Daily Zohar # 4702 – Vayera – Favor for Abraham, My beloved

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Hebrew translation:

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Zohar Vayera
Continued from previous DZ
#181
Rabbi Yehuda said, “The Holy One, Blessed be He, gave the entire land to Abraham as an eternal inheritance, as it is written, “כִּי אֶת כָּל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה רֹאֶה לְךָ אֶתְּנֶנָּה” ‘All the land that you see…’ (Genesis 13:15). And it is also written, “שָׂא נָא עֵינֶיךָ וּרְאֵה” ‘Lift your eyes and look…’ (Genesis 13:14). Later, when Hashem wanted to uproot and destroy these places—Sodom and Gomorrah—He said, “כְּבָר נָתַתִּי אֶת הָאָרֶץ לְאַבְרָהָם” ‘I have already given the land to Abraham, and he is a father to all nations,’ as it is written, “כִּי אַב הֲמוֹן גּוֹיִם נְתַתִּיךָ” ‘I have made you the father of a multitude of nations’ (Genesis 17:5). It would not be proper for Me to strike the children without informing their father, whom I have called “אַבְרָהָם אֹהֲבִי” “Abraham, My beloved”. Therefore, I need to inform him.’ And thus, “וַה’ אָמָר הַמֲכַסֶּה אֲנִי מֵאַבְרָהָם אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי עֹשֶׂה” YHVH said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?”’ (Genesis 18:17).

#182
Rabbi Abba said, “Come and see the humility of Abraham. Even though the Holy One, Blessed be He said to him, “זַעֲקַת סְדֹם וַעֲמֹרָה כִּי רָבָּה” ‘The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great…’ (Genesis 18:20), and although God lingered with him and informed him of His intention to execute judgment on Sodom, Abraham did not pray before Him to save Lot or to spare him from judgment. What is the reason? It was so that he would not appear to be seeking a reward for his deeds.
Notes:
Even when God reveals His plans for Sodom, Abraham refrains from requesting special consideration for his nephew, Lot, despite his personal concern. This restraint reflects Abraham’s sincere character and his desire to avoid any appearance of seeking personal benefit from his relationship with God.
#183
And because of this, even though Abraham did not request it, the Holy One, Blessed be He, sent to Lot and saved him for Abraham’s sake, as it is written, “וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת אַבְרָהָם וַיְשַׁלַּח אֶת לוֹט מִתּוֹךְ הַהֲפֵכָה” “And God remembered Abraham, and He sent Lot out from the midst of the overthrow, when He overturned the cities where Lot lived” (Genesis 19:29).
Notes:
God’s rescue of Lot was a result of Abraham’s righteousness, even though Abraham did not explicitly ask for it. This act of Hashem’s grace highlights the power of selfless devotion, where the merit of the righteous can bring protection and blessing to those connected to them. The passage serves as a reminder of the value of humility, showing that sincere devotion can lead to divine favor, extending even to unspoken concerns and to the benefit of loved ones.

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