What a way to start a parshah. A person we are only introduced to by name for a line is suddenly being told to move from his home and expect great riches, guaranteed by G-d himself! Who is this person Avraham, and why does he deserve this? Forget about what we know from the Humash (5 books of Moses) itself. After we see that we can understand it a little, but still. Should this guy really have all of this stuff lavished on him?
I’m pretty sure this doesn’t bother you about Avraham, someone who lived 4,000 years ago. But it probably does bother you if you see someone move onto your floor or into your class, and suddenly they own the place! The best grades, the most popular. Mom sending food in. When it’s personal, it’s a real question.
The answer is that you are only starting the story on chapter 18, 19 something like that. This person had 17 other chapters before that you never saw. Avraham had a chapter in his life where his new ideas about monotheism were considered threatening that he was thrown into a furnace. He survived the experience, but his brother did not. There are many other harrowing tales of Avraham we never see in the Bible, but we know they must be there for him to occupy such an important place in Jewish history. So too the guy or girl with people coming in and out of the room 24/7.
An absolutely crippling experience in school is to be too competitive and always watching what the other guy is doing. You have no clue what baggage that person is dragging around. So don’t look at it. You’ll be happier for the decision, for sure. Competing with yourself is more than enough. The extra stress is useless baggage.
