What Hashem Desires Most | Rabbi Mordechai Stern

There's a famous Rashi in Parshas Vayeira, every child knows the Rashi, and if we think about it a little, we can learn a lot from this Rashi. Rashi tells us that at the time of מהפיכת סדום, Lot really didn't deserve to be saved. HaKadosh Baruch Hu remembered what Lot had done for Avrohom, and what was that great Chesed that he'd done? What was that great, heroic Mesirus Nefesh? When Avrohom Avinu said to the officer, coming into Mitzrayim, about Sarah, that she is his sister, Lot did this great favor to Avrohom Avinu of not spilling the beans and saying: No, she's not his sister. She's his wife. When you think about it a little bit, this is, like, amazing. For this he gets Schar? Avrohom Avinu treated him like a child, gave him honor, privilege and everything that he needed, took care of him and allowed him to be part of his entourage, and he should go and be מלשין on Avrohom? What in the world is he getting Schar for? From here we learn, Rabosai, that HaKadosh Baruch Hu knows our struggles and sometimes our struggles are so embarrassing and so despicable that we wouldn't be able to stand the בושה if other people knew about them. Imagine if someone said to Lot, I'm sure you're struggling and you want to tell them that she's not his sister, she’s his wife. He would deny it. Why in the world would I want to do that? But HaKadosh Baruch Hu knew that deep down, Lot was struggling. Lot wanted to be important. Lot wanted to inherit the throne. If he tells them: You know, no one realizes this, but I know something that no one else knows. He'd become the important man of the hour. He would be the one who revealed this incredible information. People would be interviewing him, and eventually, he would maybe take over from Avrohom Avinu. It was a struggle that he had, and he quelled it. HaKadosh Baruch Hu took note and gave him an incredible Schar. And what we learn from here is, regardless of how lowly and seemingly embarrassing our Nisyonos are, HaKadosh Baruch Hu is aware of our struggle and if we overcome that Nisayon, no one else would give us credit, but HaKadosh Baruch Hu will give us incredible Schar.