從古時起，在全世界的猶太會堂會一週一次在安息日讀經，從摩西五經（妥拉）到先知的書（先知書）。本週的內容被給予一個希伯來名，出自於經文內容起頭的字。每週慣例讀經的實例剛好記載在路加福音四章16節，耶穌來到拿撒勒的會堂，讀了一段先知書（以賽亞書61章）。我們發現每週一次閱讀這些內容，不僅提供我們機會，與世界成千上萬的猶太人來確認神話語的內容，在我們為以色列與猶太人的代禱上，聖靈更時常貼切的啟發具體的內容禱告。

從十一月八日到十一月十四日的閱讀被稱為：撒拉的一生（Chayeh Sarah），讀經內容包括：
妥    拉 : 創世記23:1-25:18
先知書 : 列王記上1:1-31

*創世記 23:17-18. 『於是，麥比拉、幔利前、以弗崙的那塊田和其中的洞，並田間四圍的樹木，都定準歸與亞伯拉罕，乃是他在赫人面前並城門出入的人面前買妥的。』
此地點位於耶路撒冷南邊幾哩外的希伯崙，是亞伯拉罕在古時所買的地，目前仍是聖地中最爭競與最受爭議的地方之一。這也是主對亞伯拉罕如同朋友般說話的地方（創18─事實上，友誼的希伯來文就是用亞伯拉罕的名字所結合的字）；希伯崙是以色列第一批探子看見巨人的地方，後來迦勒在此地征服了他們；希伯崙也是大衛被指示剛開始建立王權的地方。

希伯崙是六日戰爭的重要城市，其居民在那裡舉白旗投降，使以色列軍隊不費吹灰之力就得勝。然而，希伯崙也是暴力屢次企圖掌管之地─1929年猶太人在那裡被穆斯林屠殺，1994年一位正統猶太教徒也在那裡被殺害。今日以色列擁有這城市的一小部分主權（整個主權是在1997年奧斯陸協議中讓出去的）。在城內城外皆有一小群的正統猶太教社區，住在那裡的穆斯林與猶太人（雙方都稱亞伯拉罕為父老），不相信在此地向亞伯拉罕『顯現』之神的真實身分（創18），也不相信為全人類恢復與天父朋友般關係的『至高神的兒子』（路加福音1:32）。

請禱告神的國降臨在希伯崙！神的兒子會在此顯現。

*創世記24:5-6. 『僕人對他說：倘若女子不肯跟我到這地方來，我必須將你的兒子帶回你原出之地嗎﹖亞伯拉罕對他說：你要謹慎，不要帶我的兒子回那裡去。』與希伯來書11:15比較：『他們若想念所離開的家鄉，還有可以回去的機會。』

請為 神帶回以色列的移民者禱告（這是異常艱難的，特別是對年長者），他們不會聽從『回去美國』或『回去俄國』的試探。
禱告 神的恩典與憐憫使他們融入祖先的地，但更重要的是，能與他們祖先的 神融合。
也為在這裡彌賽亞的身體禱告─不會回頭看，而是向前進入『一個更美好，也就是：一個屬天的國家』。

*創世記24:12. 『他說：耶和華─我主人亞伯拉罕的神啊，求你施恩給我主人亞伯拉罕，使我今日遇見好機會。』後面句子實際的希伯來文意思是『讓這件事今日就在我面前發生！』

*創世記24:62-64. 『那時，以撒住在南地，剛從庇耳‧拉海‧萊（亦即永生神看見我的井）回來。天將晚，以撒出來在田間默想，舉目一看，見來了些駱駝。利百加舉目看見以撒，就急忙下了駱駝。』住在看見我之神的同在（面前）並默想，預備並安排了我們的時間，舉目觀看並認出為我們命定的供應即將來到。

馬汀和娜瑪‧賽維士（Martin & Norma Sarvis）
於耶路撒冷

This week's Torah Portion:
From ancient times there has been a weekly portion from the five books of Moses (The Torah) and from the prophets (Haftarah-final reading) read on the Sabbath in synagogues around the world. This portion is given a Hebrew name taken from the opening words of the passage. An illustration of this practice appears to have been recorded in Luke 4:16 where Yeshua (Jesus) arrived in the synagogue in Nazareth and was asked to read the Haftarah portion (Isaiah 61) from the Prophets. We have found that in perusing these weekly readings, not only are we provided opportunity to identify in the context of God's Word with millions of Jewish people around the world, but very often the Holy Spirit will illumine specific passages pertinent that week in our intercession for the Land and people of Israel. All texts are those of English translations of the Scriptures.

The readings for November 8-14 are called Chayeh Sarah "The Life of Sarah"-and include:
TORAH: Genesis 23:1-25:18
HAFTARAH: I Kings 1:1-31

*Genesis 23:17. "So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city." This location is Hebron, a few miles south of Jerusalem. Purchased by the Patriarch in ancient times, it remains one of the most contested and contentious places in the Holy Land. It is the place where the LORD spoke with Abraham as a friend (Gen. 18-in fact, the name itself is associated with a Hebrew word for friendship); It is where the first Israelite spies saw the giants-and where Caleb later conquered them; It is where David was instructed to first set up his kingship. Hebron was the major city during the Six Day War from which, the inhabitants emerged with a white flag; it was surrendered to Israeli troops without firing a shot. Yet it is also a place where violence repeatedly seeks to rule-where Jews were massacred by Muslims in 1929, where an Orthodox Jew massacred Muslims in 1994. Today Israel holds sovereignty over a small part of the city (total sovereignty was surrendered as part of the Oslo Agreement in 1997). There is a tiny community of Orthodox Jews both within and outside of the city. Neither the Muslims nor the Jews living there (both of whom claim Abraham for Father) believe in the true identity of the One who "appeared" to Abraham on this spot, as recorded in Genesis 18. Neither believe in the "Son of the Most High" (Luke 1:32), who restores friendship with the Father for all humankind.

Please Pray that God's Kingdom Come in Hebron! That the Son be revealed there.

*Genesis 24:5-6. "And the servant said to him, 'Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?' But Abraham said to him, 'Beware that you do not take my son back there!' Cf: Hebrews 11:15: "And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return."

Please pray for immigrants whom God brings back to Israel (It can be frighteningly hard, especially for the older ones)-they they will not listen to the temptations to "go back to America" or to "go back to Russia".
Pray for grace and mercy for absorption into the society in the land of their Fathers.but more importantly, into the God of their Fathers. And for the Body of Messiah here-that it also will not look back, but forward into "a better, that is, a heavenly country."

*Genesis 24:12. "Then he [Abraham's servant] said, 'O YHVH God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show lovingkindness with my master Abraham." The literal Hebrew of the second clause reads, "Please make it happen before me today!"

*Genesis 24:62-64. "Now Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi (i.e. 'Well of the Living One who sees me').went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming. Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted." Dwelling and meditating in the Presence (before the face) of the One who sees us, prepares and times us to lift our own eyes to see and recognize when provision for our destiny is approaching.