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The Life of Abraham #8: Bride for Isaac

CCEA School of Discipleship

May 18, 2025

In Class

(maybe skip small groups – just make sure everyone has snacks)

Take three minutes, get in groups of three or four, and share one thing you got out of reading Swindoll’s: Chapter 18: On Finding Your Lifelong Companion

(For in class - Important dates: I’m teaching on Wednesday night May 28. I’m having surgery on June 20)

The Final

The final is due today. You can turn in your sheet in person with the signatures on it, or email me a picture of it. You may do this as late as May 25, but I’ll be posting the grades after that.

Bride for Isaac (Gen. 24)

24:1-67 Bride for Isaac

We are nearing the end of Abraham’s life.

We didn’t cover it in class, but his wife Sarah died in chapter 23.

Abraham is getting concerned that his son Isaac hasn’t married yet, and he’s close to forty years old.

:1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.

Abraham is almost 140 years old.

:2 So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please, put your hand under my thigh,

:2 the oldest servant of his house

We’re never told the name of the servant in this chapter, but 60 years earlier, Abram’s head servant was named Eliezer (Gen. 15:2).

Eliezer – ‘Eliy‘ezer – “God is help”

Last time in Genesis 22 we saw God painting a picture of a Father sacrificing his only son. God is going to paint another picture in this chapter. Eliezer will be a picture to us of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is called the “Comforter” (John 14:16), the “paracletos”, or “one called alongside to help”. Even as the name of the servant isn’t used in this chapter, the work of the Holy Spirit is not to draw attention to Himself, but to draw attention to Jesus (John 15:26, 16:13,14)

In our painting, the Holy Spirit is sent out to get a bride for the Father’s Son.

The servant is also a great example for us.

I believe there are different stages of growth we go through as Christians.

If you join a Karate studio to learn the martial arts, you progress through different colors of belts, with the “Black Belt” being the highest.

To me, the greatest level of Christian is the title “servant”.

(Mark 9:33–35 NKJV) —33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

God wants us to be servants.

The goal of a servant is not to be well known. The goal of a servant is to do what his master asks of him.

:2 put your hand under my thigh

This seems to be one of the ways an oath was sworn. Some have suggested that it means, “If you don’t do what you are swearing to me, then may my descendants (that which comes from my “thigh”) rise up and deal with you”.

Some have suggested this even involved touching a man’s genitals.

We will see this kind of oath between Jacob and Joseph.

(Genesis 47:29 NKJV) When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt,

:3 "and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell;

:4 "but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac."

:5 And the servant said to him, "Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?"

:6 But Abraham said to him, "Beware that you do not take my son back there.

:7 "The LORD God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, 'To your descendants I give this land,' He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.

:8 "And if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be released from this oath; only do not take my son back there."

So Abraham has some specific requirements of his servant.

The wife must come from Abraham’s “country” and his “family” (vs.4)

Isaac is not allowed to go back to Abraham’s country. (vs.6)

Abraham is convinced that the land of Canaan is the land God had promised Him.

But the people of Canaan are not the ones Abraham wants to marry Isaac.

I think Abraham would admit by now that it was a mistake for him to have made his trip to Egypt (Gen. 12). He doesn’t want his son making the same mistake.

:9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.

:10 Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, for all his master's goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.

:10 ten of his master's camels

There are going to be provisions for the trip, gifts for the bride, extra servants are along for the ride (vs. 32), and a few empty seats to bring home a bride.

:10 to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor

Mesopotamia – Hebrew: Aram-naharaim

Nahor is Abraham’s brother. This is how they are going to find “family”.

(see map)

The “city of Nahor”, where he lived, is most likely Haran.

When Abram originally left Ur, he stopped for a few years in Haran before moving on to Canaan.

It will take at least a month to travel the 500 miles from Beersheba.

:11 And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water.

:12 Then he said, "O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.

:13 "Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.

:14 "Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, 'Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink'; let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master."

:14 let her be the one

Lesson

Spousal qualities

It might seem as if the servant is simply asking God for the first woman to be the one, but there’s more here than meets the eye. What should you look for in a spouse?

1. Purity

The servant initially says he’s looking for a “young woman” (vs.14), but later when he retells the story to Laban, he makes it a little more specific:

(Genesis 24:43 NKJV) behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass that when the virgin comes out to draw water, and I say to her, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink…”

He was looking for a gal who was sexually pure.

