Parashat: Genesis 18:1 – 22:24 

Haftarah: 2 Kings 4:1 – 37

Abraham possessed a deep understanding of God, which is why he knew what to say, how to respond, and how to approach God. This didn’t mean it was easy though. A short time before all this, Abraham witnessed the hand of God when He delivered Lot and the king of Sodom. Yet, in this situation, Abraham witnessed the difficult reality of justice. Instead of deliverance, he saw destruction. Through the good and the bad, the triumphs and the tragedies, God opens the door to learning. At the same time, we can prove ourselves to God as he experiences us in these moments. We may not all be called to the same testing grounds as Abraham, but each day we are given small opportunities to experience God, to learn from Him and to know Him. He allows us to be where we are, even when it is difficult, so that we can grow in the grace and the knowledge of Him. Even more, God presents these opportunities so that He can also experience us–to know our thoughts, our feelings, our hearts, and so forth. This is our desire: to stand before the God of the universe and hear Him say, “I have known you.” Continue Reading