There are very few Mitzvos in Sefer Berayshis: it is mostly narrative which tells of the lives of our Forefathers and Mothers, the founding ancestors of our People. For this reason, our Chachommim sometimes refer to Sefer Berayshis as “Sefer HaYoshor” (“The Book of Righteousness”) because the Torah’s narrative about our Ovvos HaKedoshim teaches us how to be righteous in the eyes of HaShem.
Each of our Forefathers was tested by HaShem. But when the Torah speaks of “HaShem testing Avrohom” with ten tests it doesn’t mean the same as when we were tested in school or college. Tests in school or college are to prove to our teachers or tutors (who can’t really believe that we’ve remembered anything that they taught us) that yes, we have attained the required standard for the certificate or the diploma. They didn’t know whether we deserved it or not, the test showed that yes, we did deserve it.
HaShem, however, has no need to test anybody to find out anything about that person because HaShem knows this person better than he knows himself! The test by HaShem is not to find out anything. Rather (as Rashi explains at the beginning of theAkkaydoh) it is to show others that this person, be it Avrohom, Yitzchok or Yaakov (or any worthy person for that matter) is deserving of HaShem’s special favour.
So, how does HaShem prove to the world that His Tzaddikim deserve His favour? He shows the world that they are His loyal servants. And how? He sets them a task, “a test,” which they will do only because HaShem has commanded it. Ah, but maybe they would have done this particular thing anyhow, or maybe they are quite happy to do this particular thing even if HaShem hadn’t commanded them? So how does this test prove that they are worthy of HaShem’s favour?
For that reason, any true test that HaShem sets is going to be something diametrically opposed to the character and feelings of the one being tested.
For instance, Avrohom’s most difficult test (his last one and after which HaShem told Avrohom He would not test him any more) was theAkkaydoh, ostensibly to sacrifice his son to HaShem. Let’s remember: Avrohom’s whole being was kindness. His whole life, all his teaching, was that theRibbono shel Olamwants us to deal kindly with each other, that there should be harmony, peace, brotherliness. The whole world, he taught, is founded on kindness. He proclaimed that HaShem Himself is kindness and that this is the paramount reason why all the cruel idolworship was wrong.AvrohomOvinuwas the very personification of kindness and goodness. So, what is a test for him? If HaShem would have called to him and said, “Avrohom! I want you to take all the wealth you have and expend it all on a huge banquet for ten thousand people!” — it would have been a
