November 11 Vayera Genesis 21:1-22:24

Three men/angels visit Sarah and Abraham to inform them
that they will indeed still bear a son. Then Abraham learns
of God’s plan to wipe out the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Abraham argues with God not to kill the innocent with
the wicked. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family are the
only ones to be saved. Lot’s wife cannot help but look back
and thus remains a pillar of the community for all time.
Abraham has an encounter with the King of Gerar very similar
to his experience with the Pharaoh of last week. It is
then Sarah’s turn for some excitement and she gives birth at
the ripe old age of ninety. Their son is called Isaac, which
means “laughter,” a reference to what Sarah did when she
heard that she would become a mother so late in life. Sarah
again is jealous of Hagar and her son, Ishmael, and has
Abraham send them away. Several years later, Abraham
almost sacrifices his son, Isaac, on Mt. Moriah in the famous
“Akedah.” Isaac is saved at the very last moment by an angel
who calls out from the heavens.