Lech Lecha: The Challenge Became the Blessing

At the beginning of Parshas Lech Lecha, Hashem commands Avraham to leave his land and travel.

Usually, travel is not the way to build wealth. You spend money on the journey, and you can't occupy yourself in business and earn a profit. Nevertheless, Hashem promises Avraham that he will become very wealthy as a result of his travels.

Then, right as he arrives in the land of Israel, there is a famine. He is sent down to Egypt, a place that is morally corrupt and poses a real danger to him. He has a very hard time there, and it looks like the promise is being challenged. Things seem to be going in the opposite direction.

And yet he comes out of Egypt with silver, with gold, with great wealth. The challenge itself became the source of blessing.

A lesson for all of us

Our sages teach that what happens to the forefathers is a sign for the children. Everything Avraham went through gives us the power to handle our own difficulties.

Just as he was promised something, went through challenges, and the challenge (Egypt) turned out to be the very source of his wealth, so too we can look at our challenges as opportunities. There really is a silver lining. With a good, positive approach, we can actually benefit and grow from the challenges we face.

I wish all of us the ability to see through the challenges, to keep our strength through them, and to experience the transformation of challenges into blessing: revealed good, real and tangible blessings.

Want to go deeper? Read the full source sheet: When Challenges Lead to Blessings.

Recorded as a voice note for Parshas Lech Lecha, 2026.