Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:03.879 --> 00:00:29.620
Please turn your attention to God's Word
in Genesis Chapter Twenty Four. So Genesis
2
00:00:29.660 --> 00:00:39.890
Chapter Twenty four, I set out
to a preach through these the Sud,
3
00:00:40.130 --> 00:00:44.049
these generations of Abraham, this this
account of Abraham, and we're coming to
4
00:00:44.090 --> 00:00:47.570
the end of that now. I
think probably we'll take a break from genesis
5
00:00:47.649 --> 00:00:52.079
after we finish, not this one, but this and then the next passage
6
00:00:52.520 --> 00:00:57.000
and and then moved to another book
for a little while. Here, as
7
00:00:57.039 --> 00:01:02.799
we come to the end of this
account of Abraham's life, God's covenant with
8
00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:07.790
him and all of these promises,
we begin to see the transition to the
9
00:01:07.909 --> 00:01:11.790
next generation, Isaac, the great
child of promise, having been born.
10
00:01:12.950 --> 00:01:19.700
Now, what Right Will God continue
his faithfulness even after Abraham's death? Will
11
00:01:19.739 --> 00:01:23.060
he do that in Isaac? And
we see the beginnings of those things beginning
12
00:01:23.060 --> 00:01:29.620
to happen. Praise God for it. Let's hear his word now from Genesis
13
00:01:29.739 --> 00:01:37.810
Twenty Four. Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years, and the
14
00:01:37.930 --> 00:01:42.010
Lord had blessed Abraham in all things, and Abraham said to his servant,
15
00:01:42.049 --> 00:01:46.450
the oldest of his household, who
had charge of all, that he had
16
00:01:47.599 --> 00:01:51.680
put your hand under my thigh that
I may make you swear by the Lord,
17
00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:55.920
the God of Heaven and the God
of Earth, that you will not
18
00:01:56.120 --> 00:02:00.280
take a wife from my son,
from the daughters of the Canaanites, among
19
00:02:00.439 --> 00:02:04.310
whom I dwell. But I will
go to my country and to my kindred
20
00:02:04.349 --> 00:02:07.389
and take a wife for my son
Isaac Or. But will go to my
21
00:02:07.550 --> 00:02:13.110
country and to my kindred and take
a wife from my son Isaac. The
22
00:02:13.229 --> 00:02:15.139
Servant said to him, perhaps the
woman may not be willing to follow me
23
00:02:15.259 --> 00:02:20.139
to this land. Must I then
take your son back to the land from
24
00:02:20.139 --> 00:02:23.419
which you came? Abraham said to
him. See to it that you do
25
00:02:23.659 --> 00:02:28.219
not take my son back there.
The Lord, the God of Heaven,
26
00:02:28.780 --> 00:02:31.689
who took me from my father's house
and from the land of my kindred,
27
00:02:31.770 --> 00:02:36.569
and who spoke to me and swore
to me, to your offspring, I
28
00:02:36.689 --> 00:02:39.969
will give this land. He will
send his angel before you and you shall
29
00:02:39.969 --> 00:02:45.039
take a wife for my son from
there. But if the woman is not
30
00:02:45.159 --> 00:02:47.159
willing to follow you, then you
will be free from this oath of mine.
31
00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:53.199
Only you must not take my son
back there. So the servant put
32
00:02:53.240 --> 00:02:55.319
his hand under the thigh of Abraham, his master, and swore to him
33
00:02:55.360 --> 00:03:00.629
concerning this matter. Then the servant
took ten of his master's camels and departed,
34
00:03:01.430 --> 00:03:06.509
taking all sorts of choice gifts from
his master, and he arose and
35
00:03:06.550 --> 00:03:09.550
went to Mesopotamia, to the city
of Nahore, and he made the camels
36
00:03:09.590 --> 00:03:13.659
kneel down outside the city by the
well of water, at the time of
37
00:03:13.780 --> 00:03:17.020
evening, the time and women go
out to draw water, and he said,
38
00:03:19.060 --> 00:03:23.259
the Lord God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and
39
00:03:23.419 --> 00:03:29.250
show steadfast love to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the
40
00:03:29.330 --> 00:03:31.530
spring of water and the daughters of
the men of the city are coming out
41
00:03:31.530 --> 00:03:36.810
to draw water. Let the young
woman to whom I shall say, please,
42
00:03:37.409 --> 00:03:40.680
let down your jar that I may
drink, and who shall say drink
43
00:03:42.120 --> 00:03:45.840
and I will water your camels.
Let her be the one whom you have
44
00:03:45.919 --> 00:03:50.599
appointed for your servant, Isaac.
By this I shall know that you have
45
00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:55.990
shown your steadfast love to my master. Before he had finished speaking, behold
46
00:03:57.389 --> 00:04:00.389
Rebecca, who was born to Bethuel, the son of Milka, the wife
47
00:04:00.430 --> 00:04:05.110
of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came
out with her water jar on her shoulder.
