Genesis 24:11

Vs.11- “And he made his camels to kneel down without the city”- Camels were taught to kneel down for two reasons.  1.)  To unload their burden.  2.)  To rest from a long journey.  It has been stated that camels do not kneel down naturally.  John Gill in his commentary on this verse says, “It seems that this is what is not natural to them, but what they are learned to do: it is said (r),"as soon as a camel is born they tie his four feet under his belly, put a carpet over his back, and stones upon the borders of it, that he may not be able to rise for twenty days together; thus they teach him the habit of bending his knees to rest himself, or when he is to be loaded or unloaded.''  The camels were made to kneel so that they could rest.  They took their rest ‘without the city’ meaning right at the entrance of the city of Nahor.   

“by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.”-This was not just a random spot chosen by the head servant of Abraham.  There was a strategy involved here.  There was a certain time of day that the women would all come to the well to draw out water.  If your task is to find a wife for your Master’s son then it would seem like common sense to go to where the women are.  The women, after working all day, would travel to the well, some of them great distances, to draw water out of the well for the needs of their families.  Abraham’s servant had two practical goals in mind.  1.)  He had been on a long journey and he, the men with him, and the camels were all probably thirsty and needed something to drink.  2.)  He knew the custom of the land and knew that if he was going to meet a woman from Abraham’s family then this was the best way to do it. 

 

One-Line Explanation:  Abraham’s servant rests outside the city by a well to wait for the women of the city. 

 

Lesson:  1.)  Camels, apparently, do not kneel naturally.  They have to be broken before they will kneel.  Mankind is depraved and does not love or seek after God.  The natural man wants nothing to do with the things of God and does not wish to kneel before the King of Kings.  A man will not kneel naturally, he must be broken.  God brings a lost person to the place of brokenness and conviction over his sin to cause him to kneel and call upon the Saviour for mercy.  God also breaks the Christian over and over again to rid him of pride and cause him/her to kneel in humility before their King.  When Jesus fed the 5,000 with 5 barley loaves and 2 fish, He first broke the bread before he multiplied it.  God has to break us like we break animals before he can really use us.  2.)  God will do His part, but you must do your part.  Many individuals have this idea that God will just bring things to pass for them without any effort on their part.  For example, I went to college with guys that were praying for God to give them a godly wife, but they never spoke to any of the young ladies at the Bible College.  There are pastors that sit in their office all day and pray for God to let them see somebody saved, but they never go out give out the Gospel.  You can’t catch any fish if your hook isn’t in the water!  Even when Jesus did a miracle and caused Peter’s net to brake; Peter still had to throw the net in the water!  Joshua trusted God to deliver Jericho, but they still had to do their part and march around the walls.  God is the one who fights our battles, but we must be faithful to do what He told us to do.  Paul said, “Some plant, some water, but God gives the increase.”  It is still our responsibility to plant and water.  God is the one who causes plants to grow, but I can put a seed in the ground, fertilize it, and water it.  I can do my part.  If I don’t put a seed in the ground then a plant will not grow.  As a pastor, I have learned that I cannot build a true New Testament Church, but I can be faithful.  Jesus said, “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  He also said that we were to ‘go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”  We are commissioned to go, win, baptize, and teach.  If we will do our part, then God will do His part and build the church.  I do what I can and trust God to do what I cannot.  The servant of Abraham was trusting in God to work on the heart of a young lady so that she would follow him back to Canaan and marry Isaac.  However, he did everything that he could possibly do on his end.  He made sure that he was in a good spot to meet the young women of the city.  When we go out, commissioned as servants of God, we must knock on doors, give out tracts, and confront people in our everyday lives with the Gospel.  We cannot save anybody and we cannot change anyone’s heart; we simply do all that we can do and trust God to do the rest.

Genesis 24:10

Vs.10- “And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed:- The servant, with a few other servants, went on this 400-600 mile journey.  He took 10 camels with him.  1.)  The animal.  Camels were very common for transportation in Abraham’s time.  Job was said to have had 3,000 camels (Job 1:3).  There were many camels available in the Middle East.  Camels were good for transportation because… A.)  Their two humps were good for carrying cargo.  B.)  They were well adapted to the hot and dry climate.  C.)  They could travel for long periods of time without water by storing water in their humps.  2.)  The number.  Why did this servant take ten camels?  The answer seems quite simple to me.  He took this many camels because he was going on a long journey and needed to take much luggage.  A 400-600 mile journey would take about 17 days to accomplish.  They did not have airplanes they travelled on and checked their bags.  They didn’t have cars or trailers to pack their luggage.  They also didn’t have rest stops and gas stations along the way if they ran out of food.  The servant needed these ten camels to pack all of the necessities for a long journey.  This may also be the number of other men that travelled with him.  We do not know how many travelled with him, but it is said that he took other men on the journey.  The number 10 in the Bible denotes ‘Completion of Divine Order.’  There were 10 Commandments stating God’s requirements and man’s responsibility.  There were 10 plagues in Egypt that brought a complete deliverance of God’s people from Egypt.  The Lord requires man to give a tithe, which means a tenth of our goods.  This shows that by giving a tenth we recognize that the whole belongs to God.  There will be a ten nation confederacy that ushers in the Anti-Christ.  I try not to over-spiritualize things, but it is interesting to me that in this story that pictures the calling out of the Bride for the Son that there are 10 camels in vs.10.  This could easily mean absolutely nothing and I do believe that you can go overboard with numbers in Bible Study.  God’s completion of Divine Order shows man’s responsibility and God’s requirement and also that God has a plan that will eventually be fulfilled in entirety.  God has sent His Holy Spirit into the world to call out a Bride for His Son.  There will come a day when the last person is saved and the Bride of Christ is complete; God’s divine order will have reached completion.  God has a divine plan and man has a responsibility.  It is man’s responsibility to respond to the Holy Spirit and trust Christ as their personal Saviour.  3.)  The owner.  Abraham, the master, is the owner of the ten camels.  The servant was given access to anything he needed to accomplish the task at hand. 

