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God instructs our father Abraham to leave his country, birthplace, and father's house (Genesis 12:1).

The Medrash Rabba (30-200 CE; 39:1) seems to be perplexed by God's order of instruction to Abraham. Normally, one physically leaves his father's house first, then his birthplace, and lastly his country. Yet, God instructs Abraham to leave these places in the reverse order.

Abraham must not only distance himself from these places physically, he must abandon them mentally as well. God is commanding Abraham to leave in the order of behavioral difficulty. Abraham had to rid himself of all influences of his country, his village (birthplace), and his father's home; it is most difficult to leave the ways of your father's house.

Why would Abraham, the only monotheist of his time, an individual who recognized God at an early stage in life, need to leave the ways of his past in order to grow spiritually?

The Medrash Rabba uses a parable to understand Abraham's struggle: A wandering man was passing through a town. Witnessing a palace burning to the ground, with no one trying to extinguish the flames, he asks, "Does this palace have no owner? Where is he to save it?" Out comes the owner and exclaims, "It is my palace and it is my wish for it to be burned."

The people in God's world were destroying themselves morally and spiritually. Abraham was struggling with the fact that the owner of this world was allowing it to self-destruct. The Mahrzu (Ze'ev Volf Einhorn of Vilna -- 19th century), commenting on the Medrash Rabba, says that even with all of Abraham's dedication toward God, he was sure that God had abandoned this world and was not interested, God forbid, in man's true growth.

An ever-small sense of doubt entered Abraham's mind and he was ready to revert back to the ways of society. But as soon as Abraham was asking his question, God appeared and told Abraham his purpose and His desire for Abraham's service. God told Abraham that to attain the highest spiritual levels he must leave all of his past -- country, birthplace, and father's house.

Understanding that God has never and will never abandon His world is a tremendous internal struggle. Even Abraham, the most far-reaching revolutionist of monotheism, doubted ever so slightly God's regard to the world when witnessing corruption.

However, God cares. God wants us to grow. As we're bombarded with demoralization and temptations in every direction, we must stay strong with the absolute truth of Torah values and knowledge that God will not abandon us, and thus not succumb to the pressures of the world.

Rabbi Chaim Lobel is spiritual leader of Young Israel of Aberdeen.
www.yiaberdeen.com