48
00:04:05.949 --> 00:04:11.099
The young woman was very attractive in
appearance, a maiden whom no man
49
00:04:11.139 --> 00:04:15.300
had he known, she went down
to the spring and filled her jar and
50
00:04:15.379 --> 00:04:18.500
came up. Then the servant ran
to meet her and said, please give
51
00:04:18.540 --> 00:04:21.779
me a little drink, a little
water to drink from your jar. She
52
00:04:23.019 --> 00:04:26.730
she said, drink, my Lord, and she quickly let down her jar
53
00:04:26.889 --> 00:04:30.250
upon her hand and gave him a
drink. When she had finished giving him
54
00:04:30.250 --> 00:04:34.050
a drink, she said, I
will draw water for your camels also until
55
00:04:34.089 --> 00:04:39.040
they have finished drinking. So she
quickly emptied her jar into the trough and
56
00:04:39.160 --> 00:04:42.399
ran again to the well to draw
water, and she drew for all his
57
00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:47.079
camels. The man gazed at her
in silence to learn whether the Lord had
58
00:04:47.160 --> 00:04:53.189
prospered his journey or not. When
the camels had finished drinking and the the
59
00:04:53.269 --> 00:04:57.470
man took a gold ring weighing a
half shekel and two bracelets for our arms
60
00:04:57.550 --> 00:05:01.790
weighing in weighing ten gold Shekeles,
and said, please tell me whose daughter
61
00:05:01.910 --> 00:05:05.470
you are. Is there room in
your father's house for us to spend the
62
00:05:05.509 --> 00:05:11.019
night? She said to him I
am the daughter of Bethu well, the
63
00:05:11.180 --> 00:05:15.180
son of Milcot, whom she bored
in a whore. She added, we
64
00:05:15.259 --> 00:05:17.379
have plenty of both Straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.
65
00:05:18.379 --> 00:05:23.089
The man bowed his head and worshiped
the Lord and said, blessed be the
66
00:05:23.209 --> 00:05:27.689
Lord, the God of my master
Abraham, who is not forsaken his steadfast
67
00:05:27.769 --> 00:05:30.930
love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has
68
00:05:30.970 --> 00:05:34.959
led me in the way to the
House of my master's Kinsman. Then the
69
00:05:35.040 --> 00:05:41.399
young woman ran and told her mother's
household about these things. Rebecca had a
70
00:05:41.480 --> 00:05:45.920
brother whose name was laban. Laban
ran out toward the man to the spring
71
00:05:46.519 --> 00:05:49.430
as soon as he saw the ring
and the bracelets on his sister's arms and
72
00:05:49.750 --> 00:05:54.269
heard the words of Rebecca, his
sister. Thus the man spoke to me.
73
00:05:55.029 --> 00:05:59.029
He went to the man and behold, he was standing by the camels
74
00:05:59.069 --> 00:06:01.709
at the spring. He said,
come in, Oh blessed of the Lord.
75
00:06:01.750 --> 00:06:05.139
Why do you stand outside? For
I've prepared the house in a place
76
00:06:05.180 --> 00:06:10.339
for the camels. So the man
came to the House and unharness the camels
77
00:06:10.379 --> 00:06:14.259
and gave Straw and fodder to the
camels, and there was water to wash
78
00:06:14.339 --> 00:06:17.019
his feet and the feet of men
who were with him. Then food was
79
00:06:17.139 --> 00:06:21.250
set before him to eat, but
he said, I will not eat until
80
00:06:21.250 --> 00:06:25.970
I have said what I have to
say. He said, speak on.
81
00:06:27.569 --> 00:06:32.240
So he said, I am Abraham's
servant. The Lord has greatly blessed my
82
00:06:32.360 --> 00:06:36.360
master and he has become great.
He has given him flocks and herds,
83
00:06:36.519 --> 00:06:42.519
silver and gold, male servants and
female servants, camels and donkeys, and
84
00:06:42.759 --> 00:06:46.399
Sarah, my master's wife, bore
a son to my master when she was
85
00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:49.949
old, and to him he has
given all that he has. My master
86
00:06:50.029 --> 00:06:54.230
made me swear, saying you shall
not take a wife for my son from
87
00:06:54.230 --> 00:06:58.470
the daughters of the Canaanites and whose
land I dwell, but you shall go
88
00:06:58.589 --> 00:07:01.459
to my father's house and to my
clan and take a wife for my son.
89
00:07:02.459 --> 00:07:05.220
I said to my master, perhaps
the woman will not follow me,
90
00:07:05.860 --> 00:07:10.860
but he said to me the Lord
before whom I have walked will send his
91
00:07:11.019 --> 00:07:15.379
angel with you and prosper your way. You shall take a wife from my
92
00:07:15.540 --> 00:07:18.490
son, from my clan and from
my father's house. Then you will be
93
00:07:18.610 --> 00:07:21.769
free from my oath. When you
come to my clan, and if they
94
00:07:21.769 --> 00:07:25.490
will not give her to you,
you will be free from my oath.
