And I [that am] the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast. I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.
Hosea 12:9-10These similitudes spoken of by Hosea are clearly present in the Book of Genesis, especially with regard to Abraham and his relationship with Sarah, Isaac and his servant Eliezer. In previous chapters we see how Abraham’s relationship with Isaac demonstrates the Father’s relationship with the Son. What happens in chapter 24 is also a similitude, but this depiction is between the Spirit, the Son and His bride. Just as Sarah represented Israel
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed [are] they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Revelation 19:7-9I. Abraham Commissions His Servant to Seek a Bride for His Son (Genesis 1-9)
a. Genesis 24:1 – And Abraham was old, [and] well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
1. Abraham was old and well stricken back in chapter 18, he is much older here
2. He is between 137 and 140 years old
b. Genesis 24:2 - And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
1. Note that Abraham sent his eldest servant, why might Abraham have sent the eldest?
· Likely he considered this task of great importance and sent the servant who was the most trusted
· May have thought sending a young servant to fetch his son a young bride was not a wise choice in that the servant may have found the bride, but may not have returned.
2. Likely Eliezer from Chapter 15 v.2
· Genesis 15:2 - And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house [is] this Eliezer of Damascus?
o Eliezer - אליעזר 'Eliy`ezer, "God is help"
o Eliezer meaning God is help or comforter
o It is not a certainty that Eliezar is the servant, but it does appear likely
· John 14:15-18 - If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
- Comforter - παράκλητος paraklētos, In the widest sense, a helper, succourer, aider, assistant
i. The Holy Spirit lead the apostles to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and gave them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom.
ii. The same Holy Spirit is present today helping believers to overcome a fallen world
- Just as God will send His Church a helper, Abraham sent a man whose name means helper to seek out a bride for his son.
- Hebrews 13:6 - So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
· John 16:13 - Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you.
o Christ declares that the Holy Spirit will not speak of himself, but only seek to glorify the Father and the Son. The servant in this passage is nameless (we only know the name through a prior verse) We will see in this passage that Eliezer never speaks of himself, only of his master and the master’s son.
o Eliezer could be viewed as a clear physical representation of the Holy Spirit
3. “hand under my thigh” – this was a way of making an oath
c. Genesis 24:3 - And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
1. Where is Isaac?
· Genesis 22:19 - So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba Beersheba
· Immediately after the sacrifice on Mt. Moriah Abraham and his two servants returned to Beersheba
· Isaac does not make a personal appearance again until v. 62 where it indicates that Isaac was living near “the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country” and not living with his father Abraham.
o Lahairoi - באר לחי ראי Bĕ'er la-Chay Ro'iy, "well of the Living One seeing me", a well west of Kadesh, south of Israel
· So where was he?
o The book of Jasher actually says that Isaac returned with Abraham from Mt. Moriah
i. Jasher 23:87 – And when Abraham had finished his service he returned with his son Isaac to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba
ii. But when they got to Beersheba they learned that Sarah was told that Isaac was dead and she went as far as Hebron to find them, so Abraham, Isaac, and the servants went to Hebron to find her (this would explain why Abraham purchased the burial ground in Hebron instead of Beersheba)
o According to the book of Jasher, after Sarah’s funeral, Isaac went to live with Shem for a time.
i. Jasher 24:17 – And when the days of their mourning passed by Abraham sent away his son Isaac, and he went to the house of Shem and Eber, to learn the ways of the Lord and his instructions, and Abraham remained there three years.
ii. Abraham remained in Hebron Beersheba
o If Isaac is 37 years old then Shem is at least 527 of 600 years old, we are at ~429 years after the flood.
o Here is another parallel to the coming Christ, for after Christ was resurrected He came back and spent some time with His disciples before He ascended promising to return for His bride. Likewise, Isaac, after his “resurrection” returned for a while then went away only to return at the appointed time of his marriage.
