Why did Hashem tempt Abraham?
"And it came
to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him,
Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am." (Gen. 22:1)
God did tempt Abraham - Hebrew: ha-Elohim nisa 'et-Avraham
Why did Hashem tempt Abraham? In Gen. 15 we read: "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." (Gen. 15:6)
Of course Hashem knew thought of Abraham. The aim of test was another - spiritual grouth. Hashem wanted Abraham would be spiritually stronger.
In Dan. 1 we see this Hebrew root "nasah" in verse 12 and 14 in meaning "to gain experience".
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11 |
Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, |
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12 |
Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. |
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13 |
Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. |
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14 |
So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. |
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15 |
And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. (Dan. 1:11-15) |
"The Abarbanel (15th century Spanish rabbi) has a different interpretation. He sees the purpose of the binding not so much as a lesson for Abraham, but more as a message for the whole world. The Abarbanel points out that the Hebrew word for test - "nisa" - has in its root the word "ness" which means "banner." The primary purpose of Abraham's actions were to show successive generations the degree to which sacrifice is possible." (http://www.aish.com/tp/b/app/48942166.html)
"Potter does not try the bad pitchers. What pitchers he checks? Only good ones." (Bereshit Rabbah 32:3)
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2 |
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; |
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3 |
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. |
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4 |
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (Jam. 1:2-4) |
Abraham has the traits of Messiah Yeshua.
"Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall
be exalted and extolled (nisah), and be very high." (Isaiah 52:13)
"Surely he hath borne (nasah) our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we
did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." (Isaiah 53:4)
"Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide
the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and
he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare (nasah) the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:12)
In these lines there is a word “nisah” (“nasah”).