10.28.26 – Sarah, Part 7

Sarah's life has been an emotional and spiritual roller coaster of highs and lows. And with the climax of Sarah giving birth to Isaac (Gen. 21:2) and the covenant of circumcision complete (Gen. 21:4), Sarah has only one thing to say: "God has made a joke (tzakhak) of me, and whoever hears will laugh (tzakhak) at me" (Gen. 21:6).

I know what some of you are thinking... that is not the way the verse reads in my Bible. So, in defense of this translation, if we look closely at laughter (tzakhak), we will find sarcasm (Gen. 17:17; 18:12–15; 21:9).

There is also a play on words with Isaac's name (Yitzchak), since his name comes from the same root word, tzakhak. Ironically, everyone who hears of the story of Isaac will mock the claim that he came from her (Heb. 11:11). Fast forward a few thousand years to the supernatural birth of Yeshua, and we will find the same. And, if we spiritualize your birth from above, taking into consideration the past, many mock (tzakhak) you also.

Add to the linguistic evidence Sarah's long history of difficulties in her journey with Abraham, which taints even the most joyous moments of life. She has waited her entire life for this moment. Up until now, she has been abused emotionally, victimized, and humiliated in her relationship with the man she was called with (Isa. 51:1–2). Truly, it is hard to let go of the painful past, even if God brings you good news. She rejects the thought that she will once again enjoy pleasure (ednah) with the hope of conception. She sees herself as a worn-out set of clothes. Ugh.

Even with the ultimate gift of bearing the promised seed, she knows she will be the laughingstock outside of those who are really in the "know." As with so many of us, the painful past of discontentment robs us of the joy in God's triumph... please do not let that happen! Do not let the pain of your past experiences steal away the joy of God's cosmic purpose in your life.

Immediately following the weaning celebration for Isaac (Gen. 21:8), we see the climax of Sarah's pain when she sees Ishmael mocking (tzakhak) Isaac (Gen. 21:9). What does this mean? Was he just toying (tzakhak) with him? Was he belittling (tzakhak) him? Was he displaying his dominance (tzakhak) over him? We do not know exactly. But what we do know is that this teenage child of the flesh, Ishmael, is always going to mock the child of the Spirit and promise, Isaac (Gal. 5:16–17).

Understandably, Sarah has had it! She cannot take it anymore. It is time to drive out this slave woman and her son! This child is not going to share the inheritance with her son, Isaac (Gen. 21:10).

Do you find it strange that Sarah does not name Hagar or Ishmael (Gen. 21:10)? Can you imagine the emotion she has when she gets really direct with Abraham (Gen. 21:10)? "Get rid of her and that child. I cannot take this flesh anymore. I am not going to risk the inheritance over this slave and child of the flesh" (Rom. 6:12–17).

Sarah knew the power of the flesh, unharnessed, would disqualify an individual from the spiritual inheritance. Since the birth of Isaac, it has always been about inheritance! And today, it is no different (Eph. 1:1–18).

More to come...

Shalom!
Alan

www.lightintorah.org

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

12 21 25 – At the End

Then it came to pass, at the end   (miketz)   of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream (Gen. 41:1) I have often said that before you begin a project, you have to finish it. That is exactly how the Lord our God is. Before He begins a project, He already has the blueprint completed, the funding necessary, and everything is prepared before He sets the timetable in motion. We see here at the beginning of the Torah portion,  Miketz  ("at the end"), after thirteen years of stagnation, the Lord brings about an end to Joseph's wait. And we should all have hope in the extremity ( ketz ) of something. We should all have hope that the Lord will finish what His preparation works and proceed with it with a blessing. This is the Hebrew understanding that when God brings an end to something, when He cuts something off, He actually has something in store for us—often a blessing, the paradise of our inheritance. And whatever that time of awaiting has been, it always proceeds with ...
Read more

7.16.25 ~ New Heights and Depths

Good morning! I am back in Michigan and have access to the internet again. Good morning! Though you haven't received studies over the past week, you have been prayed for and I hope your passion for the Lord is daily rising to new heights. The first generation of the wilderness journey were passive; recipients of God's goodness around every bend. Since their passing, the second generation has been called to action! The final temptation before entering into the Land has come and gone. Some passed the test and 24,000 failed. Prior to Phineas heroic gesture, in stopping the plague, the sexual and idolatrous debacle had already been active through the encounter at Baal-Peor, the Moabite women, and Balaam's suggestion initiated, where God commanded Moses to take the heads of the leaders and hang  the heads of all the participants towards the sun so that God's wrath will be turned away (Num. 25:1-5). The average person would think that adverse response to Israel's rebellio...
Read more

4.4.26 ~ Can You Count to Three?

Image
Today, Saturday 4/4/26, many will celebrate the day that Yeshua was visibly seen risen from the grave (John 20:1; Matt. 28:1–10; Luke 24:1–10)! The day after His resurrection, Yeshua would be out ministering to the doubts of His disciples, helping them realize that He is alive and that the purpose of His resurrection would be catalyzed by their lives. For the disciples closest to Yeshua and those who stood at a safe distance away, it was a time of doubt. The enemy was in hot pursuit. They were fearful for their lives, but just at the God-appointed time, their salvation appeared.  Does that sound vaguely familiar? It should. Earlier this week, on the day after Passover—the 15th of the first month—the natural-born Israelites and those who joined them through the blood of the Lamb exited Egypt and headed toward the sea. In just a few days, during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Pharaoh would not be happy that he let the Israelites go; he felt betrayed, and he was hot (Ex. 14:5–9). Mose...
Read more