This is a tough quality to look for these days. The pressure is on to have sex before you get married.

Consider this: If a person doesn’t practice self-control before you marry them, what makes you think they will practice self-control after you get married? Don’t you want to marry someone with self-control?

What if I have not led a pure life?

Then start now. Now is the time to develop the qualities of a life that honors God. Let God cleanse and re-sensitize your conscience.

Play Video: Billy Graham: A Conscience Resensitized

What if I’m currently sleeping with my boyfriend/girlfriend?

Either stop or get married. Don’t tell yourself that you’re almost married. Learn to wait until you are married. Your boyfriend/girlfriend isn’t your spouse until you’re married. You’re not married until you’re married.

Learning self-control now will pay off when you’re married. If you see him/her have self-control now, it will be easier to trust them to have self-control after you’re married.

2. Kindness

This gal will need to be one who shows hospitality in offering to give water to a stranger.

I call this “kindness”. Kindness is a “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22). Doing good things for others. The servant wants Isaac’s bride to be kind.

3. Hard worker

Not only should this gal show the servant hospitality, she will need to offer to water the camels.

A camel can go 5-7 days without much food or water. When it comes time to water a camel, it will drink up to 20 gallons at a time. Ten camels = 200 gallons.

It will take a special kind of gal to willingly offer to water ten camels.

He isn’t going to find the girl snoozing at the beauty parlor. He’s going to find her at the village well, working hard for her family to draw water. She’s going to have to be an extraordinary worker to willingly water the camels as well.

Many of the ancient wells had a stone staircase leading down to where the water was. She’s going to be working up quite a sweat to water those ten camels.

4. Right family

Abraham’s servant has made a promise to find someone from the family of Abraham’s father, not the Canaanites.

(Genesis 24:4 NKJV) but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”

For the Christian, the issue of family is also a priority.

But this isn’t about the right race or financial status.

This is about whether or not they a part of God’s family.

(2 Corinthians 6:14 NKJV) Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

God desires for marriage to be more than just a physical and emotional union. He wants it to be a spiritual union as well – and that is impossible with an unbeliever.

:15 And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder.

We were already told about Rebekah at the end of Gen. 22.

Nahor and Abraham are brothers. Rebekah is the granddaughter of Nahor. Isaac is the son of Abraham. Isaac will be marrying the granddaughter of his uncle Nahor (his first cousin once removed).

:15 before he had finished speaking

Lesson

Prayer

When Jesus was teaching about prayer, He said…

(Matthew 6:7–8 NKJV) —7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

Why should we pray if God already knows what we need?

1. Relationship

God wants a relationship with us, and that requires communication.

Prayer is part of our communication with God.

I think God wants to develop that sense of connection with us where we “anticipate” what He’s wanting to do, and we learn to ask for it.

Almost like a husband and wife finishing each other’s sentences.

Some of that will come from our time in God’s Word.

(John 15:7 NKJV) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

I’m working on a study based on the blessing in Numbers 6 and it’s making me rethink some of my prayers.

God “making His face shine” on me is about letting His light expose the things in the dark.

I think that some of you are learning that as you are memorizing and meditating on God’s Word, God has been challenging you in areas of your life.

Pay attention to those challenges and learn to respond in prayer. Ask.

2. Faith

God wants us to grow in our faith.

Why is faith important?

(Hebrews 11:6 NKJV) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Faith pleases Him.

Faith trusts that He’s there, even when we don’t see Him.

Faith trusts that He will respond to us, as a “rewarder” when we ask.

rewarder – misthapodotes – “reward” + “giver”

So we learn to pray. We learn to ask. Even if we aren’t sure what the right thing is we should pray for.

Sometimes we learn that we need to keep asking, over and over again.

Why should we have to ask over and over?

Do you trust Him? Keep asking.

Sometimes we aren’t aware of what’s involved surrounding our prayers.

Sometimes there are spiritual forces involved, hindering the work that needs to be done (like Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 10 – “the prince of Persia”)

Sometimes the person we’re praying for isn’t in the place God wants them to be when He answers our prayer, and He is going to wait for the right time.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if the four things that the servant is praying for actually happen?

