THURSDAY, July 2, 2009                                                       READ: Genesis 24: 1 - 67                                                                                                        

ABRAHAM SOUGHT A BRIDE FOR HIS SON, ISAAC

MEMORIZE: So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please, put your hand under my thigh, 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,; but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son, Isaac.”         Genesis 24: 2, 3

Sarah was given the privilege of having Isaac when she was ninety-one years old and mothered him for thirty-six years after he was born, then she died at the age of one hundred and thirty-seven years old. Isaac was thirty-six old when his mother died. God gave Sarah the privilege of a long life, but not long enough to see Isaac get married and have children. Isaac lived for four years after his mother died, and it was evidently hard for him. It was time for him to begin to produce that line from which God’s Messiah and the multitude of descendants would come. So, we see here in Genesis 24: 1 - 67, how Abraham sent his servant out to find a bride for his son, Isaac. This action typifies God, the Father, sending God, the Holy Spirit, into the world to find and prepare the bride, the Church, for His Son. It does provide a lesson in personal evangelism for us, members of the Church, as we, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, engages in evangelism, winning the lost for Jesus Christ. In vv. 2 - 4, we see Abraham giving instruction to his servant. In v. 5, the servant sought clarification and the stating of the parameters within, which he was to operate. In vv. 6 - 10, Abraham warned the servant sternly, not to take Isaac with him, so that the bride would have to exercise faith in the servant’s words concerning her master, Isaac. In vv. 10- 14, the servant asked God to intervene and to show him whom He had selected to be the bride of his master’s son. In vv. 15 - 28, the servant realized that God had answered his prayer and brought the young lady whom He had selected to be Isaac’s wife to him. (cf. Isaiah 65: 24). In vv. 29 - 31, we see how the young lady, Rebekah’s brother comes into the picture. It was the brother, not the father, who was the important entity in the giving away of the bride. Now, here in vv. 32, 33, we see how hospitality is extended to the servant, but he refused to partake until he told them of his mission. We too have a story to tell, and we should not allow ourselves to become side-tracked until we have told our story concerning Jesus. So, in vv. 34 – 49, he set forth his case and made it clear that God had led him to Rebekah. Look at the response of Laban and Bethuel in vv. 50, 51! In vv. 52, 53, the servant, knowing that Rebekah was pledged herself, he gave her and her mother jewelry, clothing and other precious things. Do we hope to bring people to Jesus Christ by promising Heaven? Heaven and God’s riches are ours after we trust Jesus as Lord and Savior. We are not saved through believing in or desiring Heaven. We are saved when we believe in Jesus Christ (cf. John 1: 12; Acts 16: 31; Romans 10: 9, 10). In vv. 54 -56, we are able to see that there were efforts made to obtain clarity from Rebekah that she really was convinced that God had chosen her, and that she was willing to buy into what God was doing. In vv. 57, 58, they called Rebekah, who had already packed her things and was ready to go, and asked her if she was willing to go with the man. She was univocal in her commitment. So, we see in vv. 59 -61,that they sent Rebekah with the uttering of a blessing which fitted perfectly with God’s promises of many descendants to Abraham and Sarah, through their son, Isaac. In vv. 62 - 65, we see how the servant and his party brought Rebekah and her maid to his master, Isaac. Look at her response! In v. 66, the servant told Isaac how his mission went. In v. 67, we see how Isaac took his bride, brought her into his mother’s tent. He made her his wife. He loved her and was comforted by her. Do we have indication that Isaac was a “mama’s boy?” A lot of men are and they perpetuate that and are unable to raise their sons to be men and fathers. It is a very critical situation. God is not unable to fix it (cf. Malachi 4: 6).

PRAY:LORD, God Almighty, thank You for showing us what was in Your mind to bring Jesus into the world and to provide a bride, the Church, as His body. I believe that Jesus of Nazareth was Your Son. I believe that You gave Him to die in my place and stead. I believe that You brought Him back from the dead and have made Him to be Christ and LORD. I accept Him as my LORD and Savior. I will live for Him today. Amen.