2. Additionally, the book of Jasher explains that it was the death of Nahor, his brother, that prompted Abraham:
· Jasher 24:30 – And Abraham said to him, Behold I am old, I do not know the day of my death; for I am advanced in days; now therefore rise up, go forth and do not take a wife for my son from this place and from this land, from the daughters of the Canaanites amongst whom we dwell.
3. Why doesn’t Abraham want his son to marry a Canaanite woman?
· Remember from earlier in Genesis 9:25 that the Canaan was cursed of Noah and Genesis 9:26 says that Shem is to be blessed
· Abraham is certainly aware of this and possibly wants to ensure that his posterity are free from any curse
· There was also a second influx of Nephilim at some point and it may have already occurred
· Similarly, the Holy Spirit in seeking the bride is looking for those who have been re-born followers of Christ through baptism and confession.
d. Genesis 24:4- But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
1. Abraham is sending his servant to “his country” to find a bride for his son. This “country” is Haran
2. God sends His servant the Holy Spirit, the Comforter/Helper, to find a bride for His Son.
e. Genesis 24:5 - And the servant said unto him, 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?
1. The servant wants to make sure he has the terms of the oath squared away, he understands what he is about to do will be a tremendous challenge.
· The girl whom he will find has never seen Isaac and resides about five hundred miles away
· There is little chance of her ever returning home.
· The chance that a young lady would do this at the behest of a stranger is slim to none without the intervention of God
· The servant understands this and wants to make sure he has an “out” if the girl is unwilling
· He surely foresaw the difficulties of such a thing.
2. Asks if he should then take Isaac back to Haran
f. Genesis 24:6 - And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
1. Abraham doesn’t want to chance the fact that Isaac may like it in Haran
2. This was a strict order
g. Genesis 24:7 - The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
1. Abraham relays to the servant that this is a command from God and he will make his journey prosperous
2. Eliezer, who has been with Abraham many years and would have seen Gods favor upon him, would increase in faith by hearing this from Abraham
h. Genesis 24:8 - And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
1. If the girl doesn't come, he is free from this vow
2. Repeats the order that he is not to take Isaac to Haran
· Abraham knows that this is the land that God has promised to his seed.
· Abraham is taking no chances by allowing Isaac to go back to the land of Haran
i. Genesis 24:9 - And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
1. After the servant understood the terms of the oath he made the vow
2. He did not do so carelessly, but took precaution to fully understand what he was supposed to accomplish.
II. The Servant Seeks a Bride for Isaac in Haran
a. Genesis 24:10 - And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master [were] in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia , unto the city of Nahor
1. Ten – denotes ordinal perfection according to Bullinger
2. Could be representative of the law, the 10 commandments
3. Mesopotamia – ארם נהרים 'Aram Aram
4. City of Nahor
5. Why so many camels packed down?
· Likely carrying gifts for the bride and her family, a dowry.
o Perhaps increasing the chance for success
o Also very dangerous to take such valuable items over such a great distance for the risk of being robbed
· Hebrews 2:4 - God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
6. Jasher 24:34 – And Eliezer did as Abraham ordered him, and Eliezer swore unto Abraham his master upon this matter; and Eliezer rose up and took ten camels of the camels of his master, and ten men from his master’s servants with him, and they rose up and went to Haran, the city of Abraham and Nahor, in order to fetch a wife for Isaac the son of Abraham; and whilst they were gone Abraham sent to the house of Shem and Eber, and they brought from thence his son Isaac.
· According to Jasher, Eliezer took ten men with the ten camels and Abraham sent for Isaac after they had left
o Seems like an adequate defense against robbers
· Abraham sent for Isaac who was at the house of Shem, no mention of this in Scripture
b. Genesis 24:11 - And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, [even] the time that women go out to draw [water].
1. He did not enter into the city without an invitation
2. Made his camels to kneel so they would not be a disturbance, he did not water them
c. Genesis 24:12 - And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
1. Here we see that Eliezer was very wise, rather than engage in a hopeless search by his own power, he prayerfully requests God’s intervention.
