In this week’s Torah reading, Vayera, on the verse “Avraham was old, advanced in days,” our Sages explain that Avraham used every day of his life to serve Hashem. All his days were complete and full; not a single day was lost.
This requires explanation. We know that Avraham recognized his Creator at the age of three. Our Sages even find an allusion to this in the verse, “Because [eikev] Avraham listened to My voice.” The numerical value of eikev is 172. Of his 175 years, Avraham “listened to My voice” for only 172, since he recognized his Creator only at age three. How, then, can we say that all his days were filled with serving Hashem?
Recognizing the Creator
Moreover, some opinions in the Midrash maintain that Avraham recognized his Creator at age forty or forty-eight. How can we say that nothing was lacking in his lifelong service of Hashem and that all his days were full, when for forty or forty-eight years he did not serve his Creator?
In fact, a similar question can be asked about each of us. A boy becomes obligated in mitzvot only at age thirteen. Before then, his observance naturally lacks the completeness of an adult’s, and he is still in the process of learning and being educated. It would seem, then, that he is missing thirteen years of serving Hashem!
Learning and Education
Clearly, however, the years of learning and education are not considered missing years. On the contrary, they are years of preparation and training for the mitzvot he will observe later. This is their purpose and what makes them complete.
When the Torah commands something that requires preparation and training, that preparation is itself part of the mitzvah.
We therefore cannot claim that the first thirteen years of a person’s life are deficient or incomplete, and that he is merely exempt from punishment because circumstances beyond his control prevent him from fulfilling his obligations.
Rather, Hashem’s intention from the outset is that he spend these thirteen years learning, receiving an education, and preparing to observe mitzvot. Only upon reaching bar mitzvah does he begin observing them in their full sense.
The Fullest Service Possible
The same applies to Avraham. Although he came to recognize and serve his Creator only at age three—or forty or forty-eight—he spent the preceding years searching for the truth. As the Rambam writes, “He began to ponder… until he grasped the path of truth.” Those years, too, are therefore considered part of his service of Hashem.
We cannot describe those years as years in which “Avraham listened to My voice,” since he had not yet recognized or served his Creator.
Nevertheless, nothing was lacking in how he used his days. On the contrary, this was the fullest service possible for him at that time.
Similarly, the entire period of exile is a time of preparation and training for the complete service of Hashem in the era of Redemption. Precisely through our “education” now, we can attain the perfection of the true and complete Redemption through Moshiach.
(the Rebbe, Likkutei Sichos, vol. 35)