Parashat Chayei Sarah (The Life of Sarah)
Beresheet (Genesis) 23:1 – 25:8
Haftarah: I Kings 1:1-31

Recently on my different social media platforms, I started to post a slogan that says, “Know the truth, share the truth, and stand for the truth”. I believe that now more than ever, it is crucial to base our opinions on truth derived from the fullness of God’s Word, to stand on it, and to share it with others.

God’s plan is not always popular; more often than not, His ways do not align with how we humans want to do things. At times, God’s plan may seem downright unfair. But we have to keep in mind that His thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). It is important to keep this in mind as we study this week’s Parashah. It was through Sarah’s son, Isaac, that God purposed to continue His promise of the blessing: 

Now Abraham was old, advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in every way. Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household who was in charge of all that he owned, “Please place your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live; but you will go to my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is not willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?” Then Abraham said to him, “Beware that you do not take my son back there! The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give this land’—He will send His angel ahead of you, and you will take a wife for my son from there.”
Genesis 24:1-7

The key verse here is verse 7 that says, “The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give this land’—He will send His angel ahead of you, and you will take a wife for my son from there.” We see Abraham’s solid faith demonstrated in this verse. Not only did he choose to trust God and His promises, but he also shared the truth with his servant.

As we continue to read, we find in verses 26-27 that once God affirmed the promise to Abraham’s servant, the servant, in turn, stood on the truth and shared that truth as he trusted God:

Then the man bowed low and worshiped the LORD. And he said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned His kindness and His trustworthiness toward my master; as for me, the LORD has guided me in the way to the house of my master’s brothers.”

In verse 34-50, we read how Abraham’s servant witnessed to Laban about what took place, and we see Laban’s response in verse 50:

Then Laban and Bethuel replied, “The matter has come from the LORD; so we cannot speak to you bad or good.” 

There is a certain amount of humility required to not question God’s plan. We often think we know best, but in reality, only God sees the big picture and it’s up to us to trust Him.

In the Haftarah portion of 1 Kings, we read of Adonijah the son of Haggit, and King David's fourth son, who exalted himself saying he would be king. Yet, we read:

Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
1 Kings 1:8

The LORD’s anointing was not on Adonijah to become king; it was on Solomon. Nathan came to BatSheva (Bathsheba), the mother of Solomon, and told her about Adonijah's secret plot. He exhorted her to approach King David and remind him that he promised her that Solomon would be king. Nathan also told her that after she goes, he would come and confirm her words. Here is David's response to her after she did as Nathan had instructed her to do:

Then King David responded and said, “Summon Bathsheba to me.” And she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king. Then the king vowed and said, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, certainly as I vowed to you by the LORD, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Your son Solomon certainly shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place’; I will indeed do so this day.” Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground, and prostrated herself before the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever.” 
1 Kings 1:28-31

Once again, we see the importance of knowing God’s truth, standing firm on it, and sharing it with others.Sadly, today many who identify as followers of the Messiah, claiming to know the truth, do not stand on the entire truth of God’s Word. Not only do they not stand on it, but they are not willing to share it in the name of worldly “social justice”, love, or out of fear of offending others. Let me be clear, keeping the truth from others is not love.

I exhort you to study the entire truth of God’s Word, stand on it regardless of the cost, and share it with others. It may not be comfortable, but it is our call.

Shabbat Shalom,
Moran