Momma Dies, and Isaac Gets a Wife

Sarah is advanced in years, 127, and Sarah advanced no more. Roughly 10 years after the test of faith on mount Moriah, Sarah breathes her last. Abraham is a herdsman. He manages his animals, and follows favorable rainfalls and tender grasses. This is why he had to travel to Egypt during the period that no rain fell. No rain, no grass. But being that Abraham was a herdsman, and herdsmen always traveled, what was the point in owning land? Also, if God was going to give you a land, why would you be eager to try to buy it all? In other words, Abraham had no land. Which was a problem, because do you know where we lay people when they expire? Into the ground, which is our land. Abraham had no place for Sarah, so he goes to the city gate where business is conducted. He speaks openly with the men about his desires, they seek to give him the place, but Abraham insists on buying a lot for himself. They tell Abraham to consider the land of a man named Ephron, who was sitting among them. Ephron obliges to Abraham, they very careful share the price of this transaction with those in from of them, and they carry out their business in the sight of all those present. This is the first land deed known in the Bible.

Sarah was 90 when Isaac was born, she passed away at the age of 127. Doing the math Isaac is 37 years old, and he is in need of a wife. No wife, no babies. No babies, no nation. Isaac had to have a wife. Abraham did not just want any ole wife for his son, though. He wanted Isaac to have a wife from back where he came from. Abraham makes his chief servant swear that he would return to Abraham’s family and pick up a woman who is suitable for Isaac. If the girl will not come back with him then he is free from his legal obligations and he could leave town if he wanted to. It was custom for the parents to arrange a marriage, and you were to choose from your own tribe. It was customary to marry your first cousin. But the main motive of Abraham was that Isaac would not marry a Caananite woman, who would potential lead his lineage away from the one true God.

Eliezer was the chief servant of Abraham, and he was tasked with the job of acquiring a wife for Isaac. He called upon God and said “Let the woman who offers me and my camels a drink of water be the wife of Isaac.” Rebekah, who is the grand-niece of Abraham shows up, offers the water, and the match making begins. Rebekah was beautiful, she was marrying age, and she was untouched by any man. Perfect for the union to produce God’s nation.

Eliezer and the men of Rebekah’s family shared words, and they settled that she would marry Isaac. The next morning as they were leaving the mother and brothers wanted to spend a little more time, potentially trying to change her young mind, but Rebekah said that she would leave immediately.

Upon arriving at back in the land of Abraham, they find a man coming to greet them in a field. It is Isaac who had been out meditating in the quiet. Rebekah hears that it is her future husband, and she covers her face. In the excitement of it all, they rush to be married in the tent of Sarah the mother. This all happened before Isaac even saw the face of his betrothed. He established his acceptance of her without even seeing her face, but when he lifted her veil it was literally love at first sight.

This is the start of what is to become the tribes of Israel. This is the union that will produce the father of the 12 tribes. The nation of God’s people. Over 100 years had passed since God had promised that Abraham would become a nation. Over 100 years, and Abraham never lost hope in God’s promise. He made some blunders in ignorance, but he never lost sight of what his true promise was, and after a century of faithfulness it is finally unfolding more rapidly.

Do you believe that God is good? Do you believe that He keeps His promises? Even though you cannot see Him working, even though you do not know what is coming, know that He does have a plan, and His plans is for the God of those who love Him and are called by His name. He keeps His promises, you keep your faith.