{"id":117,"date":"2012-07-14T13:05:49","date_gmt":"2012-07-14T18:05:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/?p=117"},"modified":"2012-07-14T13:05:50","modified_gmt":"2012-07-14T18:05:50","slug":"a-wife-for-isaac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/?p=117","title":{"rendered":"A Wife for Isaac"},"content":{"rendered":"<p align=\"center\">Lesson 21<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\">A Wife for Isaac<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\">Genesis 24:15-67<\/p>\n<p>Me-<\/p>\n<p>As I have reflected over these last two lessons about the marriage of Rebekah to Isaac one thing stands out. The servant of Abraham bathed everything he did in prayer. Back when my wife and I were planning to get married, I cannot remember either of us asking God for guidance in the major decision we were about to make.\u00a0 Our years together have proven that He intended for us to be together, but how assuring it would have been if we had truly gone to him in prayer. Like so many young people we based our decision on how we were attracted to each other.\u00a0 The one thing that we did have going for us was the fact that we were both Christians.\u00a0 Even with that fact we by not including God we are taking a chance on our future life together.<\/p>\n<p>We-<\/p>\n<p>We as a church should look to the example of the servant.\u00a0 God admonishes us to leave to chance. \u00a0The servant prayed because he was in uncharted territory.\u00a0 Joshua back in the Old Testament told the Israelites to prepare\u201d for you have not passed this way before.\u201d (Joshua 3:4) Each new step we take as a body should be done only after we have spent a great deal of time in prayer.\u00a0 If we will do that we can then wait to see what God is going to do.\u00a0 The servant waited as he watched to see if Rebekak\u2019s actions prove that his prayers had answered.\u00a0 As our prayers come to fruition we will see that God has truly been at work in our midst.<\/p>\n<p>Genesis 24:15-20<\/p>\n<p>Rebekah came on the scene carrying her water jar.\u00a0 The writer gave a full description of the young woman that makes clear that she could be the one to become Isaac\u2019s wife.\u00a0 Some of the characteristics were more important than others.\u00a0 She was depicted as<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The daughter of Bethuel.\u00a0 She definitely was of the right family.<\/li>\n<li>Beautiful<\/li>\n<li>A virgin<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Immediately the servant approached her and began to dialog with her according to his previous prayer.\u00a0 He asked for a drink of water. She responded with the offer of water.\u00a0 When he had drunk then she watered his camels as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why are we given such a complete description of Rebekah?<\/li>\n<li>Why did the servant decide to approach her?<\/li>\n<li>How did she respond to his request?<\/li>\n<li>Why did she offer to water his camels as well?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Genesis 24:21<\/p>\n<p>As he watched the scene unfolding before him, he stood silently by.\u00a0 It is obvious he did not jump to the conclusion that she was the answer to his prayer.\u00a0 He would need further verification that the event was not just a coincidence. It certainly in part answered his prayer for guidance.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did the servant stand by silently watch the activity of the young woman?<\/li>\n<li>Why did he still question whether God had answered his prayer?<\/li>\n<li>What does it show about the character of Eliezer?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Genesis 24:22-26<\/p>\n<p>When the young maiden had finished her task, the servant gave her a ring and two bracelets because of her kindness to him.\u00a0 He asked two questions. The first was the most important to his mission.\u00a0 He asked about her family. Depending on her response he would possibly have the answer to the third request made in his prayer.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>He had already seen the example of her hospitality and so he asked if it would be possible to lodge with her family that night.\u00a0 Rebekah shared that she was the daughter of Bethuel the son of Nahor, Abraham\u2019s brother.\u00a0 She also said that he would be welcome in their home.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did the servant give gifts to the girl, especially when he was not sure if she might be the future wife of Isaac?<\/li>\n<li>Why did he ask the next two questions?<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0Why was the first the more important of the two?<\/li>\n<li>What would the answer to the second tell him about the girl and her family?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Genesis 24:27<\/p>\n<p>Upon hearing the word from Rebekah declaring that she was the daughter of Bethuel the son of Nahor the servant responded in worship.\u00a0 He<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bowed in worship<\/li>\n<li>Blessed God for showing continual lovingkindness to Abraham.<\/li>\n<li>Spoke of God\u2019s faithfulness in keeping His promises.<\/li>\n<li>Thanked Him for guiding him to the house of Abraham\u2019s brothers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What provoked the worship of the servant?<\/li>\n<li>What does each of his statements tell of his own relationship with God and his loyalty to Abraham?<\/li>\n<li>To whom did he give the credit for a successful journey and how did he express it?<\/li>\n<li>Looking at the statements which of them stand out in your own attitude towards God when He has answered a prayer that you have spoken?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Genesis 24:28-32<\/p>\n<p>In a round-about-way the servant was invited to stay with Rebekah\u2019s family.