The parsha opens with Hashem commanding Avraham Avinu, “Go to the land that I will show you.” The obvious question is: why the vague directive? Why did Hashem not immediately tell Avraham his exact destination? Rashi quotes the midrash that it was to give Avraham reward for every step that he took. Yet the question seemingly remains: wouldn’t Avraham still receive reward with every step just for following Hashem’s command, even if he knew his destination?

Let’s explain with a story. It was a beautiful morning in the Old City of Jerusalem. Rachel Auerbach was leaving her house to pick up some fresh rolls for her children and almost tripped on a basket on her front doorstep. She looked down and there was a cute little baby sleeping in the basket, with a letter attached. The letter read: “Dear Mr. and Mrs. Auerbach. I am a young mother and I have a severe emotional and mental disorder. I am incapable of caring for my child. You have a reputation of being warm, compassionate and hospitable. I plead to you to take care of Dovid. I know you will raise him well. Thank you.”

The Auerbachs searched for the mother, but no one had a clue who she might be. They considered the situation and decided to adopt Dovid as one of their own. Years passed. Dovid graduated high school. The Auerbachs felt it was time to let Dovid know the whole story. Dovid was shocked. Dovid took the news pretty hard, and although the Auerbachs took wonderful care of Dovid, he felt a sense of abandonment. Dovid’s schoolwork and behavior deteriorated dramatically. As much as the Auerbachs tried to help, nothing seemed to work. By Elul, his rosh yeshiva told him he needed to “shape up or ship out.” His misbehavior continued, and he was asked to leave the yeshiva. The next yeshiva also turned out to be a failure. He floundered.

Elul came again, and Dovid joined a new yeshiva. Now he soared, becoming a top student. The Auerbachs were ecstatic! What caused the sudden turnaround? Time went by, and Dovid was about to get married. The night before the wedding, he sat down with his step parents and thanked them for raising him. “I owe you an apology and an explanation,” Dovid said. “I know you are probably still wondering what caused my erratic behavior and the sudden change for the better. During the month of Elul, I was reciting L’Dovid Hashem Ori and said the pasuk “for my father and mother have abandoned me.” I began to cry. I pictured my mother leaving me. But then I considered the end of the pasuk, “but Hashem has gathered me in.” Suddenly, I was overcome with a tremendous sense of calm. That was my turning point. I went from feeling unwanted to feeling incredibly precious and cradled in the hands of Hashem, Who gave me you as my parents! Feeling Hashem’s presence allowed me to turn my life around.”

Now we can see the answer. If Hashem had told Avraham where to go, he would still have gotten his reward for each step, but by accepting to “go to a land that I will show you,” Avraham walked into the unknown, placing himself completely in Hashem’s hands. We can now better understand why Hashem elaborated, “from your land, and from your birthplace and from your father’s house.” Avraham was abandoned by his parents spiritually and now he was leaving any connection with them. “For my father and mother have abandoned me, but Hashem has taken me in.”

One of the most unsettling feelings in life is not knowing what will take place in the future. We make plans but we never know what will actually happen. Leave early to work and there is major traffic that makes you late. Go to sleep early to be well rested for the next day, and your child wakes you up in middle of the night.

We constantly live in a state of uncertainty—“To the land that I will show you.” There are two ways to handle this. We can get anxious, over-plan and be upset when plans sometimes don’t work out…or we can put our total trust in the hands of Hashem and feel secure that Hashem is leading us in the proper direction. Which approach do you think will give you a true sense of calm?

This week’s parsha helps us walk in Avraham’s ways, teaching us that Hashem is always leading us in the way that is best for us. We needn’t worry because every step we take is with Hashem’s guidance. Google Maps and Waze are useful tools, but Hashem Is our ultimate Guide!

 By Rabbi Baruch Bodenheim