XII - Genesis 24 - Isaac and Rebekah

I doubt that I will get beyond the 24th chapter of Genesis at this posting.--------------------Now Sarah has died and Abraham's story is about to fade into the story of Isaac, his son chosen to inherit Abraham's birthright, as well as carry the covenent bloodline, thus building the nation Israel. After Sarah's death and burial, Abraham's next order of business was to secure Isaac a wife and establish Isaac as a continued standard bearer.----------------------Vs 2: Abraham sent for his senior servant Eliezar. Abraham must have really liked and trusted this man. Abraham told Eliezar to put his hand under Abraham's thigh (this was a common practice when making important sworn statements or securing an oath). Abraham told him two things: 1) DO NOT allow my son Isaac to get involved with a Canaanite woman and marry her. 2) Find Isaac a wife from among our own people. Notice which one is first. Reader(s) may not think this is a big deal, but I do.---------------------Vs 3: Eliezar (probably nervous about successfully carrying out such an important assignment), asks, "What if the woman I find does not want to come back with me"? A reasonable question. Sounds like the very question I would ask. Eliezar also wanted to know that if the woman does not want to come back and live here, would it be OK if I then took Isaac to her home territory. Abraham answered with a stern "Absolutely Not. God gave me and my descendents THIS land, and THIS is where Isaac will build the holy nation". Avs 8: Abraham comforted Eliezar by assuring him that if the woman did not return with him then Eliezar was released from the oath. Then Abraham in the last phrase of that verse repeats "only do not take my son back there". That was extremely imoportant to Abraham.-----------------------Eliezar loaded up with "all kinds of good things". Wow! can you imagine the riches Abraham sent on those camels. Remember, Abraham was extremely wealthy by this time and finding Isaac the right wife was of the utmost importance, therefore I'm sure he put on those camels the BEST of everthing he had and plenty of it. He wanted to leave nothing to chance. ------------------------Elieazar went toward Nahor, where there was a concentration of Abraham's extended clan. He brought his camels to the well outside town about the time when the women were to fetch water for the following day. Then Eliezar did the right thing: He prayed that God would make him successful. Vs 13 - 14 he asks God to help him make sure he gets the right wife for Isaac, so he places forth conditions through which Eliezar would be absolutely certain. ----------------Vss 15 - 21 tells of the exact detailed actions and words taken by both Eliezar and Rebekah, leaving no doubt that this was the woman God wanted for Isaac. (Allow me to make a quick comment on this: Asking God for a sign is no small thing and should not be taken lightly or used frivilously. In fact, Jesus Himself prohibited this practice used for the purpose of putting God to a test. Eliezar was on one of the most important mission in the History of our civilization) ----------------------- Vs. 16 tells us that Rebekah was a virgin and very beautiful. The silver nose ring and two silver bracelets were not offered as bribes or payments, but rather it was customary to give the betrothed a fine gift, but her family much much more in volume and in value. Rebekah turned out to be a fourth generation descendant of Abraham's brother Nahor. Rebekah appeared to be a perfect choice. ---------------------- Rebekah couldn't have been happier about all of this. Little did she realize yet just what all of this really meant. She was excited, running and telling everybody all about her engagement. Can't you just see pretty Rebekah doing that, showing all the girls her new jewelry plus showing everybody all the riches Eliezar had on his camels. Then she got around to telling her brother Laben. Now Laben is a shrewd, somewhat unsavory character that knows how to, and is willing to, stoop lower than those with whom he does business. We'll talk more about Laben in a few days. (Although I must admit that he is an entertaining character) Laben begins to spend some time with Eliezar and showing interest (I think he's buttering him up). Vss 34-49 Eliezar recounts the entire story to Rebekah's brother Laben and her father Bethuel. Eliezar can barely contain himself. He could not have dreamed of a more successful mission and I am happy for him. Vs 50: Bethual and Laben give their blessings and tell Eliezar to take Rebekah and go bac to Abraham and Isaac. Everyone celebrated the successful union arrangement. vs 54b When Eleizar got up the next morning he was ready to go back, anxious to show Abraham and Isaac what a wonderful job he did. However, in vs 55: Laben and Rebekah's mother told him to wait 10 days. (This is a preview to Laben's way of doing business.) But Eliezar held his ground, thank goodness. They left it ultimately up to Rebekah. I always thought Laben got Rebekah aside and persuaded her to go along with the ten days, but Rebekah was as anxious to go as Eliezar was. And Rebekah does as Rebekah sees fit, not what her brother thinkds. -----------------Vss 63 - 65 is a scene you could imagine in a modern-day movie. Almost like it was love at first sight for Isaac and Rebekah. Maybe it was. I hope so. In vs 65 when Rebekah was told that it was Isaac, her fiance', she veiled her face which was customary. They got married and the last part of vs 67 says that Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. I think that means that perhaps this was the first time Isaac had been happy since his mother Sarah died. And it says "and he loved her".-------------------- I like Rebekah. She reminds me a little of someone who is very special in my life. Rebekah proved to be an excellent wife for Isaac, seemingly peculiarly fitted for him. They, as a married couple, seemed to illustrate the proverbial "attraction of opposites". Her bubbly, eager, energetic, enterprising spirit was countered, yet complimented, by Isaac's quiet, careful, passive, and contemplative disposition. Each supplemented what the other lacked. For years to come, their lives were blessed by mutual love, devotion, spirit of oneness, and true affection for each other. Could Eliezar have done any better? No.--------------------------Next post - Jacob and Esau