Nisyonos Bring Out the Best in Us

By Rabbi Moshe Krieger, Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah (www.bircas.org)

In Pirkei Avos (5:3) we learn that Avraham Avinu was faced with ten nisyonos (tests). The Tosfos Yom Tov notes that Avraham acquired the title Avinu, our father, by withstanding each of these nisyonos. As a father, he has the ability to help his descendants for all generations to come.

One may be bothered by the following: We know that Avraham Avinu was the first man to deduce Hashem’s existence (emunah) on his own, in spite of the world of idolatry in which he lived. Moreover, once he came to this knowledge, he went on to spread it and bring many others to believe in Hashem as well (Rashi and Onkelos on Bereishis 12:5). The Rambam (Hilchos Avodah Zarah 1:3) says that Avraham traveled from place to place engaging people in debate, through which he succeeded in convincing them of the existence of one G-d. The Gemara (Sotah 10a) describes how Avraham Avinu ran what was literally a hotel in Be’er Sheva, where he gave people food and instructed them about making berachos. This was his way of introducing them to the concept of a Creator Who showers His creation with kindliness. And yet, Avraham’s achievement in emunah (either his own or his outreach) is not mentioned together with his ten nisyonos. When the Mishnah lists the praises of Avraham Avinu, shouldn’t his work in emunah appear on the list, and maybe even first? Isn’t emunah the very foundation of Yiddishkeit?

The Ramban explains that Avraham Avinu’s efforts in emunah and reaching out to others were not done because Hashem commanded him to do so. Rather, they were a natural outpouring of his purity of heart and an expression of his own personality. In contrast, each of the tests listed in Avos went against his very nature. Bringing many people to emunah was certainly an awesome accomplishment, but what makes a person truly great are those actions he does that go against his nature, because Hashem wills it. These are what truly build a person.

Of course, Akeidas Yitzchak was the most dramatic example of Avraham being ordered to go against his nature. Still, all of Avraham Avinu’s tests involved breaking his nature and fulfilling Hashem’s command willfully.

In his comments on the Akeidah, the Ramban (Bereishis 22:1) brings out another important aspect of the role of tests in Avraham’s life, and in turn, our own. When Hashem tests a person, the purpose is not to see if the person can withstand the test. Hashem surely knows beforehand! Rather, it is for the benefit of the one being tested, to enable him to actualize the potential that exists dormant within him. Avraham Avinu was full of idealism and willingness to serve Hashem, but this had to be realized in the realm of action, and in ways that Avraham would never have chosen on his own. The tests physically transformed Avraham Avinu’s soul, bringing him to his true spiritual potential.

The same is true for the tests that we face. We too have dormant strengths and abilities, and if we are not forced through tests to actualize them, they may remain dormant forever. It would be a real shame for a person to go through life unaware of the awesome capabilities he possesses! It is for our good that we are tested, as tests may be our only chance of achieving greatness.

Rav Gedalia Schorr, citing this Ramban, notes that nisyonos sometimes help in another way. A person may know full well that he possesses a certain quality, but he does not make use of it for a variety of reasons. Perhaps he is not motivated because he does not sufficiently value the contributions he can make. He may see the work before him as overwhelming, or he believes that he’s not obligated to make use of his strengths because he thinks that he lacks the resources.

For example, a person knows that he has the ability to be a great ba’al chessed. He has a discerning eye and notices where help is needed, he can come up with creative solutions, and he has the energy to implement them. But because he is unmotivated, none of his ideas see the light of day. Then, a nisayon comes along: someone in the family falls ill, and the upkeep of the household falls on his shoulders alone. Suddenly, all of his innate talent for chessed comes to the fore, and he revels in his capability of doing what is necessary. Hopefully, even after his family returns to normal, he will resolve to continue making use of this newly-utilized skill.

Appreciating the good in nisyonos can help us greatly, because life is full of them. The Mesillas Yesharim (chap. 1) states that everything in life is a test, be it wealth or poverty, suffering or serenity. We may erroneously think that only when everything is in order can we truly learn, or daven, or maintain a sound relationship with our spouses and children. If we realize that the difficulties we face are not there to exempt us from doing our best, but are rather deliberately-placed obstacles designed to bring out the best in us, we can truly gain from them in the way the Ramban describes. Instead of wishing a certain hindrance away, we can ask ourselves, “What do I stand to gain? What talent does this situation require me to make use of?”

Rav Zelig Pliskin writes of a teenager who was very bright and popular—and he knew it a bit too well. This teen had every reason to believe that he would be elected president of his student body. However, others felt that it was their responsibility to teach him a lesson not to be so vain and haughty. Some people believed it was right to vote for the underdog; others felt that the other candidate really needed the boost of self-esteem. Between them, this fellow lost the election. Because he had been so sure that he would win, this loss shattered his whole self-image. Slowly, he came to realize that he had a problem of ga’avah (conceit), and he began to focus more on HaKadosh Baruch Hu and the people around him. This tremendous change in his life set him on the proper course and has benefitted him ever since. Though at the time he felt as though his life was over, in hindsight, losing that election was the best thing that could have happened to him.

May we be zocheh to recognize the benefit of nisyonos, and fulfill our true potential!

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