Parashat Chayei Sarah: Holding On To Promise

Parashat Chayei Sarah, ‘the life of Sarah’, is in fact about Abraham’s life after the passing of his beloved wife at Kiriath Arba (Hebron), where we encounter a hint of the Jewish mourning practices that are still common in Israel today, as,

“Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.” (Genesis 23:2-3)

Oaks of Mamre

Sarah is buried near the Oaks of Mamre which served as a special meeting place for Abraham and God. We might picture an encounter with God to be anything but physical; And yet, Abraham’s divine encounter happened on an ordinary hot desert day as Abraham runs out to serve what appear to be 3 thirsty travelers. To Abraham’s surprise, this time, God Himself visits, most likely in human form, reminding us of Hebrews 13:2,

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

Abraham’s example is a great inspiration for the essential Jewish mitzvah to open our home for Shabbat and holidays, including to those we don’t truly know yet. Such a seemingly practical act of service, might be more spiritual than the eye can see. Many believers from all around the world open their homes for Israelis, which is such a heart-warming gesture especially today.

Fulfilment of God’s Promises

We read that,

“Abraham was now very old, and the Lord had blessed him in every way.” (Genesis 24:1)

This is a beautiful tribute, as well as a reminder, of the fulfilment of the promises and blessings God made to Abraham two weeks ago in Parashat Lech Lecha. It’s so easy to look ahead without looking back at all the goodness He pours into our lives. This verse serves as a reminder to count our blessings along the way. (Notice how this verse follows quite soon after the loss of Abraham’s beloved wife, encouraging us also to, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Messiah Yeshua for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18))

Holding On To His Hope

Abraham’s journey had already encouraged us to look at His faithful promises (rather than zoom in on our circumstances), and this week we come across a similar theme as Abraham’s servant sets out to find a wife for Isaac. The quest was to find a wife who wasn’t from Canaan (Genesis 24:3), but rather from Abraham’s ‘country’ and ‘relatives’ (Genesis 24:4). When the servant asks what he should do in case the woman wouldn’t be willing to return to the Promised Land, Abraham answers in a significant way.
Abraham doesn’t turn to his own logic nor attempts to solve this rather logical question that plenty of us might’ve asked in that situation. Instead, he holds on to God’s promises from Parashat Lech Lecha,

“To your offspring I will give this land,”

directly connecting the promise of the Land of Israel with the assurance that God will provide for the journey:

“he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there.” (Genesis 24:7)

How often do we automatically turn to our own logic when questions arise? In doing so, we tend to focus on the ‘what ifs’. Abraham’s reaction reminds us of an alternative way, much like Hebrews 10:23 encourages us,

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”

Encouraging us that we can count on His hope and blessing, because of His faithful nature.

Abraham truly knows that God is a faithful promise-keeper. From this inner conviction, Abraham naturally turns to God when there’s a need to solve something.

Again, the servant asks what he should do in case the woman would be unwilling to journey back with them to the Promised Land? Notice how Abraham now answers with an account of his personal, faithful walk with His Heavenly Father,

“The Lord, before whom I have walked faithfully,”

which has resulted in the inner confidence that God would be involved and,

“send his angel with you and make your journey a success,” (Genesis 24:40)

Self-reflecting

In a way, Abraham is so sure of God’s presence on his life’s journey, that it spills over, and encourages us to take a moment to self-reflect and imagine our daily walk and then ask ourselves:
- What does faithful mean? (Think of Abraham’s walk with God)
- Would I describe my walk with God as ‘faithful’?
- Does my walk result in confidence, where I know that He will provide on my journey?
- Which (1) small change could improve my walk?

Notice how the servant’s down-to-earth questions are answered twice with a promise of God’s provision by means of an angel:
- “his angel” will go, “before you” (Genesis 24:7).
- “his angel” will go, “with you” (Genesis 24:40)
The word “his” points both times to the King, who is aware and truly cares about our well-being, making God’s provision personal and intentional for this servant whose selfless intentions were to serve Abraham’s family. While, “his angel” (as opposed to “an angel”), seems to be echoed in Psalm 91:11,

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways,”

pointing out the close relation between God and the angel He sends out to care for us, which emphasizes His care and involvement for us.

Additionally, the shift from “before you” to “with you”, is a possible hint at a developing trust by the servant, who would first follow God’s angel and then journey side-by-side, showing a growth in the servant’s faithful walk.

It’s so humanly natural to wonder how things will go and try to plan the next steps, perhaps from a fear of the unknown. It’s inspiring to see more of this growing trust, after the servant meets Rebekah, through an expression of praise,

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”  (Genesis 24:27)

While the servant also expresses his gratitude later on in the journey, as he says,

“I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord.” (verse 48)

1 Peter 2:9 continues the developing line of trust we witness in the servant’s reactions to life’s questions and surprises, and challenges us to live more in line with a holy lifestyle & choices that will result in an improved eyesight to see His goodness,

“that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (verse 12)

Beyond ‘lirot tov’ (‘seeing the good’), such a lifestyle will also bless those around us, so,

“they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

When we turn to Him on our journey, we grow in trust, to see His promises instead of our worries. It helps us grow in gratitude towards God and also for others to see our good fruit and glorify Him. “On the day he visits us”, might refer to a visit like Abraham received when he opened his tent, but it could also hint at the time when Yeshua the Messiah returns to reign.