Illustration Credit: Rivka Tsinman
Commentary פַּרְשָׁנוּת
Here’s how the story of עֲקֵידָת יִצְחָק (Akeidat Yitzhak, the binding of Yitzhak) is introduced:
וְהָאֱלֹקִים נִסָּה אֶת אַבְרָהָם
And God tested (nissah) Avraham
Our פַּרְשָׁנִים (parshanim, commentators) wonder: Why would God test Avraham? Why would God test any person?
Ramban explains that the purpose of this test is not what you might think:
יִקָּרֵא "נִסָּיוֹן" מִצַּד הַמְּנֻסֶּה. אֲבָל הַמְּנַסֶּה יִתְבָּרַךְ יְצַוֶּה בּוֹ לְהוֹצִיא הַדָּבָר מִן הַכֹּחַ אֶל הַפֹּעַל לִהְיוֹת לוֹ שְׂכַר מַעֲשֶׂה טוֹב, לֹא שְׂכַר לֵב טוֹב בִּלְבַד...
It’s called a “test” but it’s for the benefit of the person being tested. The Blessed Tester commanded Avraham to do this action so that Avraham could collect a reward for a good deed and not just a reward for good intentions…
According to Ramban, God is a bit like a teacher who gives you a test that she knows you can pass, because she really wants to throw you an ice cream party!
- Why does Ramban want to avoid the idea that God is trying to see how Avraham will do on the test?
Ran also focuses on the way the test impacted Avraham.
ר"ן
…כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּתְחַזֵּק אֱמוּנָה בְּנֶפֶשׁ הַמְּנֻסֶּה, עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה יוֹתֵר חָזָק בַּעֲבוֹדַת יהוה יִתְבָּרַךְ. כִּי אֵין סָפֵק שֶׁכֹּל מַעֲנֶה חָזָק יוֹלִיד תְּכוּנָה בְּנֶפֶשׁ מִתְיַחֶסֶת אֵלָיו, כִּי כְּמוֹ שֶׁפּוֹעֵל הַגְּבוּרָה יוֹלִיד בְּנֶפֶשׁ הַגִּבּוֹר תְּכוּנַת גְּבוּרָה.
Ran (Spain, 700 years ago)
The test aimed to strengthen the faith of the one being tested (Avraham), so he would be even more empowered in serving God. There’s no doubt that hard work develops our character, just like acting bravely creates even more strength in the character of a brave person.
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