Seeking a Wife for Isaac
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
1. A remarkable co-incidence. As the Word of God tells the story of Sarah's death, it tells, also, the story of Rebekah's birth. Genesis 23:2 says, "And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba." Genesis 22:23 reads: "And Bethuel begat Rebekah." Rebekah's birth is recorded just three verses before Sarah's death is recorded.
There is a lesson for us in all of this. While one may pass on, another comes in to fill up the gap, and to carry forward the Word and the work of God.
None of us should ever imagine that the world cannot run without us. The world needs us only until our task is completed, and our race is run, God has some one else ready to fill in the ranks. The births offset the deaths.
2. A striking statement. When Abraham wanted to bury Sarah, we read, that he stood up before the sons of lieth, saying, "I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight."
Does it not appeal to you as most strange, that the man to whom God said, "All this land will I give unto thee," had no place to bury his dead? He was the inheritor of the most remarkable country on the face of the earth, and yet, he actually possessed nothing.
Is there not in all of this a lesson for us? We too have possessions that are unspeakable in their glory, and wealth; and yet, we may not have a place to lay our head. This was certainly true of our Lord Jesus Christ. He created all things. The cattle on a thousand hills are His; the silver and the gold are His; the earth and the fullness thereof are His, and yet, He moved among men humbled and impoverished.
3. A glorious confession. When Abraham asked the children of Heth for a burying plot, they said, "Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead."
To us it is worthy of note that God's servant, though a stranger and a pilgrim among men, was, withal, acknowledged by men as a mighty prince. The world saw that the hand of God was upon Abraham to own him and to bless him.
4. An outstanding adaptation. When Abraham was offered a field and was pressed upon to receive it as a gift, he bowed himself before the people of the land and insisted that he would give money for the field. Thus, Ephron, being entreated, accepted Abraham's request and the bargain was made. Then did Abraham adapt himself to the custom of the land in which he dwelt, and he weighed out the silver which had been named, even four hundred shekels, current money with the merchants.
I. ABRAHAM'S GREAT DESIRE (Genesis 24:1-4)
1. Abraham was old, and well stricken in age. He knew that Isaac his son was the child of promise. He knew that Isaac's son would be in line of the seed of the woman, who was destined not only to bruise Satan's head, but also to sit upon His throne. For this cause Abraham had great concern relative to the wife who should be chosen for Isaac.
Thus, Abraham caused his aged servant to swear by the Lord God of Heaven, that he would not take a wife unto Isaac of the daughters of the Canaanites.
2. Marriage at all times is a matter of deep responsibility and import. He who is seeking him a wife, should consider not only his personal likes and dislikes, but he should look beyond the woman of his own choice, and see in her the mother of his children, and of generations yet unborn. Marriage is meaningful beyond the lifetime of the one who is joined in wedlock, and must be weighed in the light of coming generations.
It was for this cause that Abraham made his provision concerning the taking of a wife for Isaac, saying, "Thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac."
3. Matrimony should be lifted up out of the mire of the swine-herd, and be recognized as the most sacred and hallowed relationship which God has given unto man.
II. ABRAHAM'S APPEAL TO GOD (Genesis 24:5-8)
1. The servant's inquiry. Abraham's servant said, "Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?"
2. Abraham's reply. "Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again." Then Abraham said, "The Lord God of Heaven * * shall send His angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence."
The above is so filled with spiritual suggestions that we cannot refrian from saying that God is now choosing a bride for His Son, even for our Lord and Savior. The Lord Jesus Christ, however, will not come back again to take His wife, but she must go forth unto Him.
The servant of Abraham seemed to think that it might be necessary for Isaac to appear upon the scene, if a bride were to be made willing to go with him. Abraham, however, asserted that God would undertake, that the Angel of the Lord would go before his servant to get a wife for Isaac.
This is exactly what we have today. Ministers of Jesus Christ are everywhere preaching and pleading with men to accept the Lord Jesus, and to take upon themselves their vows of love and fidelity toward One whom they have not seen.
