Multi-faceted Tests of Faith
Let's take another look at something that was in an SDT last week, and bring it to the fore as the Lead Tidbit this week. (The tests of Avraham's faith span Lech L'cha and Vayeira, and according to some opinions, include the beginning of Chayei Sara as well.) We start with the Ramban's contention that Avraham sinned greatly (although inadvertently) by leaving the Land because of the famine, and by asking Sarah to say that she was his sister. These same two items are on many of the lists of the ten tests of faith that Avraham withstood (as mentioned in Pirkei Avot and as expounded several commentaries on Perek. 

The basic approach to explain the apparent contradiction is to differentiate between two aspects of the dilemmas that Avraham faced and as an extension, the dilemmas that each of us face. Let's look at the first famine as recorded in Lech L'cha (although there are similarities to the second one recorded in this week's sedra, Vayeira. Shortly after G-d had sent Avraham from his homeland, his birthplace, his father's house to an unknown land, a famine struck (commentaries say that it was the very first famine ever in the world, and it struck only the land of Canaan, so that Avraham would be tested thereby.) What was he to do? Should he flee to a nearby country where there was food to eat, until the famine would end? Or should he stay where G-d sent him, assuming and counting on G-d's help? After all, would G-d send him to a land only to die in a famine? Dilemma. Avraham made a decision in favor of his own human effort to cope with the situation. He did not rely on a miracle to save him. Perhaps he thought he was unworthy of such a miracle? This would fit with his great humility. Tough choice. Ramban says that he chose wrong. Others might applaud Avraham's choice. Others seem to say that it was acceptible to act as he did, but it would have been better had he stayed put. It seems that we can debate this issue. 

But let's look at another facet of the episode. Avraham could have said, "What kind of G-d can send me to a new, stange land and make all kind of promises to me, and then bring upon the land a devastating famine? What kind of G-d can taunt me with promises of a son and countless descendants, and then command me to bring that son as a sacrifice upon the Altar?

That's the test of faith. Not the first part, how does one handle the situation. The test of faith is how one comes away from the tough situation, regardless of what choices were made and what paths were taken. Should Avraham have argued for Yitzchak's life, as he had for S'dom? Maybe. Maybe not.

And irrelevant as far as the test of faith. From G-d's command to Avraham to offer Yitzchak as an OLAH, through the journey to Har HaMoriya, the actual building of the Mizbei'ach and the binding of Yitzchak upon it, his being stopped by the angel from doing anything to Yitzchak all that, and more (the aftermath: Sara's death, for example) that is the test of faith. What was the status of Avraham's faith in G-d after all of the above? "And he stood up to them all, to show us the great love Avraham had for G-d."
Does this speak to us? It most certainly does! Maybe we can sum this up with an extension to the famous Serenity Prayer: G-d, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, the wisdom to know the difference, AND that my faith in You continues to strengthen and grow regardless of what trials and tribulations (or good things) come my way.