Embark on a journey back in time as we uncover the remarkable narrative of Abraham's servant and his unwavering mission to find Isaac a bride—a story that intertwines loyalty, divine providence, and the tender beginnings of love. This week's episode peels back the layers of ancient customs and the servant's prayerful quest, revealing the hand of God in uniting Isaac and Rebekah. We'll witness the servant's steadfast faith as he navigates the complexities of family dynamics and marriage traditions, and you'll be drawn into the heart of a biblical love story that speaks across the ages.
As we navigate the twists and turns of this age-old story, we'll explore the servant's strategic approach to securing Rebekah's hand for Isaac, contrasted with Laban's cunning. The unfolding narrative is rich with symbolism and cultural significance—from the dowry's role to a blessing ceremony. We'll also ponder Isaac's meditation in the Negev and his meeting with his bride-to-be. No detail is spared in this episode as we dissect the covenantal union that not only fulfills Abraham's wishes but also sets the stage for God's unfolding plan through the Messiah. Tune in for an episode that is as enlightening as it is moving, and find yourself transported to the very heart of God's care for His chosen people.
Embark on a journey back in time as we uncover the remarkable narrative of Abraham's servant and his unwavering mission to find Isaac a bride—a story that intertwines loyalty, divine providence, and the tender beginnings of love. This week's episode peels back the layers of ancient customs and the servant's prayerful quest, revealing the hand of God in uniting Isaac and Rebekah. We'll witness the servant's steadfast faith as he navigates the complexities of family dynamics and marriage traditions, and you'll be drawn into the heart of a biblical love story that speaks across the ages.
As we navigate the twists and turns of this age-old story, we'll explore the servant's strategic approach to securing Rebekah's hand for Isaac, contrasted with Laban's cunning. The unfolding narrative is rich with symbolism and cultural significance—from the dowry's role to a blessing ceremony. We'll also ponder Isaac's meditation in the Negev and his meeting with his bride-to-be. No detail is spared in this episode as we dissect the covenantal union that not only fulfills Abraham's wishes but also sets the stage for God's unfolding plan through the Messiah. Tune in for an episode that is as enlightening as it is moving, and find yourself transported to the very heart of God's care for His chosen people.
Thank you for joining me again at the Mysteries of God's Word, if you've been with us over the last couple of weeks. When Abraham was 140 years old, he sent his oldest servant to find a bride for Isaac. The servant had traveled over 500 miles to the land of Mesopotamia, to the land of Abraham's kinsmen. When the servant had arrived, he prayed to the Lord that he might find the right woman for Isaac. Last week we learned that Rebekah, a virtuous young woman, showed up just as the prayer was being answered and in God's sovereign timing and in his sovereign direction, rebecca fulfills all of the requests of this servant that he had asked in his prayer. The servant has a conversation with Rebecca and they head to her home and before the servant would have a meal with Rebecca's family, and before the servant would have a meal with Rebekah's family, the servant said he would not eat until he had stated his business. And this week we're going to look at the servant's proposal for Rebekah, starting in Genesis 24, 34-36. So he said I am Abraham's servant. The Lord has greatly blessed my master and he's become great. He's given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys. And Sarah, my master's wife bore a son to my master when he was old and to him he's given all that he has. So Abraham's servant, in these two verses, introduces himself. Now it's already very likely that Nahor's children and grandchildren and if you remember, Nahor was Abraham's brother, so these are his children and grandchildren they have probably heard already about Abraham. They've probably heard how Abraham left his father's household and they've probably heard how Abraham had felt called by the Lord. We have already learned in the text that Rebekah had informed the entire household that this stranger was Abraham's servant. But here he formally introduces himself and he tells Rebecca's family that Abraham has been greatly blessed. Now the blessings spoken of here speak to Abraham's earthly possessions flocks, herds, silver gold, servants, camels, donkeys, along with his promised son Isaac. These physical blessings that God has given Abraham are symbolic of the eternal blessing of an eternal promised land that's going to come through faith. However, god has a purpose for these physical blessings as he begins to establish a nation that will bring about the Messiah.
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The servant continues on speaking about how Abraham. He says 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, but you shall go to my father's house and to my clan and take a wife for my son. I said to my master, perhaps the woman will not follow me, but he said to me the Lord, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father's house. Then you will be free from my oath when you come to my clan, and if they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath. You will be free from my oath. In these few verses we see Abraham's servant continue to describe how Abraham made him take an oath to find Isaac a bride. He speaks how Abraham described an angel of the Lord that would go before him to prosper his way and how he was to only take a wife from Abraham's father's house.
