The True Source of Joy and Nachat

Avraham Avinu followed the directive of HaShem and traveled to the land of Caanan, the future promised land of his descendants. In fact, soon after he arrived and began to traverse through the countryside, HaShem came to him and announced, “…To your children I will give this land”. Avraham responded by building a mizbayach. The mizbayach was built as an act of gratitude to HaShem. Rashi expounds on the point and writes that upon hearing the news that he would become a father and his children would inherit the land of Caanan, Avraham built the mizbayach. His actions teach us of his impeccable character and his deep faith in HaShem. We should be impressed by him and seek to emulate our father Avraham.

 The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh provides a different perspective on Avraham’s reaction and response. By building the mizbayach Avraham was expressing not just appreciation for the impending gifts of offspring and an eternal homeland, but it revealed his great love for HaShem. The Ohr HaChaim explained that Avraham’s intense emotion did not come as a result of the great news, but from the realization that HaShem chose him to receive a revelation of the Shechina-HaShem’s presence in this world. It underscores the notion that there is no comparison between the joy of reveling in HaShem’s presence and benefitting from his benevolence. On the point, David HaMelech wrote in Sefer Tehilim, “…Satisfied completely by joy is with your face…”

 There is an important perspective in the words of the Ohr HaChaim, especially for our generation that places such a great emphasis on receiving nachat and joy from children, grandchildren and students. Everyone seems to always be on the lookout for a nachat moment. We seem to feel that the great effort expended on the children and the great expense incurred is justifiable when we experience nachat and joy from our investment. Many of us go beyond the immediate good feelings and express sincere appreciation to HaShem for the joy much the same as Avraham. However, the message of the Ohr HaChaim encourages us to connect the joy and nachat received to our relationship with HaShem. In other words, the more profound nachat and joy flows from an understanding that the investment and the hard work for it enriches the individual’s relationship with HaShem. In the same way that Avraham experienced joy from the revelation of His presence so to, albeit to a lesser degree, joy flows from an awareness that the relationship to HaShem has been enhanced through the invested effort made.

 We should realize that our ultimate desire in this world, to build a relationship with HaShem, is greatly enhanced by our attitude and perspective.