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This week’s parsha, Lech Lecha, begins with Hashem telling Avraham to "Go for yourself from your land, from your relatives, and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you" (Bereishit 12:1). Avraham's first test is to give up his entire past and to follow Hashem's lead to a new land. A quetion that arises from this test is, if Hashem already knows what will happen in the future what is the point of testing Avraham? Hashem already knows how he will respond to the given situation!

In order to answer this question, we are going to bring a Mashal. There was a man who trained to become a public speaker. He studied all the material he could find on the subject and learned many great techniques. He watched professional and charismatic speakers in the business and spent many hours practicing in front of a mirror. This man may know everything there is to know about public speaking, but he would still not be considered a public speaker. He may have learned all of the information, but until he actually gives a lecture in front of an audience, it is all theoretical. The only way he can really advance is for him to speak in public! Similarly, a man with anger issues can understand the dangers of being angry and can promise to never be angry, but until he is put in a challenging situation that will test his anger, we cannot say that the man has changed. A test is what brings a person to the next level!

To bring this Mashal back to the parsha, Hashem knew Avraham would pass the test, but in order for Avraham to grow and become a greater person, he needs to put his potential into action. 

"Lech Lecha" literally means "go for yourself." When a difficult or challenging situation comes your way, whether it’s drama between friends, an annoying class, or a difficult situation with your kids in Beit Hayeled, instead of thinking, "Oh no, I don’t want to deal with this right now," you can view it as an opportunity for growth, an opportunity to make yourself into a greater person!  Every challenge you overcome has the potential to make you into a stronger person. 

This is based on a Dvar Torah that we really enjoyed from Rabbi Eli Scheller on Aish.com.  Shabbat Shalom!