Torah is not about the mysterious, but rather about the ordinary. Miracles happen, but the regular events that happen are usually so much more important. In the Torah portion that we read this week, Abraham learns that Sarah, his wife, is pregnant. Now that is miraculous, after all she is more than ninety years old. Yet, what is really important is the way that she raises the child of her old age. What is important is the concern that she has with regard to the people that surround the boy and the culture that Isaac will learn from those people.
At the same time, an angel tells Abraham that God will destroy Sodom. Now that an angel speaks to man is miraculous, but what is important is the response of Abraham, who argues with God to save Sodom. Although he knows how wicked are the people who live there, Abraham fears that God will destroy good people with bad people. Ultimately he cannot save Sodom, but he does save the few good people who live there.
The third angel heals Abraham who had just circumcised himself. The healing, however, does not come by way of miracle, but as a result just visiting with Abraham, a very human act indeed. From the stories of Abraham we do not learn how to do the miraculous; we learn how to be ordinary in every way. Genesis teaches us that being human and full of compassion are among the most wonderful acts that we can do.