Faith and Religion Hub

Week 16: Trust and Obey

Contents of this week’s study: 

Day One: Will You Give Me Everything  

Day Two: God Will Provide the Sacrifice  

Day Three: Be'er-Shavah 

Day Four: Chayei Sarah  

Day Five: The Oath

Day Six: The Princess Who Serves 

Facts: Avraham was one hundred years old when Isaac (Yitz’chak) was born.
Sarah, who was about ten years younger than Avraham, was approximately ninety years old when she gave birth to her son.

Isaac was about thirty-seven years old when his mother died.

Day One: Will You Give Me Everything
Genesis 22:1-2 (CJB)  

1 After these things, God tested Avraham. He said to him, “Avraham!” and he answered, *["Hineni"] “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love, Yitz’chak; and go to the land of Moriyah [Jerusalem]. There you are to offer him as a burnt offering on a mountain that I will point out to you.”

In the Strong’s:
Moriah 4179H Môwrîyâh, mo-ree-yaw´; … seen of Jah *[Yah], 

from 1) 7200H raw-aw; (PR) to see, (literally or figuratively) (in numerous applications, directly or implied, transitive or intransitive and causative): --- advise self, appear, approve, behold, x certainly, consider, discern, … gaze, take heed, … joyfully…. 

2) 3050H Jah *[Yah], contraction … the sacred name [of God]….

1) God was testing Avraham’s faithfulness, but do you think God tested him because God was unsure what Avraham would do? Or was this to bring Avraham face to face with the same choice Adam and Havah [Eve] faced in Gan-Aden, “Will you remain faithful even if it denies you something you really want or if it costs you something precious”?   

2) Strong's translated the name Moriah to mean "seen of God", but I want to suggest that the reverse is indicated more directly by this word.  The first primary root word (PR) 7200 [Hebrew] actually means to see or gaze upon, so the name of the very place God told Avraham to sacrifice his "only son" means "to behold God".
 

Isaiah 40:9 (NKJV)

O Zion,
You who bring good tidings,
Get up into the high mountain *[Moriah];
O Jerusalem,
You who bring good tidings,
Lift up your voice with strength,
Lift it up, be not afraid;
Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” 

Yeshua's apostle [Talmid], John [Yokhanan] recorded the testimony of John the Baptist [Yokhanan the Immerser]

John 1:29 (TLV)

29 The next day, John sees Yeshua coming to him and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" 

Of course, it has long been held that the place where Yeshua, God's only "begotten" son, was crucified -- the place of the skull (located just outside the city), was the very place God told Avraham to sacrifice his only heir.

Now that the foreign woman and her offspring are gone, Avraham returns to his wife and to fulfilling his covenant with God (perhaps to his senses). 

Genesis 22:3-6 (CJB)

3 Avraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, together with Yitz’chak his son. He cut the wood for the burnt offering, departed and went toward the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day, Avraham raised his eyes and saw the place in the distance. 5 Avraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. I and the boy will go there, worship and return to you.” 6 Avraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on Yitz’chak his son. Then he took in his hand the fire and the knife, and they both went on together.
 

Answer the following: 

· Avraham got up early in the morning 

Q, Do you see a connection in the idea of Avraham "getting up early" to Avimelech's urgency ["getting up early"] when God warned Avimelech of his impending doom in a dream?

· Avraham raised his eyes and saw the place in the distance 

Q, Do you think this statement hints that Avraham was watching out for the place and thereby mindful to carefully fulfill all God’s commands -- undistracted and truly faithfully now?

· I and the boy will go there, worship and return to you

Q, Was Avraham proclaiming his faith that; “We--- will go, we--- will worship, and "we"--- will return"?

· Avraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on Yitz’chak his son... 

Q, Does this verse make you think of Yeshua carrying the cross bar through the streets of Jerusalem as He was led out to the place where He would be crucified?

Youtube - Music video - The Via Dolorosa - Sandy Patti:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7asEdmZsSPo 

*While you listen, ruminate on both Yeshua and Yitzchak making their way toward that distant hill; Yitzchak as a prophetic picture and Yeshua as the fulfillment of that prophesy.

