Stepping Out
Lekh-Lekha: GO (for yourself)!!! Leave your country, relatives, comfort – I will bless you for leaving what is easy and taking on a task of trust, a movement of faith. Abram leaves Ur with his family, passing through the lands his descendants will eventually inherit. G!d displays his long-term promises as Abram makes an uncertain journey.
This week, my comfort zone was clearly stripped from me. In the wake of my country’s leadership power being handed to a person who has continuously disdained G!d, G!d’s commands, and his neighbor, I can do nothing but pray and make myself available, willing, and ready to speak out against such power and in protection of my neighbor. Worldly power is not dependent on G!d, as I know, but this is the first time my country’s leadership has faced such an unqualified and authoritarian force of evil. Regardless of the evil nature of the person, the results of this election have displayed prominently attitudes and values which are neither driven nor ordained by G!d in scripture. While I know I must proceed in action now, I have no idea what this will look like or bring to me. Will I follow G!d’s call to leave my comfort zone and trust him to use me?
After Abram has left his land, he encounters conflicts and troubles as he travels. Yet G!d remains with him and reassures him – “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great.” This is a nice promise – a true vow – but Abram is also warned of the oppression his people will endure on their way to becoming a great nation.
I am not comparing my country to the nation which will descend from Abram. I am saying that now, more than ever, I have an unshakeable feeling that it is time to follow G!d, to seek his protection, to be willing to endure for the sake of his greatness and the livelihood of others. It is time to change our religious institutions, our spiritual practices, our values as people of faith. It is time for prayer and action to become inseparable. Yes, this is always true, but as Hillel says (Pirke Avot 1.14): “If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? And if not now, when?”
Regardless of the outcome of our country’s election, this imperative would remain. Divisiveness exists among people in an alarming way, and cannot be solved by a national or world leader. Unity is brought about by love, by truth, by courageousness – and often takes much time, and includes suffering. Abram and his descendants know this to be true.
Lekh lekha this week – not because of a governmental office, but because we, as believers in G!d, have an undeniable responsibility to stand for truth in a confused world, for unity in a divided world. We are commanded to free the captive, feed the poor, protect the oppressed. Let us not become captive to a leader who has already encouraged divisiveness, nor captive to fear. G!d is our shield, and our instructions are given in scripture. Let’s apply his instructions today.
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting G!d, the L!rd, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.”
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your G!d. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (From Isaiah 50 and 41 in the Haftarah)
