Although our forefather Avraham was promised by G-d that Eretz Yisrael in its entirety would belong to him he had to purchase a burial plot for his wife Sarah. Avraham maintained his faith that the Divine promise would be kept when the right time came and offered no complaint.

This episode that appears at the beginning of this week’s Torah portion was echoed in the life of Avraham's son Yitzchak who had to contend with the Philistines over the wells he had dug in the Land that was promised to him as well. The third of the Patriarchs, Yaakov, had to buy a piece of land in Shechem to pitch his tent upon his return to the Land that was promised to him.

All of our forefathers thus taught us to be patient in regard to the Heavenly promise regarding our Promised Land. We too must maintain our faith in G-d that the time will come when no one will challenge the right of the descendants of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov to all of Israel forever.

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