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Picking up again in verse 42, the servant begins to pray. He says I came today to the spring and said O Lord, the God of my master, abraham, if now you are prospering the way that I go, behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, to whom I shall say Please give me a little water from your jar to drink. And to who will say Drink and I'll draw water for your camels also. Let her be the woman to whom the Lord has appointed for my master's son. Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, rebecca came out with her water jar on her shoulder and she went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her Please let me drink. She quickly let down her jar on her shoulder and she said Drink and I will give your camels drink also. So I drank and she gave the camels also drink.
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In these six verses, the servant continues to summarize his prayer. He describes to Rebecca's family how Rebecca came out even before he had finished speaking these words in his heart, and then she fulfilled his requests to the Lord. Then, when he asked who her father was, he learned that she was the daughter of Abraham's kinsman. Finally, in his joy of what the Lord was doing, he praised the Lord and he gave Rebekah gifts. After the servant summarizes his experience with Rebekah at the Lord and he gave Rebekah gifts. After the servant summarizes his experience with Rebekah at the well, he says Now, then, if you're going to show steadfast love and faithfulness to my master, tell me and, if not, tell me that I may return to the right hand or to the left. May return to the right hand or to the left. Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said the thing has come from the Lord. We cannot speak to you, good or bad. Behold, rebecca is before you. Take her and go and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has spoken.
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From the text, it would appear that Rebecca's brother, laban, takes the lead, as her father, bethuel, sat beside. In agreement, both of them are claiming to see the providence of God in what the servant is saying. The statement that they make this thing has come from the Lord shows that at some level, the family of Bethuel still acknowledges the Lord of the heavens and the earth, even though we learn from other scriptures that Abraham's family, including this family with Laban, abraham's family, including this family with Laban, served other gods. And their next statement reveals a great deal about this. They say, immediately after claiming that this is from the Lord, laban and Bethuel openly confess they don't know if it's good or bad. This shows their lack of discernment in the things of God. This, of course, is because they worship other gods. The God of heaven and earth, who is the only God, has become one of many gods to this family. This is the height of double-mindedness and hypocrisy in thought. The kind of foolishness that the family of Bethuel is practicing leads people to a serious lack of discernment in all things. And Laban says take her and go, let her be the wife of your master's son. From the perspective of Laban and Bethuel, if this servant believes that the Lord has spoken to him concerning Rebekah, he should take Rebekah to be the wife of Isaac.
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In verse 52, we read so here we see that when the servant heard Rebecca's brother and father confirm that he could take to be Isaac's bride, he bowed himself to the earth and worshipped God. He is acknowledging how the Lord continues to work providentially for the wife of Isaac. It says the servant brought out jewelry, silver, gold garments and he gave them to Rebecca. The servant is now adorning the future bride of Isaac. What a beautiful picture of how the Lord adorns his bride with new clothing garments, white as snow. We also see the servant gave her brother and her mother costly ornaments. These gifts given to Rebecca's family show a formal dowry for the hand of Rebecca, the notation that the gifts are given to her brother and her mother further show that the father Bethuel was incapacitated.
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In verse 54, we read and he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and they spent the night there. When they arose in the morning he said Send me away to my master. Here we see the agreement formalized, as we had read earlier, the servant would not eat until he had presented his business. Now he eats. Fellowship and friendship is created as they participate in a meal and drinking together. And it says that in the morning the servant asked that the agreement be followed through on so that he might be back on his way to his master.
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Abraham. In verse 55, we read Her brother and her mother said Let the young woman remain with us for a while, at least ten days. After that she may go. But he said to them Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master. They said Let us call the young woman and ask her. And they called Rebekah and said to her Will you go with this man? She said I will go.
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As we examine these verses, especially from our Western culture, this can seem Fairly controversial. Laban says let the young woman remain. In typical Laban style, he attempts to manipulate this situation to his financial advantage. Laban is using the emotions of his mother, who certainly desired a longer goodbye. However, laban is very likely trying to work this for his advantage. However, laban is very likely trying to work this for his advantage and, as we see later in our study of Genesis 29, laban is no stranger to manipulating people for financial gain. The servant says do not delay me. The servant here recognizes that Laban is not acting in integrity and this is an unnecessary delay. The servant again points to the providence of the Lord in this matter. But Laban and his mother said Let us call the young woman and ask her does she want to go with you Again? In our Western thinking, we tend to look at Le Bon asking Rebecca as a wonderful thing. Here the woman gets to make the final decision before she leaves. However, this is not about Rebecca's ability to make a decision. This is Le Bon's final attempt to manipulate this situation and go back on his word.
