Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/121

 The

Call of

Abraham

103

companions of youth, all the ties of affection and loyahy, which are among the most precious things in hfe. It meant, also, journeying out at (^lod's command, for no apparent reason other than that Ciod had commanded, into an unknown and strange and, not improhably, hostile world, with no in-

what obstacles and where it would have to be overcome, and when, in God, faith It was a sore test of Abraham's w^ould end. God which and of his fitness for the mission of blessing for timation of

how

long the journey would

last,

if

called him.

had

To

Israel,

And Abraham stood the God's command came,

too,

ever,

test.

almost tw^o thou-

sand years ago, to leave country and birthplace in Palestine, and wander out over the whole earth, not knowing wdiither ordained this, in it was going, knowing only that God had order that Israel might better be a blessing, and that through dwell, might learn it all the peoples, among whom it came to had to endure has too, Israel, of God. knowledge the better

much upon

this

journey.

It

has suffered cruel persecution

and misery, more almost than any other people that has ever But like Abraham, it has never allowed its sufferexisted. Israel, too, was strong in its ings to turn it from its path. that God was watching always knew perfect faith in God; it which befell everything that over it and leading it on, and for it. So purpose and wnll it was in accordance with God's has been faithful throughout the centuries, and still And we Jews should be today it is doing God's work. proud and happy that God has called us as His servants, to Even though it is never bring blessing unto all mankind. Israel

easy to be a blessing, even though it must cost us dear, as did Abraham and Moses and Jonah, and everyone else it whom God has ever called and who has barkened to the call,

we should be proud and happy that we are Jews. knights of the middle ages had a significant watch-

still

The

word, noblesse oblige, thev must conform

to

^'nobility

a

loftier

obligates".

standard

It

of

meant that and

conduct