:15 Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel

The servant doesn’t know it yet, but this gal has checked off one of his qualifications.

She’s from the right family.

:16 Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up.

:16 very beautiful to behold

This wasn’t one of the servant’s qualifications.

Rebekah was a good-looking gal.

When we think of this as a picture of finding a Bride for Christ, we realize that this is how the Lord looks at us, His bride. Psalm 45 is considered a Messianic psalm, and gives us a hint at what Son sees in His Bride:

(Psalm 45:11 NKJV) So the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, worship Him.

Do you feel beautiful? Most of us don’t. But God thinks you’re beautiful.

Some teachers look at the Song of Solomon as a picture of Christ loving the church. Solomon wrote this about his wife –

(Song of Solomon 4:7 NKJV) You are all fair, my love, And there is no spot in you.

Was she a perfect woman? Not really. But Solomon couldn’t see the “spots”.

I think this is how each husband ought to look at his wife.

Paul told husbands to love their wives like Jesus loves the church, who “washes” her in the “water by the word”.

(Ephesians 5:27 NKJV) that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Jesus cleanses and “beautifies” us with His Word.

Husbands ought to use their words to beautify their wives.

I make it a practice every day to tell my wife how beautiful she is, and that I love her.

:16 a virgin; no man had known her

How did he know?

In David’s day, gals that were virgins wore a different kind of robe to tell them apart (2Sam. 13:18). Perhaps he can tell by what she’s wearing.

Perhaps it is by how she’s acting.

This is another of the servant’s qualifications.

:17 And the servant ran to meet her and said, "Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher."

:18 So she said, "Drink, my lord." Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink.

:18 Drink, my lord

She passes the third test (kindness). Wait for the next one …

:19 And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking."

:19 I will draw water for your camels

She passes the final test (hard worker)

:20 Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.

:21 And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.

He still doesn’t know if she’s from the right family or not (even though we know, I’ll remove that checkmark for now)

:22 So it was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels of gold,

The servant isn’t going to give these things to her just yet, not until he’s found out who she and her family are (vs. 47)

:22 a golden nose ring

I have it on the best authority that nose rings are associated with punk rockers. Does this mean that Rebekah was wearing black, maybe even a pink Mohawk?

On a more serious note, these are something like a wedding present or engagement ring for the bride.

:22 ten shekels of gold

Thought to be about 5 ounces of gold, today worth about $16,000 ($3200/oz., assuming this is the total weight of both bracelets).

:23 and said, "Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please, is there room in your father's house for us to lodge?"

:24 So she said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah's son, whom she bore to Nahor."

:25 Moreover she said to him, "We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge."

:24 I am the daughter of Bethuel

Bingo! She’s passed the final test! We have a winner!

According to vs. 47, this is when the servant will put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.

:26 Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the LORD.

bowed down his head – qadad – (Qal) to bow down

worshiped – shachah – (Hithpael) to bow down, prostrate oneself; before God in worship

I wonder what Rebekah is thinking when this man responds by bowing and worshipping God. I wonder if she’s thinking, “Does this guy have a hard time getting his camels fed?”

:26 worshiped the LORD

The servant is worshipping God because he realizes this is the one, this is the answer to his prayers. She’s passed the final test.

Note that the servant is worshipping Yahweh (the LORD).

Lesson

Seeing the Answers

Illustration

A guy was driving down the street, in a panic because he had an important meeting and couldn’t find a parking space. Looking up toward heaven, he said, “Oh Lord, please take pity on me. If you find me a parking space, I will go to church every Sunday for the rest of my life and give up ColdStone ice cream and McDonalds.”

Miraculously, an empty spot appeared. He looked up again and said, “Never mind, I found one.”

I wonder if we always realize when God answers our prayers.

I think sometimes the reason God wants me to learn perseverance in prayer and learn to pray some of the same things every day for weeks is so I’ll get it through my thick skull that when it happens, I realize I was praying for it and God answered it.

God answers prayer.

(Luke 17:12–19 NKJV) —12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

Don’t neglect to recognize God’s hand.

:27 And he said, "Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren."

:28 So the young woman ran and told her mother's household these things.

It may be that Bethuel had a concubine or two and so she doesn’t bother to tell her half-brothers and sisters, just her own mother’s household.

:29 Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man by the well.

The suggestion is that Bethuel didn’t run to meet the servant because he may have been an invalid at the time.