\u00a0 Evidently, a male member of the family had to extend the invitation.\u00a0 It may have actually been Laban\u2019s home. After seeing the gifts given to her and hearing from Rebekah, he ran to where the man was waiting. Obviously Laban was impressed and called him \u201cblessed of the Lord.\u201d\u00a0 Laban then took him home and took care of his needs after a long journey.\u00a0 He then not only provided for the camels, but also unloaded them as well.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did Rebekah not extend an invitation for the servant to stay with her and her family?<\/li>\n<li>What impressed Laban? (A clue of his character as will be seen later)<\/li>\n<li>How did he show hospitality to the stranger?<\/li>\n<li>How should our reasons for inviting someone into our home be different than those of Laban?\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Genesis 24:33-36<\/p>\n<p>The servant wasted no time in stating the reason he had come to Aram.\u00a0 He declined the offer of food until he had shared his whole story.\u00a0 Given permission, he explained that he had come under the direction of Abraham. It was important for Rebekah\u2019s family to know the financial condition the family into which she was to be married.\u00a0 They need not worry because Abraham was a wealthy man with all the comforts of life.\u00a0 Not only was the father rich but the son born to him through Sarah would inherit all that his father possessed.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did the servant want to state his business before even eating?<\/li>\n<li>Why was it important to give a full description of both the wealth of Abraham but also Isaac?<\/li>\n<li>Why was both Abraham and Sarah mentioned?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Genesis 24:37-41<\/p>\n<p>After telling them about Abraham\u2019s family he then recounted the details of the conversation that had taken place between Abraham and himself which had led him to the city of Nahor. Especially important was Abraham\u2019s statement. He was sure that God would, \u201cSend His angel with you to make your journey successful.\u201d\u00a0 Not to appear too overconfident the servant also shared that if for reason his journey did not result in taking a bride for Isaac he would be free from his commission.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did the servant believe it was important to hear the conversation Abraham had had with him?<\/li>\n<li>Why would Abraham believe that the journey would be successful?<\/li>\n<li>Why did he leave the door open to the possibility that the chosen person would not agree to the marriage?<\/li>\n<li>Why was it important for the servant speak of the last words of Abraham?<\/li>\n<li>What impression did the servant want the family to have of Abraham and his representative?<\/li>\n<li>What did the last two statements say about Abraham?<\/li>\n<li>How should we approach those to whom we have been sent with the gospel?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Genesis 24:42-48<\/p>\n<p>Following all of the background material that led up to what had occurred the day he arrived in Nahor, he told them of his prayer and how Rebekah had responded in the everyway as he had prayed.\u00a0 According to her actions, he believed that she was the one chosen to be Isaac\u2019s wife.\u00a0 The fulfillment of his prayer caused him to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bow Down<\/li>\n<li>Worship the Lord<\/li>\n<li>Bless the Lord<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All was done because God had guided him on the right path to the very place at the right time to meet up with Rebekah.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did the servant repeat the events of the day after Rebekah had already told her family what had happened?<\/li>\n<li>After all that had taken place, why did there seem to be some questions in his mind about Rebekah?<\/li>\n<li>What caused such a spontaneous outburst of worship?<\/li>\n<li>How do we respond when something awesome takes place in our lives?<\/li>\n<li>What incident in your life was so fantastic that you could not wait to tell others about it?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Genesis 24:49<\/p>\n<p>To use a modern term, after all was said that needed to be said, the servant was ready to close the deal.\u00a0 He wanted to know with all the evidence before all of them, would they decide in a way that his mission would end in a positive way.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What more could have the servant said, in order to get an answer from Rebekah\u2019s family?<\/li>\n<li>What other conclusion could the family draw than the one presented?<\/li>\n<li>What would have kept them from deciding to let her go?<\/li>\n<li>What issues did they need to resolve among themselves?<\/li>\n<li>When have you been in a position that it was obvious that God wanted you to follow a certain course of action but you still hesitated?<\/li>\n<li>What caused you to delay?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Genesis 24:50-51<\/p>\n<p>The servant had done all he could do. The decision was now in the hands of the family. They could find no reason to keep Rebekah from becoming the wife of Isaac.\u00a0 It appears Rebekah had no say so in the decision.\u00a0 Her father and brother were willing to send her away based on the words of a total stranger.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What indication do we have that the servant had presented a solid case for his master?<\/li>\n<li>Why was Rebekah not consulted about the decision?<\/li>\n<li>In what ways have others sometimes made decisions for you without understanding or having any regard for your desires or feelings?