Vayera; Genesis 18:16-22:24 by Rabbi Denise L. Eger

This weekÂ’s Torah portion is filled with many of the trials of Abraham. Our rabbis described 10 trials that God tested AbrahamÂ’s faith. In this week Abraham has several tests of faith including defending the residents of Sodom and Gemorrah.

This week Abraham challenges God on their behalf. Although God has determined that the residents of Sodom and Gemorrah are so sinful and so outrageous that they must be destroyed, God also determines that this information cannot be kept from God’s beloved faithful chosen one. God and Abraham have chosen each other as part of a very powerful covenantal relationship. Last week’s parasha focused on the sealing of the covenant –the call by God to Abram, Abram’s acceptance of the One God and covenant, Abram’s name change to Abraham as a sign of the covenant, the ceremony of the pieces to seal the covenant and of course, the ritual of circumcision as the ultimate symbol of the covenantal relationship.

But this week’s portion, Vayera, affirms that the relationship is not just about Abraham’s acceptance of the covenantal relationship but God’s acceptance. For God struggles to determine whether or not Abraham should be informed of God’s intention to do away with the evil cities of Sodom and Gemorrah. “Now Adonai had said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham is to become a great and populous nation and all the nations of the earth are to bless themselves by him? For I have singled him out that he may instruct his children and his posterity to keep the way of Adonai by doing what is just and right, in order that Adonai may bring about for Abraham what I have promised him.” (Gen, 18:17-19)

It seems that God feels a sense not only of loyalty to Abraham, God’s loyal servant, but God expresses a sense of responsibility as well to keep the chosen servant, informed. If part of the covenantal promise is to have the descendants of Abraham multiply and bless his memory as well as glorify the One God, and Abraham’s descendants—in the guise of his nephew Lot and his family live in Sodom and are destroyed. Then Abraham might infer that God’s promise is not to be fulfilled. Why then bother to be in this unique and special and holy arrangement with God?

Thus Abraham is informed and in his typically loving and righteous way—takes God on. Abraham can’t believe that there is no one to save in the two cities. Abraham says, “Will you sweep away the innocent along with the guilty?” (Gen. 18:23). Thus God and Abraham strike a deal. Abraham bargains with God for the lives of the ten innocent people that might reside in Sodom and Gemorrah.

But of course we know the rest of the story… there aren’t ten righteous people—only the few in Lot’s (Abraham’s nephew) family are warned by the angels to leave and they do so. The cities are destroyed.

And yet this special bond that Abraham and God have forged with one another—a relationship of intimacy—where the human can actually influence and seemingly change God’s initial plan is of enormous hope for all of us. Abraham demonstrates that God wants our input. Abraham demonstrates for us that it is possible to plea for justice on behalf of others and that we have an obligation to try. In the end at least Lot and his two daughters escaped. Someone survived. And from them new nations began, Moab and Ammon. Our Talmud was right—if you save one life it is as if you save a whole world. Abraham’s efforts seemed at least to save someone. Abraham teaches us that we must try.

Posted by Lee at October 26, 2004 03:55 PM