Friday, February 12, 2010

LastCall: Genesis 24 'our lifestyles put us in a position' -Bob Caldwell

A Lifestyle that Looks to God

  "Now Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he dwelt in the South. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming." -Genesis 24:62-63

We learn a valuable principle here about the heart of those who have faith in God's sovereign providence to bring about His will for their lives. We see this both in Abraham's servant and in Isaac. We see in verse 52 that Abraham's servant was a man who worshiped God, honoring and thanking God for all He had done, is doing, and will do for him. We see in verse 62 that Isaac was a man who spent time alone with God, meditating and seeking His face. It is those who live in relationship with the spiritual dimension of life who benefit most from what God can do and is doing in our lives.

Like most areas of life, our lifestyles put us in a position to either benefit or not from what we encounter along our journey. The person who develops his athletic skills will be much more likely to benefit from an opportunity in meeting a coach who is looking for a skilled athlete than one who has not developed his skills.

It is the same in the spiritual dimension of life. Men such as Abraham's servant who pray and look to God are much more likely to experience divine intervention and blessing as they walk out their lives. What a beautiful picture we have here of Isaac. He was meditating on God as he looked toward the road that he knew would bring him his wife. Here we have another beautiful divine appointment! God knew he would be there out in the desert praying, so He made sure Isaac's eyes would be the first to see his beautiful bride as she approached the land of the home of Isaac. God is good!

Genesis 24:52-25:11

 52 And it came to pass, when Abraham's servant heard their words, that he worshiped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth. 53 Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.

54 And he and the men who were with him ate and drank and stayed all night. Then they arose in the morning, and he said, "Send me away to my master."

55 But her brother and her mother said, "Let the young woman stay with us a few days, at least ten; after that she may go."

56 And he said to them, "Do not hinder me, since the LORD has prospered my way; send me away so that I may go to my master."

57 So they said, "We will call the young woman and ask her personally." 58 Then they called Rebekah and said to her, "Will you go with this man?"

And she said, "I will go."

59 So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her:

"Our sister, may you become
The mother of thousands of ten thousands;
And may your descendants possess
The gates of those who hate them."

61 Then Rebekah and her maids arose, and they rode on the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed.

62 Now Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he dwelt in the South. 63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming. 64 Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from her camel; 65 for she had said to the servant, "Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?"

The servant said, "It is my master." So she took a veil and covered herself.

66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67 Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent; and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

v. 56 Do Not Hinder Me – We see the wisdom of this servant in not allowing God's blessing to be damaged by complications that might arise from a delay.

v. 62 Beer Lahai Roi – This was in the southern region of the Promised Land.

v. 63 To Meditate – That Isaac was a man who took time to wait upon God in prayer and meditation reveals his spiritual qualifications to begin the Jewish nation whose people would be stewards of the oracles of God.

v. 65 A Veil – To cover her face with the veil was a sign of respect and humility for the man she was to marry.

v. 66 He Loved Her – Even though the marriage was arranged without his involvement, Isaac came to deeply love his wife because she was God's choice for his life.

Genesis 25

Abraham and Keturah

1 Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah. 2 And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.

5 And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. 6 But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east.

Abraham's Death and Burial

7 This is the sum of the years of Abraham's life which he lived: one hundred and seventy-five years. 8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. 9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, 10 the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried, and Sarah his wife. 11 And it came to pass, after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac dwelt at Beer Lahai Roi.

CHAPTER 25

v. 1 Took a Wife – Keturah is also referred to as a concubine in verse 6. Normally a concubine is a "lesser wife" that a man would have at the same time as his first or primary wife in many ancient cultures. However, it seems since no mention of Keturah is made until the death of Sarah, it is more likely she married Abraham after Sarah's death and was given this title to give her a different rank than Sarah as far as a relationship to Abraham and the promises of God fulfilled through Sarah.

v. 2 She Bore – The families listed here (v. 2-4), together with the descendents of Ishmael, Lot, and Esau, and some family lines of Ham, are generally held to be the origins of the Arab people.

v. 5 Gave All – This was faith in the promises God had given that in Isaac all nations would be blessed.

v. 6 Gave Gifts – This was to enable these other sons to establish themselves economically but not be linked to Isaac's inheritance or future.

v. 8 Good Old Age – Abraham died 100 years after he came to Canaan, 75 years after the birth of Isaac, 38 years after the death of Sarah, 35 years after Isaac and Rebekah's marriage, and 15 years after the birth of Jacob and Esau.

Full of Years – This was a term to communicate the idea of a life that was satisfying or lived to the fullest degree.

Gathered to His People – This is a clear allusion to life after death.

v. 9 Isaac and Ishmael – These two were reunited by the death of their father. They were both elevated above the sons of Keturah, since God acknowledged both for a distinct blessing (Gen. 17:19-20).

Michael James Stone

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