Sunday, December 4, 2011

Toldot - Dig Your OWN Well

In Parshat Toldot Hashem speaks to Yitzchak for the first time after he and Rivka go to Gerar. G-d blesses Yitzchak, "I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your offspring will I give all these lands, and establish the oath that I swore to Avraham your father. I will increase your offspring like the stars of the heavens; and will give to your offspring all these lands; and all the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by your offspring. Because Abraham obeyed My voice, and observed My safeguards, My commandments, My decrees, and My Torahs." (Bereishit 26:3-6)
On the one hand, G-d clearly is continuing His promise to Yitzchak in the merit of Yitzchak's father Avraham. On the other hand, Yitzchak is so special he merits Hashem talking to him.
Children of a super special and possibly super famous parent can have two reactions - either they don't really comprehend how special their parent is (they're Just Mom or Dad) or they think their parent is so great they feel inferior. They feel they can never measure up.
Hashem addresses both possibilities.
First Hashem explains that He is receiving this blessing in the merit of Avraham who kept Hashem's entire Torah.
Next just in case Yitzchak worried if he'd ever measure up to his father, Hashem confirms the blessings of the Abrahamic family.
Ramban explains that "G-d recognized Isaac's own merit by reiterating His oath to Avraham and giving it the status of a new oath to Isaac, for each of the Patriarchs in his own right was worthy of the promise." (Artscroll Stone Chumash)
A lesson to all children of every kind of parent. While people or even G-d might cut you some slack, show you extra kindnesses in the merit of your parents, it's up to you to honor your parent's path and then make your own mark, blaze your own trails, dig your own wells, deserve your own blessing.
And may Hashem bless you all

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