for all the goods of his master were in his hand:”- Remember Vs. 2 of this chapter told us that the servant ‘ruled over all that he had.’  Abraham trusted this servant and allowed him to be in charge of all of his vast wealth.  Abraham allowed the servant to use anything he needed.  He left the entire operation in his hands.

and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.”- The servant left for Mesopotamia.  Nahor is the brother of Abraham; so, it would make sense that the servant would go to the specific location of Abraham’s kindred from which he is under oath to find a wife from.  The city of Nahor is Haran.  Gen.11:26-32 explains a lot of interesting things about Haran.  Haran was the other brother of Nahor and Abraham.  Haran is the father of Lot.  Haran was the first of the three brothers to pass away.  Nahor, Abraham’s other brother, married Milcah, Haran’s daughter.  The father of these three is Terah and he is said to have died in the land of Haran; which is where Nahor and the rest of the family now reside.  It would seem that they named the land they moved to after their deceased brother (and son). 

 

One-Line Explanation:  The servant heads out to find a wife for Isaac.

 

Lesson:  1.)  Be like a camel.  Camels have a high endurance under duress because they retain so much water.  Water is compared to the Word of God in the Scriptures.  We need to take in God’s Word, but we also need to retain God’s Word.  We need to hide God’s Word in our hearts that we might not sin against Him.  2.)  The number 10 reminds us that there is a Divine Order of completion.  God has requirements of man and God’s plan will be complete when it is all said and done.  There were ten virgins in Jesus’ parable; some were part of the wedding and the others were left behind.  We need to make sure that we are prepared to meet God; we need to make sure that we are part of the Bride.  God has a requirement to get to heaven and that is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.  The old preacher, Percy Ray, once said that he believed a man had ten fingers and ten toes for a reason.  If that individual rejected Christ and went to hell, he could look on his hand and count the number of times that God dealt with him about salvation.  I am not sure how often God deals with a man about salvation, but you do realize that God’s spirit will not always strive with man.  The Bible talks about God giving men over to reprobation.  If you are not saved then you need to get saved while God is dealing with you, because it just may be that he will not send his servant with his ten camels your way again!  3.)  God has given us the tools to be effective servants for him.  Like the servant in the story, we too are servants of the most High God.  Abraham gave this servant everything he needed to accomplish his task.  God has given us, as children of God, everything we need to accomplish the commission he has given to us.  He said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and earth.”  Then He said, “Go ye therefore.”  He said, “Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me.”  God does not ask us to do things that he does not enable us to do.  God has commissioned us to make disciples, but he has also enabled us to make disciples.  Everything the Master owns is at the servant’s disposal! 

Genesis 24:9

Vs.9- “And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master- The servant, having full understanding of the oath, how he was to conduct himself in light of the oath, and the requirements and expectations of it, puts his hand under the thigh of Abraham to follow the ancient ritual used to sware an oath. 

 

This oath is quite interesting.  Many bible commentators have been puzzled by this ritual and there are many different opinions as to the meaning of it.  It really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of what is being said in the passage.  The point is that the servant is swearing that he will perform the task at hand.  There are three predominant views that I have read as to the purpose of this ritual or rite.  1.)  Some say that this is in respect to circumcision.  As we today would place our hand on the Bible (The book of God’s promise) they would place their hand on the area of circumcision which was the covenant of promise by God written in the flesh of man.  2.)  Some say that this is nothing more than a symbolic way of approaching in a humble servile manner.  As we have the gesture of bowing to someone who is of great importance so the servant would subject himself to this rite to show his subjection to the one he is making a covenant with.  3.)  Some believe that the idea is that if you don’t keep the oath you promised then may the descendants of the one you lied to rise up and deal with you.  It would seem that the ritual has the idea of swearing to Abraham, to the LORD God of Heaven, and to Abraham’s seed which are the people of promise. 

, and sware to him concerning that matter.”- The servant promised Abraham and God that he would go to Mesopotamia to find a wife for Isaac of the kindred of his master. 

 

One-Line Explanation:  The servant swears to the oath.