Genesis 22:7-10 (CJB) 

7 Yitz’chak spoke to Avraham his father: “My father?” He answered, “Here I am *[hineni], my son.” He said, “I see the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Avraham replied, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son”; and they both went on together. 9 They came to the place God had told him about; and Avraham built the altar there, set the wood in order, bound Yitz’chak his son and laid him on the altar, on the wood. 10 Then Avraham put out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. 

Again, answer the following: 

· "Both went on together" is repeated twice in this short section of scripture (vs. 6 [above] and vs. 8)

Q, Could this be an indication of Yitzchak's own faith?

Note: In his willingness to sacrifice his "son of promise", Avraham was actually sacrificing himself in the form of relinquishing his freewill.

· God will provide himself the lamb...

Q, Did God have to provide the sacrifice Himself, both in the case of Avraham's test and in Yeshua's crucifixion, why?

· Avraham built the altar
· set the wood in order
· bound Yitz’chak his son and laid him on the altar 

Q, Here, we see Avraham continuing to walk out what God has commanded. God was going to provide the sacrifice Himself, so why did Avraham have to do the work? Is there also preparation work you and I must do in walking out our covenant with God?

· Avraham put out his hand and took the knife to kill his son 

Q, Just as Avraham was ready to take the life of his son of promise, God gave orders to stop. 

Though this is an extreme situation which God does not need us to physically act out -- again, sometimes we are told to walk faithfully through something hard, even heartbreaking, and we wait, and wait for God to take it away and end our suffering. Do you see a reason why Avraham [and we] have to bear such hardships right through to the end?

Journaling:

Write your thoughts.

Just as Avraham had to take Yitzchak and put him on the alter -- God put His only Son on the cross, remember Yeshua is actually part of God. It was not the Jews, the Romans, and not even you and I who put Messiah on the alter, but the Father, Himself. 

In stopping Avraham’s act of faithfulness, God showed that He made the plan; not man. It’s time we stop blaming any group and realize the crucifixion as the most beautiful act of love and faithfulness the world has ever known!   

Day Two: God Will Provide the Sacrifice    

Genesis 22:11-12 (TLV) 

11 But the angel of Adonai called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham! Abraham!” He said, “Hineni!” (“Here I am”)  12 Then He said, “Do not reach out your hand against the young man—do nothing to him at all. For now, I know that you are one who fears God—you did not withhold your son, your only son, from Me.”  

*Sometimes Hashem has already placed the sacrifice in our life ahead of time. My guess is He does this to bring us to the choice we talked about yesterday, “Will we choose to obey no matter the cost?”

Genesis 22:13-14 (CJB)

 13 Avraham raised his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in the bushes by its horns. Avraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son.  14 Avraham called the place Adonai Yir’eh [Adonai will see (to it), Adonai provides] — as it is said to this day, “On the mountain Adonai is seen.”   

Let us remember this caution; when we receive provision for a sacrifice ahead of time, we must not become attached in a way that prevents our willingness to give back what God asks of us; whether the sacrifice is money, family, time, heirlooms, etc. Being willing to let go of whatever you have to serve the kingdom and support kingdom ministry is a vital part of your test. It is tough, but faithfulness in this area is a clear sign of your spiritual growth.  

Genesis 22:15-18 (TLV)

15 The angel of Adonai called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I swear—it is a declaration of Adonai—because you have done this thing, and you did not withhold your son, your only son, 17 I will richly bless you and bountifully multiply your seed like the stars of heaven, and like the sand that is on the seashore, and your seed will possess the gate of his enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed—because you obeyed My voice.”  

This is about the third time Adonai has made this promise to Avraham. Each time its been re-stated as a result of Avraham willingly and reverently following Adonai’s commands.    

Journaling:

I'm keeping today's study a little shorter so we can spend some quality time on the following.

Even though Avraham did not sacrifice his son, we can know he would have, and that is evidenced by God's statement that Avraham had not withheld his heir from Him. God stopped Avraham -- as he was moving to fulfill God's command. Avraham knew God would never break his promise that the descendants of Avraham and Sarah would be as numerous as the stars....

So let me ask you;

What is there in your life that you would withhold from God [note: this is not the people, situations and items that you don't want anyway but things you do desire to keep]? 

My friends, we must have nothing held back. Avraham put his very future on the alter, when he bound his princely son and laid him there. 

