F
rom age three Avraham Avinu was asking questions challenging the pervading belief system of the time and putting his very life on the line for his convictions. So why does the Torah skip these first formative seven decades of his life?
In our Torah reading this week Avraham Avinu begins his mission to mankind a journey that continues to this day. The previous two parshiyos Bereishis and Noach gave us a sweeping overview of the first two centuries of human history: Gan Eden the Tree of Knowledge the first murder the generation of the Flood and the story of theTowerofBavel. Now one unique personality steps onstage and from here on he is the central figure in the narrative. From parshas Lech Lecha and on the history of this man and his offspring becomes the theme of the entire Torah. Indeed all of Tanach is stamped with the impression of his personal story a story we’re still adding chapters to today.
Avraham was a man of courage a man who did not submit to social conventions and who defied Nimrod the arch-dictator who ruled his subjects with a reign of terror. Under Nimrod worship of the regime’s idols — the sun moon stars and other natural forces — was required by law.
But Avraham asked questions.
“At a very early age he began to wonder about the world. He would think about it day and night and ask himself ‘How could it be that this great wheel (the universe) is constantly turning and no one is turning it? And who brought it into existence for it could not have brought itself into existence?’ ” (Rambam Hilchos Avodah Zarah 1:3 based on Chazal).
