We must also understand that although Avraham Avinu ended up being beloved by the world and becoming the leader and father of the Nations, his path to get there was fraught with difficulty and life-threatening hatred. At the beginning of his quest to spread the name of Hashem he was met with virulent opposition. He was sentenced to death and thrown into a fiery furnace to be burned alive. He was persecuted and oppressed. Only after undergoing tremendous suffering and humiliation did he break through and become the beloved Avraham Avinu, the “Av Hamon Goyim, Nesi Elokim Besochein, the prince of Hashem in our midst”.
It is therefore clear that this is the price we, as the chosen nation that says the words “Ata bichartanu” every Yom Tov, must pay to be Hashem’s agents in this world.
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The takeaway message for us is that although our immutable principles can sometimes seem to appear foreign and backward to a world steeped in hedonism and unbridled indulgence, the lesson we learn from Avraham Avinu is that we must remain steadfast in our convictions. We must be able to withstand scorn and ridicule when we stand strong and reject all kinds of deviations the world has decided to accept and not be affected by the reactions and the arrows thrown our way. Only when we are following Avraham’s example will we be able to be conduits to bring true Godliness into the world.
If we really want to connect with the nations of the world in a meaningful way and impart timeless lessons, beliefs, and ethics to them, the way to do so is to hold steadfast to our principles and not to bend, despite the difficulty such a stance entails. In this way, we can become beacons of light that will ultimately influence them to take the proper path; we can fulfill our role as descendants of Avraham Avinu by bringing kavod Shamayim into the world.
Serving as a light unto the nations comes with a price. Let us step us and gladly pay our dues.
