Parashat Chayei Sarah 2025

Torah: Gen 23:1 – 25:18

Haftarah: 1 Kings 1:1-31

Brit Chadashah: Matt 1:1-17, 1 Cor 15:50-57

Main Points:

Sarah dies and is buried in the Cave of Machpelah.

Abraham sends his chief servant Eliezer to find a wife for Isaac.

Abraham dies at 175 years old and was buried beside his wife Sarah.

In last week’s parashah, Abraham struggled with the possibility of losing his promise when he sacrificed Isaac, but through God’s miraculous intervention, a ram was provided. Our parashah continues this week with a discussion on the life of Sarah. No sooner than the incident on Mt Moriah was over in Gen 22, the death of Abraham’s wife, Sarah happens in the next chapter. It is thought that the news of Isaac’s offering reached Sarah and that it may have sent her into an emotional and ultimately physical decline. For every spiritual high, a low place normally follows. Within a short space of time, Abraham went from climbing a mountain and interacting with angels, to needing a grave. The news of the binding of Isaac likely did not play favorably with Sarah and affected her. Now, Abraham steps out of the biblical narrative. Even though he was a prominent figure up until this time, the last 38 years of his life see his involvement in the biblical saga fade out. Isaac’s rise is extremely short-lived with little information. The pace and direction of the scripture quickly passes over their lives at this point and skips forward to the arrival of Jacob.

Faith does take a toll. It is risky and expensive. When one is on the front line of spiritual combat and working for the Kingdom, the constant demands, trials, and problems can take a heavy toll on families and individuals. Those who should love you can turn on you. Long-held friendships can be severed or fade out. People talk about you constantly and because you are a person of faith, pursuing the will of God, and the attacks seem even more cruel because they are intentional and directed. Living in this dynamic is not something that can be taught in a seminary class. It can leave one feeling empty and alone.

The importance of sacred community, our kehillah, is vital (Heb 10:25). No one can fight everything alone. We need each other. Our kehillah can help hold us up when we are weak, encourage us when we are discouraged, and even step in when we feel incapacitated. In Eccl 4:9-10 the writer states, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”

Remember those times when God sent a person with the scripture you needed. Maybe it was a prophetic word or just encouragement. Sometimes we all need people who can pull alongside of our weaknesses, floundering, and failings and speak life and edification. Avoid the "Lone Ranger Syndrome" that leads to feelings of isolation and aloneness. God always has a plan, and we are part of it.

Sometimes God may even send trouble to promote interdependency so that grace can abound. He gives a partial revelation to one and insight to another, and wisdom to yet another then gathers his gifting’s, spiritual fruit, and grace, and puts them together for the benefit of the congregation. In our small groups, we have seen this over and over again and it is not long before God is speaking to everyone, and his healing and mercy is moving. Even in trials, God is still moving us toward his purpose.

If you are facing loss, burnout, or are a spiritual casualty of congregational politics don’t go it alone. Find a community or a circle of friends. Don’t wait until you are falling apart, worn out, or just done. Take a breather and regroup. Break some fresh bread and pray. Take some time off, if possible, to clear your mind. Sleep more. Remember your brain is like a muscle. It gets tired and needs a break too. Take more time fellowshipping around the table with friends and family. Eat, laugh, and find your joy. Emotionally, physically, and spiritually reengage with what Shabbat is supposed to mean. Because of our love relationship and obedience to God’s word, he does give us rest, and when his shalom is spoken, we can bask in all he pours over us.

Rav Calev

Apostolic Messianic International, Gulf Coast

Next Feasts:

Chanukah begins sundown on Dec 14th and ends at sundown Dec 22nd.

Purim begins sundown on March 2nd and ends at sundown March 3rd.

Hebrew words to know:

Common Sense- Sechel (Yiddish)

Compassion- Rachamim

Content with less or better- Histapkut bamu’at

Contentment- Histapkut

Courage- Ometz lev