01-68 A Bride for Isaac

Genesis 24:1-67

There are some passages of the Bible that must be dealt with in such fine detail…examining individual words which are especially important and understanding them before moving on to the next. These portions are rich in doctrine and we should not rush thru them b/c they are foundational to the Xn life. But not every portion of Scripture is like that. Some, like our passage today is given as a rich history that should be studied as a whole so as to grasp the Lord’s purpose in revealing it to us.

Gen 24 is a long passage—67 vv. Longest chapter in Genesis (2nd longest single account after flood—3 chapters). The title of my message is “A Bride for Isaac” and it highlights the desire Isaac’s father had in finding a wife for his son and her willingness to travel a great distance to marry a man she had never met before. Clearly the hand of the Lord is in the details, guiding/directing the outcome so that the purpose of the Lord would be established in Abraham’s son.

There are different ways one could outline the narrative of Gen 24 (4,5,6 divisions)—but I think Warren Wiersbe has an excellent outline so I’ve landed on 4 elements in the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah which parallel an even greater marriage b/t LJC and HIs bride—the church.

This portion of Scripture is not about the formation of the church (though several principles apply), and not really about how to find a spouse—though some have treated it like it is. There are a couple of general principles that result in relationships that honor God.

Separation

Abraham was adamant that a bride for his son would not be taken from among the Canaanite women (vs 3). This is recounted by Abraham’s servant as he explains why he has come this far (vv 37-38). Abraham’s instruction was not so much that Canaanites were unbelievers—there were no religious qualifications of the bride or her family that had to be met—in fact, we will find out later that Laban was a polytheistic idol worshiper (31:19) who panicked when his gods were taken. Abraham’s concern was that Isaac’s wife must not be Canaanite (who was cursed) whose land God had promised as an inheritance.

Later, the Law of Moses would prohibit Jewish men from marrying heathen women (Dt 7:1-11). Today, believers are admonished to marry “in the Lord” and not to marry unbelievers (1 Cor 7:39-40; 2 Cor 6:14-18). This is God’s will for believers who want to marry and though we wouldn’t use the same manner Abraham did in the selection of a spouse, it is always good to pursue God’s will.

Prayer

Being intentional to pray for God’s direction for your future spouse is not only a great privilege but it is our way of submitting our will to God’s. Abraham’s servant prayed for God to direct him to the woman that He had prepared to be Isaac’s bride. For those of you who are single…begin even now to pray for your future spouse. Pray that God would greatly sanctify them and keep them on the path of righteousness. Pray that God would direct the circumstances that would bring you together and culminate in marriage. Be prayerfully patient, seek His guidance, be ready to obey His will and be alert to what God is doing. These are 2 broad principles that will help you seek relationships that honor Christ.

I. The Will of the Father

vv 1-9

Abraham=140 years old (Issac born 100, married 40). Moses says he is “old, advanced in age” but will go on to live another 35 years (ch 25). For 25 years he walked by faith—anticipating the fulfillment of God’s promise “I will bless you...” That promise was fulfilled and now that God had blessed him (“in every way”—no good thing did God withhold from His servant), Abraham desired one last thing before, a bride for son. It was then that Abraham would realize the extent of God’s promise of many descendants and that the land would be given to them.

This was so important to Abraham that he sets his servant to the task of finding Isaac’s wife. The servant is not identified beyond “the oldest of his house.” This could very well be Eliezer of Damascus (15:2—50 years earlier). Derek Kidner:

Genesis: An Introduction and Commentary The Chosen Bride for Isaac (24:1–67)

This chief steward is one of the most attractive minor characters of the Bible, with his quiet good sense, his piety (26f., 52) and faith, his devotion to his employer (12b, 14b, 27) and his firmness in seeing the matter through (33, 56). If he is the Eliezer of 15:2, 3, his loyalty is all the finer in serving the heir who has displaced him

He compares this to John the Baptist and his Master (LJC):

John 3:29–30 NASB95

29 “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. 30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.

Abraham made his servant swear to 3 things: Not select a wife from among Canaanite women; she would be chosen from among Abraham’s relatives; he would not take Isaac back to Abraham’s former homeland. The oath is normally a very solemn pledge to do what you have said you would do. The custom that Abraham invokes makes it all the more serious—vs 2b.

The term of thigh can mean the upper part of the leg but it can also be a reference to the male genitalia where a man’s children are said to come from his thigh (often translated “loins”). The thigh was understood to be the foundation of a man’s life—and the source of life. So to put the hand under the thigh was the strongest affirmation of an oath in that time. It might even be strengthened by the covenant of circumcision—invoking the name of the Lord God (vs 3) who initiated that covenant with Abraham. This is how serious Abraham was about making sure his son had a wife. The servant then takes the oath (vs 9).

This would not be an easy endeavor for the servant—so Abraham encourages him (vs 7, 39-41). Abraham was a man of faith and he had come to see how God directed him for the past 65 years. Abraham’s thought was that if God had promised to bless him and give his descendants the land as an inheritance, then the Lord would also see to it that His purposes and promises are fulfilled. The Angel of Lord would even go before the servant, guiding him to the woman the Lord had prepared as a bride for Isaac.

