Chavurat Derekh HaMashiach

Parashat Chayei Sarah | Genesis 23:1–25:18
Haftarah: 1 Kings 1:1–31 | B’rit Chadashah: Matthew 8:19–22; 27:3–10; Luke 9:57–62

There is something interesting about a Torah portion called The Life of Sarah beginning with her death. You might expect it to be called Sarah’s Passing or Abraham’s Grief.

But perhaps there’s a reason HaShem gives it this name. Sarah’s earthly life ends, but the story doesn’t. In fact, much of this portion is about what happens next.

I’ve been thinking about that while traveling the country in my van with Kenny, my faithful three-legged copilot. Van life has taught me that you don’t always see the entire journey before taking the next turn. Sometimes you have a destination, sometimes just a general direction, and sometimes you’re simply looking for a decent place to park! But there’s a lesson in that: we don’t need every detail figured out before participating in what HaShem is doing. We need to trust Him enough to take the next step.

A Life Measured by More Than Its Ending

Genesis 23 opens with Sarah’s death at 127 years old. Abraham mourns her, then rises and negotiates with the Hittites to purchase a burial place. He insists on paying the full price rather than simply accepting a gift.

He secures a permanent place for Sarah in a land that his descendants have not yet inherited. Think about that. Abraham is investing in a promise whose complete fulfillment he will never personally witness.

That’s faith. Not the kind that pretends everything is wonderful. Abraham is grieving. He has lost his wife and lifelong companion. Scripture doesn’t tell us he skipped the mourning process or pretended everything was fine. He mourned, and then he got up and continued. Sometimes we mistakenly believe strong faith means never struggling, questioning, or becoming discouraged. But Scripture gives us a much more human picture.

Faith doesn’t eliminate our humanity; it gives us somewhere to turn while we’re living it. Abraham wasn’t perfect, and neither was Sarah. Yet HaShem continued His covenant purposes through them. HaShem never asked Abraham to fulfill the entire promise himself. He asked Abraham to walk with Him.

Faith Is an Action, Not Just a Feeling

In Genesis 24, Abraham sends his trusted servant to find a wife for Isaac. The servant prays for direction, asks HaShem for guidance, and watches for an answer.

Then Rebekah arrives. When the servant asks for water, she offers to water his camels as well. That’s no small favor! Rebekah demonstrates generosity through action before she even knows the purpose of the journey. Her faith isn’t introduced through a religious speech; it’s revealed through what she does.

James 2:17 reminds us that faith without works is dead. That doesn’t mean we purchase salvation through good behavior. It means genuine faith produces a response. We participate because we trust the One who called us. Rebekah didn’t know the entire future of the covenant. She simply responded to the opportunity in front of her. I’ve learned something similar on the road. I can plan routes, check the weather, calculate fuel mileage, and make reservations, but I can’t control every circumstance.

Kenny, meanwhile, is generally unconcerned about my travel arrangements as long as he’s comfortable! I have to make responsible decisions, pay attention, and trust HaShem with what I cannot control. That’s not passivity. That’s participation. Don’t wait until you understand the entire assignment before being faithful with the opportunity standing right in front of you.

The Legacy We Leave Behind

Genesis 24:67 tells us that Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother’s tent, married her, loved her, and was comforted after his mother’s death. That’s a beautiful little detail. Rebekah didn’t erase Sarah’s place in the family, but she became part of the next chapter. It reminds me that legacy isn’t simply what we leave behind after we’re gone. It’s also what we cultivate in people while we’re still here. It’s the kindness we demonstrate, the encouragement we give, the faith we model when things don’t go according to plan, and the way we treat someone who cannot do anything for us in return.

Sometimes legacy is simply being present. So let me ask you something: What if the legacy you’re building isn’t primarily about what you accomplish, but about the people who experience HaShem’s love because you were willing to participate?

Maybe it’s a conversation, forgiveness, or showing up for someone who feels forgotten. We don’t have to manufacture spectacular moments to be useful in the hands of Elohim. Sometimes the greatest impact comes from the smallest act of obedience.

One Elohim, One Purpose, One Continuing Story

There is a foundational truth running through all of Scripture that we must never lose sight of:

HaShem is One. Deuteronomy 6:4 declares, “Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.” Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. As a believer in Yeshua, I understand this oneness through the traditional Trinitarian understanding of the Father, the Son, and the Ruach HaKodesh.

Not three gods, but one Elohim, revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This matters because Scripture isn’t a collection of disconnected religious stories. It is one unfolding story of covenant faithfulness. The same Elohim who called Abraham, sustained Isaac, and guided Rebekah is the Elohim revealed through Yeshua HaMashiach.