 

Lesson:  1.)  I like the fact that the servant found out all of the details of this contract with Abraham before he swore to abide by it.  This should be common sense, but you never make a commitment or sign a contract without first reading the entire contract or understanding in full the commitment you are making.  Our country has signed into law what is being called “Obama Care.”  It is amazing to me how many people in important positions have not read or fully understood the bill.  We are told that we will not fully understand it until it is passed.  That way of thinking is absolutely ludicrous!  The servant of Abraham trusted his master but would not sware to him until he had a full understanding of what he was committing to.  2.)  The servant wanted to know the full details of his commitment, because he was a man that kept commitments.  A man should be as good as his word.  If you commit to do something then you should be dependable.  Don’t get married unless you are willing to keep your oath to God.  You promised for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part.  A Christian individual should be someone that is dependable.  A Christian individual should be someone who keeps the commitments they have made.  Abraham’s servant had the character to follow through with the oath that he made with his master.  He wanted to know the details before he made the oath so that he was sure that he was faithful to his commitment. 

Genesis 24:8

Vs.8- “And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee,”- I do not believe that Abraham doubted that God would provide a wife from Mesopotamia for his son.  This statement was given to settle in the mind of his servant what exactly it was he was swearing to do.  Abraham is easing the mind of his unsure servant by letting him know what he should do if the woman is not willing to come.   

“then thou shalt be clear from this my oath:  only bring not my son hither again.”- If there is not a woman of his family in Mesopotamia that will be willing to leave the land and follow him to Canaan then the servant was clear of his oath.  Abraham was letting the servant know what exactly his requirements were.  He was responsible to 1.)  Go to Mesopotamia.  He had to make the journey.  2.)  Find Abraham’s kindred.  The wife must come from Abraham’s family.  3.)  Find a single, virgin woman that is of marrying age from Abraham’s family.  4.)  Try and convince such a woman to forsake all she has known and follow him to marry his master’s son.  The servant was not responsible for the response of the woman.  He would try and convince and persuade her to come, but ultimately she had to make the decision to follow him and he was not held responsible for her decision.  Abraham then warns once again that it is imperative that Isaac not go to the land of Mesopotamia. 

 

Meaning of Names and Terms:

1.      Oath, n- A solemn affirmation or declaration, made with an appeal to God for the truth of what is affirmed. The appeal to God in an oath, implies that the person imprecates his vengeance and renounces his favor if the declaration is false, or if the declaration is a promise, the person invokes the vengeance of God if he should fail to fulfill it. A false oath is called perjury.

 

One Line Explanation- Abraham tells his servant that if the woman isn’t willing to follow him to marry Isaac then he is free from the oath he made.        

 

Lesson:  The servant of Abraham had certain requirements and expectations from his master.  We are the servants of God and have certain things that are required and expected of us as well.  1.)  He was expected to go.  He was to go to Mesopotamia.  Jesus also told us to go in Matt.28:19.  Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world…”  If we are not going soul winning and going into the highways and hedges to compel people to come in then we are not doing what is required of us as servants of God.  2.)  The servant was to find Abraham’s family.  The famous song, Amazing Grace, states- “I once was lost, but now am found; was blind but now I see.”  There are people that will become part of God’s family, but they are lost and must be given the Gospel so that they can find their way.  3.)  The servant was sent to find a virgin.  There were only so many people that qualified for this position.  We don’t have to be so picky.  The Bible tells us to preach the Gospel to every creature; it does not matter the color of their skin, their religious background, their financial status, or their cultural heritage.  The young lady had to be pure, but the bride we become a part of is made up of wicked, sinful people.  We did not have to be chaste and pure to become part of the bride, we became chaste and pure when we became a part of the bride!  In other words, I didn’t cleanup to get saved, I got saved and then Jesus cleaned me up!  4.)  The servant was sent to convince and persuade this woman to accept and commit to the son whom she had never met and forsake all to follow him.  This is exactly what we do when we go and witness in our community.  We are trying to persuade men and woman that they need to get saved and put their trust in the Son of God whom they have never seen and to take up their cross daily and follow Him.  We tell them that they need to leave Mesopotamia, they need to repent of their sin (have a change of mind about their sin), and put all of their faith and trust in the Son of God whom they have never seen.  5.)  The servant was not responsible for the response.  This is what we need to remember.  We can get discouraged when people do not receive Christ.  Some even become deceitful and change the message or disguise the message so that they can trick the individual into coming to the Son.  The commission is quite simple.  We are to give them the pure, unadulterated message of the Gospel and we are to do everything to convince and persuade individuals to trust Christ as their Saviour, but ultimately they must make the decision on their own to become a part of the bride.

Genesis 24:7

Vs.7- “The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred,”- 1.)  Abraham is Restating who it is that he serves.  He brought up the LORD God of heaven to begin this contract with his servant.  Now he is restating who he is serving and who this is all about.  The LORD (JEHOVAH, the self-existent one) God (One and only deity) of heaven (His eternal dwelling place.)  This name shows God’s person, power, and prominence.  2.) Abraham is Remembering what God has called him to do.  A.)  “Which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred,”- Abraham remembers that God has called him from something.  He called him to leave his family and to leave his home land of Mesopotamia. 