95
00:07:25.529 --> 00:07:30.279
I came to day to the Spring
and said, oh Lord the God of
96
00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:33.319
my master Abraham, if you,
if now, you are prospering the way
97
00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:38.240
that I go. Behold, I'm
standing by the spring of water. Let
98
00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:41.720
the Virgin who comes out to the
water, to whom I say, please,
99
00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:44.550
give me a little water from your
jar to drink, and who will
100
00:07:44.550 --> 00:07:46.709
say to me, drink, I
will draw for your camels also, let
101
00:07:46.829 --> 00:07:51.470
her be the woman whom the Lord
has appointed for my master's sin. Before
102
00:07:51.509 --> 00:07:56.910
I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebecca came out with her
103
00:07:56.990 --> 00:08:00.620
water, with her water jar on
her shoulder, and she went down to
104
00:08:00.740 --> 00:08:03.259
the spring and drew water. I
said to her, please, let me
105
00:08:03.339 --> 00:08:07.259
drink. She quickly let down her
jar from her shoulder and said drink and
106
00:08:07.379 --> 00:08:11.339
I will give your camel's drink also. So I drank and she gave the
107
00:08:11.420 --> 00:08:16.370
camel's drink also. Then I asked
her whose daughter are you? She said
108
00:08:16.410 --> 00:08:20.970
the daughter of Bethwell, Nahor's son, whom milk aboard him. So I
109
00:08:20.050 --> 00:08:24.529
put the ring on her nose and
the bracelets on her arms. Then I
110
00:08:24.610 --> 00:08:28.439
bowed my head and worshiped the Lord
and bless the Lord, the God of
111
00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:31.240
my master Abraham, who had led
me by the right way to take the
112
00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:37.320
daughter of my master's kinsman for his
son. Now then if you are going
113
00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:41.389
to show steadfast love and faithfulness to
my master, tell me, and if
114
00:08:41.509 --> 00:08:46.309
not, tell me that I may
turn to the right hand door to the
115
00:08:46.389 --> 00:08:50.990
left. Then Laban and Bethwell answered
and said the thing has come from the
116
00:08:50.110 --> 00:08:54.779
Lord. We cannot speak to you
bad or good. Behold Rebecca's before you
117
00:08:56.019 --> 00:08:58.259
take her and go and let her
be the wife of your master's son,
118
00:08:58.860 --> 00:09:03.580
as the Lord has spoken. When
Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed
119
00:09:03.620 --> 00:09:09.700
himself to the Earth before the Lord, and the servant brought out jewelry of
120
00:09:09.009 --> 00:09:13.850
Siller and of gold and garments and
gave them to Rebecca. He also gave
121
00:09:13.929 --> 00:09:18.850
to her brother and to her mother
costly ornaments, and he gave to those
122
00:09:18.889 --> 00:09:22.889
men who were with him, and
he gave the men who were with him
123
00:09:22.169 --> 00:09:26.559
ate and drink. Let me start
again, sorry, fifty four and he
124
00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:30.039
and the men who were with him
ate and drink, and they spent the
125
00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:33.720
night there. When they arose in
the morning, he said, Send Me
126
00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:37.639
Away to my master. Her brother
and her mother said, let the young
127
00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:41.750
woman remain with us a while,
at least ten days. After that she
128
00:09:41.870 --> 00:09:46.110
may go. But he said to
them, do not delay me, since
129
00:09:46.190 --> 00:09:48.710
the Lord has prospered my way.
Send Me Away that I may go to
130
00:09:48.830 --> 00:09:52.299
my master. They said, let
us call the young woman and ask her,
131
00:09:54.059 --> 00:09:56.419
and they called Rebecca and said to
her, will you go with this
132
00:09:56.620 --> 00:10:01.620
man? She said I will go. So they sent away Rebecca, their
133
00:10:01.659 --> 00:10:05.700
sister, and her nurse and Abraham's
servant and his men, and they blessed
134
00:10:05.740 --> 00:10:09.730
Rebecca and said to her, our
sister, may you become thousands of tens,
135
00:10:09.850 --> 00:10:15.529
that of ten thousands, and may
your offspring possessed the gate of those
136
00:10:15.570 --> 00:10:20.490
who hate him. Then Rebecca and
her young women arose and rode on the
137
00:10:20.570 --> 00:10:24.600
camels and followed the man. Thus
the servant took Rebecca and went his way.
138
00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:31.279
Now Isaac had returned from Beer Lehigh
Roy and was dwelling in the NAGEB
139
00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:35.750
and Isaac went out to meditate in
the field toward the evening and he lifted
140
00:10:35.789 --> 00:10:39.269
up his eyes and saw, and
behold, there were camels coming. And
141
00:10:39.429 --> 00:10:43.950
Rebecca lifted up her eyes and when
she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the
142
00:10:43.029 --> 00:10:46.710
camel and said to the servant,
who is that man walking in the field
143
00:10:46.750 --> 00:10:50.940
to meet us? The Servant said
it is my master. So she took
144
00:10:50.980 --> 00:10:56.019
her veil and covered herself and the
servant told Isaac all the things that he
145
00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:58.779
had done. Then Isaac brought her
into the tent of Sarah, his mother,
146
00:10:58.940 --> 00:11:03.529
and took Rebecca and she became his
wife and he loved her. So
147
00:11:03.730 --> 00:11:18.120
Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. Praise God for his word. Is
148
00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:24.720
Such a wonderful story and super sweet
there at the end, right the eyes
149
00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:31.279
lifting up to each other, meeting
and falling in love and God's promises all
150
00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:35.070
coming to pass, and then this
final line that Isaac was comforted, comforted
151
00:11:35.110 --> 00:11:41.710
after his mother's death. It's a
reminder that the promises of God are not
152
00:11:41.830 --> 00:11:46.299
just good, but there's a sweetness
to them, pleasure in them, beauty
153
00:11:46.460 --> 00:11:52.139
and joy, and this is what
God intends for his people and the fellowship,
154
00:11:52.700 --> 00:11:56.779
the of community that he creates.
