This week's parshah is Chayei Sarah (Sarah's life)...however we only hear of her death, burial etc. Immediately following is the famous "Isaac and Rebecca" (as most call it) narrative....in which both parties receive little air time. In fact the star of the story seems to be Abraham's servant, I mean if we are going to judge the "star" by the character with the most dialog.
Anyway the first thing I noticed was that Sarah died...obvious yes but hang in there....and just give some thought to the life of Sarah. All this time of waiting for some evidence of the promise of HaShem, hoping in the covenant of G-d to give them offspring....I don't think it is a stretch to say that this promise was just as important to Sarah as it was to Abraham, you can sense it in the urgency in which she hopes to gain seed through Hagar...whoops! A for motives...but pretty much a fail for "good plan". However She had complete faith that HaShem would deliver on what He said He would do even though she may have wavered(as well as Abraham) on the method. But by and by Isaac is born and the first morsel of the covenant is actually tasted!
Now Isaac grows up but Sarah goes to the grave before even seeing Isaac marry...for her there is really no "tangible insurance" that Isaac's name will continue. For some people that may have cause them to have a few doubts...my opinion here but I don't believe this was the case with Sarah. She had taken hold of HaShem's covenant and, I believe, she went to her grave in full faith that HaShem would bring about what he promised in the life of her son becoming a great nation and in ultimately One would come to crush the head of the serpent...the Redeemer Himself.
We would do well to follow in the footsteps of our mother Sarah, having assurance in those things hoped for, and the conviction of things not yet seen.
Yeshua said to him, "have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. John 20:29
By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Hebrews 11:11
Abraham also had this strong covenant focus. We see in the beginning of chapter 24 that "God had blessed Abraham in all things". It could have been quite easy for him to begin to "rest upon his laurels" so to speak, but just the opposite! All the wealth and earthly possessions did not in the least detract from the focus he had on the promises of HaShem and so he instructs his servant regarding a wife for Isaac. He is covenant minded not earthly minded.
Abraham knows by faith that HaShem had prepared a wife for Isaac, one that would be a help mate suitable, equally yoked and ready to carry on the covenant to the next generation and she was not to be found in Canaan but in the land of his kindred. Like himself she too would be called out from the land of her forefathers to go to a land that she knew not...she would be one who would walk by faith.
Even Eleazar, Abraham's loyal servant, has his eyes fixed in faith before him on these covenant promises as he obediently sets out to seek a wife for his master's son. Confident that the L-rd has gone with him and would bring him to the one He had selected.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1,2
My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.
Proverbs 4:20-27
Christ is the end(goal) of the Torah so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Romans 10:4
* I have no idea what is causing the white highlighting in the post...I have tried unsuccessfully to reformat the post so it would appear but to no avail *
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