5785/2024

This week's Parashah, Parshat VaYeira, discusses, among many things, Avraham and Sarah expelling Yishmael from their house. Sarah realized that Yishmael was not worthy of inheriting with Yitzchak, as Rashi explains, because Yitzchak was her son, and he was a great person. Therefore, Avraham gave Hagar some food and water, and kicked her and Yismael out of the house. But when the water ran out, she realized that he was going to die. Hashem then heard Yishmael’s cry and a Malach came to Hagar and told her not to worry “כִּי־שָׁמַע אֱלֹקים אֶל־קוֹל הַנַּעַר בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא־שָׁם” “Because Hashem has heeded the cry of the boy ”בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא־שָׁם” (BeReishit 21:17). Hashem then provided a well from which Yishmael’s thirst would be quenched.

This phrase, “בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא־שָׁם”, is greatly discussed among the commentators. Rashi explains, from BeReishit Rabbah, that the angels approached Hashem and asked Him why he would provide a well of water for Yishmael, whose descendants will, in the future, kill the Jews by thirst. Hashem responded that as of now, Yishmael is not bad, so He cannot punish him for the future. Hashem heard Yishmael’s voice ”בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא־שָׁם”, as he was there, as his deeds were at that time.

The question is, if Hashem was judging Yishmael as his deeds were at the time, how come a Ben Sorer U’moreh, a boy who commits relatively minor sins, is killed to protect him from commiting relatively worse sins in the future? The Chizkuni answers that the difference between the two cases is that even though the Ben Sorer Umoreh is put to death to protect him from worse sins, he still committed sins, and even if they were “minor”, he is still accountable. On the other hand, Yishmael did not do anything wrong. On the contrary, he did something good. He willingly received a Brit Milah! This shows the importance of “little” things. Even though one may commit a “small” sin, it can be fatal, Chas V’Shalom. 

While Rashi focuses on Yishmael’s deeds, the Ramban focuses on Hashem’s provisions, and how it demonstrates His omnipotence., Ramban explains that “בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא־שָׁם” means that Hashem heard the voice of Yishmael where he was, in the desert. Hagar would not need to travel anywhere for water, because Hashem would provide it right where they were. This shows Hashem’s strength, and if one is doing the right thing, Hashem can save him however He chooses.

Besides being careful about sinning, we can learn from Yishmael that we should always be doing Mitzvot, because, even if it does not seem like it, it can save us. Yishmael’s one Mitzvah of Brit Milah caused him to merit the well in his time of need! Therefore, we should all make sure that we are constantly doing the right thing, and little acts of Chesed and Mitzvot can IY”H cause us to merit long, healthy, happy lives.