:29 a brother whose name was Laban

We’re going to get better acquainted with Laban when Rebekah’s son Jacob will arrive for a visit many years later. We’re going to find that Laban is not that great of a guy – in fact he’s quite a conniving fellow. Everybody check to see if you still have your wallet…

Note: Even though the servant is looking for someone from the “right family”, he’s not looking for someone with a “perfect family”.

:30 So it came to pass, when he saw the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister's wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, "Thus the man spoke to me," that he went to the man. And there he stood by the camels at the well.

Because we know something about how Laban is going to turn out, it’s very likely that Laban sees a chance to profit from all this. If Rebekah got jewelry for watering the camels, what might Laban get for feeding the man and his camels and putting them up for the night?

:31 And he said, "Come in, O blessed of the LORD! Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels."

:32 Then the man came to the house. And he unloaded the camels, and provided straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

:33 Food was set before him to eat, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told about my errand." And he said, "Speak on."

The servant hasn’t forgotten why he’s come. He wants to get on with his mission.

:34-47 Retelling the story …

We won’t take time to read this but …

The servant tells Rebekah’s family the entire story about his mission from Abraham and how God answered his prayers…

I’m sure Laban’s eyes got big when he heard about how wealthy Abraham was …

:34 So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.

:35 "The LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.

I imagine that Laban’s eyes are getting pretty big about now.

:36 "And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and to him he has given all that he has.

The servant is “wooing” the Bride. He’s telling of the glories of the Son:

(Hebrews 1:2 NKJV) …whom He has appointed heir of all things…

:37 "Now my master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell;

:38 'but you shall go to my father's house and to my family, and take a wife for my son.'

:39 "And I said to my master, 'Perhaps the woman will not follow me.'

:40 "But he said to me, 'The LORD, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father's house.

:41 'You will be clear from this oath when you arrive among my family; for if they will not give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.'

:42 "And this day I came to the well and said, 'O LORD God of my master Abraham, if You will now prosper the way in which I go,

:43 'behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass that when the virgin comes out to draw water, and I say to her, "Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,"

:44 'and she says to me, "Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,"; let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son.'

:45 "But before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah, coming out with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her, 'Please let me drink.'

:45 before I had finished speaking in my heart – his prayer was not one spoken out loud. He wasn’t even finished with his prayer before he saw the answer.

:46 "And she made haste and let her pitcher down from her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will give your camels a drink also.' So I drank, and she gave the camels a drink also.

:47 "Then I asked her, and said, 'Whose daughter are you?' And she said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the nose ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.

The Holy Spirit has given gifts to the church while we’re on our journey to the wedding.

:48 "And I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of truth to take the daughter of my master's brother for his son.

:49 "Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. And if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left."

:50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, "The thing comes from the LORD; we cannot speak to you either bad or good.

Notice Laban’s use of “LORD”.

Laban and his father Bethuel can see that God was behind the entire event.

:51 "Here is Rebekah before you; take her and go, and let her be your master's son's wife, as the LORD has spoken."

:52 And it came to pass, when Abraham's servant heard their words, that he worshiped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.

Again, the servant worships, bowing down on his face before God.

He’s doing this in front of people he’s just met.

:53 Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.

More than just an “engagement ring”, this is now a “dowry”, which proved the financial condition of the groom as well as provided something to support the wife in case of death or divorce.

:54 And he and the men who were with him ate and drank and stayed all night. Then they arose in the morning, and he said, "Send me away to my master."

:55 But her brother and her mother said, "Let the young woman stay with us a few days, at least ten; after that she may go."

:56 And he said to them, "Do not hinder me, since the LORD has prospered my way; send me away so that I may go to my master."

Laban doesn’t want Rebekah to go too quickly.

:57 So they said, "We will call the young woman and ask her personally."

:58 Then they called Rebekah and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" And she said, "I will go."

:58 she said, "I will go."

Remember the picture of the Holy Spirit looking for a bride for the Son?

The world wants you to delay getting serious about Jesus. The world says you should wait a while.

But the Holy Spirit says, “Today is the day of salvation”.

Rebekah doesn’t hesitate. She’s ready to go.