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Genesis 24:52<\/p>\n<p>Once again the servant bowed down and worshipped God upon hearing the decision of Laban and Betheul.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What was the reason that the servant worshipped God?<\/li>\n<li>What does this show about his character?<\/li>\n<li>How often do you stop and thank God for all of the different things He has done for you?<\/li>\n<li>How close do you come to the example of Paul who said he prayed without ceasing?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Genesis 24:53-54a<\/p>\n<p>Once the decision had been made it was time to celebrate.\u00a0 The servant presented gifts to Rebekah and to her family out of gratitude for what had taken place.\u00a0 He and his men then could relax with their hosts and ate and drank.\u00a0 They spent the night with the family which now would have even a closer relationship than before.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did the servant wait to bring out the gifts he had with him?<\/li>\n<li>What did the people celebrate?<\/li>\n<li>Why is it important for we as followers of Christ to fellowship and celebrate together?<\/li>\n<li>Why did the writer emphasize the fact that the servant and the men with him spent the night?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Genesis 24:54b-56<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes things look different after sleeping on a decision that one makes.\u00a0 In the morning the servant was ready to return to Abraham.\u00a0 As far as he was concerned everything had been settled and he could be on his way.\u00a0 Laban and Milcah, the mother, then asked for the servant to delay his return so they could have a little more time to spend with Rebekah.\u00a0 This would indicate that they were having second thoughts about their quick decision. Wisely, the servant did not allow that situation to happen.\u00a0 He immediately stated that he was ready to return home because it had been agreed that Rebekah would go with him.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did Laban and Milcah seem to have a change of heart about the decision?<\/li>\n<li>Why did they want to delay the servant for a few days?<\/li>\n<li>How did the servant handle the situation?<\/li>\n<li>How often have you made a decision in a short span of time that you regretted after having slept on it?<\/li>\n<li>What will help us to be ready to make decisions that are thrusts upon us?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Genesis 24:57-59<\/p>\n<p>After the original decision had been made for Rebekah to go back to Canaan with the servant without consulting her, as part of the delaying tactic, the family called Rebekah to find out what she wanted to do.\u00a0 They were probably hoping she would say no, but instead she agreed to go with the man. Once Rebekah said she would go, there was no choice, but to let her make the journey.\u00a0 To provide for her needs along the way they sent her nurse with her.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did the family now consult with Rebekah after the decision had already been made to send her away?<\/li>\n<li>What did they hope to gain by asking Rebekah what she wanted to do?<\/li>\n<li>What does Rebekah\u2019s decision tell us about her character?<\/li>\n<li>What safeguard did the family provide for her for the trip?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Genesis 24:60-61<\/p>\n<p>As is done in churches today when someone is going on a mission trip or a new ministry they are sent off with a prayer and a blessing on their work.\u00a0 Each one is unique to fit the occasion. The same was true as the family sent Rebekah away.\u00a0 They wanted for her to have many descendants and strength to overcome any enemy that might come against her. With the blessing ringing in her ears she and her maids set off for Canaan with the servant of Abraham.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why is it important that we bless those going out into the mission fields here and overseas?<\/li>\n<li>What did happiness look like for Rebekah in the minds of her family?<\/li>\n<li>What was the essence of the prayer?<\/li>\n<li>How do we know when our blessings are truly of God?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Genesis 24:62-67<\/p>\n<p>Isaac, at the time of taking Rebekah as his wife, was living in the Negev and had been at Beer-lahai-roi, the very place where Hagar had one of her encounters with God.\u00a0 The writer indicated that he was taking a stroll in the evening.\u00a0 The New American Standard says that he was meditating, although the exact meaning of the word is unclear.<\/p>\n<p>The servant evidently knew where to find him because the caravan came to the place where he was living.\u00a0 At the same time that he saw the camels coming, Rebekah got the first glimpse of the man who was to be her husband.\u00a0 She wanted to know who the man was coming towards them. The servant explained to her that it was his master.\u00a0 Since the marriage had not taken place she covered herself with a veil. Isaac was brought up to date concerning all that had taken place in Aram.\u00a0 As a sign of the consummation of the marriage Isaac took Rebekah into his tent which had belonged to his mother Sarah. Because of his love for Rebekah, Isaac was comforted following his mother\u2019s death.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>How did the servant know to find Isaac?<\/li>\n<li>Why was he no longer living with his father Abraham?<\/li>\n<li>How difficult would it have been to establish a marriage under the conditions described above?<\/li>\n<li>How were the two able to accept the arrangement by Abraham?<\/li>\n<li>What does it say about the relationship Isaac had with Sarah to be still grieving after three years?<\/li>\n<li>How do you see God working throughout this whole narrative?