Of course there's a lot of trials
155
00:11:56.860 --> 00:12:03.090
and struggles and tribulations along the way. Isaac will struggle, Rebecca will struggle,
156
00:12:03.210 --> 00:12:07.289
their offspring will struggle, even as
we do. But the message of
157
00:12:07.370 --> 00:12:13.730
this chapter teaches us that God is
indeed good, that he does keep his
158
00:12:13.850 --> 00:12:20.519
stead past promises, that he his
love and his promises are true. So
159
00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:24.639
I want to consider that with you
this evening so that we might, like
160
00:12:24.919 --> 00:12:30.429
the servant does in this story,
seek our guidance from God, that we
161
00:12:30.549 --> 00:12:33.950
might look to his promises, rely
on him and trust in him for all
162
00:12:35.070 --> 00:12:41.389
things. As I said, this
story begins about three years after Sarah had
163
00:12:41.470 --> 00:12:46.220
died. Abraham was now older and
knew that it was time for his son
164
00:12:46.340 --> 00:12:50.700
to marry. But this, as
you've seen, is not a usual growing
165
00:12:50.740 --> 00:12:56.220
up and getting married a story,
though that's certainly there. There's a lot
166
00:12:56.379 --> 00:13:03.929
more that's at stake than just Isaac's
happiness or Rebecca's happiness or Abraham's happiness,
167
00:13:05.169 --> 00:13:09.049
because, remember, it was through
Isaac that God, God, would fulfill
168
00:13:09.250 --> 00:13:18.000
his promises to Abra Him. Everything
has is hinging on this child who is
169
00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:22.879
now grown and is ready to marry, and that's why the promises from early
170
00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:31.669
on in the in this section are
repeated here, the promises that they would
171
00:13:31.669 --> 00:13:33.710
dwell in this land, that it
would be given to the offspring. All
172
00:13:33.750 --> 00:13:37.990
of that repetition there's is there for
a reason. It's to remind us of
173
00:13:39.110 --> 00:13:43.460
the importance of these things, of
what's going on, of what's at stake.
174
00:13:43.980 --> 00:13:50.220
The promises of God would require Isaac
to be married, for him and
175
00:13:50.379 --> 00:13:56.289
his wife to have children, for
the family to grow. But there were
176
00:13:56.330 --> 00:14:03.809
some very serious obstacles to this happening, very serious challenges, challenges which really
177
00:14:03.850 --> 00:14:09.090
seem like insurmountable difficulties when you think
about it. But if we've learned anything
178
00:14:09.129 --> 00:14:11.919
yet, and if we haven't learned
it yet, we can learn it here
179
00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:16.200
tonight. God knows how to overcome
difficult challenges, to keep his promises,
180
00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:22.080
and that he does here as well. God doesn't waiver. God's love is
181
00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:28.629
steadfast. He goes before us,
he takes care of things, he fulfills
182
00:14:28.789 --> 00:14:33.070
his purposes for us. Remember,
it was God who made this covenant with
183
00:14:33.190 --> 00:14:37.350
Abraham. It was God who called
him, him out of his homeland and
184
00:14:37.620 --> 00:14:43.820
into the land of Canaan. It
was God who gave him this miraculous child.
185
00:14:43.980 --> 00:14:48.980
It was God who recently provided the
Ram. It was God who is
186
00:14:48.019 --> 00:14:56.730
at work. God doesn't leave us
alone to figure things out. God guides
187
00:14:56.769 --> 00:15:01.690
us, having ordained the end from
the beginning, and we can trust him
188
00:15:01.210 --> 00:15:07.320
even when we don't know exactly what's
going on, exactly what he's doing.
189
00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:13.120
So what kinds of challenges does Abraham
face? What kinds of challenges does his
190
00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:20.399
servant, likely Eliazar of Damascus,
face here. Well. The first one
191
00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:24.710
is that Isaac needed a wife,
and for those who have ever struggled to
192
00:15:24.789 --> 00:15:30.629
find a spouse, enough said,
it's not always easy. That's challenge number
193
00:15:30.669 --> 00:15:33.990
one, but there of course more
difficult than that here. Number two is
194
00:15:35.070 --> 00:15:41.620
that Isaac needed a life, a
wife who wasn't where they lived right.
195
00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:46.259
So, anyone who is sort of
struggled to find a spouse where you live,
196
00:15:46.460 --> 00:15:54.610
this was their situation. Why was
that a struggle? Because they lived
197
00:15:54.809 --> 00:16:00.490
in Canaan. Remember, God had
called Abraham out of his homeland to live.
198
00:16:00.610 --> 00:16:04.960
Where to live? In Canaan.
But there were several problems with Canaan.
