The Lord visited our ancestors Avraham and Sarah and informed them they will have a child in their old age. Surprised, delighted, incredulous God says, “Is there anything too wondrous for God?”
One way of reading that phrase in the verse is that the Torah is making the birth of Isaac miraculous by God. An alternative read is to isolate the italicized words (above) as they regard the relationship between Abraham and Sarah. God is explaining that the holy spark between them will keep them on course and partners in fulfilling the mission they have as part of Am Yisrael, to expand the family.
Sometimes in our lives we do not embrace remaking relationships in order to fructify our lives. It is not always easy. God doesn’t visit us and whisper “at this time next year everything will be good with so and so and you will start a new business or rekindle the kind of love you once felt….” The Torah is encouraging us: “Use the power you have to become again and anew the friend, partner, family member or parent you want to be. Then your life will bear new fruit.
The birth of Isaac came soon after the Divine visit. Who knows what is to be born of our lives as partners renewing the covenant with God or finding new energy and meaning in the partnerships we value most.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Bolton