Elliott Dorff, in My People's Prayer Book (2:64), offers an interpretation of the three blessings in the introductory, or 'thanksgiving,' section of the Amidah as follows:
"The order of our relationships to G-d: The first (Avot = 'ancestors') describes G-d as an old and familiar ancestral deity who shielded Abraham and who will remember his love for our ancestors in loving and protecting us. The second (G'vurot = 'power') describes a G-d who supports, sustains, and even revives us. The third (K'dushah) speaks of G-d as separate and apart from us, as wholly other, and as therefore deserving of respect and awe. The Amidah begins, then, by recognizing G-d's manifestation to us in all three of these ways."
And Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the L-RD.
(1) Some time later, the word of the L-RD came to Abram in a vision. He said, “Fear not, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.”
(1) The L-RD took note of Sarah as He had promised, and the L-RD did for Sarah as He had spoken.
(1) 'וה' פקד את שרה וגו AND THE L-RD VISITED SARAH —It (Scripture) places this section after the preceding one to teach you that whoever prays for mercy on behalf of another when he himself also is in need of that very thing for which he prays on the other’s behalf, will himself first receive a favorable response from G-d, for it is said (at end of last chapter), “And Abraham prayed for Abimelech and his wife and they brought forth” and immediately afterwards it states here, “And the L-RD remembered Sarah” — i. e. he had already remembered her before he healed Abimelech (Bava Kamma 92a).
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(1) Based on your knowledge of Abraham and Sarah's stories, how would you describe their relationships with G-d?
(2) Most Orthodox siddurim do not include the phrase pokeid sarah, based on Genesis 21:1, leaving the prayer focused on our male ancestors' relationships with G-d. What does the inclusion of the matriarchs and the phrase "rememberer of Sarah" add to our prayer?
(3) The Reform siddur is uncomfortable with the phrase pokeid sarah, and instead uses 'ezrat sarah ("Helper of Sarah"). What does this change, if anything?