Let’s take a little time right now and ask Hashem if there is anything we’re keeping hold of. Whatever He tells you He wants you to offer sacrificially to Him, give it with a willing heart trusting Him to provide the actual sacrifice Himself or to help you let-go knowing God has already provided all you need along with items and issues that are only there for you to give back sacrificially. He has a plan and reason for everything even if we don't understand it now. 

Day Three: Be'er-shavah  

Genesis 22:19-23Tree of Life Version (TLV) 

19 Then Abraham returned to his young men and they got up and went together to Beer-sheba. Then Abraham dwelled in Beer-sheba.  

*Avraham went home. He returned to the wife he loved. He lived for many years at Beer-Sheba with Sarah, the woman who loved him so much she received him back even though he had thought, for a moment, that he might prefer another over her.  

*I want to point out what I believe is a mystery hidden deep in the meaning of the place where Avraham and Sarah lived out the rest of their days.   

In the Strong's:

Beer-Sheba 884H Beêr Sheba', be-ayr´sheh´-bah; … well of an oath; Beër- Sheba, a place in Palestine *[Israel]… from 875H bĕ-ayr´; a pit; especially a well…from 874H (PR) to dig; by analogy- to engrave; (figuratively) to explain: --- declare, (make) plain(-ly).   
7651H sheh´-bah; (a prime. Cardinal number); seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication- a week; by extension- an infinite number …   
7650H shaw-bah´; (PR) properly- to be complete, but used only as a denominative from 7651 (above); to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if repeating a declaration seven times): --- adjure, charge (by an oath, with an oath) feed to the full … take an oath, x straightly, (cause to, make to) swear.    

Journaling:

Answer the following questions according to the meaning of the name Beer-Sheba and its root words.  

1. Beer Sheba is a well. It would provide life giving _____. Can we assume this as part of the description of how Avraham lived the rest of his life (spiritually well hydrated)?  

2. According to the first definition of the word Beer-Sheba, it was a place where Avraham and God both took an ____ [or made a covenant].  

3. The reference to “engraving” in the root word 874H is interesting in light of the following scriptures: Write a brief definition for how these scripture references might relate to the idea of “engraving” in the name Beer-Sheba.  

Jeremiah 31:33 (NKJV) 

33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.   
*This is vs 32 in the CJB and TLV Bibles.  

Romans 2:15 (CJB) 

15 For their lives show that the conduct the Torah dictates is written in their hearts. Their consciences also bear witness to this, for their conflicting thoughts sometimes accuse them and sometimes defend them.  

Hebrews 10:16 (TLV) 

16 “This is the covenant that I will cut with them:  ‘After those days,’ says Adonai,
   ‘I will put My Torah upon their hearts,
   and upon their minds I will write it,’”  

4. At the end of 874 it may reveal Beer-Sheva as a place “to explain: --- declare, (make) plain(-ly)”. Write your thoughts about this idea, preferably in your own words. What did God “explain or declare to make it plain” or clear?  

5. In 7651 and 7650H we see that 7651 actually refers to the number seven, as in “the Messianic number” and 7650 being “repeating a declaration seven times” or taking an oath or swearing something. 

Q- Do you think the root words of Beer-Sheva might reveal that Hashem was making His will and His faithfulness “perfectly clear" and that He kept Avraham there to keep him living the covenant?  

Now we are given a small glimpse of something that is coming soon. Avraham must have received visitors from Ur of the Chaldees. Whether family or acquaintances, someone brought him word from his homeland.   
I’m sure it was welcome news that his brother had eight sons and that at least there were daughters among their offspring. Yitz’chak would surely want to be married one day and Avraham didn’t want his son to be tied to a daughter of the Canaanites.  

Genesis 22:20-23 (TLV) 

20 Now it was after these things that it was told to Abraham, “Look, Milcah has also borne sons to Nahor your brother: 21 Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram,   22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Yidlaph and Bethuel.”   23 Then Bethuel fathered Rebekah (Yitz’chak’s future wife). These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother.   

Day Four: Chayei Sarah --- The Life of Sarah

Genesis 23:1-4 (TLV) 

23 Now Sarah’s life was 127 years—the years of Sarah’s life. 2 Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), in the land of Canaan. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.  

*Sarah, the wife, I believe, Avraham had come to love, the devoted woman who had served him and had made the best of the toughest situations they had faced, has died. There was a day when Avraham didn’t weep over Sarah’s absence because he had fallen into the trap of believing the stolen affections of the servant-girl were more satisfying that those of the woman of God’s kingdom.   

