It all comes down to remembering, and more importantly, acting. Let's dive into a story about just that, found in Bereshit Rabbah 53, a section of the ancient midrashic (interpretive) collection on the Book of Genesis. It centers on the verse, "The Lord remembered Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as He had spoken" (Genesis 21:1).
This isn't just a nice sentiment; it's a profound statement about the nature of God and the fulfillment of prophecy. "The Lord remembered Sarah as He had said." The text draws our attention to another verse, from the prophet Ezekiel (17:24): “All the trees of the field will know that I, the Lord, have lowered a high tree, elevated a lowly tree.”
Rabbi Yudan, a sage whose teachings are preserved in the Midrash, offers a powerful interpretation. It's not enough to just talk, he says. God isn't like "those who speak but do not act." Rather, "I, the Lord, have spoken and acted." Where did He speak? Back in Genesis 18:14, God promises, "At the prescribed time, I will return to you… and Sarah will have a son." And He acted. Sarah did have a son, Isaac, in her old age.
But what about those trees of the field? What do they have to do with it?
The Midrash explains, "All the trees of the field will know" refers to people. After all, as Deuteronomy 20:19 tells us, "For man is the tree of the field." So, who are these specific trees?
"That I, the Lord, have lowered a high tree" – this refers to Avimelekh, the king who, in a previous episode, took Sarah into his harem, thinking she was Abraham's sister. God intervened, causing him great trouble. "Elevated a lowly tree" – this, then, refers to Abraham, who was a wanderer, seemingly powerless, yet chosen by God.
There's more: "Dried a moist tree" refers to Avimelekh’s wives, who, due to God's intervention, could not conceive until Sarah was returned to Abraham. And finally, "Caused a dry tree to blossom" refers, beautifully, to Sarah herself – barren for so long, now miraculously bearing fruit.
The passage concludes by circling back to the original verse: "I, the Lord, have spoken – where [in Scripture] did He speak? 'At the time, I will return to you.' And acted – that is what is written: 'And the Lord did to Sarah as He had spoken.'"
So, what's the takeaway here? It's a reminder that God's word is not empty. Promises, even the most improbable ones, are kept. It's also a powerful metaphor for the ups and downs of life, the humbling of the mighty, and the elevation of the seemingly insignificant. And perhaps most profoundly, it speaks to the incredible potential for renewal, for even a "dry tree" to blossom with hope and new life. It’s a story about faith, action, and the transformative power of divine remembrance.