The Bagel: G-d worked by many signs (miracles) as shown in this week's narratives. He also sealed the fate of many; Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Hagar, Ishmael, Lot, Abimelech, and the Shunammite family by many trials. But He also provided a deliverance for each situation.

When the Brit Chadashah is combined with the Sidrah and the Haftarah readings four common threads emerge:

1. The Problem of an inability to conceive and give birth


2. The Sign of a miraculous birth


3. The Trial of rumors


4. The Deliverance by resurrection

• Sarah was childless. Gen 18


• The Shunammite woman was barren. 2 Kings 4


• Miriam (Mary) was a virgin. Luke 1:26-37

• Sarah gave birth to Isaac in her old age. Gen 21


• The Shunammite woman gave birth in her desparate situation. 2 Kings 4


• Miriam gave birth in an unusual context. Matthew 1

• Rumor has it that Abimelech was the father of Isaac, because Abraham was too old and Sarah conceived about the time they sojourned in Philistia.


• Rumor has it that the Shunammite boy was the child of another man, because the Shunammite husband was impotent.


• Rumor has it that Miriam was either raped by a Roman soldier or it was Joseph.

• Isaac was as good as dead, but was spared. Gen 22


• The Shunammite boy either swooned or died and was resuscitated or resurrected. 2 Kings 4


• Yeshua was crucified, was buried three days and rose again. 1 Cor 15:3-4