בס”ד
Parashat Chayei Sara In this week’s reading we find the story of Eliezer going to look for a wife for Yitzchak. In this mission he encounters numerous miracles. One of the is that the same day he left the south of the Land of Israel, he arrived in Charan (Sirya). Why was that miracle neccesary?
In this week’s reading, we learn about Eliezer, the servant of Abraham, and his mission. His task was to travel from Be’er Sheva, in the south of the land of Israel, to Charan in Syria to find a wife for Abraham’s son, Yitzchak.
Normally, this journey would take seven days, with walking and camels, but the commentaries explain that Eliezer made the trip in just one day. The very same day he left, he arrived in Charan.
The Sages ask why such a miracle was necessary. We know that G-d doesn’t perform miracles without a reason. Every miracle serves a purpose. So why was this particular miracle needed?
There are two main explanations. The first is simple, and the second is deeper, offering us a lesson.
The simple explanation is that Abraham wrote a document for Eliezer, giving everything he owned—his wealth and possessions—to Yitzchak, his son. Eliezer could present this document to the father of the girl he wished to marry and say, “My master is very wealthy, and this document proves it.” The father of the girl would then agree to give her in marriage.
If Eliezer had received this document, dated the day he left Be’er Sheva, and arrived seven days later in Charan to show it, there would have been a period of at least seven days when Abraham would have had nothing. The document, which represented all of his wealth, would have been in Eliezer’s hands.
The sages explain that a person should not leave themselves with nothing by giving away all their possessions. It would not make sense for Abraham to write a document with a date that would leave him poor for several days. Postdating a document, though legally acceptable, is not ideal. That is why G-d performed the miracle, ensuring that Eliezer arrived on the same day the document was written, so that Abraham’s wealth was secure. This was done for the righteous, to fulfill G-d’s will in the best way possible.
The deeper explanation relates to the idea of timing. A rose is a beautiful flower, but its stem is full of thorns. Rivka, who lived in the house of her father Betuel and her brother Lavan, was like a rose surrounded by thorns. If the rose is not picked at the right moment, one might be hurt by the thorns.
Rivka was a special person, ready to marry Yitzchak. But the exact moment when she was truly ready to leave her home was crucial. Abraham, through prophecy, understood when the right moment had arrived, but how could Eliezer know when that was? Since Eliezer was seven days away, G-d performed a miracle. At the moment Abraham knew Rivka was ready, Eliezer had to be in Charan. This is why G-d performed the miracle, ensuring that Eliezer arrived at the precise moment to take Rivka.
This teaches us that everything in life happens for a reason, at the right time. The world is not the result of random events. Everything has a purpose and a timing. Sometimes, we must wait for the right moment, because when something good is meant to happen, it will. It may not happen now, but it will happen when the time is right.
The same applies to the coming of Mashiach (the Messiah). Our job is to be ready to receive him. We do not know when he will come, but we must be prepared. The timing is in G-d’s hands. Our task is not to calculate when Mashiach will come, but to be ready when he does.
Parshat Talk from Rabbi Tuvia Serber
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