Parashat Chayei Sarah
This week’s portion has two storylines that show the difference between operating in God’s kindness versus greed and deception. Those who walk in kindness and honor acquire what is good.
In the first story, Abraham purchased a burial site for Sarah, dealing with deceptive Ephron’s feigned generosity which masked a 100-fold price increase.
In the second story, Abraham’s servant Eliezer found Rebecca, whose extraordinary kindness in watering ten camels demonstrated she had risen above her family’s focus on wealth and that she had the character needed to partner with Isaac in building God’s nation.
These stories show that acquiring what is good isn’t about accumulating possessions but about having a generous spirit. Like Abraham, we’re called to be strangers in this world, representing God’s character of kindness and truth rather than conforming to surrounding culture.