10 Tests Minus a Furnace

Hey Everyone! I hope you had a good week and will have an even better Shabbat & weekend!

There is so much to talk about this week in regards to the Torah Portion. Avraham and Sarah finally have a child, Issac. Sodom is destroyed because of its immorality, and many other exciting events happen. But let's focus on one specific interesting idea found this week. Our Sages teach us that G-d Tested Avraham with 10 tests, to verify Avraham's true devotion to Him:
"Our forefather Abraham was tested with ten trials and withstood all of them. This demonstrates how beloved our forefather Abraham of blessed memory was." - (Ethics of Our Fathers, Ch. 5, Mishna 4)

Some tests include leaving his birthplace for the land of Israel, circumcising himself, and ultimately being willing to sacrifice his beloved son Issac to G-d.
But practically nowhere is there mentioned an event that most of us would surely expect to be included as 1 of the 10!
When Avraham 1st comes to the conclusion that there must be a G-d that exists, he tries to spread this monotheistic belief. Unfortunately for him, his father doesn't
quite enjoy the fact that Avraham smashed all of the idols in his idol shop, and sends his own son (c'mon dad!) to King Nimrod for judgement (not to be mistaken with the Green Day CD).

Nimrod isn't too happy with this rebel Avraham, and says: "If you don't relinquish your belief in G-d, I'm throwing you into this furnace!"
Avraham stayed true to his beliefs and was thrown in. He wasn't harmed inside the flames, and ended up running away into hiding.

Now this is pretty crazy stuff! How come it isn't mentioned as 1 of his 10 tests!?

The Answer given in the mystical writings is a powerful one.

What is 1 difference we can find between Avraham's experience in Nimrod's furnace, and, let's say, the last of the 10 tests, being asked to sacrifice his son?
By the furnace, Avraham, based on his own inner feeling and will, was willing to give his life up for G-d. By the near sacrific of Isaac, G-d Asked Avraham to do it.
So what's the big difference?
When you do an amazing thing for someone, it's obviously a special thing. But it's on your terms. When someone asks for something they want, it's on their terms.
G-d Enjoys when we give over of ourselves and our emotions to Him. But greater is doing what He Asks for, for then the deed isn't mortal, it's G-dly.
The Mystics liken this to a wife and husband. Let's say they are together, and she asks her husband for a glass of water. "But I want to be with you," answers the husband.
"Yes," she responds. "But if you really loved me, you would do what I asked for."
True love and devotion is doing what another asks for, and not just what we feel like doing, even if with good intentions.
This is true in human relationships, and it is true with the Torah & Mitzvot in our relationship with G-d.

Shabbat Shalom!

-Daniel