Though this passage does not relate directly to the church/NT believers today—there is a profound parallel with God the Father desiring a bride for His Son. It wasn’t b/c Jesus needed something (self-existent; self-sufficient). The bride is the Father’s love gift to His Son—the expression of His will.

We are taught in Eph that according to the eternal counsel of His will, He chose to save lost sinners by His grace, the Son submits Himself to the Father’s will by dying for their sins, and the HS comes alongside to apply the work of redemption to those who believe on the LJC. Eph 1 expresses the work of the Father, Son, and HS—all to the glory of God (vs 6,12,14). Those who believe would become a special people, an inheritance, and most significantly the bride of Jesus (Eph 5:22-33). His bride would bring Him glory on the earth and thruout eternity and one day, the Son will present His bride to the Father (without spot or wrinkle).

John 17:2,6,9,11-12,24;

Spurgeon said “church is “the dearest place on earth...Nothing in the world is dearer to God’s heart than his church; therefore, being his, let us also belong to it, that by our prayers, our gifts, and our labours, we may support and strengthen it. If those who are Christ’s refrained, even for a generation, from numbering themselves with his people, there would be no visible church, no ordinances maintained, and, I fear, very little preaching of the gospel.”

The church is God’s love gift to His Son—a bride according to His will.

II. The Witness of the Servant

vv10-49

The servant sets out on the journey (take at least a month) to find Isaac’s bride among Abraham’s family in the country that he left when God called him. He takes with him camels (used by critics to throw doubt on God’s Word—saying camels weren’t domesticated until the 11th C. (1000 yrs later)…the world has a limited knowledge of ancient history and by no means can it say with absolute certainty that camels weren’t domesticated as early as Abraham’s time). If Moses tells us he took 10 camels then that’s what he took—as part of the “bride-price” to be paid to the father.

The servant was devoted to Abraham. He calls him “my master” 15x in this narrative. He is obedient to the will of his master and is careful to follow according to the oath he had taken. So he arrives in Mesopotamia—to the city of Nahor (bearing the family name of Abraham’s brother). That evening he goes to the well—b/c that’s where the women would go to get water for their chores. The question is how would he go about finding the right woman?

The Servant’s Faith

The servant expresses a belief in “the God of my master.” He believed God’s promise. He believed God would providentially direct his steps. He has spent many years with Abraham, no doubt talking about the many times God had directed Abraham…now he could personally trust the Lord to do the same…but he also knew the importance of asking God for help. So he prays (vv 12-14) that God would “grant success” (lit. let it cause to occur before me today). This is the first time in the Bible that a person is asking for divine guidance at a critical juncture. He really wasn’t asking for a sign (fleece). He wasn’t asking God to do something miraculous--that the normal effects of nature be suspended. He is asking that God would provide guidance in the ordinary events of life. Eliezer believed this about God—so he asks for specific criteria to be met. The woman would have to say “drink and I will water your camels.” He knew that a woman would was a servant, who was remarkably kind, generous and industrious would be a great candidate to be Isaac’s bride.

In God’s providence, He answered that prayer “before he had finished speaking” (vs 15) (The Lord showing kindness to His own).

Rebekah (already mentioned in genealogy Gen 22:23) comes to the well. The servant is patient—at first, just watching to see how God would direct. He sees Rebekah to be…vs 16. That’s not redundant: “virgin” can mean one who had never had relations with a man” but more accurately “one of marrying age”. She was old enough to marry and she was also a virgin as Moses explains.

After Rebekah draws water he runs up to her (vs 17) to see if this is the woman God was directing him to—A ha! vv 18-20. This might be the one—so he thought (vs 21).

vs 22—these were bridal gifts (though she may not have realized that’s what they were). Rebekah was gracious and servant’s gifts were even more so.

He asks—vs 23…and she responds vv 24-26.

The servant’s heart is revealed: vv26-28. He was grateful to God’s guidance.

Rebekah’s Family

She run home (not really a surprise for all that had happened at the well). She told her mother, father and brother about the stranger who needed a place to stay. Hospitality was highly prized in this culture and so her brother runs to meet the man at the spring.

His name is Laban— “the white one” in honor of their tradition of worshiping the moon god—that’s the religiosity of this family. Laban’s character is revealed in vs 30-31. He materialistic—say the gold and got excited (Jacob will see him for who he is). Nonetheless he shows hospitality and invites the servant to eat.

The servant had urgent business and wouldn’t eat until he shared the whole experience. He talked about Abraham’s great wealth, and God’s blessing upon him. He talked about Sarah’s giving birth in her old age to Isaac. He also explained why he came this distance b/c of the oath that he had sworn to find a bride for Isaac.

He also recounted the Lord’s providence in directing the circumstances at the well to reveal the woman of character who was fit to be a bride for Isaac. He is setting this all before the family to see how they might respond and he is ready to continue the mission if they were not agreeable (vs 49).

