The Sages in Berachot 7b noted that Abraham was the first person in the history of mankind to address God as his Master (Gen. 15:8). What is the significance of accepting God as our Master?

Completing the Master's Work

To answer this question, we need to understand the essence of the servant-master relationship. The servant fulfills the wishes of his master by completing the work that was incumbent on the master to do. The servant is an extension of his master — his shaliach or agent. His actions are as if they were performed by his master.

Before Abraham's time, people acknowledged the existence of a Prime Mover, an infinite Being Who created the universe. But it was unthinkable that such a Creator should be concerned with the ethical nature of the world and its inhabitants. They did not recognize that an integral aspect of creation — its very purpose — was that it should ultimately attain perfection. And perfection of the universe requires the elevation of humanity in deed, traits, and thought.

Since we were given free will, it is up to us to complete God's plan by perfecting ourselves and the entire world. We are God's agents in bringing about the world's gradual advance.

By declaring God as his Master, Abraham publicly proclaimed that God desires the moral perfection of His creatures. God wills that we should be His servants. And as we work towards our own spiritual growth, we help complete the work of our Master — the spiritual elevation of the universe.

(adapted from Ein Eyah vol. I, p. 33)

Copyright © 2006 by Chanan Morrison