Genesis 25:1-23

I.                Abraham Remarries (Genesis 25:1-4)

A.     Genesis 25:1 – Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name [was] Keturah.

1.      Keturah - קטורה Qĕtuwrah, "incense"

2.      Keturah was likely a Canaanite servant from his own house.

·        Jasher 25:1 – And it was at that time that Abraham again took a wife in his old age, and her name was Keturah, from the land of Canaan.

3.      She must have been significantly younger than Abraham

4.      Abraham required Isaac to marry a wife from his own people, but he took a wife from among the Canaanites.  Likely a servant from among his household, we know from previous chapters that Abraham instructed his household in the ways of the Lord so its likely that Keturah was a believer in the Lord.

5.      Could this paint a picture that God after the marriage of His Son that He is unified to the nations not just one nation

B.     Genesis 25:2 – And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.

1.      Zimran – זמרן Zimran, "musician"

2.      Jokshan – יקשן Yoqshan, "snarer"

3.      Medan – מדן Mĕdan, "contention"

4.      Midian – מדין Midyan, "strife"

·        Both Medan and Midian are mixed up with Ishmeal their half-brother in several places in scripture lending the reader to believe that they integrated with each other.

5.      Ishbak – ישבק Yishbaq, "he releases"

6.      Shuah – שוח Shuwach, "wealth"

C.     Genesis 25:3 – And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.

1.      Jokshan

·        Sheba – שבא Shĕba', "seven" or "an oath", progenitor of a nation of southern Arabia, we are familiar with the Queen of Sheba who had a relationship with Soloman. See 1 Kings Chapter 10 and 2 Chronicles Chapter 9

·        Dedan – דדן Dĕdan, "low country"

o       Asshurim – אשורי 'Ashuwriy, "guided: blessed" or “steps”

o       Letushim – לטושם Lĕtuwshim, "hammered"

o       Leummim – לאמים Lĕ'ummiym, "peoples"

D.    Genesis 25:4 – And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these [were] the children of Keturah.

1.      Midian

·        Ephah – עיפה `Eyphah, "gloomy"

·        Epher – עפר `Epher, "a calf"

·        Hanoch –  חנוך Chanowk,"dedicated" also translated Enoch

·        Abida – אבידע 'Abiyda`,"my father knows"

·        Eldaah – אלדעה 'Elda`ah, "God has known"

II.             Abraham Dies (Genesis 25:5-11)

A.     Genesis 25:5 – And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.

1.      As expected from his servant

2.      Obligated to do this as that is what was spoken to Rebekah to gain her hand in marriage

3.      Just as God the Father placed all that He has under the subjection of His Son Jesus

B.     Genesis 25:6 – But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

1.      Concubines - פילגש piylegesh, concubine, paramour.  Interesting that Hagar and Keturah are referred to as concubines here, they are referred to as wives previously.

2.      Keturah was possibly Abraham’s concubine before he married her.

3.      Abraham blessed all of his sons with gifts, but clearly the majority of his wealth went to Isaac

C.     Genesis 25:7 – And these [are] the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.

1.      175 years

2.      Isaac was 75 years old at Abraham’s death, he lives to be 180 or 105 more years

3.      Isaac was 60 years old when Esau and Jacob were born (Genesis 25:26) so they were 120 years old when he died

4.      Abraham was 160 years old when Jacob and Esau were born; they were 15 years old at Abraham’s death, Jacob/Israel lived to be 147 years old

5.      Shem is 565 years old, he lives to be 600 or 35 more years

6.      ~467 years after the flood

D.    Genesis 25:8 – Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full [of years]; and was gathered to his people.

1.      full - שבע sabea`, satisfied

2.      “gave up the ghost” - גוע gava`, to expire, die, perish, give up the ghost, yield up the ghost, be dead, be ready to die

3.      Note that the words “of years” were added by the translators, with this the meaning is somewhat lost in that even though 175 is full of years by today’s standards, it that day we are only a few generations of men living to 600 years old.  This word full is referring to the life that Abraham lived a satisfying life a “full” life.

