Avrohom held himself as less than others and, thus, his kindness was greater; midah c’neged midah, his descendents were rewarded with: Ashes of the Red Heifer – self sacrifice of the one doing the sprinkling becomes impure in order to purify another. Earth of the Sotah Waters - in order to make harmony between spouses, the Divine name was erased.
Circumcision on the eighth day by a child without choice (Yitzchak), has an advantage over circumcision done by a person who made a decision to do this mitzvah (Yishmael at 13); this created an eternal covenant since accomplished by G-d, and not by man’s achievement, and thus is unlimited.
The Jews have 3 qualities: bashfulness, mercy, benevolence. Yerushalmi stresses unique nature of each of these gifts. Bavli stresses that the 3 signs lead to a lone trait – humility / bitul. One must arouse within oneself a feeling of "bashfulness" and humility, so that one not be filled with pride, but filled with the essential Jewish quality of bitul and humility.
The Akeida led to the physical & spiritual placement of the Bais Mikdash. Avrohom’s self-sacrifice lead to the achievement of lofty spiritual levels of services in the Bais haMikdash. Yitzchak as an Olah lead to the ability to reveal Divine Presence in this world.
Despite the fact that no obligation existed to sacrifice his son in actuality, Avrohom sacrificed the ram as if it was his son in order to: Draw forth an oath from G-d (like Noach). To perform an act that was not only a potential self-sacrifice, but done in fact.
From the Torah the mitzvah of Chinuch only begins when one reaches the age of being obligated in Mitzvos, similar to Avrohom being complete in his faith in all his years (even though he lived many years prior to recognizing G-d). Nevertheless, the mitzvah of Chinuch does apply at an early age from the Rabbis; even more this includes the concept of preparation now in Galus for after the Redemption.
The two cities of S’dom & Amorah had greater punishment (than other 3 cities) since sinned between man and man, in addition to between man and G-d. S’dom was the physical manifestation of the failed world of Tohu (the intense sparks could not be contained and failed); in the times of Moshiach S’dom to be reinhabited and the world will be a stable place for these sparks.
Avrohom is not questioning G-d’s motives in the Akeida, but clarifying his instructions & whether he passed the test. One should not contemplate in order to cause doubts about the methods that G-d runs the world.