Genesis 23:3-4 (CJB) 

3 Then Abraham rose from before his dead one and spoke to the sons of Heth saying, 4 “I am an outsider and a sojourner among you. Give me a gravesite among you so that I may bury my dead from before my presence.” 

*Sarah was a mighty woman of God and worthy of honor; perhaps a Proverbs 31 kind of woman. Avraham wanted to honor her in burial. The locals owned all the burial caves (the way a noble was buried), so Avraham went to find the man who owned the cave he wanted for his wife's burial.

Genesis 23:13-16 (CJB)

13 and [Avraham] spoke to ‘Efron in their hearing: “Please be good enough to listen to me. I will pay the price of the field; accept it from me, and I will bury my dead there.” 14 But ‘Efron answered Avraham, 15 “My lord, listen to me. A plot of land worth 400 silver shekels — what is that between me and you? Just bury your dead.” 16 Avraham got the point of what ‘Efron had said, so he weighed out for ‘Efron the amount of money he had specified in the presence of the sons of Het, 400 silver shekels of the weight accepted among merchants [ten pounds].  

*Was the four hundred silver shekels part of the thousand silver shekels Avimelekh [Abimelech] had given to redeem Sarah’s reputation? The point we need to realize here is that Avraham finally realizes who his wife is, and he gives her the royal burial fitting a princess of the kingdom.   

*Avraham refused to take the cave of Makhpelah without paying, just as we’ll see, one day, when King David purchased Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem as a place for God’s temple. Sarah was the temple of the Ruach [Holy Spirit]. The line leading to Messiah came specifically through her, and that required a royal burial.  

Genesis 23:17-18 (CJB)

17 Thus the field of ‘Efron in Makhpelah, which is by Mamre — the field, its cave and all the trees in and around it — were deeded 18 to Avraham as his possession in the presence of the sons of Het who belonged to the ruling council of the city. 

*Efron, who was part of the family who ruled over the city near where Avraham and Sarah lived out the end of their lives, offered to "give" the cave to Avraham as a burial site, but Avraham, wisely, refused to accept the place as a gift. 

It is probably best to remember that things which are given can also be taken. It is wise to pay and get a contract to prove your ownership.

Journaling:

Write your thoughts,

Genesis 23:19 (CJB)

19 Then Avraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Makhpelah, by Mamre, also known as Hevron, in the land of Kena‘an.   

There are many, today, who believe empty rhetoric which claims the Jews do not have history tied to what we know as modern day Israel, but the scripture is clear that the Jews, using their God-given wisdom, insisted on compensating the people of the land for all they received. The land rightfully belongs to the descendants of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov today.  

Day Four: The Oath to Find a Righteous Bride  

As we noted yesterday, Avraham didn’t want his son to be married to a girl from Canaan.  

From the Strong's:  Canaan 3667H Kena'an, ken-ah´-an; humiliated; Kenaan, a son of Ham; also the country inhabited by him: --- Canaan, merchant, traffic, from 3665H kaw-nah´; (PR) (properly) to bend the knee; hence, to humiliate, vanquish: --- bring down (low), into subjection, under, humble (self), subdue.   

*Canaan was the son of Ham, the son/grandson Noah cursed and sent away when he was disrespectful and sinned against his father/grandfather. Note that Ham settled in what was to become Israel though God had chosen Noah's other son Shem to become priest.   

* How important is it that we are careful to marry another true believer, someone who, though not perfect yet, has submitted their life in covenant with God? 

Avraham understood the importance of this issue from personal experience and wanted a woman for his son who was of the same line. This should be an example to us. We should understand the importance of covenanting with someone with the same values and God's DNA (so to speak).    

Genesis 24:1-4 (TLV)  

24 Now Abraham was old, advanced in years, and Adonai blessed Abraham in everything. 2 Then Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household who managed everything that belonged to him, “Now put your hand under my thigh, 3 so that I may make you take an oath by Adonai, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from among the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling. 4 On the contrary, to my land and to my relatives you must go and get a wife for my son Isaac.  

*Here we come to some deeper understanding of what is being pictured in this section of scripture. It does not take much of a stretch of the imagination to perceive God the Father, and His desire for a wife with a pure heart for His son, a woman of royal bloodline.    