4.      “gathered to his people” – Abraham, Ishmael – Genesis 25:17, Isaac -  35:29, Jacob 49:33, Aaron – Numbers 20:24, Moses - Deuteronomy 32:50

·        What does this phrase mean?

·        Does not mean buried with his people because only Sarah was buried at Machpelah. 

·        Hebrews 11:13-15 – These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.   But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

o       Abraham was gathered to his people in that BETTER country.

·        Matthew 22:32 - I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

o       If God is the God of the living and also the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that would be a good indication that Abraham is living and not dead.

·        Appears clear that there was a conceptual understanding of an afterlife and that the author communicates to us that there were communities gathering in some fashion after physical death.

E.     Genesis 25:9 – And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which [is] before Mamre;

1.      Last time we see Isaac and Ishmael come together

2.      Ishmael is ~90 years old, Isaac is 75

3.      This was a 1-2 day journey, about half way to Moriah (Jerusalem)

F.     Genesis 25:10 – The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

1.      The first of the 3 patriarchal couples buried at Machpelah

G.    Genesis 25:11 – And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.

1.      Back to the same well where Isaac was waiting for Rebekah after his mother’s death

2.      Lahairoi - באר לחי ראי Bĕ'er la-Chay Ro'iy, "well of the Living One seeing me"

III.          The Generations of Ishmael (Genesis 25:12-18)

A.     Genesis 25:12– Now these [are] the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:

B.     Genesis 25:13– And these [are] the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,

1.      Nebajoth – נביות Nĕbayowth, "heights", people descended from 1 called the Nabateans with their capital at Petra

2.      Kedar – קדר Qedar, "dark" or “black skinned man”

3.      Adbeel – אדבאל 'Adbĕ'el,  "chastened of God"

4.      Mibsam – מבשם Mibsam, "sweet odour"

C.     Genesis 25:14– And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,

1.      Mishma – משמע Mishma`, "a hearing"

2.      Dumah –דומה Duwmah,  "silence"

3.      Massa – משא Massa', "burden"

D.    Genesis 25:15– Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:

1.      Hadar – חדר Chadar, "honour"

2.      Tema – תימא Teyma', "desert"

3.      Jetur – יטור Yĕtuwr, "enclosed"

4.      Naphish – נפיש Naphiysh, "refreshment"

5.      Kedemah – קדמה Qedĕmah, "original"

E.     Genesis 25:16– These [are] the sons of Ishmael, and these [are] their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.

1.      Note that Ishmael had 12 sons, like both Nahor, and the future Jacob

2.      Castles - טירה tiyrah, encampment, battlement

3.      Twelve – Denotes Governmental Perfection, the number or factor of all numbers connected with government: whether by tribes, apostles, measurements of time or things that have to do with heaven in heaven and earth.

F.     Genesis 25:17– And these [are] the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.

1.      Isaac was about 122 years old when Ishmael died

2.      About 47 years after Abraham’s death

3.      Jacob and Esau would have been about 62 years old

4.      Note here that it does not say that Ishmael was “full” possibly indicating that though he seemed very old he did not go willingly or his life was lacking something

G.    Genesis 25:18– And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that [is] before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: [and] he died in the presence of all his brethren.

1.      Havilah – חוילה Chaviylah, "circle", a district in Arabia of the Ishmaelites named from the 2nd son of Cush; probably the district of Kualan, in the northwestern part of Yemen

2.      Shur – שור Shuwr, "wall", a place southwest of Palestine on the eastern border or within the border of Egypt; the Israelites passed through the wilderness of Shur after crossing the Red Sea

3.      Brethren - אח 'ach, brother, half-brother, relative, kinship, same tribe

IV.          The Generations of Isaac (Genesis 25:19-27)

A.     Genesis 25:19– And these [are] the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac:

B.     Genesis 25:20– And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.

1.      Syrian, by geography, we know neither Bethuel nor Laban were Syrian by birth

2.      Padanaram - פדן Paddan, "field"

C.     Genesis 25:21– And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she [was] barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

1.      Verse 26 shows that Isaac was 60 years old at the twins birth, she was barren for 20 years.  Isaac intreated the Lord for 20 years!

