Vayeira- Even God Shares

Va’A-donai amar ha’m’chaseh ani mei’avraham asher ani oseh?

And A-doni said, “Should I hide from Avraham that which I do?”  (Breishit 18:17)

This is an interesting verse.  To whom is God speaking?  Commentary assumes that “said” here means “thought”.  God would be speaking to no one.  I, however, like the image of God working out His thoughts by speaking to Himself.  In parashat Breishit things come into being by God’s speech.  The act of speaking aloud by God is in itself an act of creation.  Here also, God speaks and it becomes reality.

“Should I hide from Avraham that which I do?”  Perhaps the verse should say, “Why should I share with Avraham that which I am about to do?”  Yes, Avraham has a special relationship with God.  All the same, God is God, and needs no approval for decisions and actions.  Nevertheless, God chooses to share the decision to destroy S’dom and Amorah with Avraham, setting up one of the most famous dialogues in history.  Why would God do this?  Furthermore, when Avraham questions, “but what about 50 righteous, or 45, or 40, or 30, or 20, or 10” God des not simply say, “This is my decision,” or even “There are no righteous there.”  God works through the debate with Avraham.  God takes Avraham through the exercise of looking for the good even when God knows there is none to be found.

Traditional commentary speaks of this as one of the ten tests of Avraham.  Instead of tests, think of ten lessons of Avraham.  Tests mark our progress.  They assess that which we already know.  After a test we are secure and proud or disappointed.  Lessons help us to progress.  They help us grow and mature to become better people.  Even when we make mistakes in lessons, we should not feel disenchanted or disillusioned, because our mistakes are progress instead of errors.

At the end of the dialogue there is no conclusion.  Avraham has asked his last question.  God says simply, “I will not destroy it [the cities] for the sake of ten.”  Then God stops speaking, and continues on His way, and Avraham returns to his own place.  Tests are graded.  Answers are right or they are wrong.  God is not an examiner.  God is a teacher leaving His student to ponder the lessons and make up his own mind.