For some of you, you may be hearing Jesus’ proposal to you:

(Revelation 3:20 NKJV) Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Will you say “yes” to the Son? Will you let today be the day that you say to Jesus, “Jesus I need You. Come into my life and be my Savior.”

Will you say “yes”, or will you delay?

:59 So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his men.

:59 and her nurse

Rebekah won’t be making the journey by herself with these strangers, she is taking the woman who nursed her, who raised her. She is also apparently taking other maidservants along as well (vs. 61, “maids”).

We know the name of this nurse, it was Deborah (Gen. 35:8). She would be a greatly treasured, and LONG time member of Rebekah’s family, apparently living with Rebekah and/or her family for the next 106 years. It takes some detective work, but you can see it in the book of Genesis (it will be in my notes)

Detective Notes: Deborah either 1) went with Rebekah’s son Jacob when he fled to live with uncle Laban, or 2) she joins Jacob and his family after they return from Haran, or 3) Jacob is made aware of her death when it happens. Either way, her death is recorded in the middle of Jacob’s story (Not Isaac and Rebekah’s).

(Genesis 35:8 NKJV) Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the terebinth tree. So the name of it was called Allon Bachuth.

Keep in mind – Rebekah and Isaac will take twenty years to have their kids (Gen. 25:26), Jacob will be about eighty six years old when he leaves for Uncle Laban’s, and will spend twenty years with Uncle Laban. That puts 126 years on top of how old she must be when she leaves with Rebekah (I’d guess she’d have to be at least 30 years old at that time). Perhaps this is why her death is recorded, it was a big deal.

Track Jacob’s dates: Jacob was 130 years old when he made it to Egypt with Joseph (Gen. 47:9), when Joseph was 30 years old (Gen. 41:46), meaning that Jacob was 100 years old when Joseph was born. Jacob spent 20 years with Uncle Laban (Gen. 31:38), but his kids weren’t beginning to be born until year 8 (Gen. 29:20, 28). Joseph wasn’t born to Rachel until after Leah had born six sons and one daughter (Gen. 30:20-24), meaning he probably wasn’t born until at least year 14 at Uncle Laban’s, meaning that Joseph was six (20-14=6) when Jacob left Uncle Laban’s, Jacob was 106, and that means that Jacob was about 86 (106-20=86) when he arrived at Laban’s.

:60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her: "Our sister, may you become The mother of thousands of ten thousands; And may your descendants possess The gates of those who hate them."

:61 Then Rebekah and her maids arose, and they rode on the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed.

We aren’t told much about the journey, except we know that it would be a long, hard ride. Perhaps the servant told Rebekah more stories about Isaac as they travelled.

:61 the servant took Rebekah and departed

Quiz Alert (there are five things to write down about finding God’s will – pay attention)

Lesson

Finding God’s Will

One of the things I love about this chapter are the practical lessons in it about finding God’s will. The servant was given a mission, to find the “appointed” wife for Isaac. He was looking for the gal that God had chosen. How did he do it?

This is not an exhaustive list of things we can do to find God’s will, but there are very important elements.

1. Prayer (write that down, it’s on the quiz)

(vs. 12 – “O LORD God …”)

(James 1:5–6 NKJV) —5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

If you don’t know which way you are to go, ask God. Sounds simple, doesn’t it?

One of our problems comes because we don’t often wait for God to give us the answer. We wait ten seconds and when we don’t see the answer, off we go our own way.

One of the secrets of answered prayer is learning to discern what God’s will is, and then ask for THAT.

(1 John 5:14–15 NKJV) —14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

It’s almost a chicken and egg thing (what comes first), it’s hard to know what to ask when we don’t know what His will is, but prayer is one of the ways we figure it all out.

I think the things the servant was praying about were pretty wise aspects of God’s will.

As Joshua and the Israelites were conquering the land, they got into trouble when they were visited by the emissaries that pretended to be from a distant country. The visitors were dressed in worn out clothes, beat up sandals, and all their food was crusty and moldy.

(Joshua 9:14 NKJV) Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord.

They thought it was no big deal to make a commitment to these people because after all, it “looked” like they were from a distant country. But they weren’t. And it caused a lot of trouble for Israel. Looks are deceiving. We need to ask God for advice and listen for His response.

2. Wise Requests (write that down, it’s on the quiz)

(vs.14 – “let it be that …”)

Sometimes it can be good to put some specific requests in your prayers.