2.      Unlike his father Abraham and his son Jacob, Isaac never had a relationship with a hand-maid or concubine.  Isaac demonstrates his love for his wife in this way.

3.      Notice a trend, Sarah was barren and gave birth late in life, Rebekah is barren and conceives with prayer, later we see that Rachel, Jacob’s wife also has difficulty with conception.

D.    Genesis 25:22– And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If [it be] so, why [am] I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.

1.      When something seems out of sorts what does Rebekah do? Takes it to the Lord

2.      Do we take our questions to the Lord expecting an answer?

E.     Genesis 25:23– And the LORD said unto her, Two nations [are] in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and [the one] people shall be stronger than [the other] people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

1.      Romans 9:10-13 - And not only [this]; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, [even] by our father Isaac; (For [the children] being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

·        Hated - μισέω miseō,

1) to hate, pursue with hatred, detest

2) to be hated, detested

2.      What nations did these two become?

·        Jacob à Israel

o       Is this the same Israel of today?

o       Partially, there is only two tribes represented today those being Judah and Benjamin, the other tribes were carried away by Assyria, never to return.

o       Judah/Benjamin were carried away by Babylon and returned to Judea under Cyrus of Persia in order to rebuild the temple.

·        Esau à Edom

·        What became of Edom?

·        Edom means red

3.      Did God really hate Esau before he was born?  Paul is referring to this passage here in Genesis for all but v. 13 in which he quotes the prophet Malachi:

·        Malachi 1:2-3 – I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? [Was] not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

·        Hated - שנא sane', to hate, be hateful

·        In this passage it makes no reference to Esau’s birth, but God is speaking of the nations that sprung from Jacob and Esau.

·        When taken in the appropriate context of what Paul is quoting it does not appear that the hate that God had for Esau was prior to his birth as many scholars suggest. 
·        Does not say God hated Esau while he was still in the womb, this  inference has been made by men.

Genesis 24:23-52

n.      Genesis 24:23 - And said, Whose daughter [art] thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room [in] thy father's house for us to lodge in?

1.      The servant should already know the answer to this question, he asks to confirm what the Lord has shown him with the answer to his prayer.

2.      By asking to lodge in her fathers house before she responds with an answer shows that he is confident that this is the woman God has chosen for his master.

o.      Genesis 24:24 - And she said unto him, I [am] the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.

1.      Bethuel - בתואל Bĕthuw'el, According to Dr. Strong: “destroyed of God”, but according to Gesenius’s Lexicon it means “man of God”,or “dweller in God”

·        According to Gesenius Lexicon, the meaning of his name lends one to conclude that this was a God-fearing family

·        If Dr. Strong is correct in his interpretation it is difficult to understand circumstance surrounding its meaning

2.      Note that Rebekah is separated one generation from Isaac because Sarah gave birth to Isaac when she was 90 years old he is young enough to marry the grand-daughter of his uncle Nahor.

p.      Genesis 24:25 - She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.

1.      Provender – feed

2.      Note here that she didn’t say “let me check with my father” but made the offer.  This is a good indication of the family values that were instilled in her to show kindness to strangers, more evidence that she was raised in a God-fearing home.

q.      Genesis 24:26 - And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.

1.      He realizes God has answered his prayer

2.      How often do we get on our knees and thank the Lord for answered prayers?

r.      Genesis 24:27 - And he said, Blessed [be] the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I [being] in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.

1.      “What we win by prayer we must wear with praise; for mercies in answer to prayer lay us under particular obligations.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary

2.      The servant is giving praise without yet accomplishing the mission, he has yet to find out if her family will allow her to return with him to Isaac.

3.      “being in the way” - דרך Derek, masculine noun, way, road, distance, journey, manner

·        Matthew 7:14 - Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

·        John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

o       The way - ὁδός hodos, feminine noun, 1) a travelled way, road 2) a course of conduct

s.       Genesis 24:28- And the damsel ran, and told [them of] her mother's house these things.

1.      “The damsel ran”

2.      What did Rebekah learn of this stranger just by listening to his prayer?

·        He was the servant of her uncle Abraham

·        He worshipped the same God that she did, which was probably very uncommon

·        These two things ignited her excitement to run and tell her household of this visitors arrival.

