem created the world it says again and again "ויאמר" - Hashem said. But when creating man it first says "נעשה אדם בצלמנו"  - Let us create man in our image. Thought preceded action. Only with respect to the creation of man thought preceded action. This is a model for man for the rest of world history that just as his creation was premeditated so too all of his actions should be preceded by thought.

Adam was created as the ideal man but after his sin his spiritual stature was diminished. Until Avraham came along nobody who personified the ideal man about whom Hashem said נעשה אדם - let us make man. He was called by Chazal האדם הגדול בענקים - A giant of a man [Adam is also described as a giant]. Meaning, Avraham was the premeditated man we read about in Bereishis.

In this light we can understand why Avraham must taste the sweetness of נתקיימה מחשבתו - Hashem's plans being fulfilled. Just as he was the paradigmatic מקיים מחשבתו - Executor of Hashem's grand plan, so too when Hashem has a plan he MUST be privy to it so that he can enjoy experiencing the נתקיימה מחשבתו.   

Pil'ei pil'ei plaot!

עפ"י הספר דולה ומשקה על סוכות עמ' רכג ועי' מאמרי פחד יצחק מאמר קה