And the same Ruach HaKodesh empowers believers today. He isn’t asking us to become self-sufficient spiritual superheroes. He calls us into relationship, obedience, and participation. We pursue holiness because we belong to Him, not because we imagine we can earn our place through flawless performance.

There’s a difference between striving to please HaShem and trying to prove we’re good enough for Him. One grows out of relationship; the other grows out of fear.

When the Next Generation Must Step Forward

Our Haftarah reading, 1 Kings 1:1–31, takes us to the final season of King David’s life. He is old and physically weakened, while his son Adonijah attempts to claim the throne for himself. But David has already promised that Solomon will succeed him.

Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan intervene, reminding David of his commitment. David responds and establishes Solomon as king. There’s something important here for those of us getting older. Our roles may change, our abilities may change, and the way we serve may look different than it once did. But growing older doesn’t mean our usefulness to HaShem has expired.

Perhaps we cannot do everything we once did. That’s all right. The question isn’t whether we can reproduce yesterday’s accomplishments. It’s whether we’re willing to be faithful with today’s opportunities.

The Invitation of Yeshua

The B’rit Chadashah readings bring this message into our own lives. In Matthew 8:19–22 and Luke 9:57–62, Yeshua encounters people who express a desire to follow Him. Some want to follow wherever He goes; others have reasons to delay.

Yeshua confronts the cost and urgency of discipleship. Following Him isn’t a comfortable religious hobby. It requires surrendering control, rearranging priorities, and actually walking the road He sets before us.

Notice, though, that Yeshua doesn’t ask these people to demonstrate that they’ve already mastered everything. He calls them to follow. There’s a difference between being fully formed and being willing to be formed. Sometimes we convince ourselves that we need more knowledge, confidence, experience, resources, or fewer weaknesses before we can serve HaShem.

But when does that magical moment arrive? If we wait until we are perfect, we’ll spend our entire lives waiting. Matthew 27:3–10 also gives us the sobering account of Judas and his remorse after betraying Yeshua. His story reminds us that recognizing our failure is not the same as finding restoration. Guilt alone cannot redeem us; we need the mercy of HaShem. The contrast is worth considering: discipleship isn’t about pretending we never stumble. It’s about where we turn when we do. I keep coming back to Ephesians 2:8–10. Sha’ul explains that salvation is a gift of grace through faith, not something we manufacture through our accomplishments. But verse 10 tells us we are created in Messiah Yeshua for good works that Elohim prepared beforehand for us to walk in.

There it is. Grace doesn’t eliminate participation. Grace makes our participation possible.

Stop Waiting for Perfect Conditions

Here’s where I want to bring everything together. How many opportunities have you postponed because you didn’t feel ready?

How many times have you thought you weren’t qualified, knowledgeable enough, spiritual enough, or simply good enough?

Maybe you’ve been waiting for more money, more time, more confidence, or fewer problems.

I understand that temptation. Living this van-life adventure has taught me that perfect conditions are awfully difficult to find. Weather changes, plans change, roads close, and sometimes the campground you expected isn’t what you thought it would be. And Kenny has his own ideas about when we’re finished traveling for the day!

If I waited until every possible circumstance was perfectly aligned, I’d probably still be sitting in the driveway. The journey happens because you take the first step, not because you’ve eliminated every possible obstacle.

Abraham didn’t see the complete fulfillment of the covenant. Rebekah didn’t know everything awaiting her. David couldn’t return to the strength of his younger years. The disciples didn’t understand everything about the road ahead.

Yet each was given an opportunity to participate, and HaShem remained faithful. God doesn’t demand perfection. He desires participation. That isn’t an excuse to do less or abandon spiritual discipline. It’s an invitation to stop making our inadequacy the reason we do nothing. There is a difference.

The Life That Continues

I want to return to the name of this portion: Chayei Sarah, the Life of Sarah. Sarah’s earthly life ended, but the covenant story continued. Abraham’s life eventually ended, too, but the promise continued through Isaac and Rebekah. Generations would come and go, and HaShem would continue unfolding His purposes. One day, our own chapters will close. We won’t be remembered for every mistake, every plan that fell apart, or every time we weren’t quite good enough. What matters is whether we were willing to walk with HaShem, love the people He placed in our lives, and participate in the work He gave us to do.

I don’t know what the next mile of this adventure holds. I’ve got Kenny, a van, a Bible, and plenty of road still to explore. I don’t need to know every detail before I get there. I just need to keep following.

Perhaps that’s the invitation in Chayei Sarah for all of us: Don’t wait for perfect conditions. Don’t wait until you feel completely qualified. Don’t confuse your weaknesses with HaShem’s limitations. Trust Him. Take the next step. Let Him supply what you lack. The story isn’t over.

Shalom!

May HaShem bless you and keep you, and may this coming week bring opportunities to participate in what Elohim is doing.

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