Parshat Vayera - Blessings
by Rabbi Lobel

As Abraham was hosting his guests, with the utmost willingness to do kindness, the guests asks him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “Behold she is in the tent.” And he said (the guest, an angel) “I will surely return to you at this time next year... and a son to Sarah your wife.” (Genesis 18 9-10)

Abraham was ninety-nine at the time and Sarah reacted to the good news by laughing inwardly. When G-d informed Abraham of Sarah's reactions, “Sarah denied, saying, ‘I did not laugh,’ for she was frightened; and he (Abraham) said, ‘No, but you laughed.’” (Genesis 18:15)

According to Nachmandies, Sarah had no idea that Abraham's guests were angels. The guests had appeared as ordinary people traveling through the area. Abraham constantly had guests and Sarah just happened to overhear one of them predicting a child for her. Nachmandies even suggests that Sarah may not have seen the guests but just overheard the conversation.

Why then was Sarah criticized for laughing inwardly when she overheard an ostensibly ludicrous prediction from an unknown traveler? Because, Nachmandies explains, even had it truly been a preposterous suggestion, Sarah still should have had faith and answered “Amen”.

A casual reader may be inclined to join in the criticism. After all, Sarah was a prophetess who conversed with G-d, witnessed miracles, and, according to tradition, was on a higher spiritual level than Abraham. How could she not recognize that G-d’s salvation could come in the blink of an eye?

Yet, aren’t we all guilty of Sarah’s mistake? Do we need to have conversations with G-d or witness miracles to realize that the Master of the universe can save anyone in an instant? How often have we seen someone terminally ill or in a desperate situation and lost hope? Or wished them luck not expecting our wishes to be of any help? Nachmanides is telling us that the Torah recites this passage for our benefit, that we should never lose hope.

All blessings, those given and those received, should be taken seriously. No matter the odds, it is not for us to say what G-d will or will not do or whose blessing He will or will not regard. Just as Sarah, knowing G-d’s salvation can come at any time from any place, should have appreciated her guest’s unlikely blessing, so should we.