Gen.24:36

Vs.36- “And Sarah my master’s wife”- Bethuel, Laban, and Rebekah would know who Sarah was.  Sarah was a family member in one of two ways.  1.)  She was the daughter of Terah (Abraham’s father), but had a different mother than Abraham (Gen.20:12).  This seems to be the most likely possibility to me.  2.)  Many believe the woman described as Iscah (Gen.11:29), the daughter of Haran, is in fact Sarah, Abraham’s wife.  Haran had three children mentioned in Gen.11, Lot, Milcah, and Iscah.  If Sarah is the daughter of Haran, then she would be Abraham’s niece and Terah’s granddaughter.  Grandparents were referred to as fathers and mothers in Biblical times.  Therefore, in Gen.20, when Abraham says that she is the daughter of his father, he could be speaking of her descending from her father as a grandchild.  I personally believe the first theory to be true.  She is directly called the daughter of Terah in the same sense that Abraham is the son of Terah and the name Sarai is mentioned in Gen.11.  Why would she be mentioned under two different names in the same passage? It would seem clear that Sarai and Iscah are two different people.  Either way, however, the family being addressed would have some sort of relation to Sarah and know who she is.

“bare a son to my master when she was old,”- The servant quickly tells the story of the supernatural birth of Isaac and of God’s special and miraculous favor shown to Abraham and Sarah.

“and unto him hath he given all that he hath.”- The financial blessings bestowed upon Abraham have already been revealed.  The servant will soon tell his errand and desire concerning Rebekah being Isaac’s wife.  Isaac is heir of two things.  1.)  Possessions. All of the flocks, herds, silver, gold, and servants mentioned in the previous verse are to be inherited by Isaac.  This is important for Rebekah and her family to know.  Why?  Because if she is going to move 400 or more miles away then they want to make sure that she is provided for.  Isn’t this what parents want to know before they give a young man permission to marry their daughter?  They want to know that he will work and provide for her needs.  They want to know that he will provide a roof over her head, have money to buy groceries, and means to take care of health needs and emergencies.  2.)  Promises.  Isaac is not just an heir of material possessions, but he is the heir of the promises given to Abraham from God (Gen.12:1-3).  Abraham was promised… A.)  That he would become a great nation.  The promise passed on to Isaac and then to Jacob.  The nation of Israel, God’s national people, did not come through Ishmael and it did not come later through Esau.  Isaac was an heir of the promise of becoming a patriarch of the nation of Israel.  B.)  That he would be a blessing to the whole world.  The blessing to the whole world was a promise that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, would come from the posterity and lineage of Abraham.  The genealogy of Christ is traced throughout Scripture.  Isaac was promised that through his line the Messiah would come.  Jesus did not come through the line of Ishmael or Esau.  Jesus came from the line of Isaac and Jacob. 

 

One-Line Explanation- The servant tells Rebekah and her family about his master’s wife and son.

 

Lesson:  “Unto him hath he given all that he hath.”  1.)  Practical Lesson.  The servant told Rebekah’s family about Abraham’s riches that were all given to Isaac.  This was done to put them at ease concerning her provision before he asked about Rebekah becoming Isaac’s wife.  A man is not ready to marry until he is ready to provide for his wife.  The man is responsible for making sure that her needs are met. 1 Tim.5:8- But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.  This verse is speaking about taking care of widows in your family, but the principle applies that the leader of a household should take care of the needs of his family.  I have counseled young couples who want to get married.  I will ask, “Do you have a job?  Do you have a home?”  I am amazed when they tell me that they don’t have a job, they don’t have a home, and they don’t have transportation but they will ‘live on love.”  Such a statement sounds good, but it greatly lacks wisdom.  I always say the following to a man who makes such a statement to me, “If you love her then why don’t you prove it by proving that you will provide for her needs.”  The Bible states that a man should not get married until he is ready to provide for his spouse.  Pro.24:27- Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.  Prepare yourself for marriage before you enter into it.  Prepare yourself with a job and an education and a home and transportation (prepare your work in the field) before you try to begin building your house.  A young man should be ready to leave his father’s house, including his father and mothers provision, before he gets married.  Gen.2:24- Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh.  A man is supposed to leave his father and mother when he gets married.  If you can’t provide for your wife without having assistance from your parents; then you are not ready to get married.   I am not referring to your parents helping you a little bit to get into your first house.  I am talking about living in your parent’s basement and needing your parent’s constant help to make it.  2.)  Pictorial Lesson.  Isaac is a type or a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Abraham, a picture of our heavenly Father, has given to Isaac, a picture of the Miraculous Son, all that he has! John 3:35- The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.  Jesus has been given everything from the Father.  A.)  Creation.  He owns all of creation.  Jesus is the creator of all things.  Col.1:16-17- For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him.  (17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  Jesus is the creator and sustainer of all things.  The universe exists because Jesus spoke it into existence and the universe continues to exist because Jesus is the glue that holds everything together.  The Universe was not only created by Jesus, but it was created for Jesus.  He owns everything.  Nothing we have is our own.  We are simply stewards of the things we possess.  We are living on borrowed time. Psa.24:1- The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.  Everything is God’s and God has placed everything in the hands of His Son.  Jesus has complete ownership and control over this universe.  The angels of heaven's glory are at the beck and call of the Messiah.  Even the fallen angels and Lucifer must obey God’s voice and get permission for their actions.  The heavens and the earth are the work of his hands and He has complete right and control over them.  B.)  Salvation.  The Father has committed all things concerning the salvation of mankind into the hands of the Son.  Whether a person goes to heaven or hell depends on their relationship to the Son of God.  The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation and the Gospel is the good news of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Son of God.  All spiritual things are given in his hands to dispose to those who trust Him.  He gives the gifts of the Spirit; He gives grace, mercy, justification, sanctification, adoption, perseverance, etc.  He has been given all power in heaven and earth (Mat.28:18).  C.)  Administration.  To administer means to act as minister or chief agent, in managing public affairs, under laws or a constitution of government, as a king, president, or other supreme officer.  Jesus manages the affairs of… i.)  The Church.  He is the head of the church (Col.1:18).  The way a women is to be subject to her husband is illustrated by the fact that the church, the bride of Christ, is subject unto Christ (Eph.5:24).  Some believe that the church is under the authority of the Pope or a Bishop or a Denomination; but, none of these are true!  Jesus is the head of the church.  He is the leader and owner of the church.  It is HIS church.  Ii.)  The World.  John 5:22- For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.  Jesus is the one who will judge the earth one of these days.  It is Jesus that the lost will stand before at the Great White Throne judgment.  It is Jesus that will return at the battle of Armaggedon, set up His 1,000 year reign on earth, and judge the nations.  Jesus has been given the power and authority to judge the earth by the Father.  All things have been committed into his hand; unto him hath he given all that he hath!