15:1 “אל תירא אברם אנכי מגן לך שכרך הרבה מאד”
“Fear not Avrohom, I am a shield for you; your reward is very great.” Rashi: Avrohom Avinu feared that he had utilized all of his merits for his conquest of the four kings. He feared that he could no longer expect to have siyata d’Shmaya, Divine assistance, and that he may be punished for killing the four kings. Hashem tells Avrohom that he need not fear punishment nor worry about depleting his zechuyos; Hashem would protect him and be a shield for him. Why didn’t these miracles deplete his zechuyos?
Avrohom was saved from the Kivshan Ha’eish and was victorious in his battle against the four kings, both of which were great miracles. Avrohom feared that these miracles performed on his behalf would reduce his reward in the Next World. Hashem told Avrohom not to worry for everything that He did for Avrohom in this world was “חנם”, “free.” Avrohom’s reward in the Next World was secure and was not diminished by the miracles performed for him in this world. (31:20) “מה רב טובך אשר צפנת ליראיך” – “How abundant is Your goodness that You have hidden away for those who fear You.” (בראשית רבה)
Meseches Taanis 25a: One Friday evening at twilight, Rebbe Chanina Ben Dosa saw that his daughter was sad. He asked her why she was sad. She replied that she mistook a container of vinegar for a container of oil, and she poured the vinegar into the lamp and lit the Shabbos candles with it. Rebbe Chanina Ben Dosa responded to his daughter that the One Who commanded oil to burn can command the vinegar to burn as well. The lamp continued to burn the entire Shabbos.
From the wording of the Gemara, it seems that Rebbe Chanina Ben Dosa’s daughter had already put the vinegar in the lamp, and it lit the same as oil does. If so, what was Rebbe Chanina Ben Dosa telling her that she didn’t already know, and why was she sad? She was sad because something beyond nature occurred, a miracle. She feared that it would diminish her merits. Rebbe Chanina Ben Dosa was telling her that she did not need to fear, for they lived in a world beyond nature. They had the keen awareness that the same Hashem Who told the oil to burn, told the vinegar to burn. If one lives in this exalted manner, there is no need to fear that miracles will diminish their merits, because on this level, it is all considered the “nature” of Hakadosh Boruch Hu, and not a miracle. (בן יהוידע)
The greatest reward one can receive is a reward that is “free.” Avrohom Avinu did not look to receive reward for his actions. In every step, he saw that Hashem was with him. Avrohom Avinu recognized that there was no “nature” in the world; rather, everything is the workings of Hashem. Avrohom Avinu was not concerned for himself but rather for the kavod of Hashem. Therefore, all of the miracles that occurred for Avrohom did not diminish his merits. In Shemoneh Esrei, we must mention the “,מגן אברהם” the great middah that Avrohom Avinu had. It was because Avrohom gave to Hashem for “free” that Hashem gave him back for “free.” May we be zoche to be keenly aware of this truth and be zoche to much brocha from the Ribbono Shel Olam.
RABBI YAKOV YOSEF SCHECHTER
