He’s just received the earth-shattering news that he, in his old age, is going to have a son with Sarah. A son who will carry on the covenant with God. It's huge! But then comes this little verse in Genesis 17:21: "But I will set up my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bring forth about this time in the succeeding year?"
Why that specific phrasing? Why does God emphasize "whom Sarah shall bring forth?" It almost feels… redundant, doesn’t it?
This is where the beauty of Midrash comes in. Midrash, from the Hebrew word meaning "to seek" or "to investigate," is a way of interpreting scripture, of diving deep into the text to uncover layers of meaning.
In the Midrash of Philo, we find a fascinating insight. The text explores the idea that God's promise to Abraham is directly linked to Abraham's confession and admission of faith. In essence, God is saying, "Your confession and admission of faith is on my part an admission of your wish." Think about that for a second. Your faith creates a reciprocal action from God.
The Midrash goes on to explain that Abraham's faith isn't just blind belief; it's tempered with modest awe and reverence. It's a faith that acknowledges the immensity of God and the profoundness of the promise. And because of this deep, unwavering, yet humble faith, that which has been promised, shall certainly be done. That "yes" is guaranteed.
So, back to Sarah. Why the specific mention of "whom Sarah shall bring forth"? The Midrash of Philo suggests that it's emphasizing the miraculous nature of the birth. It's not just any birth; it's a birth born of faith, a birth that defies all odds, a birth that is a direct result of the covenant between God and Abraham. And it will happen.
The “yes” is not only a response to Abraham's faith, but also a preview of the joy that is to come. It’s a taste of the unadulterated joy that will erupt when Sarah, against all expectations, brings forth Isaac.
So, what does this mean for us? Perhaps it's a reminder that our own expressions of faith, our own confessions and admissions, are powerful. They resonate with the Divine. And while we may not always receive exactly what we ask for, the Midrash of Philo suggests that our faith, when coupled with humility and reverence, opens us to receive blessings we might not even imagine. It brings a certain “yes” into our lives.