“and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land;”- B.)  Abrahams remembers that God has spoken to him and promised him that his posterity would be given the land of Canaan.  (Gen.15:18)

“he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.”- 3.)  Abraham is Relying on the one who called him.  Abraham is trusting that the same God who called him will also provide for him.  Abraham is saying, “God called me away from my family and into the land of Canaan and told me that the promise land would be given to my children through Isaac, therefore, I know that God will provide a wife for my son. 

            Abraham states “he shall send his angel before thee.”  This statement can be one of two things.  1.)  It is a prophecy.  It could be that Abraham was stating the fact that an angel would prepare the way for the servant and would bring favor and success in this endeavor.  2.)  It is a prayer.  Abraham may be stating this as a prayer.  He may be voicing his desire for an angel to help the servant on his way.  I tend to lean toward the first explanation.  The reason some doubt this to be true is because Abraham says in the next verse, “And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee…”  If it was a prophecy of God’s provision then shouldn’t Abraham be confident in God’s ability to perform the task?  I believe Abraham was saying this, “God has called me from Mesopotamia to Canaan and has promised children for Isaac.  God will give Isaac a wife and he will send his angel to make sure this happens.  It may be that this takes place at this time, but if the woman is not willing to go then God will provide a wife another way.” 

            The word angel means “Messenger of God or Ambassador for God.”  An angel is not always what we think of as angels.  Preachers can be called angels because they are messengers sent from God.  This angel spoken of could be one of two things.  1.)  It could be an angel as the common person thinks of them.  This was a heavenly being with a purpose of going to prepare the way for the servant of Abraham so that he could have success in finding a wife for Isaac and thus fulfilling the promises of God.  2.)  This angel could have been Jesus Himself.  There are multiple times in the Bible where the angel of the Lord comes to someone and in reading the context we find out that it is God Himself in a human form.  We call this a theophany which means “appearance of God.”  Jesus would come to men in a pre-incarnate body.  We do not know that this is the case here, but it is a possibility. 

 

One Line Explanation- Abraham states that the God who called him from his home and gave him wonderful promises will provide a way for the servant in his task.      

 

Lesson:  We see in this passage a reliance on God.  A.)  Abraham relied on the person of God.  God is self-existent, all powerful, and ruling in Heaven.  As far as the heaven is above the earth so far is God above man.  God is not limited or taken by surprise.  God always has a plan and is always in control.  Abraham relied on the person of God Almighty.  We too can rely in the person of God.  God is righteous and executes right judgment.  In other words, God will always do what is right and we don’t have to worry about God treating us unfairly or letting things go unpunished and justice not taking place.  God is merciful and gracious.  We can rely on the fact that if we need forgiveness we can come to God and He will abundantly pardon because that is who He is.  God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.  He is a powerful God and has the ability to help us with whatever problem we have.  There are a multitude of other attributes of God that we could discuss and take comfort in.  We can rely on the person of God.  There are some people that you cannot rely on.  They can’t be trusted and you can put much stock in them, but you can always rely on the God.  B.)  Abraham relied on the promises of God.  The Bible tells us that it is impossible for God to lie.  If God makes a promise then we can put our trust in that promise.  Jesus promised that if we would believe in Him we would have everlasting life.  Jesus promised that if we believed in Him we would resurrect one day.  Jesus promised that in His Father’s house there are many mansions.  Jesus promised that if we asked we would receive, if we seek we will find, and if we knock the door will be opened unto us.  The Bible is chalk full of promises from God.  We can claim these promises that apply to us.  Abraham remembered that God promised to give his posterity the land of Canaan and he put his trust in the promises of God.  C.)  Abraham relied on the provision of God.  Abraham, knowing the promises of God and the situation at hand, was confident that God would provide an angel to prepare the way for the servant and ultimately would provide a wife for his son, Isaac.  Mat.6:33- But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.  God has promised to provide our needs and even our desires.  God has promised to take care of His own.  We do not need to worry about our daily needs, because we can rely on a God of provision.  Phi.4:19- But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

