Bat Kol International, Weekly Torah Nuggets
Parashat Rosh Hashanah | Genesis 21:1-34
“God remembered Sarah” (Gen. 21:1).
Rosh Hashanah commemorates the anniversary of God’s creation of the world. The traditional Rosh HaShanah reading (Gen. 21:1-34) is not the creation story as one would imagine.
Instead, we turn to the impossible blessing of the birth of Isaac, a child for Sarah in her old age and a reminder that pregnancy is a miracle of creation. Celebration! Sarah laughs for joy!
Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur frame an annual period of introspection – a time when we are challenged to sharpen our vision.
On the heels of Sarah’s joy, scripture takes us to the wilderness and the plight of Abraham’s concubine, Hagar who has been expelled from Sarah’s household along with her son Ishmael. Their provisions have been exhausted. Hagar weeps. Ishmael cries out. God hears Ishmael’s cry and calms Hagar, promising that the boy will sire a great nation. Hagar and Ishmael’s rescue is not accomplished by a miracle. God opens Hagar’s eyes to see the well which was there all along.
Isaac will carry on the promised covenant. Ishmael will be a great warrior and archer.
Promises will be fulfilled!
Reflection:
1. Look closely at Gen. 21:1-2. In these two verses God remembers, God does what he promises and God delivers the promise on time. Consider this as an affirmation of God’s nearness in your life each day of each new year.
2. Do fear and doubt cause us to fail to see and thereby pass by wells of salvation which are within our reach?
Mary Ann Payne, Australia
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“Since the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews is thus so great, this sacred synod wants to foster and recommend that mutual understanding and respect which is the fruit, above all, of biblical and theological studies.”
Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions: Nostra Aetate, No. 4