Eliezer is truly a faithful servant and God honored him in his devotion. This again parallels how God carries out His purposes relating to the church—the bride of Christ. The HS is the divine witness, directing the world to the glory of JC.

John 15:26 NASB95

26 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,

John 16:13–14 NASB95

13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.

The HS is not self-promoting. He talks only about the glory of JC—the eternal riches of the Son and becomes Himself the down payment (firstfruits) of the spiritual riches of Christ that belong to church (believers).

Ephesians 1:13–14 NASB95

13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

The servant bears witness to the greatness of his master…he was ready to bring Rebekah home to Isaac but wasn’t going to force that upon her/her family. So we too cannot coerce anyone into God’s family—for the HS alone does the work of conviction on the human heart (Jn 16:7-11).

III. The Willingness of the Bride

vv 50-60

Rebekah’s brother (Laban) and father (Bethuel) both agreed (though Laban seems to take the lead in this—as the oldest son this was not uncommon). They saw YHWH’s providential guiding and couldn’t resist what He was doing. They are prepared to accept the Lord’s will but the next morning, the brother and mother are reluctant and ask for a delay of 10 days. The reason why is uncertain. Perhaps they wanted to spend a little more time with Rebekah before she got married (I get it!). It might have been more sinister than that—given Laban’s devious character (revealed later). But the servant remains steadfast (vs 56).

Now, this is not how our society does marriage today. Then—marriages were arranged. Often the families knew each other and children grew up together. But on occasion, the bride and the groom didn’t know each other. Their parents made the arrangements and they had to learn to love each other aside from initial attraction. The dealings b/t Isaac and Rebekah were negotiated by Abraham’s servant (who had all the authority of his master) and Rebekah’s family (primarily her older brother). At this insistence of the servant to not delay—Laban and her mother responded (vs 57-58). Her willingness prompted the family to send her on her way with a blessing that would prove to be prophetical—vs 60 (many descendants, possession of land and victory over enemies).

The willingness of the bride here draws a parallel with an application today: the unsaved must not delay in making a decision for Christ.

Hebrews 3:15 NASB95

15 while it is said, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me.”

2 Corinthians 6:2 NASB95

2 for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”—

Charles Spurgeon in his message on this passage writes:

“Ten days did not seem too long; but they might have been ten days too late. One day does not seem much; but one day more may be one day too late, and one day too late is to be too late forever; yea, one minute too late is an eternity too late!”

He goes on to say this is one of Satan’s great tactics to prompt the unbeliever to delay coming to Christ—just one more day. The story of Rebekah is clearly shows the hand of God at work in the circumstances whereby she becomes Isaac’s wife. But at that end—she still needed to make her choice.

So it is with everyone today. There is an obvious tension in the Bible that is impossible for us to fully reconcile in our finite minds. God unconditionally chooses those He will save. The Bible highlights God’s choice whenever the saints are said to be the elect/the chosen of God. God’s choice has nothing to do with what He sees in the person but only according to His gracious choice (Rom 11:5). Now the tension is between God’s unconditional sovereignty and human responsibility. Just as the Bible teaches that God chooses those whom He will save…it also teaches unequivocally that every person has the responsibility of believing in LJC—a responsibility that you will be held accountable for by the sovereign Creator.

John 6:37 (NASB95)

37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me [divine sovereignty], and the one who comes to Me [human responsibility] I will certainly not cast out.

The question you should be asking is not are you God’s elect? but have you called upon the name of the Lord? Do you believe on the LJC: Act 16:31

Acts 16:31 NASB95

31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

The bride is willing to come to Christ.

Revelation 22:17 NASB95

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

The Lord has been gracious to you—don’t delay in making your choice!

IV. The Welcome of the Bridegroom

Isaac comes to the center of the narrative at this point. He is in the Negev (south country) where he went into a field to “meditate.” No one really knows what that means…it conveys the idea of “going over a matter in one’s mind” could have been anticipation of the servant’s return, the excitement of shortly have a bride—who knows?

He sees camels: (could travel b/t 25-60 miles a day). The one way trip was 900 miles could have gone and returned in less than 2 months. At this point, presumably the saw each other the same time but she knew who he was before he knew. The servant continues to render devoted service to Isaac and Rebekah—introducing them and sharing with Isaac all that God had done.

Without any further delay, Isaac takes Rebekah, enters the tent of his mother, making her his wife. This was immediate and it not only serves to further the promise God made to Abraham but it was a comfort to Isaac in his mother’s death.

Notice Isaac’s response to Rebekah: “He loved her.” This is the first reference to marital love in the Bible. This love is representative of a greater love demonstrated by JC toward His bride.

Ephesians 5:25 NASB95

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

Not only is that love demonstrated in a remarkable way…but the time is coming when Jesus returns for His bride. And when He comes:

John 14:3 NASB95

3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

There will be a joyful wedding: Rev 19:1-9;

and there will also be a judgment seat (Bema)—where our works now will be evaluated by the bridegroom and rewards will be given (1 Cor 3:13-15; 4:1-5).

What a great welcome we are anticipating today—we’re longing for it.

The admonition today is believe on the LJC and if you do—remain faithful to Him.