Genesis 24:4-6

Vs.4- “But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.”- It is Abraham’s desire that his servant find a wife for him 1.)  In his own country.  Abraham’s country was Mesopotamia which included Chaldea.  Abraham is said to be from Ur of the Chaldees and also described in this passage and in Acts as being from Mesopotamia.  Mesopotamia is the name of the area of the Tigris-Euphrates river system. The name Mesopotamia, 'ăram nahărayim in the Hebrew tongue, literally means ‘two rivers.”   2.)  Among his own kindred.  The word kindred means ‘family.’  Some would say that this is a contradiction to scripture.  Why would God put a man and a woman together who were second cousins?  Doesn’t God condemn incest?  There are two possible explanations for this seeming contradiction.  1.)  Lev.18:6-18 speaks of sexual relations through marriage that are forbidden among close relatives.  In this passage we are commanded not to marry a parent, a step parent, a grandchild (grandparent), a sibling, an aunt or uncle, or a half sibling.  Interestingly enough is the fact that cousins are never mentioned.  Abraham knew that his family knew the Lord and he wanted his son to marry a daughter from his own family.  This is one explanation for this.  2.)  The other explanation is the fact that God allowed certain family relations before the giving of the law that are condemned practices now.  Adam and Eve were the first two people on earth.  One of the most asked questions is, “Where did Cain get his wife?”  The answer is quite obvious.  Cain married his sister.  There was no other option.  Because the population of the earth was much smaller in early human history, it seems that God allowed for close family marriages which are now condemned in Scripture after the giving of the law.  Abraham, for instance, married his half-sister Sarah.  This is without a doubt a condemned practice according to Lev.18.

One-Line Explanation- Abraham wants his servant to find a wife for his son from his own family.

Lesson:  1.) Mesopotamia is an interesting place to study about.  It is said to be the cradle of civilization in the west, but if you believe the Bible it is more than that; it is the cradle of civilization in general.  A.)  According to Gen.2, the Garden of Eden was located somewhere in Mesopotamia.  B.)  Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel, the one through whom the whole world would be blessed, is from Mesopotamia.  Three major world religions claim Abraham as their ‘founder.’  The three religions are Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.  C.)  The Biblical Empires of Babylon and Medo-Persia were located in Mesopotamia.  D.)  Modern day Iraq makes up most of Mesopotamia, but also includes parts of Turkey, Syria, and Iran.

 

 

 

Vs.5- “And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land:”- Abraham wants his eldest servant, Eliezer, to swear that he will bring a wife for his son from the land of Mesopotamia.  The servant has one question, one reservation, concerning this matter.  What if the woman will not be willing to travel to the land of Canaan?  This is a very real and relevant question.  There would be a great possibility that none of Abraham’s family would be willing to travel to a distant land.  Why would the woman not want to come to Canaan?  1.)  Distance.  No one knows for sure how far Abraham went from Ur in Mesopotamia to Canaan, but a conservative guess is around 600 miles.  Ur of the Chaldees was located somewhere in modern day Turkey and the land of Canaan is in modern day Iraq.  They would have to travel southeast through Syria to get to their destination.  A woman may not be willing to travel that far to get married.  My wife is from MS and I moved her to TX when we got married.  It was difficult for her to travel 450 miles with modern conveniences in travel.  We must realize that travelling that far is very difficult.  They did not travel by car, they travelled by camel.  There weren’t any gas stations and convenient stores along the way.  A woman may not be willing to travel such a distance in such conditions.  2.)  Leaving family.  Travel was more strenuous, it took longer, and it could be that if you moved from your family you may never see them again.  A woman may not want to travel away from her family.  My wife, when she left MS, still has the option of picking up her cell phone and speaking with her family any time she chooses.  This was not an option for a woman living at this time.  IT was a serious commitment to leave your home and family.  3.)  The unknown.  Although the woman in discussion would be leaving her hometown to marry a fellow family member, there is still the aspect of the unknown.  She has never met Isaac and probably has never met Abraham.  I’m sure that she knows who they are and has been told of them by her family, but could you imagine leaving everything you know with no promise of returning or seeing your family again to marry someone that you have never met?  Eliezer is obviously thinking about these factors.  He wants to be clear on his objective if he is going to travel so far and be in charge of such an important endeavor. 

must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?”- The servant asks a follow up question.  If the woman isn’t willing to follow should he bring Isaac back to Mesopotamia?  He is not asking if he should bring Isaac back for a visit.  He is saying this:  “If the woman in question is not willing to travel to the land of Canaan to marry Isaac and it is your desire for Isaac to marry from your family, which all lives in Mesopotamia, should I bring Isaac back to Mesopotamia to marry and live?”  The question is concerning Isaac’s permanent dwelling.  The servant asked this because he is not ignorant of the calling of Abraham to the promised land nor of the promise of God to Abraham’s posterity through Isaac.  There are only three options in this oath.  1.)  The woman is willing to leave everything and travel 600 miles to marry Isaac.  2.)  The woman is not willing to leave Mesopotamia and Abraham is not willing to send Isaac back which results in Isaac never being married.  (It’s hard to have children when you don’t have a wife.  It is necessary for Isaac to have children if the promised blessings are to his offspring.)  3.)  Abraham allows Isaac to move back to Mesopotamia to marry and start a family.  Really, however, there Is only one option.  Abraham has been called out of Mesopotamia and he and his children are not to go back.  Isaac is supposed to marry someone from his family who all live in Mesopotamia.  Isaac has to produce children if the promise of God to Abraham is to be fulfilled.  This leaves only one option; the woman must leave everything and follow God’s leading to the land of Canaan.

 

Meaning of Names and Terms:

1.      Peradventure- By chance; perhaps; it may be.  Used as a noun for doubt or question.

One Line Explanation- The servant wants to know what to do if there aren’t any women from his family in Mesopotamia that will be willing to come to Canaan. 