199
00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:12.000
One was the place. This,
this country, was characterized by idolatry,
200
00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:19.950
by immorality and very gross and great
and, I guess, disgusting as
201
00:16:19.990 --> 00:16:26.389
well, both meanings of that word. Immorality, immorality towards one another,
202
00:16:26.429 --> 00:16:33.779
lack of boundaries, disrespect for authority, disrespect for basics, basic decency,
203
00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:41.940
for order, for life, for
relationships with one another. Consider Moses's words
204
00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:49.450
and Deuteronomy, chapter twelve versus thirty
through thirty. One he writes, he
205
00:16:49.529 --> 00:16:57.129
writes there. Sorry, almost got
it he says to the Israelites that remember,
206
00:16:57.129 --> 00:17:03.559
this is right before they are about
to enter into Canaan, having been
207
00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:06.960
out of it for a while.
They are about to enter into can.
208
00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:11.480
He says, Take Care that you
be not ensnared to follow them after they
209
00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:15.670
who have been destroyed before you.
But this is God's plan for the Canaanites
210
00:17:15.990 --> 00:17:21.230
to Judge Them. He says to
the Israelites, take care that you not
211
00:17:21.390 --> 00:17:23.509
be that you not being snared after
they have been destroyed before you, and
212
00:17:23.589 --> 00:17:27.869
that you do not inquire about their
God, saying how did these nations serve
213
00:17:27.990 --> 00:17:33.779
their gods, that I may also
do the same name you shall wear.
214
00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:37.619
You shall not worship the Lord,
your God in that way, for every
215
00:17:37.700 --> 00:17:42.500
abominable thing that the Lord hates they
have done for their gods. For they
216
00:17:42.539 --> 00:17:52.650
even burn their sons and their daughters
in the fire to their gods. So
217
00:17:52.809 --> 00:17:56.609
this is one of many warnings in
the Old Testament. The particularly as they
218
00:17:56.609 --> 00:18:02.519
are about to enter into the land
of Canaan, God tells them that the
219
00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:06.359
Canaanites are a people not to be
messed with. Don't marry that them,
220
00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:10.400
don't be with them, don't interact
with them in these ways. Now.
221
00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:15.269
Right now, Canaan or Israel,
is not in a place as not at
222
00:18:15.309 --> 00:18:19.789
the time when she will judge,
will judge by God's will, the Canaanites.
223
00:18:19.869 --> 00:18:23.829
Right now, Abraham is a pilgrim, but he knows that he is
224
00:18:23.990 --> 00:18:32.500
not to mix with them because of
the idolatry and in morality. Another difficulty,
225
00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:36.339
as I said, is that the
destiny of these Canaanites is destruction.
226
00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:41.099
This is, of course, the
exact opposite of God's promises to Abraham.
227
00:18:41.730 --> 00:18:45.289
God's promise to Abraham and into his
family was life and abundant life, not
228
00:18:47.170 --> 00:18:52.490
the destruction under his wrath. And
remember that he had been promised this land.
229
00:18:52.490 --> 00:18:59.480
And this all hearkens back to another
important promise God made in general,
230
00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:03.720
as we find it in genesis chapter
nine. I want to read this to
231
00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:11.829
you now. This comes after the
flood. We begin to see in a
232
00:19:11.029 --> 00:19:18.109
seed form all of these events that
we are reading about now and we can
233
00:19:18.230 --> 00:19:26.339
think of falling out from here.
I'm beginning to happen right after the flood,
234
00:19:26.339 --> 00:19:30.299
what we might say, right at
the new beginning of the earth,
235
00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:34.059
where man is again called to be
fruitful and multiply, right at the beginning
236
00:19:34.099 --> 00:19:37.609
when all things are set in order. Noah has made it through the flood.
237
00:19:37.849 --> 00:19:42.329
We and then we read this in
genesis eighteen, the sons of Noah
238
00:19:42.369 --> 00:19:48.410
who went forth from the Ark where
Shem, Ham and Jff Ham was the
239
00:19:48.529 --> 00:19:53.079
father of Canaan. These were the
sons of Noah, and from these people
240
00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:59.400
the whole Earth was dispersed. Noah
began to be a man of the soil
241
00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:03.680
and he planted a vineyard. He
drank of the wine and became drunk and
242
00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:07.390
lay uncovered in his tent. And
Ham, the father of Canaan, saw
243
00:20:07.509 --> 00:20:14.309
the nakedness of his father and told
his two brothers outside. Then Shem and
244
00:20:14.309 --> 00:20:18.589
J ff took a garment, laid
it on both their shoulders and walked backward
245
00:20:18.269 --> 00:20:22.539
and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward and they
246
00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:29.619
did not see their father's nakedness.
When Noah folk from his wine and knew
247
00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:33.460
what his youngest son is had done
to him, he said, cursed be
248
00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:38.849
Canan Servant of servants shall he be
to his brothers. He also said,
249
00:20:38.890 --> 00:20:42.569
blessed be the Lord, the God
of Shem, and let Canaan be his
250
00:20:42.690 --> 00:20:47.450
servant. May God in large JFUV
and let him dwell in the tense of
251
00:20:47.529 --> 00:20:53.960
Shechem and and let Canaan be his
servant. Well, it is from Shechem's
252
00:20:55.039 --> 00:21:03.079
descendants that Abraham comes. It is
from Shechem's descendants that Abraham comes. And
253
00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:07.509
in keeping with these promises and keeping
with these curse and keeping with what God
254
00:21:07.549 --> 00:21:14.029
had promised to do here, Abraham
cannot get a wife from the Canaanites.
