GENESIS 24 / 25

Chapter 24 is basically recording God's method of choosing a wife for Isaac.

NOTE; Watch for the correlation of how Jesus the Savior receives his bride; the CHURCH.

As we start off, Abraham gives instructions for the process of finding this BRIDE for Isaac. This was loaded with very specific requirements.

1. He chose his senior servant that was in charge of all he had.

2. This was most likely the most trusted and oldest servant of Abraham's house.

• Eleazar.

2. Put your hand under my thigh.

• This was a typical binding promise.

• Thigh is referencing the genital organs close to the thigh. The covenant of circumcision was a major part of God's oath. This was referred to when making an oath or promise. A most sacred oath with the Hebrews.

• An interesting point is that the first 9 verses are the last recorded words of Abraham.

Comparison:

Genesis: Isaac did not do the search.

• But, he paid the price through his servant, Eleazar.

God: Does not search for His BRIDE

• But paid the price through his servant son / Jesus.

Genesis: The servant was sent to identify and claim the bride for the bridegroom.

Jesus: The Spirit of Jesus; Holy Spirit was / is sent to identify the bridegroom for Jesus the son.

Note: This is the place where Jesus paid the price for the bride but, his Spirit/ Holy Spirit returns the bride back to him: Son/ Jesus.

Genesis: The bride had to be willing to go. She didn't even question it.

Jesus: People / the bride has to make the decision to go to the bridegroom.

Note: Jesus does the calling. We make the choice to go because the call is undeniable.

Gen: The servant / Eleazar took and presented gifts to give to the bride (Rebecca).

Jesus: The servant / presents the gift of salvation to the potential Bride / CHURCH.

Upon acceptance of the gift, the Spirit of Jesus guards and guides the bride to the bridegroom. Jesus.

Rebecca represents the "Bride / Church".

How was the potential Bride identified?

• A test of water and forbearance.

Drawing water from a spring was hard enough, let alone drawing enough water for 10 camels. She was determined!

John 3:3-5

[3] Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. a ” [4] “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!” [5] Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

• This reference indicates the need for water.

• Jesus walked on water

• Jesus turned water into wine

• Jesus healed a man at the pool of Bethsaida

• Israelites crossed through the Red Sea and we're saved from the enemy.

• There are many comparisons in the following scripture .

• Note that once he had received water, it was also given to the camels and the rest of the men with him. Verse 32.

Genesis 24:12-22

[12] Then he prayed, “ LORD, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. [13] See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. [14] May it be that when I say to a young woman, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'---let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” [15] Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor. [16] The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again. [17] The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.” [18] “ Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.[19] After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.” [20] So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. [21] Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful. [22] When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels.

Later on it is noted that more gifts were distributed. Rebecca, her brother and her mother. This was a type of dowry.

Giving these gifts was the servants understanding that this was the one that fulfilled the requirements of the Master / Abraham.

• Father / Abraham sent the messenger / servant / Eleazar to find the bride that met all of the requirements. She willingly went back to the Father/ Abraham as the bride for his son Isaac.

• Father / God sent the messenger / servant / Jesus to pay the price. (Dowry)

Note: This is the place that understanding the Trinity becomes essential.

• Once Jesus paid the price successfully he went home to be with his Father /God. But he left his Holy Spirit (the messenger) to find the bride and then take her to the bridegroom. (Jesus)

Genesis 24: 23 - 32

Overview:

These verses tell what happened after Eleazar knew that Rebecca was the one he was looking for.

Verse 24 was just another verification. This was the family that Abraham had referred to in his instructions.

• After serving Eleazar, Rebekah ran home and told what had happened.

• It is understood that her father had died. Thus the reference to her "mothers household".

• Her brother, Laban, had to find this man that lifted her with the ring and bracelets and wanted to take her away and found him at the spring.

• Laban invited him to the house and once there, Eleazar refused to eat until he gave an account of why he was there.

Verses 33 - 48 cover the account of what took place at the spring.

Verses 49 - 61 tell about the rest of the stay and the preparation for the journey home.

Genesis 24:62-67

[62] Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. [63] He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. [64] Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel [65] and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” “He is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself. [66] Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. [67] Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

GENESIS 25

This is going to be a brief overview in outline form.

Verses 1 -4

Abraham marries again after the death of Sarah. Chapter 23

Sarah lived 127 years.

This new wife was Keturah.

With Ketura Abraham fathered 6 more sons with Keturah.

Verses 5 - 6

Abraham gave Isaac all he had before he died along with the promise God gave him of the PROMISED LAND.

He also gave gifts to his other sons through Keturah.

Then he sent them all away. Away from Isaac.

Verses 7 - 11

Abraham's death and burial.

He was buried next to / with Sarah in the cave in the field he had purchased from the sons of Heth.

Abraham is mentioned 70 times in the New Testament and only Moses is mentioned more. 80 times.

God blessed Isaac after Abraham's death. Time goes on.

Now God is using Isaac to fulfill the covenant made with Abraham.

Verses 12 - 18

Abraham's line through Ishmael and his 12 sons.

Ishmael did not receive the blessing that God gave Abraham of the Promised Land covenant.

Verses 19 - 23

Jacob and Esau / Sons of Isaac

Twin boys representing two future nations. One greater than the other. The older Esau serving the younger Jacob.

They actually fought in Rebecca's womb.

The only children of Issac and Rebecca.

Malachi 1:2-3

“Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved Jacob, [3] 3 but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals .”

One accepted. One rejected.

The heir of the covenant was Jacob.

Verses 24 - 26

The record of the births of Jacob and Esau.

Verses 27 - 34

The characters of Jacob and Esau.

Esau: A skilled hunter.

Jacob: A wild man.

This is well known as the "selling of the birthright".

Jacob obtained Esau's birthright for some stew / food.

One valued material things.

One valued spiritual things.

POINTS TO PONDER

• God has a plan

• His plan is designed to accomplish all He wants.

• Always consult with God.

• About EVERYTHING!!!

• Ask for wisdom.

• TRUST HIM.