 

Lesson:  1.)  We must be reminded once again that this story is a beautiful picture of the Spirit, pictured by the servant, being sent by the Heavenly Father, pictured by Abraham, to get a bride (the church), pictured by Rebekah, for his Son (Jesus Christ), pictured by Isaac.  There is a beautiful picture here of the balance between God’s sovereignty and man’s freewill.  There has been debate and argument for centuries over the issue of God’s sovereignty and man’s freewill.  I will not solve that problem today, but I believe in both.  Both principles are found in Scripture.  I want you to notice two things about the question asked in this passage.  A.)  The Spirit being sent by the Father to call out the bride shows us God’s sovereignty.  No one will be saved unless the Spirit of God convicts that individual and draws them to the Saviour.  B.)  The woman had to be willing to go.  The servant asked, “peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land?”  God has made us free moral agents.  God is sovereign and sends His Spirit like the wind, which bloweth where it listeth, but it is man’s responsibility to respond to the Spirit of God when He comes to us in conviction.  I do not believe in irresistible grace.  Irresistible grace is the teaching that when God sovereignly chooses to save somebody, He will send His grace and it will be irresistible.  The individual will have no other choice but to be saved.  In Acts 7:51, Paul indicted the crowd, saying, “…ye do always resist the Holy Ghost.”  There are two powerful truths here.  i.)  God sovereignly sends His Holy Spirit to deal with you.  I believe God gives every man a chance to be saved; but understand, God’s Spirit does not always strive with man.  You can sin away your day of grace and become a reprobate and God will never deal with you again.  You better respond when the wind is blowing.  God is sending His servant to call you to salvation, but it is your responsibility to respond.  Ii.)  You must willingly accept Jesus Christ.  In God’s sovereignty He has chosen to allow us as free moral agents to choose to accept or reject Jesus Christ.  2.)  Abraham will answer the question in vs.6 and tell the servant the obvious answer to his question.  The son, Isaac, will not go back to Mesopotamia. The only way the woman was going to see Isaac was if she agreed to commit to marriage and she would not see him on her soil, but she would see him on his soil.  Jesus, the Son of God, lived on this planet in human form at one time; but if we want to see Him then we must commit to become part of the bride of Christ, the church, through salvation in the blood of Christ.  We won’t see the Son on this soil, but we will see him in heaven if we obey the voice of His servant!  3.)  God always has a plan.  God had promised Abraham that a nation would rise out of his loins.  God promised Abraham that through him all nations of the earth would be blessed.  God promised Abraham that his posterity would be as the stars in the sky for multitude.  All of this is contingent on Isaac having children.  The only way this is going to happen is if a woman from Abraham’s family makes the unlikely and uncommon choice of leaving everything behind to marry a man she has never met.  The servant may have been worried about the outcome of all of this, but none of this caught God off guard.  God knows the beginning from the end and He is in complete control.  God has a plan and knows how to bring His promises to pass.  You may be in a situation that seems impossible, but understand that God can always make a way and God always has a plan.

 

Vs.6- “And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son hither again.”- Abraham answers the servants question and also warns him in the answer.  Abraham tells the servant to beware of bringing Isaac back.  The word ‘beware’ means to take heed or to regard with caution.  Abraham wanted to stress the importance of Isaac staying in the land of Canaan.  There are just a few things I want to note in this verse.  1.)  “Bring not my son HITHER AGAIN.”  Had Isaac ever been to Mesopotamia?  Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees when he was 75 years of age.  Isaac was born in the land of Canaan.  Abraham has been journeying in the Promised land for some time now and there in no record of him ever returning.  I think Abraham is simply speaking from his perspective.  He came from Mesopotamia and was called by God to leave his homeland and leave his relatives to go to the land of Canaan.  The promise was given to Abraham and to his seed and therefore it was important that his family not return to the land.  2.)  “BEWARE thou that thou bring not my son hither again.”  This was not just a suggestion by Abraham, but rather a strong warning.  Why was this so important?  Abraham did not have 12 sons like Jacob will have.  Abraham has one son, Isaac.  We understand that Ishmael is not the promised seed.  All that Abraham owns of the Promised Land is a burial site.  The hope of the Promised Land, the chosen people of God, and the blessing to come to the whole world is all dependent upon Isaac.  So, you see, it is important that he stays put and doesn’t face the lure of going home.

One Line Explanation- Abraham warns his servant not to bring Isaac back to Mesopotamia.    

