"Jerusalem has mountains around it, and the L-rd is around His people from now and to eternity" (Psalms 125:2)
from the teachings of the Rebbe
on the Torah portion
After his monumental victory over the four kings in this week’s Torah portion, Lech Lecha, G-d promises Abraham: “Fear not, Abram...your reward shall be exceedingly great.” Rashi explains that Abraham feared his victory might have exhausted the reward for his righteousness. G-d reassures him that his reward will be far greater.
This promise seems puzzling. Abraham served G-d out of pure love, without ulterior motives or expectations of reward. Maimonides explains that such a person fulfills Torah and mitzvot not for the benefits they bring, but because they are the truth. Abraham, Maimonides writes, exemplified this ideal, serving G-d solely out of love.
Why, then, was Abraham concerned about reward? Similarly, when G-d commanded him to leave his homeland, He promised, “I will make your name great.” Surely Abraham had no interest in personal glory!
Abraham considered himself “dust and ashes,” merely an instrument for fulfilling G-d’s will. His sole purpose was to sanctify G-d’s name and inspire as many people as possible to recognize the Creator. If making Abraham’s name famous would lead others to recognize G-d, then his growing reputation served a higher purpose. Personal recognition meant nothing to Abraham himself; what mattered was the success of his mission.
The same principle explains Abraham’s concern about reward. He valued material blessings only insofar as they demonstrated that serving G-d brings goodness into the world. Visible rewards for righteousness could encourage the people Abraham encountered to follow his example and embrace G-d’s ways.
Abraham therefore worried that, without tangible reward, people might misunderstand the apparent suffering or hardship of a righteous person as evidence of weakness on the Creator’s part, G-d forbid. If Abraham lacked the blessings people associated with a life of righteousness, how could he convince them that serving G-d was the right path?
This perspective also explains why a Jew is encouraged to observe the Torah’s commandments even when motivated by personal benefit, rather than solely for their own sake. Although a person’s physical desires may focus on material rewards, the Jewish soul rejoices when those blessings help sanctify G-d’s name publicly.
Ultimately, Abraham’s concern was never about what he could gain. He wanted his life, his success, and even his material blessings to inspire others to recognize G-d. His example teaches us that both spiritual devotion and material success can serve a greater purpose when directed toward sanctifying G-d’s name.
Adapted from the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe