VBM Two Ways to Understand Avraham By Harav Yaakov Medan ​

The Selection of Avraham How was Avraham chosen to serve as the first link in the chain that developed into the people of Israel? The plain sense of the text does not explain the selection of Avraham, and it is not at all clear to us whether or not it might have been possible to choose somebody else. The Ramchal in Derekh HaShem (part II, chap. 4) explains that Avraham was chosen after extensive activity on his part, and after a competition that lasted for many generations. After Adam sinned it became clear that it would not be possible for all of mankind to successfully bear the word of God, and therefore only a part of it would become the root, and all the rest would be branches. The search for the root lasted twenty generations, until Avraham was found suitable for the task. The Midrashim as well try to explain the source of Avraham's selection. They describe Avraham's unique religious experiences, his spiritual progress, his extensive religious activity undertaken while focused also on the political plane, his standing up to kings, and his concern about spreading the name of God throughout the world. Avraham wandered from place to place, and occupied himself with drawing people closer to their Creator in Heaven. And he proclaimed to everybody that the world has a leader.