In this portion Hashem promises Avraham that even though he is old he will be blessed with descendants. The Torah goes out of its way in providing comparisons for the magnitude of Avraham’s future progeny. Let us take a look at some of them:
“I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth; if a man will be able to count [all] the grains of dust in the world, then your offspring will also be countable.” (Bereshit XIII, 15-16)
“He then took (Avraham) outside and said, Look at the sky and count the stars. See if you can count them…that is how [numerous] your descendants will be.” (Bereshit XV, 5)
“...I will surely bless you and I will greatly increase your offspring like the stars of the heavens and the sand of the seashore…” (Bershit XXII,17) G-d also promises to Yishmael numerous progeny, but does not compare it to anything:
“An angel of G-d said to her (Hagar) I will greatly increase your offspring, and they will not be counted for abundance. An angel of G-d said to her (Hagar) You are pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You must name him Yishmael, for G-d has heard your prayer.” (Bereshit XVI, 10)
“I will bless him (Yishmael), and make him fruitful, increasing his numbers very greatly. He will father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation.” (Bereshit XVII, 20)
What compels the Torah to compare the descendants of Avraham to stars, dust particles and sand grains? Let us take a look at a Midrash: “...like the dust of the Earth: When the people of Israel do the will of G-d they are compared to the stars which are untouchable. When they act like any other people they are like the sand by the seashore. When they don't act according to the will of G-d they are like the dust of the earth that everybodysteps on.” (Midrash Aggadah Vayetze)
According to the Midrash the comparison between the progeny of Avraham and the dust of the earth is not very heartening. However, it is made in the midst of a blessing that G-d is bestowing on Avraham. Is it possible that the Midrash is ignoring the context of this comparison?
Rav Yehuda Leib Ginsburg in analyzing the nature of dust, points out that although we step on it, life develops and grows from it. Dust contains all the nutrients necessary for the growth of plants, which make possible the existence of animal and human life on dry land. To compare Avraham’s descendants to the dust of the earth when they don't act according to His will implies that although at face value they are not important their potential is very great.
This insight helps shed light on an interesting Torah law. The Talmud states that if one were to sell a movable asset for more than 20% above its regular price the transaction is fraudulent and invalid. However, the Talmud notes that ein ona’ah b’karkaot -- there is no fraud with selling land. If a person sold real estate for a much higher price than its market value they would not transgress the prohibition of fraud; the sale would be permissible. Perhaps we could suggest that the different ruling for land and movable assets is based on the fact that the value of a piece of land can't be overestimated, given that the potential productivity and profit of the land is incalculable.
When G-d told Avraham that his descendants would be like the dust of the Earth, He was referring to the wicked amongst them, as the Midrash indicates. But they too are blessed. They have tremendous potential that they can actualize if and when they decide to do so.
May G-d give us the strength and wisdom to bring forth the potential that exists within each and every one of us.
