Just as everything was perfect before the world was created, so each Jew's soul was perfect before it was enveiled in a bodily form. Although each soul is only part of Divinity, even a particle of the Endless is endless as well. Our job on earth is to tap the few rays of truth that shine down on us from our primary existence as a soul and to develop that potential to ultimate fruition in this physical world of limited awareness. By illuminating our constricted temporal existence, we make a contribution towards the Creator's purpose in creation, allowing the recognition of His Presence to permeate even where He seems to be removed. When we live with this awareness we are no longer eager to accomplish anything other than the fulfillment of our personal potential, for to what avail is it to strive for that which we'll never really have?
When our original forefather heard his soul calling, he listened; when he was called to extricate himself from his limited existence he hastened, attributing his success only to the endless compassion of the Merciful Creator. When he was promised first Yishmael, then to father a holy nation, and finally a worthy son, he could not believe he could merit such endless benevolence. Although Avraham Avinu never doubted Hashem's ultimate limitless sovereignty, he did not see himself as being worthy of a majestic decree that would defy all normal rules of heavenly conduct. His humility was rewarded and both he and his saintly wife were awarded the ultimate control over the dispensation of Heavenly grace when the letter Heh was added to both of their names, the letter that symbolizes Malchus.
Based on Rabbi Vali's book on Bereishis. Questions and subscriptions can be mailed to: the Yeshiva