Secret To Fulfilling Blessings: Delegate -Chayei Sarah

The Torah portion of Chayei Sarah, speaks about Abraham’s blessings are fulfilled in a time of grief. G-d promised Abraham land and descendants, as numerous as the stars. Sarah dies, while Abraham bares no land under his name. His one son borne from Sarah, Isaac, is not married. Sarah’s death ignites an urgency in Abraham to get to work, to achieve his mission. Abraham purchases a plot in the Land of Israel to bury Sarah. This land becomes the ground where a Jewish nation emerges. To find a wife for his son, Isaac, Abraham chooses to delegate this task to his trusted servant Eliezer. 

In Chayei Sarah, the life of Sarah, Abraham teaches us one of the greatest lessons in management and productivity. Delegation is key to achieve . Reach out for help, outsource the deed. Abraham understands that to fulfill the blessing, he has to make the vessels; buy land and leave a lineage behind. G-d blesses and it is our responsibility to create proper vessels for those blessings to be revealed, becoming partners with G-d. “Man was made to toil”. This effort we make to bring the envisioned to fruition is what draws down the blessing. The revealed good is the perfect alignment between effort and energy. To find a suitable mate for Isaac to build the jewish nation, Abraham turns to Eliezer for help. Abraham delegates this critical job to Eliezer, someone whom he is close to and he believes can get it done. 

Let Go, Let G-d Do His Part: Delegate

Delegation takes strength and bitul “surrendering” to let go of the Ego. The ego tricks us into thinking we are the best person to fulfill the job. In certain instances, that’s what it calls for, but unless we need to rectify a specific trait through hands-on experience, delegation is an opportunity for growth. When we delegate, we are less involved but more essential to the task. Essential because we are the captain of the ship. Our guidance will bring an opportunity for the development of others and their ability to complete the task. Delegation offers the opportunity to teach.

Leaders lead, leaders must delegate micro tasks to be able to focus on the macro, the big picture. This understanding is paramount in the success of a leader. Abraham is the first leader of the Jewish nation. Moses also learns to delegate when he follows Yitro’s advice and appoints judges to help him lead the Israelites. A great leader motivates and lets others contribute to the mission. The mission, the purpose becomes the guiding agenda, not the I. To fulfill G-d’s purpose, Abraham assigned Eliezer to find a wife to his one son who would continue the covenant. 

Vital Attributes To Successfully Delegate

In order to delegate effectively, a leader identifies qualities necessary to achieve the task. The first quality, is to place trust on the person who will perform the job. Abraham through his actions lets Eliezer know, he trusts him to go find a wife for Isaac. 

“And Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that was his, “Please place your hand under my thigh.And I will adjure you by the Lord, the God of the heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose midst I dwell.But you shall go to my land and to my birthplace, and you shall take a wife for my son, for Isaac.””

The oath on the covenant between the two men, Eliezer and Abraham, makes it personal and Eliezer knows Abraham has placed his full trust on him. Abraham’s bris represents the turning point in his life. This is the one mitzvah Abraham was commanded by G-d to perform. Eliezer understands how significant the bris is, by making an oath on it, it adds to the seriousness for his task. This act is powerful in arousing in Eliezer the duty he felt to fulfill his job. We act like G-d when we place trust in others, the same way G-d places trust in us. G-d sends our souls on a mission, with all the necessary tools and full trust that we will achieve. 

Clarity and Focus

The second quality for success in delegating, is clarity. Be clear on what needs to be achieved? What is the task on hand and what are the requirements necessary? A leader, albeit, leaves room for creativity and self motivation, he makes clear what the person needs to achieve. Abraham was clear that he not only wanted a wife for his son but she needed to be from his land, not from the land of the canaanites. Isaac, was not to go back to his land either. 

Eliezer focused on what his master requested, bring back a wife. He was compelled to bring Rivka back with him immediately because there was no other way. We see this when he keeps retelling his story to G-d in the form of prayers, and to Lavan as a retelling. In part, to remind himself as a focus tool, and also to aid his mission.

“My master adjured me, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell.Instead, you must go to my father’s house and to my family, and take a wife for my son.’And I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me?’And he said to me, ‘The Lord, before Whom I walked, will send His angel with you and make your way prosper, and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s house”

Eliezer concentrated on his work, find a wife for Isaac. When he finds a maiden he acts fast. This is a vital lesson for us, focus is important. In our daily lives, we are faced with so many distractions, the digital age has worsen this struggle. It is a challenge in our generation and a consequence of having too much. In a world where we multitask and fight distractions, narrowing it in will be a defining skill. A skill that even in the days of Abraham Avinu was needed. 

Remind yourself of the mission statement often, be clear and focus.

A Leader Motivates, A leader Commits

The third quality in delegation we learn in Chayei Sarah is motivation and commitment. Abraham sent Eliezer well equipped in his mission. Eliezer had his master’s trust, and the best of his possessions. 

“The servant took ten camels of his master’s camels, and he went, and all the best of his master was in his hand; and he arose, and he went to Aram naharaim, to the city of Nahor…And he said, “O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please cause to happen to me today, and perform loving kindness with my master, Abraham.”

These two aspects above give rise to self motivation, and creativity. Abraham made clear what he wanted and the requirements, but left space for Eliezer to use his own talents and knowledge to fulfill his mission. That’s what a leader does, he leaves space for people  to make the thing their own, he arouses commitment. 

Motivated by Abraham to find a wife for his master’s son, Eliezer was committed to the point where he prayed on his own. He went the extra mile to pray for a kind woman, one who will show loving kindness to a stranger. Eliezer refined the task by bringing back someone who will not just satisfy the requirement, but would be the right choice. Eliezer knew kindness is the trait a woman needed to possess to be a good fit for Isaac. 

Our Mission, Our Calling

In the life of Sarah, we read the blessings bestowed on Abraham begging to be fulfilled, through Abraham’s effort. Sarah’s death ignited an urgency to act at seeing his own mortality. Abraham needed to leave behind a land where his descendants could flourish and serve G-d.  Abraham was aware he couldn’t do it on his own, the secret to fulfilling his blessings would be to delegate the task in his mission. 

As we read Chayei Sarah, we too need to have the awareness that we have a mission to accomplish. A sense of urgency needs to be given to achieve it. G-d has placed his trust on us and given us all the tools to accomplish our mission. Every person, thing or place we encounter is to help our mission. Abraham did his part in creating the ground for the Jewish nation, physically and spirituality. It is up to us to take part in the mission and be a light to other nations. Delegate task if you must to achieve.