The things the servant asks for are not particularly easy things (watering ten camels), but they’re also not impossible things (ie - I want her to be able to fly).

The things the servant asks for are also very practical, wise qualities that will contribute to finding a good wife.

He doesn’t ask that she have a freckle under her left ear (which has nothing to do with marriage). He asks for her to be kind, a hard worker, pure, etc.

I remember after seminary looking for a full time pastoral job. One of the things we wrote down as a requirement was that you could buy Wheat Thins in the town (we were looking at small towns). Probably not the most spiritual of stipulations.

I found it was more important to me that the churches we looked at were Biblical when it came to the work of the Holy Spirit.

I remember many many years ago being taught to think about the kind of spouse I wanted and start praying for her. Start praying godly things for them.

3. Patience (write that down, it’s on the quiz)

(vs.21 – “wondering at her, remained silent”)

Even after the servant initially meets Rebekah, he took it slowly.

He waits until he had finished drinking before he hears her offer to water the camels.

Then he waits until she had watered ten camels.

Then he waits until he hears who her family was.

He waited for his answer.

4. Get in the way (write that down, it’s on the quiz)

(KJV vs. 27 – “I being in the way, the Lord led me”)

In 1940, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope began making a series of movies known as the “Road” pictures. They started with the “Road to Singapore” in 1940. Here’s a clip from their third in 1942, “The Road to Morocco” –

Video: Road to Morocco

What does it mean to be “in the way”?

He was on the right road and he was moving.

He wasn’t on the road to Morocco, but he was on the road his master put him on.

His master Abraham pointed him in the right direction toward his family. But he had to get moving along that path.

It’s hard to steer your car if you’re sitting in “Park” at the curb. You need to get a car moving to be able to turn the wheels.

I think one of the keys to being “in the way” is developing a daily time of reading and thinking about God’s Word.

(Psalm 119:105 NKJV) Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

Jesus has a road for us to walk on. He tells us to get going.

Illustration

Years ago we lived in a little condo out in Yorba Linda. I had been hired on at Calvary Anaheim as an assistant pastor. I wasn’t making tons of money. Our little family was growing and things were getting tight in our tiny condo. We had a realtor friend who started looking for houses for us. We found one we liked in Placentia and the owner accepted our offer. Things were looking good, except our little condo wasn’t getting sold. We waited for about a month with no offers on the condo.

I panicked. I was afraid we were going to end up with two mortgage payments. I asked my friend to try to get us out of the new house deal.

And THEN I had my morning quiet time. This is what I read:

(Deuteronomy 1:21 NKJV) Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.’

I felt God was speaking to me about this house…and then I turned the page in my Bible and read…

(Deuteronomy 1:26 NKJV) “Nevertheless you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the Lord your God;

I felt very convicted. I called up my realtor friend and told him NOT to cancel the deal. My friend said he hadn’t done anything, so it was all good. Of course Deb was never worried from the start (she has much more faith than me at times)

The next day we had someone see our condo and by the end of the week we had sold it.

I may not be the best example of an obedient believer, I have my doubts at times, but my point is this – God can lead you. He can make sure you stay on the right path.

And as we are moving along the right road, we will often find God leading us, just because we’re moving.

5. Finish it (write that down, it’s on the quiz)

(vs. 56 – “Do not hinder me…”)

The family wants the servant to stay for a week or two before heading back. They don’t see why it’s so important to leave.

But for the servant, he knows he’s not done yet. He’s not going to rest until he finishes what he’s started. He not only has found God’s will, but he’s being careful to do it.

He needs to get Rebekah safely to her new husband.

(James 4:17 NKJV) Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

:62 Now Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he dwelt in the South.

Beer Lahai Roi – B@’er la-Chay Ro’iy – “well of the Living One seeing me”; the well where Hagar ran to when she was pregnant with Ishmael (Gen. 16:14). It might be that this just happens to be where Isaac was, but it might be a reminder to us that God does see us. God does know what is happening in our lives. God sees Isaac’s situation. God knows that Isaac needs a wife.

:63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming.

:63 to meditate in the field

meditate – suwach – to meditate, muse, commune

Some fellows seem to feel they need to hit the bars and nightclubs to find a wife.

Isaac was communing with God. He was following God.

One evening he looked up and there she was.