255
00:21:14.869 --> 00:21:18.579
He is not to subdue the land, as so many rulers do, through
256
00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:26.579
intermarriage. The political the the political
power that comes through marriages, is not
257
00:21:26.859 --> 00:21:33.009
to be exercised here. Instead,
he is to get a wife from within
258
00:21:33.650 --> 00:21:37.450
his own clan. But, as
I said, there weren't any women around.
259
00:21:38.329 --> 00:21:42.769
They weren't there because God had called
him out of his homehland, away
260
00:21:42.809 --> 00:21:49.640
from his clan, to a land
that he didn't belong to. So where
261
00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:55.799
do we go from here? Abraham
says to his servant, as a way
262
00:21:55.880 --> 00:22:02.230
to overcome these difficulties, I want
you to go back home. Well,
263
00:22:02.349 --> 00:22:06.390
this isn't without problems either. Not
to overly discourage you, but you know
264
00:22:06.509 --> 00:22:11.309
the ending right. This is not
without its problems either, because home,
265
00:22:11.950 --> 00:22:18.740
the homeland, has its own share
of immorality and idolatry. Remember Joshua Twenty
266
00:22:18.819 --> 00:22:23.819
four, verse two, and Joshua
said to all the people, thus says
267
00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:29.299
the Lord, the God of Israel. Long ago, your fathers lived beyond
268
00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:33.329
the fray, Euphrates, Tara,
the father of Abraham, and no whore,
269
00:22:33.769 --> 00:22:38.890
and they served other gods. So
you see what Joshua he's saying in
270
00:22:40.089 --> 00:22:42.690
line with Moses. He's saying,
don't go and do the things that the
271
00:22:42.809 --> 00:22:48.119
Canaanites did and don't go back to
where you came from, which was also
272
00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:53.480
idolatry, also immorality. Instead,
I am creating something new here. I'm
273
00:22:53.599 --> 00:23:03.150
creating a new people, and this
is what this is what Abraham and his
274
00:23:03.269 --> 00:23:07.269
servant was facing and trying to find
a wife. He could go home,
275
00:23:07.670 --> 00:23:14.700
and things do seem to be better
there. A Laban will address them and
276
00:23:15.059 --> 00:23:19.420
reference the Lord, he will reference
Yahweh. There seems to be it seems
277
00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:25.140
to be not quite as bad as
the Canaanits, and yet, nevertheless it
278
00:23:25.380 --> 00:23:30.329
is still a mixed place. Remember, after all, Abraham was called out
279
00:23:30.569 --> 00:23:36.690
of that place and Israel was called
not to go back to that place where
280
00:23:36.730 --> 00:23:41.839
they served other gods. We also
might know this Laban. Here we see
281
00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:48.759
again foreshadowing when he says of his
his sister, can't you just stay ten
282
00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:53.599
days you perhaps you know the story
of Isaac Sun who will go to Laban
283
00:23:53.720 --> 00:24:00.069
for his wife, and there's all
kinds of delay and various problems that that
284
00:24:00.390 --> 00:24:03.549
happen with that arrangement. We have
a little taste of that here. It
285
00:24:03.630 --> 00:24:07.910
doesn't work out in Laban's favor.
But we see other things about Laban that
286
00:24:07.990 --> 00:24:14.500
are a little off, we might
say. The scripture tells us that it's
287
00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:18.380
when he saw the ring and he
when he saw the gold bands on her
288
00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:21.740
arms that he said we need to
deal with this, let's talk, let's
289
00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:27.250
find out, let's make a deal. This Laban seems interested in some ways
290
00:24:27.289 --> 00:24:33.250
and protecting his sister and protecting the
household, but he, even though he
291
00:24:33.369 --> 00:24:36.849
speaks of the Lord, that doesn't
seem to be where his hard is,
292
00:24:37.009 --> 00:24:41.279
here or in the future. Remember
that Jacob, Isaac's son. I'm sorry,
293
00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:45.960
I'm jumping a little bit all over
the place here, but when they
294
00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:52.109
leave Laban, it is will his
wife whole olds the household. God's right.
295
00:24:52.309 --> 00:25:00.349
She steals from her father. Laban
is God's this is not a Yahway
296
00:25:00.549 --> 00:25:04.230
family. This is not a Christian
family. This is not a family that
297
00:25:04.390 --> 00:25:11.859
loves and serves the Lord. This
is a family that is tolerating this Weirdo
298
00:25:11.339 --> 00:25:18.059
who left the homeland, left the
clan, has been gone for a long
299
00:25:18.099 --> 00:25:22.730
time and is now coming back,
but who also happens to be very wealthy.
300
00:25:22.529 --> 00:25:27.849
So Yay for us. Right.
So here comes this servant and he
301
00:25:29.009 --> 00:25:33.170
says, my master is wealthy,
God has blessed him greatly. Hears everything
302
00:25:33.289 --> 00:25:41.079
that has happened and they agree amazingly, and I think by God's grace,
303
00:25:41.319 --> 00:25:48.839
Rebecca also agrees to this and she
is willing to go and not delay in
304
00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:59.390
these things. One last problem.
