This week’s Sedra opens with Hashem commanding Avrohom Avinu to leave Choron (the land of his birth) and to go to Eretz-Yisroel (Canaan). Rather than merely telling Avrohom Avinu to go to Eretz-Yisroel, Hashem tells Avrohom to go “to the land that I will show you.  Rashi explains this oddity as Hashem using the element of suspense/curiosity in order to endear Eretz-Yisroel to Avrohom Avinu. Rashi backs this explanation with a list of other Pessukim where Hashem uses the element of suspense similarly (see Rashi).

While Rashi certainly explains why Hashem didn’t simply tell Avrohom Avinu to which land to go it, his answer leaves us with an even stronger question: Why is Hashem playing mind games with Avrohom Avinu? Pedagogically, or psychologically, the element of surprise or of curiosity is at times used to endear or entice someone regarding something, but such a technique tends to be associated with somewhat childish mind games.

My Rebbe HoRav Yisroel Belsky Shlita has explained instances in which the Torah seems to attribute various emotions to Hashem as indicating that these emotions aren’t merely petty human sentiments but are rather deep and important elements of life. Perhaps there is a similar idea here. While making someone curious may be useful when dealing with children, and while building up suspense may be a good tool to cause someone to be interested in something, it isn’t just a mind game, but rather something far more meaningful.

Our Avos (forefathers) and many of our Manhigim (leaders) started off as shepherds. Rav Belsky explains (based on a Maharsha) that being a shepherd somehow allowed our Avos to become who they were. Rabbi Belsky explains that their being alone in the wilderness only with flock allowed them the time to reflect on the world. This ability to reflect on the world gave them tremendous depth and understanding in almost everything. Since our Avos comprehended life and the world as best as humanly possible they were able to see Hashem and appreciate His world.

Thinking and reflecting is the key to real understanding and to appreciation of everything in life. When one ponders one begins to realize what the world is and to appreciate it.

If Hashem had told Avrohom Avinu simply where to go Avrohom Avinu would have followed Hashem’s command just the same, but it would have left him with less to wonder and think about.  When, however, Hashem didn’t disclose to Avrohom Avinu his final destination, it left Avrohom Avinu with more to wonder about. This allowed him to reflect more on the idea that he was traveling to whatever destination Hashem would show him. Avrohom Avinu wasn’t merely going to a specific place; He was going where Hashem would direct him to go. Hashem allowed Avrohom Avinu to appreciate where he was going on a deeper and more meaningful level.

Life is full of suspense. There are always so many things that seem like unknowns to us. All too often, however, all too often, not only do we not appreciate these unknowns but they bother us and we even scorn them. We must realize that these “unknowns” are our opportunity to think and to reflect; they are our tools to appreciating life. We must utilize the unknowns to add a deeper and more meaningful facet to our lives. They are our opportunity to see and recognize Hashem.

A very warm Good Shabbos, Rabbi Y. Dov Krakowski