 

Lesson:  1.)  When God calls you away from something, it is very rarely the will of God for you to go back.  God called Abraham and his family out of Mesopotamia and God did not want them to go back to live there.  God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt under the leadership of Moses.  Multiple times the children of Israel desired to go back to Egypt, but God did not want them back in Egypt.  God has called us out of the world.  We are to be separated from ungodliness, but many Christians go right back to the worldly mess they were in before salvation.  It is not God’s design or desire for you to return to the state He called you out of.  2.)  “Bring not my son hither again.”  A.)  Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land with the rest of the children of Israel.  Do you know why?  He was told to strike the rock the first time and water came forth.  The second time he was told to speak to the rock and it would give water, but instead he struck the rock again.  We are told that the rock represented Jesus Christ.  Jesus was struck on the cross of Calvary and now living water springs forth to all who are willing to partake.  Now when we need something from the Lord all we have to do is speak to Him.  Jesus was crucified, but He will never be crucified again.  There was one sacrifice for all of the sins of mankind.  What does that have to do with this passage?  There are many people who believe that Jesus must continually be sacrificed for their sins.  The Catholics believe that Jesus is being offered as a sacrifice every time they partake of the Eucharist.  The Father says concerning His Son, “Bring not my son hither again.  Quit striking the rock.”  B.)  Let me say to born again Christians that you too need to make application here.  The Bible tells us that Christ lives in us.  The person of the Holy Spirit indwells the believer.  The Bible tells us that we are the temple of the Holy Ghost and we can quench or grieve the spirit by our actions.  To every born again individual who is spending their time in the bar rooms of America; could it be that God is saying, “Bring not my son hither again!”  To the Christian that spends time in another woman’s home in adultery, to the lustful man that goes to adult book stores, to the multitude of Christians that go to Hell-ywood movies that promote immorality and perversion, to the multitude of Christians that go to the beach and partake in mixed nudity could it be that God is saying, “Bring not my son hither again.”

Gen.24:3

Vs.3- “And I will make thee swear”- There are two types of communication that enter people’s minds when we use the word swear.  1.)  People think of cussing or curse words.  The Bible does condemn wicked and corrupt communication.  2.)  People think of making an oath.  To swear means to affirm or utter a solemn declaration, with an appeal to God for the truth of what is affirmed.  There has been much controversy and confusion over the issue of swearing in the Bible.  The question has been asked if swearing is allowed in the Bible.  Jesus said in Matt.5:33-37 that we are not to swear at all.  In Matt.23:16-23 Jesus again condemns swearing.  James 5:12 also tells us that we should not swear.  But, on the contrary, scriptures such as Heb.6:16, Number 30:2, Acts 21:23, and others seem to speak positively of swearing.  Abraham is causing his servant to swear in this passage, Paul took an oath, and God himself swore and made oaths with His people.  Many Christians ask questions such as, “Can I swear under oath in the court of law to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth?  Can I make a vow to my spouse on the wedding altar?”  As with many issues in the Bible there is a right way to do things and a wrong way.  In the Bible we find godly wisdom and worldy wisdom, we find godly repentance and worldly repentance, we find saving faith and empty faith.  The issue of swearing is no different.  There are basically two types of swearing when it comes to making an oath.  A.)  One is an oath before God that you will perform an action.  This is what a person does when they make their marriage vows.  They are vowing before God that they will stay married for richer or poorer, in sickness of in health, etc.  God expects us to keep our vows to Him!  The Bible makes it clear that it is better not to promise at all then to promise and not keep your vows.  B.)  The other type of oath is where someone is calling on a power higher than themselves to testify with them that they are telling the truth.  Like when someone says something silly like, “I swear on a stack of Bibles that I am telling you the truth.”  Jesus condemned this practice of the Pharisees.  Jesus told them not to swear by God, his throne, the altar, or the temple, etc.  The Pharisees also had a funny way of wiggling themselves out of oaths.  Jesus is condemning their hypocrisy in swearing in Mat.23.  Basically, it is not wrong to go down to an altar and make a commitment to God to be a better husband, or soul-winner (as long as you keep your commitment.)  It is however, wrong to invoke holy things and the name of God in rash frivolous matters. 

“ by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth,”- Abraham has his servant swear by the Lord because there is no greater name to swear by.  Heb.6:13 tells us that God swore to Abraham by His own name because He could swear by no greater.  When you make an oath the idea is that you are making an appeal to a higher power that will hold you responsible.  When you swear by God or to God you are attesting that God will hold you responsible for the oath that you have made. 

Three attributes of God are alluded to in this verse.  Abraham is admitting to God’s greatness, superiority, and he appeals to God as one greater in an oath by these three attributes.    1.)   He is the LORD.  When you see the word LORD in all caps it is the Hebrew word JEHOVAH.  Jehovah means self-existent or eternal.  Everything exists because of God.  I was created in the image of God and it’s by him that I live, and breathe, and have my being.  Everything we see around us is upheld by the word of God’s power.  He is the glue that holds it all together.  Jehovah is the cause of all existence.  There is not anyone, anything, or any event that created God.  God is eternal and self-existent.  It is hard for us to comprehend an eternal God.  We can comprehend an eternal future, but it is difficult to comprehend an eternal past.  We, as humans, are eternal beings and will live forever; but we all had a beginning.  God is from eternity past to eternity future.  He had no beginning and He will have no end.  Abraham said that he wanted his servant to swear by the self-existent, eternal One.  Why?  Because he always has been and always will be and He will never change!  You and I may sign a document and make an agreement that is subject to change, but when you swear by the Lord you are making an agreement based on a factor (God) that will never change.  2.) The God of heaven.  The word for God is Elohim which simply means “God” or “Deity.”  This tells of his position as the ruler and king of the kingdom of heaven.  In the third heaven, where the angels, seraphims, cherubims, the four and twenty elders, and the redeemed of all ages dwell, God is sitting upon His throne and rules as the sovereign majesty of the blessed kingdom in glory.  3.)  The God of Earth.  God is not just ruling in heaven, but His providence reaches to the earth also.  The Lord executes judgment, justice, and mercy upon earth.  The earth receives the bounty and blessing from its Creator.    

