Chayeh Sarah 2022
Isaac’s Parsha Corner · 2022
Testing the Tester
“There were three who challenged God inappropriately. Two received positive responses and one did not. Eliezer received a favorable outcome for his challenge at the well etc.” (Taannit 4A)
We are surprised by Eliezer’s behavior at the well. The Torah describes Eliezer as Zekan Habayis or the lead administrator of the house, in charge of all that was important to Abraham. His greatest mission was certainly to procure an appropriate wife for Isaac. He was sworn in the most serious fashion to carry out this mission. Yet at the well Eliezer made a wager with God, literally daring Him to send Isaac a poor choice; “The young woman who responds to my request for water in a positive fashion and also offers water for my camels, that is the wife that YOU have perforce chosen for Isaac.” What led Eliezer to act in this way is puzzling but there may be a lesson here for us.
“And the angel of God called out to Abraham a second time from the heavens. And he said, “God has sworn that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your most singular son. For I will bless you and will make your children great like the stars in the heavens and the sand at the edge of the sea. And your children will inherit the gates of their enemies.” (Gen 22 15-17)
Having heard God’s oath Abraham was confident that the next phase in Isaac’s upbringing will per force be with divine assistance. Eliezer’s gamble at the well was not so much a gamble as a declaration of faith in God’s fulfilling His oath! Nothing could go wrong. It was, as the Rabbi’s explained, an inappropriate dare, yet one with confidence in the greatness of God and in His desire to give Isaac the best choice. God tested Abraham repeatedly. Eliezer may have decided it was time to start testing God. God swore to Abraham that a great nation would emerge from Isaac. Now, argued Eliezer at the well, the time has come for God to step forward and help make it happen. We are, after all, only able to perform limited initiative in this world and are totally dependent on God’s help for continued success. We pray continuously for “Saayata Deshmaya” God’s assistance. This is especially relevant when it comes to Shiduchim. Eliezer showed us just how much we need God’s help and that maybe sometimes we can be aggressive in asking for it. There was an interesting Israeli film “The Wedding Plan” which demonstrates this point, available on Amazon.
Have a Great Shabbat