The Torah tells us that "Avraham
grew to a ripe old-age, and HaShem blessed Avraham with everything." What was
the secret of Avraham’s longevity and the favor that he found in the eyes of
HaShem?
In order to understand the secret of his longevity, we turn to
the Midrash (Tanchuma Chaya Sarah 2) which states, "There are four things which
diminish the strength of a man: (1) fear; (2) the anguish of rebellious
children; (3) a defiant wife; and (4) war."
The Midrash continues: "The
classic example of a defiant wife who caused the strength of her husband to
diminish is: ’And at the time Solomon grew old, his wives strayed after other
deities.’
"Whereas Sarah, the wife of Avraham, honored him and called
him ’my master.’ She personified the verse (Mishlei 12:4): ’A woman of valor is
the crown of her husband.’ Accordingly, the Torah ascribes the following verse
to the merit of Sarah: ’Avraham grew to a ripe old-age, and HaShem blessed
Avraham with everything.’"
We see that the respect and dignity that
Sarah had for Avraham was the factor that brought about his success and
longevity. A wife has the sensitivity, wisdom, and capability to nurture and
invigorate her husband’s spirit. When she honors him she brings him longevity
and blessing, i.e., And Avraham grew to a ripe old age, and HaShem blessed him
with everything!"
May HaShem give us the insight to encourage, inspire,
and bring out the best in each other. In turn, we will see the fulfillment of
the verse, "And Avraham grew to a ripe old age, and HaShem blessed him with
everything."
TODAY: Strengthen your family members and friends by
honoring them with respect and dignity.
Important Numbers