*This most trusted servant is not to marry God’s son to an unworthy, pagan woman. He is to travel to the place where he will find a suitable wife, and notice that the servant was very careful to allow Jehovah to show him the “one” righteous woman who had already been chosen. There was more than one marriageable female in this place, but not all of them were worthy to be married to prince Yitz’chak, nor will all those who say they belong to God be found worthy to marry King Yeshua. Another note here: not every attractive man or woman should be considered worthy of being married to you man or woman of God.  

Genesis 24:9-16Tree of Life Version (TLV)  9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and he made a pledge to him concerning this matter.  10 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and left with all the best of his master’s things in his hand. Then he arose and went to Aram-Naharaim, to Nahor’s city. 11 Then he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at evening time, the time for the going out to draw water.  

*Let's discuss a few details we really need to observe here;   

1. Did you make a mental note of the fact that the servant took all the ___________ of his master’s things? (see vs. 10)  

2. This was to be a royal wedding. Even today, in Judaism, a wedding is a grand affair which merits the very best that can be afforded, and no cost is spared. Again, this servant is not looking for just any woman. The woman who will marry Yitz’chak will be purchased at a great cost. She must be found worthy to be dignified by this match, the title that will come with it, and the treasures which will be hers.  

3. If you want to find a suitable match, just as this servant did, you must place yourself in the most strategic position. The servant was looking for a godly woman with a servant’s heart, so he went to the place where such women would be found. All the women who were dedicated to serving their family would be coming to the well to draw water for their family. He waited patiently, praying for God’s leading.     *The well was where people drew their life-giving water. You do not want a spouse who does not have a heart to serve or seek God’s hydrating presence.   

Genesis 24:12-14 (TLV)   12 “Adonai, the God of Abraham my master,” he said, “please make something happen before me today, and show loyalty to Abraham my master. 13 Look, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are going out to draw water. 14 Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please tip your jar so that I may drink,’ and she will say, ‘Drink—and I’ll also water your camels’—let her be the one You have appointed for your servant Isaac. So by this I’ll know that You have shown graciousness to my master.”  

*The servant asked Jehovah to send the woman who would serve Yitz’chak and who would also serve alongside him. As a sign, the servant asked Jehovah to bring the girl who would not just serve him but would be mindful of further ministry opportunity on her own, to see a need and fill it without being asked.  

Genesis 24:15-16 (TLV)   15 Now before he had finished speaking, behold there was Rebekah (who was born to Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother) going out with her jar on her shoulder. 16 Now the young woman was very good looking, a girl of marriageable age, and she was a virgin. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.    

*Rebekah was beautiful, but what woman isn’t? I suggest to you that what is being stated here is that she had been taught to be gracious and graceful. Unfortunately, in our world today, what is considered beautiful requires a woman to be completely self-focused; to spend hours in the gym, doing her hair and make-up, and getting the latest fashions.   

*Looking at all the author has to say about this woman, I think she was naturally very pretty as I pointed out that all women are, but I believe she exuded grace and kindness. She was obviously approachable.  

*In saying that Rebekah was a virgin we are to understand that she had an innocence about her. In today’s world innocence by marriageable age is extremely rare, but when we belong to Yeshua He will restore our innocence if we commit our way to Him and leave our past actions.  

*Rebekah was old enough to be married in that culture though there are debates as to what would have actually been considered an adequate age to make the choice to be married.    

Day Five: The Princes Who Serves Pt. 1  

Genesis 24:17-67(CJB)  17 The servant ran to meet her [Rebekah] and said, “Please give me a sip of water from your jug to drink.” 18 “Drink, my lord,” she replied, and immediately lowered her jug onto her arm and let him drink. 19 When she was through letting him drink, she said, “I will also draw water for your camels until they have drunk their fill.” 20 She quickly emptied her jug into the trough, then ran again to the well to draw water, and kept on drawing water for all his camels. 21 The man gazed at her in silence, waiting to find out whether Adonai had made his trip successful or not.  

*Don’t miss the ambitious self-sacrifice of Rebekah’s act of kindness. Note how we are told she “immediately” lowered the jug of water and rest it on her arm to put it in the best position for this “stranger” to drink, and notice this servant had ten camels with him. Camels can each drink thirty to forty gallons of water at a time. Even if each camel drank only ten gallons on that warm evening, Rebekah had to make many trips up and down a flight of steps hauling a heavy jug full of water which could not have held more than a few gallons at a time.  

