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Genesis 22b:

Rebekah

The time had now come to think of a wife for Isaac so that the sacred line could be continued, therefore Someone reminded Abraham of his brother’s family.

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Genesis 22:

20 And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, “Behold, Milcah [“the queen”], she has also born children to your brother Nahor; 21 Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother [twins?], and Kemuel the father of Aram [who gave to the world the language and culture called Aramaic], 22 and Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 

23 And Bethuel [“man of God”, Abraham’s youngest nephew] begat Rebekah [Abraham’s grand-niece]: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother. 

24 And his [Nahor’s] concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.

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Milcah was a daughter of Haran, Abraham’s brother who died young, and therefore she was a sister to Lot.  Genesis 11:27-29.  She married Nahor, her uncle.  Thus Rebekah, who was of age with Isaac although one generation lower than he on the family tree, came to Abraham’s attention.

Abraham was now an old man of about 135, and expected soon to die.  One important act remained for him to do in securing the fulfilment of the promise to his descendants for he had a part to play in this.  Isaac was the one divinely appointed to succeed Abraham as the keeper of the law of God (Romans 3:1-2) and be the father of the chosen people, but he was unmarried and this must be seen to.  This matter could not be left with Isaac alone, for him to select a wife for himself, independent of his parents.  Moreover, the inhabitants of Canaan were given to idolatry, and God had forbidden intermarriage between His people and them, knowing that such marriages would lead to apostasy. 

Moses made a remembrance of that command about 500 years later.

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Exodus 34:

14 For you shall worship no other god: for the LORD [one of] whose names is “Jealous”, is a jealous God [He wants to protect you and keep you close to Him, which is the original meaning of “jealous”]: 15 lest you make a covenant [an agreement] with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice to their gods, and one call you, and you eat of his sacrifice [worship as he does]; 16 and you take of their daughters to [marry] your sons, and [then one day] their daughters go a whoring [an illegal union because it would end in disaster] after their gods, and make your sons go a whoring after their gods [too].

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The patriarch feared the effect of the corrupting influences surrounding his son.  Abraham's habitual faith in God and submission to His will were reflected in the character of Isaac, but the young man's affections were strong, and he was gentle and yielding in disposition. If united in marriage with one who did not fear God, he would be in danger of sacrificing principle for the sake of harmony with her.

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Proverbs 16:25  

There is a way that seems right to a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death.

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Satan’s “way” is firmly based on God’s “way” for he knows that a lot of truth mingled with a little error is the best deception.  But there is a major difference he cannot hide.  His “way” is self-centred while God’s “way” is that others should be considered before ourselves. But his systems are so close to the real in physical operation (church behaviour) that only by the word can they be distinguished.

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In the mind of Abraham the choice of a wife for his son was a matter of grave importance for he was anxious to have him marry one who would not lead him from God.  In ancient times the parents generally made marriage engagements, and this was the custom among those who worshiped God. None were required to marry those whom they could not love of course, but in the giving of their affections the youth, both male and female, were guided by the judgment of their experienced, God-fearing parents. It was regarded as a dishonour to parents, and even a crime against society, to pursue a course contrary to this.   

Isaac, trusting to his father's wisdom and affection, was satisfied to leave the matter to him even though he was in his mid-thirties, believing also that God Himself would direct in the choice made, just like when he was the sacrifice.  Under the guidance of the Spirit of God the parents’ thoughts naturally turned to their father's kindred who still lived in the land of Mesopotamia. Though not free from idolatry in the form of patriotism, they cherished the knowledge and the worship of the true God more than most. 

Isaac must not leave Canaan to go to them because of the call made in Genesis 12, but it might be that among them could be found one who would leave her home and unite with him in maintaining the pure worship of the living God.  So today the Christian must not leave his or her principles for marriage.  If the desired one will not come up to that standard then it is better not to marry, but to look elsewhere, or even remain single.  We should also consider the effect such an inter-marriage will have on the children, especially where the mother is the idolator.

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Genesis 6:

4 There were giants in the earth in those days [like Goliath and his brothers of later years]; and also after that, when the sons of God [the followers of God] came in to the daughters of men [the rejecters of God], and they bare children to them, the same [children] became mighty men which were of old, men of renown [in opposition to God].

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The heritage that God has promised to His people is not in this world. Abraham had no possession in the earth, “no, not so much as to set his foot on.” Acts 7:5.  He possessed great earthly wealth, and he used it to the glory of God and the good of his fellow men; but he did not look upon this world as his home. The LORD had called him to leave his idolatrous countrymen, with the promise of the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession; yet neither he nor his son nor his son's son received it. When Abraham desired a burial place for his dead, he had to buy it from the Canaanites as we will see next week.  His sole possession in the Land of Promise was that rock-hewn tomb in the cave of Machpelah. 

But the word of God had not failed; neither did it meet its final accomplishment in the occupation of Canaan by the Jewish people as so many have since believed, for “To Abraham AND his seed were the promises made.”  Galatians 3:16.  By that word Abraham himself was to share the inheritance.  The fulfilment of God's promise may seem to be long delayed – for “one day is with the LORD as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8); it may appear to tarry; but at the appointed time “it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Habakkuk 2:3.

The fact is that the gift to Abraham and his seed included not merely the land of Canaan, but the whole earth. So says the apostle, “The promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” Romans 4:13.  And the Bible plainly teaches that the promises made to Abraham are to be fulfilled through Christ. All that are Christ's are “Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise” – heirs to “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away” – the earth freed from the curse of sin. Galatians 3:29; 1 Peter 1:4.

So why the promise of Canaan?  What is so important about that particular area?

I have an understanding – Maybe it is the gateway to this world, the physical place where angels actually arrive on earth, a sort of intergalactic arrival and departure lounge.  If so, those dwelling there would be the first to greet the visitors from outer space and the last to farewell them.  What better place for Abraham to live in the new world? Because of the spin of the planet all approaches to the earth from space appear to come from the east, and Israel (Canaan) would be the chosen place of landing.  The direction “east” appears to have a special meaning in the Bible.  Revelation 7:2.  It was also the direction for the front of the sanctuary/temple.  Numbers 3:38.

When Jacob was running away from Canaan contrary to the instruction given to Abraham and observed by Isaac, he was given a vision regarding this point.

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Genesis 28:

16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.”  17 And he was afraid, and said, “How dreadful [awesome] is this place!  This is none other but the house of God, and THIS IS THE GATE OF HEAVEN.” 

18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillow, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it [an acknowledgement of the Spirit’s presence]. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel [the house of God]: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

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During his sleep Jacob had seen angels coming down a ladder that descended from heaven, but they were also going back up.  Verse 12.  On top of this ladder Jesus stood and talked with him and repeated the promise regarding this area.  Verses 13-14.  So we have a double promise.

For “the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;” and “the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Daniel 7:27; Psalm 37:11. 

The matter of a wife for Isaac was not entered into lightly or impulsively.  But it was to be postponed, as we will see next time.

Looking forward to next week? 

Regards, Ron

Some of the comments in these readings are adapted from books in my library.  No recognition is given because they are not intended as authorities, but are used because they express my understanding clearly. All the ideas expressed in these readings, right or wrong, are my own.

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