“ that, thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:”- The servant was to promise Abraham that he wouldn’t take a wife for his son Isaac from the Canaanites.  Two questions come to my mind from this statement.  1.)  Why could Isaac not choose a wife for himself?  Isaac was 40 years old at this time.  Was he not old enough to choose a wife for himself?  His brother Esau had chosen his own wives.  I believe there are possible two answers to this question.  A.)  Isaac was the chosen seed.  He was the miracle child that God’s nation, Israel, was to come from.  He was also the seed line of Christ.  It was of the utmost importance that he marry right.  B.)  Because he was the miracle child and the one through which the blessing would flow, it may be that Abraham did not want him to leave the Promised Land.  2.)  Why could Isaac not marry a Canaanite woman?  There are two answers that are really one and then a third answer.  A.)  The Canaanites had been cursed by God.  The Israelite nation was to come through the posterity of Isaac.  The blessed seed of Israel was not to mix with the cursed seed of Canaan.  This does not mean that God is a racist or that God doesn’t love everybody.  The children of Israel were not to intermarry with the heathen because they were a chosen people.  B.)  The seed line of Christ was not to be mixed with the cursed line of the Canaanites.  One of the main reasons that the Jews were not to intermarry was because through them the Messiah would come.  Although, interestingly enough, there are Gentiles in the seed line of Christ!  This was no mistake, but part of the providence and plan of God.  C.)  The Canaanites were cursed for a reason.  They were sacrificing their children to Molech by burning them alive on altars.  They were committing lewd and detestable sexual acts that went against nature.  The cup of the iniquity of the Amorites was about to be full and God would tell the children of Israel to completely wipe out these people for their gross sin.  God told the children of Israel not to intermarry because they would become involved with the pagan worship and idolatry of the Canaanites around them.  This took place in the life of King Solomon who clave to many strange gods because of his many foreign wives.  Isaac was not to marry a pagan, idolatrous woman.  He was to marry a woman who knew Jehovah God.

 

One-Line Explanation:  Abraham causes his servant to swear by God that he will not get a Canaanite wife for his son, Isaac.

 

Lesson:  1.) It is important that we keep our commitments that we make to God.  God will hold us accountable for what we say.  Let us be careful not to make rash vows.  It is smart not to make many vows at all.  When you do make a vow, then you need to take it seriously.  Husbands and wives need to take their marriage vows seriously; preachers that vowed to serve God faithfully need to take that vow seriously; laymen that made a promise at an altar to serve God faithfully need to take their vows seriously.  2.)  God is self-existent and eternal.  He holds all things together, therefore, we should not worry about tomorrow.  Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand, but I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand.  God is in control of all things and He will take care of His own.  We need to stop worrying so much and just trust our heavenly Father.  3.)  Isaac was not to marry a heathen woman.  The New Testament principle is that we are not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.  Young people need to be diligent and prayerful about finding a spouse that is saved and serving God.  A saved young person has no business dating someone or marrying someone who is not saved.  They may have the tag of Christian but that does not mean they are a Christian.  A Baptist that believes in salvation by grace through faith should not date and/or marry a Mormon, Jehovah’s Witness, Church of Christ, Catholic, Pentecostal, etc.  If you are already unequally yoked then there are principles in 1 Cor.7 that help you to know what to do or how to behave while being married to an unbeliever.  The single Christian should not seek to be married to a Canaanite!  You may have a weird idea that you can change them, but the odds are against you.  Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived and he penned scripture, yet ungodly wives turned his heart away from God.  You are not smarter than Solomon!  Stay away from the Canaanite woman and marry an equal yoke.  Your life will be so much happier if you will follow God’s teaching.

 

Where is Jesus?- 1.)  Jesus Christ is Jehovah God!  Jesus Christ is Elohim!  Jesus is not a god, He is the God.  Jesus is the creator and sustainer of all things.  All things are upheld by the word of His power.  All things were created by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.  Jesus is the self-existent one.  Jesus is God in the flesh.    2.)  Jesus is pictured by Isaac.  Jesus is the Son who receives a bride.  Jesus bride does not consist of those that reject God (The Canaanite).  Jesus bride is made up of believers.  If you have trusted Christ as your Saviour then you are part of the bride of Christ.  The popular teaching is that everyone will go to heaven, but the reality is that only those who make up the bride of Christ will be brought into the groom’s chamber (heaven.)  Are you a part of the bride or are you still a Canaanite?