3.      Why would she have told them of her mother’s house and not her father’s house?

·        It is possible that the text should read “grandmother’s house” because her grandmother was Milcah.

o       According to the Gesinius Lexicon this word can also mean grandmother as is the case in 1 Kings 15:13.

o       The words grandfather and grandmother are not distinguished from father or mother in the Old Testament Hebrew.

o      Mother - אם 'em, mother

                                                                                                                i.     To a grandmother

                                                                                                               ii.     Metaphor for those who bestow benefits

                                                                                                              iii.     Denotes an intimate relationship

                                                                                                             iv.     A nation

                                                                                                               v.     Parting of the road

                                                                                                             vi.     Metaphor used for a metropolis

                                                                                                            vii.     Metaphor used for the earth

·        Milcah married Nahor before Abraham, Sarah and her brother Lot.

·        When the servant mentioned his master Abraham in his prayer in v. 27, Rebekah may overheard and recognized the name from stories she may have heard from her grandmother.

·        We can assume from Nahor’s absence that he has died so the only one in the camp who would remember Abraham would be Milcah.  There is no evidence from scripture that Milcah was still alive other than possibly the way she introduced herself  stating that her father was the son of Milcah, if both were alive it seems that she would have just said the son of Nahor.  His widowed wife Milcah, surviving him and becoming the family matriarch worthy of mention.

·        Eliezer himself may have left Haran with Abraham so its also possible that Milcah would recall him as well.

t.      Genesis 24:29- And Rebekah had a brother, and his name [was] Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.

1.      Laban - לבן Laban, "white"

·        Interesting that Laban’s name means “white” as we will see in upcoming chapters when dealing with Jacob, Laban kept all of the “white” livestock as God made the speckled to prosper for Jacob

·        John 4:35 - Say not ye, There are yet four months, and [then] cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

·        White is an adjective Jesus uses to indicate that the wheat (or the world) is ready for harvest.

·        Laban, symbolically representing the world in this passage is attracted by the gifts brought by the man Eliezer who represents the Holy Spirit.  This shows that the spiritual gifts we are given by the Holy Spirit are to be used to reach the lost.

u.      Genesis 24:30 - And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

1.      Proverbs 18:16 - A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

2.      The servant remained at the well with the camels and did not follow Rebekah, but waited patiently for Laban to come out and welcome him.

·        No idea how far the well is from the house but it appears that it is close in proximity

v.       Genesis 24:31 - And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.

1.      Laban had time to prepare the house and room for the camels before he went out to the well?

2.      Either some time must have passed after Rebekah’s arrival or he gave the command to his servants as he stepped out to meet him.

w.       Genesis 24:32 - And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that [were] with him.

1.      Coroborates that there were indeed other men that traveled with Abraham’s servant as the book of Jasher indicates

2.      The servant shows that he is indeed a righteous man by first taking care of his beasts and men before himself.

·        Proverbs 12:10 - A righteous [man] regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked [are] cruel.

II.             The Servant Explains His Message (Genesis 24:33-52)

a.      Genesis 24:33 - And there was set [meat] before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.

1.      By conducting himself in this manner it most assuredly made an impression upon his hosts as to the seriousness of his mission.

2.      John 4:34 - Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

·        Just as Jesus receives nourishment by doing the will of His Father, so to does Eliezer resist the nourishment of the world to accomplish the will of his master Abraham.

b.      Genesis 24:34- And he said, I [am] Abraham's servant.

1.      The servant here invokes the name of Abraham, which by all accounts should bring instant credibility to his nephew Betheul and his family as they are probably well aware of who Abraham is and heard much about him from their father Nahor, Abraham’s brother.

c.      Genesis 24:35 - And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.

d.      Genesis 24:36 - And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.

1.      John 16:15 - All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you.

e.      Genesis 24:37 - And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:

1.      Vs. 34-37 Abraham, Isaac and Servant and mentioned to parallel Father, Son and Holy Spirit

f.       Genesis 24:38 - But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.