What if she won't come? Right,
305
00:25:59.430 --> 00:26:03.859
so remember Isaac is he, Abraham's
servant, Eliezar he. He's not supposed
306
00:26:03.859 --> 00:26:07.859
to find a servant in Canaan.
He's supposed to go home to the old
307
00:26:07.980 --> 00:26:11.779
to the clan, to the homeland, and find a wife. But what
308
00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:15.539
if she doesn't come? What if
she refuses to go? What if he
309
00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:18.259
can't find her? What if her
family won't let her? This is a
310
00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:22.809
very, very difficult challenge that Abraham
is making his serve and place his hand
311
00:26:22.849 --> 00:26:26.009
under his thigh and square to him, and you can see Ellie is ours
312
00:26:26.329 --> 00:26:33.200
hesitancy a little bit. Yes,
Abraham's rich, but this is a big
313
00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:37.880
ask. He's the one who left
home, he's the one who's following these
314
00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:41.440
new this new God. He's the
one who's traveling homeless, without a place,
315
00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:45.559
without a land. Where are we
going to let our daughter go?
316
00:26:48.670 --> 00:26:52.150
And a servant says perhaps it makes
more sense for Isaac to go back home.
317
00:26:53.869 --> 00:26:56.869
But this is me testing you.
Now. Why can't Isaac go back
318
00:26:57.029 --> 00:27:02.859
home? Because it's against the whole
covenant. It's against everything that God has
319
00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:07.579
been doing. Remember, God called
them out to give them this other land.
320
00:27:07.660 --> 00:27:10.700
He didn't call them out to send
it back home and stay home.
321
00:27:11.579 --> 00:27:15.769
He called them to a new place. To Send Isaac back home would be
322
00:27:15.849 --> 00:27:21.529
to go the exact opposite way that
God was calling him. You would be
323
00:27:22.009 --> 00:27:25.529
a Jonah, move right. God
says go this way and the prophet goes
324
00:27:25.609 --> 00:27:30.920
the other way, and that's why
Abraham's so serious. No, swear to
325
00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:36.640
me that you will not do do
that. What does Abraham want? Yes,
326
00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:40.279
he wants a wife for his son
Isaac, but he wants to see
327
00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:45.710
faithfulness in his household. He wants
to see his household truy ust the promises
328
00:27:47.349 --> 00:27:52.309
of God, and that's what he
does and that's what the servant does,
329
00:27:52.509 --> 00:27:57.549
even though they don't necessarily know how
it's all going to turn out, and
330
00:27:57.700 --> 00:28:00.779
that's how we come to the solution
to all of these challenges, all of
331
00:28:00.859 --> 00:28:07.980
these very this very difficult situation.
The answer to these things is faith,
332
00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:14.890
faith, faith in God. Abraham
and his servant needed to trust the Lord
333
00:28:14.970 --> 00:28:19.210
for his past promises to Abraham and
even to Shen before him. They needed
334
00:28:19.410 --> 00:28:26.450
also to trust God's power, his
providential power, to work all things out
335
00:28:26.650 --> 00:28:30.200
for good for those who love him
and are called according to his purpose.
336
00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:37.200
He needed to trust God, he
needed to trust that things would work out
337
00:28:37.400 --> 00:28:41.549
some way, somehow, and that's
what he does. In a number of
338
00:28:41.710 --> 00:28:47.109
ways. The Servant does this.
He he does it by clearly understanding Abraham.
339
00:28:47.750 --> 00:28:51.069
Notice how he does it. Also
in his prayers, when he prays
340
00:28:51.190 --> 00:28:55.150
to God, he prays that God
would hear him. He addresses him in
341
00:28:55.190 --> 00:29:00.180
verse twelve. Is Yahwegh, God
of my master Abraham, please grant me
342
00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:06.740
success today and show steadfast love to
my master Abraham. This servant is a
343
00:29:06.859 --> 00:29:12.410
covenant theologian. He understands his how
to pray. He prays a core waring
344
00:29:12.450 --> 00:29:18.089
to the promises. He understands that
his relationship of blessing is in direct connection
345
00:29:18.250 --> 00:29:23.089
to the promises God has made to
his servant or to his to his Master,
346
00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:30.240
God Servant, Abraham. And so
this is the way the servant Prais,
347
00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:33.920
this is the way he he heads. If this is indeed Eliezar of
348
00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:38.430
Damascus, as many commentators think it
is, a Meredith Klein notes that he
349
00:29:38.470 --> 00:29:42.910
would have had to travel through his
own land in order to get to where
350
00:29:42.910 --> 00:29:48.349
he was going with Isaac. You
imagine the challenges of this. Right,
351
00:29:48.430 --> 00:29:52.430
Elia is our is not of this
family. Eliazar is not a wasn't belonged
352
00:29:52.589 --> 00:29:56.579
by birth to this household. Remember
a back there was a time when God,
353
00:29:56.660 --> 00:30:02.059
when Abraham said of Eliezar, said
could this one be the air of
354
00:30:02.140 --> 00:30:07.410
my household? And God said no, it's going to be Isaac. So
