Isaiah 40:27-41:16: It’s rough goings for Abram’s tribe in this week’s parsha. Desert wandering, famine, Abram’s brush with death at the Pharaoh’s palace, Lot falls captive to the allied armies of Chedorlaomer at the evil city of Sodom. Not exactly a sweet deal following world flood and the promise of a new, great nation.

In the haftorah, Isaiah addresses Israel’s complaint: “My way [of serving G‑d] has been ignored by the Lord, and from my G‑d, my judgment passes [unrewarded].” Isaiah reminds Israel of the Creator’s greatness and promises “He will give the tired strength, and to him who has no strength, He will increase strength. Youths shall become tired and weary, and young men shall stumble, but those who put their hope in the Lord shall renew [their] vigor, they shall raise wings as eagles; they shall run and not weary, they shall walk and not tire.”

The life metaphor here is [Read more…]