[Avodah] What was the point of Avrahams tefilla/debate with Hashem about Sdom?

Micha Berger via Avodah avodah at lists.aishdas.org
Mon Nov 2 03:00:31 PST 2015


On Mon, Nov 02, 2015 at 11:09:25AM +0200, Marty Bluke wrote:
: On Mon, Nov 2, 2015 at 12:02 AM, Micha Berger <micha at aishdas.org> wrote:
:> To follow the general mehalekh of RSRH and RYBS on tefillah...

:> HQBH will do what's best, regardless of pleading.
: ...
:> But from this perspective, a chance of success is not necessarily
:> part of Avraham's calculus altogether. It is more about leaning on
:> Hashem as part of my support system than expecting something out
:> of it.

: I understand all that, my problem is with Avraham making logical arguments
: to Hashem. To pay even beg for clemency is one thing, to try to persuade
: Hashem with logical arguments is a whole different ball game.

Except that from this position, baqashos aren't begging or persuasion.
As I wrote, "a chance of success is not necessarily part of Avraham's
calculus altogether. It is more about leaning on Hashem as part of my
support system than expecting something out of it."

The bargaining-looking bit isn't an attempt to pursuade if tefillah
is never about pursuasion or begging.

It is Avraham airing just how unfair he thinks it all is. It is his
maintaining a relationship with the Borei, as an end in itself.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             A sick person never rejects a healing procedure
micha at aishdas.org        as "unbefitting." Why, then, do we care what
http://www.aishdas.org   other people think when dealing with spiritual
Fax: (270) 514-1507      matters?              - Rav Yisrael Salanter



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