:64 Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from her camel;

:65 for she had said to the servant, "Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." So she took a veil and covered herself.

:65 It is my master

There will be a day when our long journey to the groom will be over.

(Isaiah 25:9 NKJV) And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”

:66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.

:67 Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent; and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Apparently Isaac had been living in his mother’s tent. It’s been three years since his mother died and he was still mourning the loss of his mother. Isaac is forty years old (Gen. 25:20).

It may have been an arranged marriage, but this is no less a love story.

It’s only in the last hundred years or so that people have gotten the idea in their head that they must “marry for love” – that before they get married there needs to be some sort of emotional or physical connection with the other person.

For most of history, marriages were often “arranged” by the parents.

And then the spouses learned to love each other.

My point?

Love as the basis for marriage is good, but it comes from a choice.

You make a choice to love the other person.

There are things you can do to stir up emotional feelings, but the best love is something that is cultivated.

Read 1Corinthians 13, the “love chapter”.

Paul’s definition of love is all about things you choose to do.

When Rebekah heard about the wealthy Father with a beloved son, she didn’t hesitate. She was invited to leave her old life and find a new life with the son.

We won’t be looking at Genesis 25 in class.

It will be in my notes that I’ll email to you.

That’s it for our class on the Life of Abraham!

But it’s about Abraham remarrying at age 140, more kids being born, and then Abraham’s death.

25:1-6 Abraham remarries

:1 Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah.

Sarah is dead. Abraham is 140 years old and he doesn’t want to live alone. He remarries.

Keturah – Q@tuwrah – “incense”

:2 And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

There’s an old song we used to sing with the kids, “Father Abraham had many sons, many sons had father Abraham …”

Zimran – Zimran – “musician”

Jokshan – Yoqshan – “snarer”

Medan – M@dan – “contention”

Midian – Midyan – “strife”. He would be the father of the Midianites, Arabs, sometimes the enemies of Israel.

Ishbak – Yishbaq – “he releases”

Shuah – Shuwach – “wealth”

These are names associated with various Arab tribes, a fulfillment of:

(Genesis 17:4 NKJV) …you shall be a father of many nations.

You might be tempted to look back at the story of Abraham and Sarah and conclude that the whole problem of Sarah getting pregnant was Sarah’s problem. Now Abraham gets remarried and is able to have all these kids. But don’t forget what the Scripture says:

(Romans 4:19 NKJV) And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.

What God did to allow Sarah to get pregnant was to give life to both Sarah and Abraham’s bodies. The life that God gave to Abraham’s body seems to have kept going as he fathers six more sons.

:3-4 … grandsons… more descendants…

:3 Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.

Sheba – Sh@ba’ – “seven” or “an oath; a nation in southern Arabia

Dedan – D@dan – “low country; a place in south Arabia

Asshurim – “guided”, “steps”

Letushim – L@tuwshim – “hammered”

Leummim – L@’ummiym – “peoples”

:4 And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.

:5 And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac.

:6 But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east.

Abraham has the clear understanding that the land of Canaan belonged to Isaac. He loves and takes care of his other sons, but clearly demonstrates that he believes God’s promise about Isaac.

Apparently there are some of the Jews that feel this was a mistake since the Arabs ended up getting all the oil! J

25:7-11 Abraham dies

:7 This is the sum of the years of Abraham's life which he lived: one hundred and seventy-five years.

:8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.

gathered to his people – this might be a reference to Abraham going to paradise, but it almost might be a reference to the burial customs of the day. The dead body was placed in a cave until it decomposes, and then the bones would be put into a common pit.

:9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite,

:10 the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried, and Sarah his wife.

Both Isaac and Ishmael participate in the burial of their father. It seems that the two brothers have reconciled.

Isaac would be 75 years old, Ishmael would be 89 years old.

:11 And it came to pass, after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac dwelt at Beer Lahai Roi.

Beer Lahai Roi – “well of the Living One seeing me”. This was the place where Hagar had been stopped by the angel when she first fled from Abraham and Sarah while she was pregnant with Ishmael. She realized that God had seen her and cared for her.

This appears to be the place where Isaac had been living when the servant Eliezer brought Rebekah to be Isaac’s wife (Gen. 24:62).

Final

If you have your signed final papers, turn them in, or email me a picture of them this week.