בראשית

ויאמר ה' אל אברהם. השליח נקרא בשם השולח, ועל כן קרא הכתוב את המלאך בשם המיוחד, והוא שאמר היפלא מה', והיה לו לומר ממני אלא שהוא דבר המלאך, וזהו שאמר למועד אשוב, כי התופש את שרה למה זה צחקה הוא עצמו אמר למועד אשוב אליך.

ויאמר ה' אל אברהם, “G’d said to Avraham, etc.” The messenger is given the title of the Sender. This is the reason why the Torah calls the angel “G’d.” It was also he who said in verse 14: היפלא מה' דבר “is anything too wonderful for G’d?” If G’d Himself had spoken in verse 14 (and here) then the Torah should have written there: “is anything too wonderful for Me?” This is also the meaning of למועד אשוב, “I will return at the appointed time.” He, the angel, and not G’d had challenged Sarah’s laughter. It makes sense therefore that he speaks about returning. Seeing G’d Himself had never come to visit Sarah how could He have mentioned ”returning?”

היפלא מה' דבר. יאמר המלאך מיכאל היתכסה ויפסק אצילות הה"א בשמך המתקבלת מאת ה' שלא יתן לך ההולדה, והלא כשם שאתה כנגד מדת החסד כן יתן לך בן כנגד מדת הדין, שהרי יש לו להשלים המרכבה מעלה ומטה, למועד אשוב אליך כעת חיה ולשרה בן.

היפלא מה' דבר, ”is anything too wonderful for G’d?” This was the angel Michael speaking. He meant: “is anything concealed and beyond performance so that the letter ה in your name which alludes to G’d’s אצילות, transcendental powers, and which was added in order for G’d to be able to make your siring a son with Sarah a natural process would have been wasted?” He implied further: “Just as you complement the attribute of חסד on earth, so G’d will give you a son who will be able to complement the attribute of Justice.” [I believe our author meant that Yitzchak would prove that man can lead the sort of life on earth which even the attribute of Justice cannot find fault with. This is why Yitzchak is always considered the representative of the emanation גבורה. Ed.]