355
00:30:07.569 --> 00:30:11.289
alias are in a prehess sense,
has been demoted. He is a servant,
356
00:30:11.329 --> 00:30:17.289
a servant, a servant. He's
going, perhaps through his own land
357
00:30:17.450 --> 00:30:19.170
on a way to accomplish this thing
that he doesn't know how it's going to
358
00:30:19.250 --> 00:30:26.240
work out. What does he do? He prays, he trusts, Yahweh
359
00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:32.119
the god of Abraham. He trusts
the promises and he asks God to show
360
00:30:32.680 --> 00:30:40.309
to him that steadfast love that has
given to his master. The faith here
361
00:30:41.150 --> 00:30:45.869
is wonderful, as we as we
see this, and then, of course,
362
00:30:45.869 --> 00:30:49.579
as we end, notice how the
Lord Blesses, the Lord grants to
363
00:30:49.619 --> 00:30:53.259
him even before, when it's not, I was going to say words were
364
00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:57.140
out of spoken on his lips,
but it was in his heart. Eliazar
365
00:30:57.220 --> 00:31:00.579
doesn't even pray this prayer out loud. He tells us in the second half
366
00:31:00.619 --> 00:31:03.490
of the chapter that he's praying this
in his heart. When all of a
367
00:31:03.569 --> 00:31:10.650
sudden there is the woman and all
of it falls out. We notice one
368
00:31:10.690 --> 00:31:17.609
other detail as we come to a
conclusion here. Even though the Lord Answers,
369
00:31:17.930 --> 00:31:23.240
answers Eliazar's prayer about the whole situation
with the camels and the water and
370
00:31:23.319 --> 00:31:30.119
all of that, notice how he
doesn't pursue presume that everything settled. He
371
00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:36.150
still continues to watch and to trust
and to wait on the Lord. He
372
00:31:36.390 --> 00:31:41.349
still goes forward and continues his task
because he knows best how to do it.
373
00:31:41.190 --> 00:31:45.390
We see that in his watching and
is gazing at this woman, wondering
374
00:31:45.549 --> 00:31:51.099
whether this is in fact the one, if I could put it this way.
375
00:31:51.140 --> 00:31:56.740
He's not overconfident in his reading of
God's providential events, even though they
376
00:31:56.779 --> 00:32:04.970
are so to a tea of what
he has asked for. I think it's
377
00:32:05.009 --> 00:32:08.970
because he continues to show faith,
faithfulness, he continues to wait on the
378
00:32:09.049 --> 00:32:14.089
Lord. He knows there's a number
of obstacles still in his way, but
379
00:32:14.170 --> 00:32:19.119
he waits on the Lord to know
what will happen. And, of course,
380
00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:24.519
the notice how God blesses. He
gives rebecca a heart to go.
381
00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:34.390
She goes, she sees Isaac.
Isaac brings her into his tent, into
382
00:32:34.390 --> 00:32:38.069
the tent of his mother. Rather, she becomes his wife, and he
383
00:32:38.190 --> 00:32:43.069
loved her. And of course,
I as we know, the Lord gives
384
00:32:43.109 --> 00:32:46.339
them children and they're the promises of
the Lord are fulfilled in one day.
385
00:32:46.460 --> 00:32:53.380
The people do multiply greatly and inherit
the land. So my question to use
386
00:32:53.740 --> 00:33:00.569
simply this. If Elias are an
Abraham and Isaac can trust God to fulfill
387
00:33:00.690 --> 00:33:06.690
his promises at this time and in
this way, if they can trust for
388
00:33:06.849 --> 00:33:12.960
God for guidance, how much more
can we trust God, who have already
389
00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:17.640
seen all the promises fulfilled? We've
seen the sun born. We've seen the
390
00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:23.720
landfilled. We've seen God bring forth
a Messiah to establish a Covenant People that
391
00:33:23.880 --> 00:33:30.990
includes the not only the Abraham's and
and Sarah's and Isaac's, but also the
392
00:33:31.069 --> 00:33:38.109
rebeccas and the Eliazars of Damascus has
and all of us gentiles, a family
393
00:33:38.230 --> 00:33:42.420
of Jew and gentile, of male
and female, slave and free, this
394
00:33:42.579 --> 00:33:49.740
great family feeling not just Canan but
the whole world. And all of this
395
00:33:49.940 --> 00:33:57.569
was accomplished because God has kept his
promises. God knows how to move the
396
00:33:57.690 --> 00:34:05.210
events of history in such a way
that he gave his own son into history
397
00:34:06.369 --> 00:34:10.719
to die on a cross to fulfill
all of these things and to bring in
398
00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:16.960
all of his elect people. We've
seen it. We're at the end of
399
00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:21.079
the story, where this is this
is genesis right. This is the very
400
00:34:21.320 --> 00:34:27.469
beginnings. We're at the very end, simply waiting for the Lord to come
401
00:34:27.670 --> 00:34:32.110
and consummate all of these things.
Can we trust for God to guide us,
402
00:34:32.949 --> 00:34:37.579
to provide our way, to clear
our paths, to use the obstacles
403
00:34:37.780 --> 00:34:44.900
to strengthen our faith in him?
Yes, we can, because he's already
404
00:34:44.940 --> 00:34:50.139
done it. He's already fulfilled these
covenant promises in the Lord Jesus Christ.
405
00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:55.530
And so let us rest on him, let us wait on him, let
406
00:34:55.570 --> 00:35:02.690
us trust him for everything that we
need him, our heavenly fought