Ministers of the Gospel and Christian workers do not deem it necessary that Christ should return, that, with His own personal power and glory He should win His bride. We believe that God is with us, and that He is calling out of the nations a people for His Name, a Bride for His Son. The Heavenly nuptials will take place in the air, where the Marriage Supper will be set.
Let us remember God's Word, "Blessed are they which are called unto the Marriage Supper of the Lamb; * * These are the true sayings of God."
III. THE SERVANT'S DEPARTURE (Genesis 24:10-11)
1. Let us observe a statement couched in the middle of verse ten. It reads: "All the goods of his master were in his hand." Is not this true today? The Lord Jesus Christ said, "All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth, Go * * and, lo, "I am with you."
As Abraham's servant had the goods of his master in his hand, so have we the goods of our Lord in our hand. We are sure that in the case of the servant there was no squandering of Abraham's goods; neither will there be any waste upon our part. True servants are trusted servants, and they safeguard the things which pertain to their master's welfare.
2. Abraham's servant made a long journey in order to place himself upon the ground from whence a wife for Isaac was to be chosen.
The Holy Spirit likewise made a long journey, as He descended from God out of Heaven, and came to earth that He might press the claims of Christ, and choose for Him His Bride.
We, too, should be willing to join with the Spirit, in going, if need be, to the ends of the earth to carry the story of our Isaac that the Bride may be made ready.
3. A picture of expectancy. When the servant arrived at Nahor he made his camel's kneel down without the city, by a well of water. To us this bespeaks the fact that the servant was expecting God to send unto him the woman of His choice for Isaac's bride. Whenever we work, let us work expecting God to undertake in our behalf.
IV. THE SERVANT'S PRAYER (Genesis 24:12-14)
1. The basis of the servant's plea. The servant said, "God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham." The servant thought not of himself, or of his own worth, as he made his plea for kindness. He prayed in behalf of another, and for the sake of another.
When we come to the Father, we would not dare to seek approach upon merits of our own. We, too, plead the merits of Another. We pray, "for Jesus' sake," and, "in His Name." He, Himself, said, "No man cometh unto the Father, tut by Me."
2. The manner of the servant's plea. The servant approached God in reverence. He said, "O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray Thee." There was no undue familiarity with Deity in his address. He realized himself a servant, and he kept a servant's place.
When we pray we should say, "Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name." The recent day custom of addressing Deity with such familiar words as "you" and "your," appear to us as expressing too much of self effrontery. It is as though we said, "We are equal with the Divine." We know that we are sons, but even a son should show honor to his father. There is the honor and dignity of years, and of headship, even in the earthly home. How much more should we reverentially bow in the presence of our Heavenly Father!
3. The request. Two things were outstanding in the request made. First, the servant said, "Send me good speed this day." Secondly, he said, "Shew kindness unto my master." There was a third prayer which is expressed in Genesis 24:14, "Let it come to pass."
"Good speed," "Kindness," "Let it come to pass." The first pled the power of God, the second pled the considerateness of God, and the third pled the directive purpose of God.
V. THE DEFINITENESS OF THE SERVANT'S REQUEST (Genesis 24:14)
1. The servant asked a hard thing of God. He said, "Let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that Thou hast appointed for Thy servant Isaac."
We are astonished at the servant's request. He sought immediate results. He had arrived at Nahor and he made request that the first damsel that came up with her pitcher to the well of water might be the selection of God for Isaac.
2. The servant specified certain details. He asked that the damsel who came up might give him to drink; and like-wise, that she might request the privilege of giving the camels to drink also. We have long been of the opinion that prayers of generalities mean but little, and get nowhere. God wants us to be specific in our request. He wants us to lay our case before Him in a definite and comprehensive way.
3. The servant sought a sign from God. He said, "Thereby shall I know that Thou hast shewed kindness unto my master." It may not always be right to put God to the test, and, to seek from Him a sign; and yet, in this case, at least, God gladly granted all that the servant asked. Gideon asked that the fleece might be wet and the ground dry. He asked again that the ground might be wet and the fleece dry. In each case, God answered prayer.
