Chayei Sarah “life of Sarah”
Descargar Chayei Sarah porción de la torá
It is customary for religiously practicing Jews to read from an annual cycle of weekly Old Testament readings called Torah Portions. This is said to be the same reading schedule that was taught every Sabbath in the Synagogues during the times of Jesus in the first century.
As Christians exploring the Torah portion cycle we must maintain a balance of including the Old Testament, the prophets, and the gospels in our weekly bible study.
Torah Portion Name and Readings-
Chayei Sarah are the Hebrew word for “life of Sarah”, this is the name for the weekly Torah Portion reading for the Genesis starting in chapter 23 verse 1 and going through chapter 25 and verse 18.
Prophets and New Testament-
It is also important to point out that along with the Torah portion readings and teachings, there are what are called Haftarah portions which are readings from the Bible in the books of the prophets. This week’s haftarah readings come from the book of 1 Kings in chapter 1 verse 1 through verse 31.
The gospel readings incorporated with the weekly Torah portion readings come from the book of John in chapter 4 with verses 3 through 14.
Torah Portion Overview-
In this Torah portion we see Sarah pass away, Abraham and his sons mourn for her, and she is buried. Abraham sends his servant to find Isaac a bride from his own country and family. The servant finds Rebekah and brings her to Isaac. We learn about the sons and descendants of Abraham and Ishmael and Abraham dies and is buried.
This Torah portion I want to focus on Isaac, specifically when Rebekah was coming to meet him.
Genesis 24:62–67 (NRSVue)
“Now Isaac had come from Beer-lahai-roi and was settled in the Negeb. Isaac went out in the evening to walk in the field, and, looking up, he saw camels coming. And Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she slipped quickly from the camel and said to the servant, “Who is the man over there, walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent. He took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.”
The commentators ask, why was Isaac walking in the field? They ask because there is an issue with the Hebrew word being translated here. As K. A. Mathews explains in Genesis 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B of The New American Commentary,
“Meditate” is the traditional translation of the obscure term lāśûaḥ (e.g., LXX, Vg.; also NIV, AV, NASB), believed derived from the well-attested root śîaḥ (“to meditate, talk, complain”). The targums (Onq., Neof., Ps-J.) and rabbinic tradition (e.g., Gen. Rab. 60:14) interpreted the term similarly, translating it “prayer.” An alternative meaning, “complain, lament,” has support from Isaac’s consolation (“was comforted”) over his mother’s death (v. 67; cf. 23:1–2). In this case Isaac was distressed, lamenting the loss of his mother (although it had been three years).”
I think it likely that Isaac went out into the field to “meditate” or pray because of his mother’s death. It wasn’t until after his marriage that it says he was comforted (Genesis 24:67). I believe the fact that he was comforted by his wife shows the state of his heart on these walks, he was grieving.
Often times in the Christian world there is a pressure to put a good spin on everything, to be positive or “have faith” even in the midst of bad circumstances. But I think here we miss the true meaning of faith. Faith doesn’t mean denying the truth of circumstances. If you’re required to deny reality of a circumstance you’re in in order to have faith, you don’t have faith, you have delusion. True faith is acknowledging the circumstances you’re in, and turning to God with trust. True faith says this situation is hard or I am suffering in this situation, but I choose to trust God. We won’t always understand the situation we’re going through and sometimes it won’t make sense. The truth is that we suffer in this world, Christ never said that we wouldn’t suffer. in fact, he promised that we would.
John 16:33 (NET)
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage - I have conquered the world."
2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)
“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”
But all too often we feel the need to push that suffering down, to deny it. Instead, we should face the suffering, face the reality of our situation and realize that the suffering we’re going through, we are with Christ. You see he doesn’t promise that we won’t suffer in this world, but he promises that he will never leave us or forsake us.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
He promises that he will always be with us. The Holy Spirit is called the great comforter because he comforts us (Acts 9:31) and gives us peace (Romans 14:17).
Indeed, when we come to a chance to be fearful, anxious or afraid it is God’s love that can cast it out.
1 John 4:18 (NRSVue)
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.”
But this love does not mean we will not suffer, instead it means He will be with us when we do!
Isaiah 43:2 (NASB20)
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.”
Torah Portion Scriptural Highlights-
Genesis 23:1 Sarah dies and Abraham mourns for her and buries her
Genesis 24:1 Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac
Genesis 24:11 The servant finds Rebekah and brings her to Isaac and he marries her
Genesis 25:1 The sons and descendants of Abraham
Genesis 25:7 Abraham dies and is buried by his sons
Genesis 25:12 The sons and descendants of Ishmael
Haftarah (Prophets) Scriptural Highlights-
1 Kings 1:1 David grows old and is kept warm by a young woman
1 Kings 1:5 David’s son Adonijah makes a play for the kingship and Bathsheba and Nathan tell David
1 Kings 1:28 David chooses Solomon to reign as king
Brit (Gospel) Scriptural Highlights-
John 4:3 Jesus will give us living water that becomes a source of eternal life if we believe in Him
Bibliography
Douglas Mangum, Miles Custis, and Wendy Widder, Genesis 12–50, Lexham Research Commentaries (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2013), Ge 24:1–67.
K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B of The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 346–348.
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