1. How would you describe Rebekah’s heart and her actions?  

2. Do you realize that Holy Spirit (Ruach) is searching for a bride for the coming King? What kind of bride is He watching for?  

3. Though none of us is perfect, If you are in the position of possibly wanting to be covenanted to another person in marriage, as a prince or princess of Jehovah’s kingdom, what qualities should you be looking for? Are you willing to allow Holy Spirit to bring the right match for you according to Jehovah’s judgement?  

4. If you are already unequally yoked in marriage, you must be a servant of servants to try to draw your unsaved or unworthy spouse into the kingdom through your kindness. Please be aware that in this case you are in a holy war. The forces of hell are going to battle you every step of the way, but you have direct access to the only power in creation. Don’t give up, and keep your way because you are tied to the world through the worldly mind of your mate.   

5. Finally, note, although he gave Rebekah gifts worthy of royalty, this man didn’t jump to a conclusion that because this woman had given more than he asked of her, even though he had asked this sign of God, he waited to know for sure that she was the one.  

Genesis 24:22-28(CJB)   22 When the camels were done drinking, the man took a gold nose-ring weighing one-fifth of an ounce and two gold bracelets weighing four ounces 23 and asked, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?” 24 She answered, “I am the daughter of B’tu’el the son Milkah bore to Nachor,” 25 adding, “We have plenty of straw and fodder, and room for staying overnight.” 26 The man bowed his head and prostrated himself before Adonai. (iv) 27 Then he said, “Blessed be Adonai, God of my master Avraham, who has not abandoned his faithful love for my master; because Adonai has guided me to the house of my master’s kinsmen.” 28 The girl ran off and told her mother’s household what had happened.  

1. This is the chief question we all need to answer, is there room for the Spirit of God in our hearts and lives? Will we, obediently, reverently and most of all “willingly” rearrange our lives to serve Him?  2. Rebekah left the man at the well and went to tell the others so they could also prepare to willingly accept this servant of their kinsman.  

Genesis 24:29-32(CJB)   29 Rivkah had a brother named Lavan. When he saw the nose-ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists besides, and when he heard his sister Rivkah’s report of what the man had said to her, he ran out to the spring and found the man standing there by the camels. 31 “Come on in,” he said, “you whom Adonai has blessed! Why are you standing outside when I have made room in the house and prepared a placefor the camels?” 32 So the man went inside, and while the camels were being unloaded and provided straw and fodder, water was brought for him to wash his feet and the feet of the men with him.  

1. Lavan [Laban] also recognized this man not merely as a servant of Avraham but as an important messenger.   

2. Lavan saw the signs of his sister having been favored and knew the significance of the gifts she had been given. Those closest to Rebekah were also serving Jehovah, and they knew Avraham sent this man to find a wife for his son. They recognized this match as very advantageous for their whole family as Avraham was well known as a noble man.  

Genesis 24:33-(CJB)   33 But when a meal was set before him, he said, “I won’t eat until I say what I have to say.” Lavan said, “Speak.” 34 He said, “I am Avraham’s servant. 35 Adonai has greatly blessed my master, so that he has grown wealthy. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys. 36 Sarah my master’s wife bore my master a son when she was old, and he has given him everything he has. 37 My master made me swear, saying, ‘You are not to choose a wife for my son from among the women of the Kena‘ani, among whom I am living; 38 rather, you are to go to my father’s house, to my kinsmen, to choose a wife for my son.’     1. There is no time to waste. We must recognize the urgency of the task set before us as messengers of God’s kingdom. Will Yeshua’s bride finally get herself together and get ready to meet her husband?  

2. Basically the man says, “I have come seeking a worthy bride for my master’s sole heir.   

Genesis 24:49(CJB)   49 “So now if you people intend to show grace and truth to my master, tell me. But if not, tell me, so that I can turn elsewhere.”  

1. Let us check our hearts my friends. Are we dealing truthfully with God?  

2. You may be related to Jehovah, but if you are not going to deal rightly with Him His son’s bride will not come from you.  

