Hashem said to Avram: “Go for yourself (Lech Lecha) from your land, from your birthplace, and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1)The classic Torah commentaries point out that when Hashem speaks to someone, we generally find a verse first introducting His presence. For example, we find in Genesis 12:7, "Hashem appeared to Avram and said..."Strangely, we find no such introductory verse here, in the phrase initially cited above. Why?The illustrious Chassidic Torah commentator, Sfas Emes, explains that a verse introducing His presence is only used when Hashem is speaking to a particular party ... but here, Hashem wasn't speaking to anyone in particular!In other words, this mitzvah of "Lech Lecha" was not just for Avraham -- it was for the entire world. Every person in the world was being invited to distance himself from negative influences and begin his own spiritual journey.In actuality, though, Avraham turned out to be the only one listening to the call of Lech Lecha.Sfas Emes goes on to add that this instruction of Lech Lecha and the accompanying blessings (see Genesis 12:2-3) are constantly being spoken by Hashem, and whoever fulfills the mandate of this phrase will find these blessings awaiting him.
R. Moshe Feinstein, ZTL (Darash Moshe, Nasso) says a similar idea pertaining to the voice of Hashem and its ability to be heard in contemporary times. He writes that a Tzaddik (righteous person) or diligent Torah scholar who fully internalizes the word of Hashem can still hear Hashem’s ‘voice,’ even today. R. Moshe notes that the voice of Hashem is quite loud; it is not expressed in muted tones or whispers. In fact, it is this voice of Hashem that enables us to comprehend His Torah beyond what our intellect alone can provide.Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Bregman is an internationally recognized Torah scholar, #1 best-selling author, matchmaker, entrepreneur, attorney, and media personality. His energetic and empowering messages currently reach over 350,000 people per week via social media, NYC radio, and newspaper columns worldwide. His website is www.RabbiBregman.com and his email is RabbiBregmanOfficial@gmail.com.