The Lord said to Abram, "Go forth from your land" (Gen. 12:1) . . . R. Isaac said: To what may this be compared? To a man who was traveling from place to place when he saw a palace in flames (doleket). He wondered, "Is it possible that this palace has no one who looks after it?" The owner of the building looked out at him and said, "I am the owner of the palace."

      The biblical text does not tell us why Abraham is chosen by God to be the first Jew. One answer is found in the midrash quoted above (Genesis Rabbah 39:1). Abraham is searching for something that will provide purpose to his life. He seems to be wandering aimlessly when he comes across a palace that is on fire. Presumably he is struck by the magnificence of the palace. He wonders why such a special building doesn’t seem to have an owner who should be frantically trying to put out the flames.  The owner (God) looks out at Abraham and says “I am the owner.”

        Abraham seems to be looking for an explanation for why the world, despite all its beauty and wonder, seems to be on fire. Why isn’t its Creator extinguishing the flames? Is the midrash suggesting that God is trapped in a burning world and needs us to rescue God (and the world)? Or is it simply a statement of the nature of this world-- that it is both magnificent and flawed? Yet, don’t make the mistake of assuming that there is no Creator just because the world has both good and evil. 

        I want to suggest that this midrash echoes a later story in the Torah. Moses is shepherding sheep when he sees a bush that is burning and yet is not consumed (bo’er ba-esh…eineinu ukal). Like Abraham, Moses stops his journey long enough to notice what is remarkable both about the bush and the palace---they are on fire but are not consumed. Moses and Abraham understand that there is something miraculous about this world—it can be on fire and not be consumed. Good and evil can coexist. They also understand that they are called on to pay attention to what needs fixing in the world. They are not to journey on ignoring the burning bush/palace. For the truth is the palace is doleket—both on fire and also a source of light. Abraham’s journey and Moses’ mission are to bring light into darkness and to diminish the flames of suffering. 

      Most of all, the palace and the bush contain the sparks of holiness that need to be redeemed in this world for it and for all humans to fully realize their potential. We are in exile/galut not because we are being punished but because that is where the sparks are to be found. All we need do is stop long enough to see them. That is the nature of our journey.