The Bagel: Successful succession. This week's readings emphasize the nature of succession. Succession is the transition from one major event to another. This often involves long-term, sometimes eternal consequences. Contrast the succession of Sarah or David with that of Joseph Stalin. Sarah was succeeded by Rebecca and moved forward the eternal covenant of Abraham. This was a succession of life. When Stalin died, as in his rule, thousands died in the streets. That transition was one of despair and trauma. The super power status that Stalin forged by blood did not last out the century. But David's kingdom moved on through Solomon and was vouchsafed because of the work of the Messiah.

Our three readings: Torah, Haftarah, and Brit Chadashah exhibit a pattern of godly succession:

• Out go of Sarah (Genesis 23)


• Usurper Canaanite women (Genesis 24:3)


• In come of Rebecca (Genesis 24)

• Out go of King David (1 Kings 2)


• Usurper eldest son (1 Kings 1)


• In come of Solomon (1 Kings 1 & 2)

• Out go of Yeshua (death on the cross John 19)


• Usurping despair over death of the Messiah (resolved by the resurrection and subsequent appearances by Yeshua (Luke 24)


• In come of the Church (Acts 1-5)

• Rebecca insured the succession of the Abrahamic Covenant.


• Solomon insured the succession of the Davidic Kingdom.


• The Church insured the succession of the godly remnant.