In this week's Parsha we see the greatness of Avraham Avinu and his unique power of Chessed. At the same time we see the opposite behavior of the people of Sedom and what happened to them.
The people of Sedom weren't just bad people. They had a twisted outlook in life. The Midrash writes that when a peddler would come to Sedom people would pass by and take a tiny item, a single sesame, a single garlic, just something so tiny, bit by bit, until the peddler was left with no merchandise.
This wasn't just cruelty, they had an important message behind it. Although it’s something so tiny but look and see, in the end you have nothing left. So too, if too many people come and ask for help, we will be left penniless.
The Gemarah (Sanhedrin 109:) tells over a story. A poor man fainted as he hadn't eaten for three days. The law of Sedom forbade helping strangers and the citizens of Sedom kept to the law.
A young girl saw him and when she went out with her pitcher to draw water from the well, she would put inside some food and give it to the poor man.
She was caught! What punishment did she receive?
They covered her body with honey and put her on the wall for everyone to see. Multitudes of bees came and she was stung to death. How cruel!
But they had a very important message!
You tried to be kind, you tried to be sweet like honey? But honey invites bees. It's true, that from one sting one doesn't die, but, honey invites many bees and in the end one dies. So too if we, the people of Sedom are too kind, too generous, we will suddenly have too many guests and we will be left penniless!
Avraham Avinu was the exact opposite. He recognized his Creator and understood his obligation and merit to be able to give to others, to do kindness, give charity. Avraham Avinu didn't just welcome someone into his home when the person knocked at his door.
Avraham Avinu had four doors to his tent, one on every side, that anyone passing by would immediately see the entrance. If no one showed up, Avraham sat by the door looking to see if anyone was passing by.
The two opposites in the same Parsha. The peak of Middas Hachessed and the peak of selfishness.
The Midrash writes that although Kayin killed Hevel, he was punished to go in exile not to be immediately killed. Exile is the punishment the Torah gives to someone who killed by mistake. Why was Kayin given the punishment of a murderer by mistake when he killed his brother on purpose?