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While bridal consent is an important part of the marriage contract in Hebrew culture, even in arranged marriages, rebecca and Laban have already contractually agreed. They did so the night before when the servant gave them gifts and they ate and drank together. Rebecca here says I will go To her credit. Rebecca acknowledges the contract and the providence of the Lord in this matter and she agrees to leave with the servant right away. Verse 59. So they sent away Rebekah, their sister and her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her Our sister, may you become thousands of ten thousands and may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate him. Then Rebekah and her young women arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebecca and went on his way.
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After Rebecca agreed to go with the servant, her family puts together a sending away party. They allowed Rebecca to take her nurse as well as some other women servants, rebecca to take her nurse as well as some other women servants. The nurse was named Deborah. We learn in Genesis 35.8, and it says that they blessed Rebecca. The blessing her family gives her is very similar to the blessing that God gave to Abraham. The primary components include having many offspring and that her offspring will overcome those who oppose her. This blessing further solidifies that Rebekah is God's chosen bride for Isaac and the lineage of the coming Messiah, verse 62,.
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It says Now Isaac had returned from Bir Lahairoi and was dwelling in the Negev. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and he saw, and behold, there were camels coming. From these verses we see that Isaac is dwelling in the Negev Now. The Negev again is an arid wilderness, much like a desert in the southern part of Israel. And last time we saw Abraham and Isaac they were in Hebron, which is 20 miles south of Jerusalem. The city of Hebron is located in the Judean hills, which are just north of the biblical Negev. This tells us that Isaac went down from Hebron, down from the hills of Judah and into the desert of the Negev and he was dwelling there. And one of those evenings Isaac went out to meditate.
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This Hebrew word for meditation is unique in the Old Testament. The common word for meditate in the Old Testament is meditating on God's word or meditating on the works of the Lord. For example, we read in Psalm 149.15 Psalm 77.12 reads Psalm 77.12 reads I will ponder all your work and I will meditate on your mighty deeds. Joshua 1.8 reads the book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do all that is written in it, for then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success. Biblical meditation is meditating on the Word of God. But again, this word for meditate is unique. It's different from that common word we often find on meditating. In the scriptures it suggests that Isaac would have been going to and fro in the field, thinking about something, with his mind or body bent downward, and the leading thought is that Isaac was anxious downward. And the leading thought is that Isaac was anxious, perhaps upset about something. The later verses suggest he was distressed over his mother's death.
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In verse 64, we read and Rebekah lifted up her eyes and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from the camel and said to the servant who is that man walking in the field to meet us? The servant said it is my master. So she took her veil and covered herself. Rebecca, dismounting from the camel is a sign of respect and submission. The camel is a sign of respect and submission. When someone comes into the presence of an authority figure, they would dismount themselves from any height. And it says she took her veil and covered herself. Tradition in these ancient times demanded that the bride would veil her face in the presence of her future husband until the wedding day. And so Rebecca here veils her face in the presence of her future husband until the wedding day. And so Rebecca here veils her face when she hears that this is her future husband.
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Verse 66, we read that the servant told Isaac all the things he had done. The servant conveys all of how the Lord providentially guided him to find Rebecca and everything that transpired between him and the household of his cousin, bethuel. After the servant conveys all of these things to Isaac, it says Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah, his mother, and took Rebecca. This last verse is actually packed with a lot of information concerning the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah. It says that Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah, his mother. It says that Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah, his mother.
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If you remember from earlier, isaac had been dwelling in the land of the Negev. However, from what we know, abraham is still back in Hebron to see his father, abraham, and present Rebekah before Abraham and then take her into his mother's tent. Furthermore, bringing Rebekah into his mother's tent would have formally shown the entire household of Abraham and Isaac that Rebekah was succeeding Sarah as the woman of this estate. And Isaac is doing all of this before ever seeing the beauty of Rebekah. There is a formal procedure and a formal marriage covenant being established. As Abraham accepts Rebecca, rebecca comes into the tent of his mother and she becomes the new wife of this estate.
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And then it says Isaac took Rebecca and she became his wife. Under Hebrew tradition, consummation of the marriage was the final step in the marriage ceremony. And then we see that when Isaac finally did see her beauty, he loved her. This description of Isaac loving Rebecca and being comforted from his mother's death is the first time in scripture that we see the love between a man and a wife mentioned. Isaac's love for Rebecca comforted him after the death of his mother. Sarah, thank you for joining me today and join me next week as we look at the last 35 years of Abraham's life. God bless you this week.