Chapter 24 & 25: The God who answers prayer.
Abraham has worries like you and I. As a father he worried about Isaac, like you and I.
He wanted a right wife for Isaac. The big difference is that he knew how to trust God. He had aspirations for Isaac and sent his trusted servant, Eliezer, to Haran, on a mission. Abraham believed that "the Lord who made a covenant with him, will send his angel before Eliezer and prepare a wife for Isaac". However if the lady refused to accept, he would not hold the servant responsible for the failure.
Eliezer departed with ten camels and all sorts of choice gifts. When he arrived at Haran (Mesopotamia, the city of Nahar) he decided to wait by the well. This was a place where the town-people would gather. There he prayed to God. "Lord show your steadfast love to Abraham by giving me a sign. I will request a drink from the maiden. If she is the appointed one she will not only give me a drink but will offer to water my camels too".
This is a good prayer to learn from. Respectful and direct. Not flowery. However the fact it got an immediate response, is more the result of it being in alignment with God's plan for the His nation Israel. Nevertheless it does reflect God's attitude towards sincere prayer (against beautiful prayer to be heard by others).
Before he could finish his prayer, Rebekah, the granddaughter of Micah came. Eliezer took a liking to her and immediately asked her for some water. Her response was exactly what Eliezer prayed for. Eliezer immediately gave her gifts and inquired about her. He then asked if he could put up in her home. Her response was very gracious. Eliezer thanked God for His faithfulness to Abraham.
Sometimes we prayed to ask from God, but we never thank God when He answered our prayer.
The first person to meet Rebekah was her brother, Laban. When he saw how rich Eliezer was he was very eager to have him stayed with them.
Before Eliezer sat down for meal he would like to fulfill his mission first. He introduced himself and told Rebekah's father, Bethuel, of his mission and the guidance of God. He asked Bethuel for the hand of Rebekah. Laban and Bethuel recognised it as a will of God and immediately consented.
The next morning Eliezer asked to be allowed to return and inform Abraham of the good news. Rebekah could come later. However Rebekah decided to leave immediately with Eliezer. So they blessed Rebekah and bid her farewell.
Isaac was out in the field at Beer-la'hai-roi (the well where God told Hagar that she would have a son), and Rebekah had her first look of him. Eliezer told Isaac all that had happened and Isaac took Rebekah as wife and loved her.
Was Isaac staying with Ishmael at Beer-la'hai-roi? This could suggest that Isaac might not be close to the stepmother, Keturah, and preferred to stay with Ishmael. It would also indicate why Abraham was afraid that Isaac might marry a local woman.
Abraham gave all he have to Isaac, and sent all his other sons eastward. Abraham died at the age of 175 years. Isaac and Ishmael buried him beside Sarah in the cave of Mach-pe'lah.
The God of Abraham:
Abraham was known as the father of faith. When God called Abram to go to a land He would show him, he responded immediately with no question asked. Today God is calling us journey to His Promised Land, those who responded by faith, like Abraham, will be saved.
Abraham led a life we can relate to. There were famines, fear, politics, business, etc. He even has to go to war to save his nephew. His wife was dominating and got him into trouble with God.
However throughout his life the one consistent fabric was his faith in God. He understood the promise of God and was assured that no matter what, God would keep His promise. If God wanted him to sacrifice his only son, then God knew what He was doing. Not a problem.
He also knew how to worship God. God had blessed him and so one-tenth of whatever he earned belongs to God.
His God was also his friend. He honoured God and talked to Him sincerely, but respectfully. He asked God for signs. He bargained with God in an attempt to save Sodom and Gomorrah.
The God of Abraham is a God who wanted to establish a great nation, and has a plan. He called out to Abraham and Abraham responded with faith and lived by faith. Because of this God blessed him, no matter what. Even at times when he displeased God.
The community respected him because they feared his God.