God does many things for us, when we ask according to His will. He delights in our asking the unusual thing, and the thing impossible with man. "Whatever else may be said of the prayer of Abraham's servant, he believed in a God who could do great things. He prayed as though he were working together with God, and walking according to the will of God. He felt that God was more interested in securing a wife for Isaac than was he.
VI. ANSWERED PRAYER (Genesis 24:15-21)
1. Answers to prayer may precede the petitions of prayer. Before ever the servant of Abraham began to pray, Rebekah had evidently left her home; and before the servant had finished his prayer, Rebekah was approaching the well. Have we not read, "Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear?"
2. Action should follow request. As the servant saw the damsel approaching, he ran to meet her, and said, "Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher." This was a part of a prayer which was dependent upon the petitioner. He had asked that the damsel to whom he should say, "Let down thy pitcher," might be God's choice, therefore, he had to do the asking. There are many prayers in which we must co-operate with God. God furnished the oil for the waterpots, but the widow and her son furnished the pots. Christ healed the man with the withered hand, but the man with the. withered hand stretched it forth.
3. An answered prayer. Rebekah said, "Drink, my lord." When the servant had done drinking, she said, "I will draw water for thy camels also." Thus were fulfilled the details of the servant's request. Most delightsome of all was the fact that Rebekah hasted to let down her pitcher for the servant to drink, and she hasted in filling the trough for the camels, and ran again to draw water from the well. As we read these verses we marvel at a wonder-working God.
4. God does more than we ask. Genesis 24:16 stands out with marvelous beauty. "And the damsel was very fair to look upon." The servant had not asked that the daughter who came should be very fair to look upon, and yet it was so. As the servant stood that day and saw the answer to his prayer, and the beauty of Rebekah's countenance; he wondered at her, and held his peace. When God begins to work we marvel.
VII. ABRAHAM'S MUNIFICENCE (Genesis 24:22-26)
1. Gifts of gold. As soon as the camels had done drinking the man took a golden earring, two bracelets, both of gold, and presented them to Rebekah. The gifts came, of course, from the hand of Abraham. Our God is not slack in giving large gifts to those who serve and follow Him. His gifts are not meager, and paltry. He does give temporal blessings according to our needs, but the real munificence of the Father is seen in the spiritual blessings which are ours in Heavenly places. Temporals soon pass away, but the spirituals outlast the sun.
2. A room for lodging. The servant asked Rebekah, "Whose daughter art thou?" He, also, asked, "Is. there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?" She quickly replied: "I am the daughter of Bethuel * * We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in." It was thus that the servant sought the opportunity to press his claims in behalf of Isaac for Rebekah's hand.
As he saw the door of opportunity opening, and as he sensed Divine leadership, he bowed his head and worshiped the Lord.
We all need to count our blessings, and to reverently praise God for every good and perfect gift. He who receives from the hand of God and fails to recognize that hand is base indeed. Were there not ten lepers cleansed, but where were the nine? "There are not found that returned," said Christ, "to give thanks to God, save this stranger."
AN ILLUSTRATION
TASTERS, NOT BUYERS
Thank God for men who pray. Abraham's servant prayed, and God wants us to pray.
"' The hearer's life is the preacher's best commendation. They that praise the man but do not practice the matter are like those that taste wines that they may commend them, not buy them.' What a worry such folk are to dealers who are in earnest to do business! Time is wasted, labor lost, hopes disappointed. Oh, that these loafers and idlers would take themselves off from our market! We set forth the precious produce of Heaven's own vintage, and hope that they will buy of us; but no, they lift the glass, and talk like thorough connoisseurs, and then go off without coming to a bargain. Sermons which we have studied with care, delivered with travail, prayed over, and wept over, are praised for such minor matters as taste, accuracy, and diction, and the truth they contain is not received. We cannot bring our hearers to a decided bargain, though our wares are the best that Heaven can supply, Will it always be so? Reader, has it been so with you? Is it to be so still?" C. H. S.