In this week’s Parsha we learn about Avraham Avinu’s extraordinary Chesed. He was in great pain from his Bris Milah and it was a boiling hot day, yet he ran enthusiastically to greet his guests and feed them the best food.

 

One may conclude that Avraham was simply a nice person with the nature to give to others. But the truth is it was much deeper than that.

 

The Midrash tell us that after a guest would finish their meal, Avraham Avinu would tell them to thank G-d for their meal and if they refused Avraham would threaten them that they will need to pay for the full meal. What happened to the kind and tolerant Avraham?

 

The answer is that Avraham wasn’t just about being nice. He wasn’t even about kindness per se. He was about serving Hashem and fulfilling His will. For the most part, Hashem wants us to be kind and giving so that’s what Avraham dedicated his life to. But the moment Hashem wants us to be harsh, even if it means going against our nature, we need to be ready to do that also.

 

So Avraham Avinu was not just a kind person. He was not just a good person. He was a G-dly person who gave his life to fulfill Hashem’s will.

 

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