Genesis - Week Twenty-Six

Hunter Howery

Genesis • Sermon • Submitted 2 months ago • Presented 2 months ago

Genesis 24

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Notes

Transcript

Handout

Introduction

This study should address...

What does the Bible say?

What does the Bible Mean?

How can we apply that to our lives

Legend

Important

Questions

References

Personal Thoughts

Chapter 24

Verses 22-49

Genesis 24:22–49 ESV

When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half shekel, and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels, and said, “Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?” She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” She added, “We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.” The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master’s kinsmen.” Then the young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things. Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban ran out toward the man, to the spring. As soon as he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and heard the words of Rebekah his sister, “Thus the man spoke to me,” he went to the man. And behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring. He said, “Come in, O blessed of the Lord. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.” So the man came to the house and unharnessed the camels, and gave straw and fodder to the camels, and there was water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. Then food was set before him to eat. But he said, “I will not eat until I have said what I have to say.” He said, “Speak on.” So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant. The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys. And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has. My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell, but you shall go to my father’s house and to my clan and take a wife for my son.’ I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.’ But he said to me, ‘The Lord, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father’s house. Then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my clan. And if they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.’ “I came today to the spring and said, ‘O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if now you are prospering the way that I go, behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, to whom I shall say, “Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,” and who will say to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,” let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.’ “Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels drink also.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also. Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms. Then I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to take the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son. Now then, if you are going to show steadfast love and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.”

Thoughts or Questions?

24:22-28

nezem is a nose ring, which is unfortunate

the jewelry is a sign of Abraham’s wealth to help her family approve of leaving

Calvin points out that the things in scripture are not always to be imitated, this use of wealth being one of them

Commentary on the First Book of Moses Called Genesis Chapter 24

But it may be asked, Whether God approves ornaments of this kind, which pertain not so much to neatness as to pomp? I answer, that the things related in Scripture are not always proper to be imitated. Whatever the Lord commands in general terms is to be accounted as an inflexible rule of conduct; but to rely on particular examples is not only dangerous, but even foolish and absurd

She confirms that she is related to Abraham which means the servant was successful

And what does he do, WORSHIP

When God answers our prayers, how often do we recognize and worship? How can we do better?

Rebekah tells her mother’s household which may show that her family is a maternal focused family structure

Laban her brother is usually shown having guardianship over her not her father

ESV Church History Study Bible Notes: Voices from the Past, Wisdom for the Present Chapter 24

24:26 Man is a social creature, and made for society, to converse with God, with himself, and with others. But as he is a bad householder who is always abroad, never to be found at home, so his is a bad Christian who is not sometimes retiring from the world and conversing with God and himself in the duty of meditation, by which the soul is set to its most proper work. (Thomas Boston, Sermons)

24:29-33

First thing Laban notices is the jewelry

But then he and the family are very hospitable

He fulfilled his masters request before eating

showing his dedication to the task

How often are we putting God’s work before our comfort?

24:34-49

The servant recounts the events that led him here

A repetition common in oral tradition

A testimony of sorts where he is careful to give all glory to God

He is clear in ver 49 that he is here purely for the purpose his master gave him and nothing else

He was not distracted by any of the hospitality or meals from his goal

And if the answer is no, tell him so he can leave

Verses 50-67

Genesis 24:50–67 ESV

Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing has come from the Lord; we cannot speak to you bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has spoken.” When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth before the Lord. And the servant brought out jewelry of silver and of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments. And he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and they spent the night there. When they arose in the morning, he said, “Send me away to my master.” Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go.” But he said to them, “Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.” They said, “Let us call the young woman and ask her.” And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you become thousands of ten thousands, and may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate him!” Then Rebekah and her young women arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebekah and went his way. Now Isaac had returned from Beer-lahai-roi and was dwelling in the Negeb. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel and said to the servant, “Who is that man, walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Thoughts or Questions?

24:50-60

Laban makes the decision showing his guardianship

He believes the testimony of the servant and sees it as something from God

How do we discern when an opportunity is from God and requires our direct obedience?

He gives her in marriage right there

The servant is once again humble and bows to the family and God

Gifts are given either as a dowry or simply a gift

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 24

24:55 ten days This may be a colloquialism for a long period of time—perhaps longer than a year. Ten days alone would not be a sufficient reason for the servant to protest the imposition.

Rebekah is willing to go immediately just as Abraham was when he got the call

Interesting that she was given the choice of when to leave

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 24

24:59 nurse The Hebrew term used here usually specifies a wet nurse. Since Rebekah had no such need, her nurse is likely a trusted member of the household. Her name was Deborah and her death is recorded in 35:8.

The promises of Abraham (numerous, prosperous, strong offspring) are transferred to Rebekah