AVROHOM YAAKOV
Avrohom was recuperating from his circumcision but was unhappy as G-d had organised hot weather to keep passing travellers away from Avrohom’s encampment. Serving wayfarers was Avrohom’s passion.
So G-d organised some angels in the guise of men to visit.
“and he (Avrohom) raised his eyes and saw, and three men stood by him; and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the ground.” (18:2)
Rashi is bothered by the seeming repetition ..”saw” ... “saw”.
What does the repetition of this word “saw” imply? The first time it has its ordinary meaning (“he saw”), the second that of understanding: he saw that they were standing in one spot, and so understood that they had no desire to cause him any trouble. Although they knew that he would go to meet them, they nevertheless remained where they were out of respect to him and to show him that they wished to spare him trouble. Avrohom took the initiative and ran towards them.”
Why does the Torah choose to tell us this?
Most people see things but do not really comprehend what is actually happening. They do not understand that something else is going on. As the saying goes, “... we will all think for ourselves.”
The Torah obliges us – by way of this ‘story’ – to actually think and comprehend not merely that which is happening superficially but also what is really going on. Avrohom saw and understood that there was more to what he was seeing.
