Have you ever waited so long for something that you began to wonder whether God had forgotten?
The special Torah reading for Rosh Hashanah takes us to Genesis 21, where we encounter two very different situations connected by one powerful truth: God has not forgotten.
Sarah had waited for years for the son God had promised. When Isaac was finally born, what once seemed impossible became a testimony of God’s faithfulness.
Then we follow Hagar and Ishmael into the wilderness. Their water is gone and Hagar cannot see a way forward. Yet when everything appears hopeless, God hears their cry and opens Hagar’s eyes to the provision that was already near.
In this special Rosh Hashanah Torah Reading, Pastor Israel Pochtar explores:
Why God’s timing does not change His faithfulness
The significance of Pakad (פָּקַד) — God remembering with action
How God can turn waiting into joy
Why God hears us in our wilderness seasons
What Hagar’s well teaches us about recognizing God’s provision
How these themes ultimately point us toward Yeshua
Why we can enter a new season trusting the Everlasting God
Genesis 21 also points us toward the larger story of God’s redemption. Isaac was a son of promise, born when fulfillment seemed humanly impossible. His birth reminds us that God accomplishes what He promises in His appointed time. That same faithfulness unfolds throughout Scripture and ultimately leads us to Yeshua, the promised Messiah, through whom God has brought salvation and hope.
We see God’s heart again in the wilderness. God hears the cry of Ishmael and provides water when Hagar can see no way forward. Yeshua revealed this same compassionate heart—hearing those who cried out to Him, drawing near to the overlooked, and offering living water to those who thirst.
As we enter a new year, Genesis 21 gives us a beautiful reminder:
God remembers. God hears. God provides. God keeps His promises.
We may not know everything the new season will bring, but we know the One who goes with us.
The God who was faithful yesterday is still the Everlasting God today.
Torah Reading Week 50
Rosh Hashanah Special Reading
Genesis 21:1–34
Theme: God Remembers His Promises and Makes a Way
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