2. Abraham’s servant knows how to pray from being with Abraham for a long time.
3. He is not praying for himself, but that he may be able to accomplish the mission of his master
d. Genesis 24:13 - Behold, I stand [here] by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
1. makes note of his location
e. Genesis 24:14 - And 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; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.
1. This sounds like a simple test, but what he is asking is extra-ordinarily difficult for a young woman.
2. Camels drink about 20 gallons at a time, this would require extra-ordinary hospitality to perform such a task for a stranger.
3. This is different than seeking a sign, Eliezer had already committed himself to the mission and completed the journey. Here he is asking for the Lord’s assistance in narrowing the choices to the one whom God has chosen. There is no indication of a lack of faith here.
f. Genesis 24:15 - And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
1. Remember, there is no record of the Lord instructing Abraham on who his son should marry, but here we see that God is blessing the mission by bringing Rebekah to the first place Eliezer stopped.
· When we are aligned with the Will of God, our obstacles fade rather quickly. God answered this prayer before he was done asking.
· Contrast this with God answering Abraham’s prayers for a son, He has His own timing
2. God knows what we need before we ask as Rebekah would have been well on her way to the well before Eliezer uttered the prayer, God knows what you are going to pray next week, He can set events in motion so that the answer will arrive before you finish praying.
3. Milcah – Lot ’s sister, daughter of Haran
g. Genesis 24:16 - And the damsel [was] very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
1. Rebekah was very beautiful
2. A virgin, just as Christ expects from His bride not to be indoctrinated with false doctrine and following false gods
h. Genesis 24:17 - And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.
1. The servant ran; after a long journey combined with prayer he had to be relieved to find a candidate so soon
2. Remember, if this servant is Eliezer, he is very old, yet finds himself rejuvenated at the prospect of accomplishing his mission
i. Genesis 24:18 - And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
1. She hasted
2. Compare her vitality in the next several verses to that of Abraham in chapter 18
3. Eliezer could have been over eager here and asked if she would water his camels, but he showed patience by allowing events to play out
j. Genesis 24:19 - And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw [water] for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
1. Can you imagine the look on Eliezer’s face? He was probably standing there stunned in utter amazement at the power of God.
2. Camels drink about 20 gallons of water at a time, this would have been about 200 gallons
3. This would have taken a long time to fill a water trough of 200 gallons
4. Could be symbolic of the Church's relationship with the law in that the law or the 10 commandments are preserved through the Church
5. Certainly not many young girls would do this for a complete stranger
· How does God influence what we say and at the same time provide for free-will?
· Did Rebekah have a choice in her response?
o Calvin would likely say no, she was elect she had no choice
o Luther would likely say that her only choice was to choose evil, therefore it was only by God working through her that she would commit herself to such a task
6. Matthew 25:34–40 - Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.
· We never know when we are given an opportunity to serve the Lord by serving others
· Rebekah practically demonstrates how by taking in a stranger, she was unknowingly taking in the servant of her bridegroom
k. Genesis 24:20- And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw [water], and drew for all his camels.
1. She hasted
2. and ran
3. She drew water for all of the camels, and did it with purpose
l. Genesis 24:21 - And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
1. Wondering - שאה sha'ah, verb, “to gaze”
2. to perceive and see, find out, discern
3. Eliezer shows that he is a very faithful servant here by going above and beyond for his master. She has already passed the test by just uttering the words “I will draw [water] for thy camels also,” but Eliezer watches to see if she will actually do what she says she will do. Wondering is very appropriate because he was most likely standing in wonder at the power of God bringing the woman full of virtue to him.
m. Genesis 24:22 - And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten [shekels] weight of gold;
1. Earring - נזם nexem, ring, nose ring, earring
· We can see from v. 47 that this is most likely a nose ring and not an earring
No comments:
Post a Comment