1.      This was probably a welcomed compliment to Betheul as Abraham shows that even though he left his land and became very wealthy, he has not forgotten about his family back in Mesopotamia.

2.      Also shows that Abraham has high regard for his brother’s daughter in that he was willing to send his servant a great distance to fetch her rather than take a Canaanite woman in the vicinity.

g.      Genesis 24:39 - And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.

h.      Genesis 24:40 - And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:

i.       Genesis 24:41 - Then shalt thou be clear from [this] my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee [one], thou shalt be clear from my oath.

1.      He gives the family an out by repeating this part of the conversation, but God’s hand was in it

2.      Remember there is just as much motivation for them to ensure Rebekah is married to a good man who worships God as there is for Abraham to secure a good bride for Isaac.

3.      This candor likely increases his credibility among them

j.       Genesis 24:42 - And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:

1.      Think about the passion and the excitement in his voice as he recounts the story.  Saying it out loud probably also enables him to reflect on the wonder and provision of our Heavenly Father.

2.      Other famous meetings at well include:

·        Rebekah and Eliezer (on behalf of Isaac)

·        Jacob and Rachel

·        Moses and Zipporah

·        Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well

·        Revelation 7:17 - For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains (wells) of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

k.      Genesis 24:43 - Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw [water], and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;

1.      Matthew 24:45-46 - Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?  Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

·        He was looking to find someone doing the work that the Lord called  her to do

·        Rebekah is a clear example of a servant who is doing the work she has been given faithfully.

·        Her diligence was pleasing to the Lord.

2.      If Rebekah is representative of the Bride of Christ, what does that tell us we are supposed to be doing in His absence?

3.      When the servant saw Rebekah, she was coming to draw water, Jesus said  in John 4:10 – “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”

·        Water sustains temporal life

·        Living water sustains eternal life

·        Rebekah obtaining water from the well for her family could represent the Church’s responsibility to distribute the Living Water that Jesus spoke of to the Samaritan woman.

·        Has the Church been faithful in its responsibility?

o       Who is the Church?

o       Believers in Christ

o       Have WE been faithful with our responsibilities?

l.       Genesis 24:44 - And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: [let] the same [be] the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master's son.

m.    Genesis 24:45 - And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew [water]: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.

1.      Eliezer clarifies that he spoke this prayer in his heart and not out loud removing all doubt that Rebekah possibly overheard him making supplication before the Lord and fulfilling his request on her own.

n.      Genesis 24:46- And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her [shoulder], and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.

o.      Genesis 24:47 - And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter [art] thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

1.      Actually, what she said was  “I [am] the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.”

2.      The servant switched Milcah and Nahor, small change, but consider the audience is actually Bethuel, it is probably an intentional alteration.

p.      Genesis 24:48 - And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.

1.      Eliezer recounts his prayer, stating confidently that it was the Lord that led him in the right way, removing all doubt from his audience that this was anything other than God’s Will.

2.      Eliezer was sure (with good reason) that God answered his prayer and revealed His will to him.  When God’s Will is revealed to us do we proclaim it confidently?

q.      Genesis 24:49 - And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.

1.      Let me know how you receive this information so that I can respond accordingly

r.       Genesis 24:50 - Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

1.      The Lord - יהוה Yĕhovah

2.      Indicates that they knew the Lord, or at least knew of Him, for they speak His covenant name.

3.      They have determined rightly that what has happened is by divine appointment

4.      Moffett translation: “This comes from the Eternal; we dare not say yes or no to you.”

s.      Genesis 24:51 - Behold, Rebekah [is] before thee, take [her], and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.

1.      Has the Lord spoken this? 

·        Spoken - דבר dabar, verb, 2) To lead or guide, specifically to lead flocks or herds to pasture.

·        Probably a more accurate translation would have read “as the Lord hath lead”

t.       Genesis 24:52 - And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, [bowing himself] to the earth.

1.      Philippians 4:6 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
2.  Note that in this chapter the servant prays 3 times in 3 different positions:
       ·        Vs. 13 – Stands when seeking guidance
         ·        Vs. 26 – bowed his head, when God reveals His provision
       ·    V.52 – bowing to the earth, mission completed