<\/li>\n<li>What examples can you see in your own life where God has been active in some event in ways you might not have expected?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>You-<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Spend time in God\u2019s Word to learn from the examples of how God sometimes works in the background and sometimes openly in the lives of people.<\/li>\n<li>Be willing to take risks in order that God\u2019s purpose can be worked out in and through you.<\/li>\n<li>Actively seek God through prayer before making, especially important decisions?<\/li>\n<li>Be truly willing to wait on God to bring about the resolution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We-<\/p>\n<p>The church has been given a tremendous responsibility which far exceeds the one given to the servant of Abraham.\u00a0 We are commissioned to make disciples to be wedded to Christ as His bride.\u00a0 This can only be done as we are faithful ourselves as part of His church.\u00a0 An important part of knowing how to carry out the mission is to spend time seeking His will and purpose for us by passionately meditating on His word and in prayer. Then we are to wait on Him to see how He is going to use us to carry out the Great Commission.\u00a0 Let us truly desire to be used by Him.\u00a0 If we do God\u2019s will to bring success to our endeavors.<\/p>\n<p>Additional notes:<\/p>\n<p>TM-Abraham was a great influence on those under his care, as we see by the prayers and worship of his Eliezer. (Gen. 24:12-14, 26-27, 42-45, 48, 52)<\/p>\n<p>UE-How many of us, if we were truly honest with ourselves, expect to get exactly what we seek when we pray?\u00a0 Do we not usually pray in a general way even when we appear to be individualizing the request?\u00a0 We say things like_________if it is Your will etc.\u00a0 Here we have the servant of Abraham praying about a certain person and the specific action that person would take as a sign that God had indeed brought him success in his venture.\u00a0 Then the unexpected happened.\u00a0 Along came Rebekah and fulfilled the prayer down to the last detail.\u00a0\u00a0 Here was the right girl showing up at the right time doing the right things.\u00a0 Could we all agree that this was definitely a God thing?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0(Gen. 24:12-24, 26-27, 42-27, 52)<\/p>\n<p>GC-Abraham\u2019s servant understood that all tasks should be undertaken only after time had been spent in earnest prayer.\u00a0 He also remembered to give thanks once his assignment was complete. (Gen. 24:12-14, 26, 27)<\/p>\n<p>RT-It is obvious from the way that Abraham\u2019s servant lifted his requests to God that Abraham had truly impacted the man\u2019s life by godly example. (Gen 24:12-14, 27, 48)<\/p>\n<p>RT-Success should be predicated on our desire to serve the Lord and in doing so, to be a servant of others.\u00a0 Success is never for our own glory but for the Father\u2019s. (Gen. 24:12)<\/p>\n<p>RT-The servant sent by Abraham shared with Rebekah\u2019s family how God had blessed him.\u00a0 Abraham in turn had given Isaac all that he had.\u00a0 (Gen. 24:36)<\/p>\n<p>C-Bethuel was willing for his daughter to travel to Canaan to become the wife of Isaac.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (Gen. 24:50-51)<\/p>\n<p>TM-It is all too often a fact that once our prayers are answered we forget to thank God when our requests are fulfilled.\u00a0 Eliezer, Abraham\u2019s servant, set an example for us.\u00a0 Upon hearing that Rebekah was willing to go with him, he bowed down at worshipped in an attitude of gratitude. (Gen. 24:52<\/p>\n<p>C-Rebekah received many gifts from Abraham by the hand of his servant. (Gen. 24:53)<\/p>\n<p>C-She was willing to leave her family and homeland to go with a man she did not know to a strange land to marry a man she had never met.\u00a0 What courage she had to go on such a journey.\u00a0 What faith she had that the servant was telling the truth and everything would turn out as he had said. (Gen. 24:53-61)\u00a0 Would this occur that much today?<\/p>\n<p>M-What a power example of faith is displayed by Rebekah in this situation.\u00a0 What was her motivation for taking such a risk?\u00a0 Which of the following do you think might best suit her reason for going to Canaan?:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>she saw it as a challenge to be tackled<\/li>\n<li>a new adventure<\/li>\n<li>Great opportunity to leave home<\/li>\n<li>To go live with a godly man and get away from a pagan society<\/li>\n<li>A better way of life.<\/li>\n<li>The men looked like they were honest<\/li>\n<li>She believed the story of Isaac\u2019s wealth and saw it as a way to improve her lot.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>These are some of the reasons that people do what they do today.\u00a0 Whatever her thinking she did go with the strangers from another land.<\/p>\n<p>DM- Rebekah\u2019s decision to go with Abraham\u2019s servant set in motion what would occur between Jacob and Esau many years later. (Gen. 24:16-18)<\/p>\n<p>C-Isaac married Rebekah a girl that he has never met. (Gen. 24:67)<\/p>\n<p>C-It was Rebekah who helped Isaac get over the death of his mother.\u00a0 His love for her brought the comfort he needed. (Gen. 24:67)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lesson 21 A Wife for Isaac Genesis 24:15-67 Me- As I have reflected over these last two lessons about the marriage of Rebekah to Isaac one thing stands out. The servant of Abraham bathed everything he did in prayer. Back when my wife and I were planning to get married, I cannot remember either of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=117"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":119,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117\/revisions\/119"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}