Genesis 24:50-58(CJB)   50 Lavan and B’tu’el replied, “Since this comes from Adonai, we can’t say anything to you either bad or good. 51 Rivkah is here in front of you; take her and go. Let her be your master’s son’s wife, as Adonai has said.” 52 When Avraham’s servant heard what they said, he prostrated himself on the ground to Adonai. (v) 53 Then the servant brought out silver and gold jewelry, together with clothing, and gave them to Rivkah. He also gave valuable gifts to her brother and mother. 54 He and his men then ate and drank and stayed the night.  

In the morning they got up; and he said, “Send me off to my master.” 55 Her brother and mother said, “Let the girl stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that, she will go.” 56 He answered them, “Don’t delay me, since Adonai has made my trip successful, but let me go back to my master.” 57 They said, “We will call the girl and see what she says.” 58 They called Rivkah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” and she replied, “I will.”  

1. We, ourselves, must know our priorities. We must put our Messiah and His kingdom first, before everything else, even our families and our own wishes.    
Genesis 24:59-61(CJB) 

59 So they sent their sister Rivkah away, with her nurse, Avraham’s servant and his men. 60 They blessed Rivkah with these words: “Our sister, may you be the mother of millions, and may your descendants possess the cities of those who hate them.” 61 Then Rivkah and her maids mounted the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rivkah and went on his way.  

*Rebekah chose to go immediately despite her families’ desire to keep her for another ten days to say goodbye to her. There was a real sense of urgency. It is probably difficult for many people today to understand why Rebekah would place such importance on her marriage because, today, people don’t view marriage as a commitment.     

*In America in the nineteen seventies the culture of the “shack-up” began. Instead of entering a covenanted agreement couples simply moved in and lived together. This arrangement could be ended easily in case of any disagreement or if either person found someone they liked better. Today the West is plagued by the culture of the “hook-up”. People are, most often, unwilling to make any kind of agreement let alone to make a commitment to serve one another and remain faithfully monogamous.   

*Let’s get this straight right now, the culture of the “shack-up and certainly the culture of the “hook-up” are an abomination to Jehovah. It was God who ordained marriage, and He, Himself, takes marriage very seriously. Sex outside of marriage is called fornication (to play the whore) in the scriptures and for a married person to have sex with someone other than their spouse is called adultery (to break marriage covenant).   

*As we’ve noted many times, Jehovah ordained sex to be symbolic of the oneness between a man and wife, and the union between a man and woman is a representation of both the relationship of mankind with Jehovah as well as the unity between the triune God. Sex with anyone besides your husband or wife is forbidden in scripture, and God equates it with committing infidelity against Him with idols.  

*I believe the following is one of the most touching scenes recorded in scripture. Yitz’chak was apparently very close to his mother and felt a heavy sorrow and emptiness at her death. Let your mind’s eye “see” Yitz’chak; lonely, maybe feeling a bit empty, wandering in the field, kicking rocks but anticipating the warmth of the touch and companionship of a woman who loves him; and Rebekah, as the camels slowly carry her and her maids closer to her new home. Suddenly, both Yitz’chak and Rebekah look up and see each other afar off, and all at once the moment they have anticipated has arrived, the moment when they will meet and become one.  

Genesis 24:62-67 (CJB)  Meanwhile, Yitz’chak, one evening after coming along the road from Be’er-Lachai-Ro’i *[the God who sees]— he was living in the Negev — 63 went out walking in the field; and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. 64 Rivkah too looked up; and when she saw Yitz’chak, she quickly dismounted the camel. 65 She said to the servant, “Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?” When the servant replied, “It’s my master,” she took her veil and covered herself.  66 The servant told Yitz’chak everything he had done. 67 Then Yitz’chak brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent and took Rivkah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. Thus was Yitz’chak comforted for the loss of his mother.  

*We can only hope the servant gave Yitz’chak the condensed version of events, as I can’t imagine he was really in the mind set to absorb the details of the trip and the bargain with this soft, voluptuous female standing there awaiting him.  

*One day, we who have entered into God’s Covenant as the bride of Yeshua will be part of a caravan taking us to meet our love. As Yit’chak was for his bride, Yeshua will be beset with longing; anticipating our arrival. We will see each other afar off and know the long agony of waiting is over. Our beautiful bridegroom will love those who have longed for Him; those who have been prepared to serve Him and His kingdom.    

Day Six: Shema Discussion  

Be Strong and Courageous Friends