Genesis 22-24
Overview of Chapter 22
God devises a test to see if Abraham has reverence for Him. This test is tough, Abraham is supposed to take his son and offer him as a burnt offering. Abraham shows up for the test, he travels to the place that God instructed him, Mount Moriah - some people believe this place will later be named Golgotha.
Father and son move closer to the place of sacrifice Isaac notices they have everything necessary for a burnt offering, a knife, fire, wood, oops where is the lamb? He questions his faithful father on this matter and is told that God will provide the sacrifice. Imagine Isaac’s surprise when his father ties him up and lays him on the newly made altar!
Abraham prepares to slit his sons throat and drain out all of his blood, but before he can accomplish this task the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and tells him not to slay his son. Abraham has passed the test - he has shown reverence for God above all, even his own son. Then God foreshadows Jesus as He provides a ram with a crown of thorns to die in Isaac’s place. Because of Abraham’s obedience God promises once again to bless Abraham, multiply his descendants, give them victory over their enemies and bless the entire earth through them.
This chapter ends with a short genealogy of Abraham’s brother Nahor that leads to a granddaughter named Rebekah.
Overview of Chapter 23
At the age of 127 years Abraham’s wife Sarah dies, having seen the promise of God fulfilled in her own son Isaac. Abraham mourns and weeps for his wife, then purchases a place to bury her. This is Abraham’s first deed to any of the promised land.
Overview of Chapter 24
The widower Abraham wants to find a wife for his son before he dies. He asks one of his servants to find a wife for him, but it cannot be a local girl (a Canaanite) it must be a relative. The servant agrees and tells his master “thigh will be done.”
The servant travels to Mesopotamia the city of Abraham’s brother Nahor. When he arrives he decides the local watering whole is the best place to pick up women and it is apparently happy hour because the ladies are all coming to get a drink. Then the servant prays for his Lord to help him be successful in this task. He works out a sign with the Lord so he will know that it is the right woman for Isaac. The sign is simple, if he asks a lady to get him a drink she will offer to water his camels as well.
As soon as he finished his prayer a beautiful young woman named Rebekah shows up. He pops the question and she offers to get him a drink as well as his camels - SHE WAS THE ONE! He gives her a ring (a nose ring) and some bracelets and then asks if he can stay at her fathers house. She agrees and then tells him her father is Bethuel and her grandfather is Nahor.
When the servant hears this he begins to worship God because he realizes that she is a relative of Abraham - Isaac’s niece - just as Abraham had requested.
When they get to Rebekah’s house the servant refuses to eat until he can tell Rebekah’s brother Laban the whole story. After finishing the story the servant asks if he is going to be able to take Rebekah back to Isaac to be married, and he sweetens the deal with presents for both Rebekah and Laban. Laban agrees because “the matter comes from the Lord.” After some hesitation and consulting with Rebekah they allow her to leave after they bless her.
While Isaac is out meditating in the field he sees the camels approaching and Rebekah sees him. It is love at first sight and they consummate the wedding in Sarah’s tent.
Reflection
What tests has God put you through in your life? What would you be willing to sacrifice for God? Does your life prove to God that you revere Him? Have you allowed Jesus to be a substitute offering to make atonement for you? What promises of God have you seen fulfilled in your life? If you are looking for a spouse have you asked God to show you specifically which person it should be? Do you see the importance for believers today to marry only a close relative (a brother or sister in Christ)? Are you quick about fulfilling promises you have made to others, especially your Master?
For Further Study
Testing: Exodus 6:4-7, Deuteronomy 8:16, Psalm 26:1-7, Proverbs 17:3, John 6:1-14, 1Corinthians 3:12-13
Reverence/fear: Psalm 2:10-12, Proverbs 1:7, 10:27, 2Corinthians 7:1
Burnt offerings: Leviticus 1, Psalm 51
God’s Promises: Deuteronomy 27:2-3, Acts 2:37-41, James 1:12, 2Peter 3:3-9
God devises a test to see if Abraham has reverence for Him. This test is tough, Abraham is supposed to take his son and offer him as a burnt offering. Abraham shows up for the test, he travels to the place that God instructed him, Mount Moriah - some people believe this place will later be named Golgotha.
Father and son move closer to the place of sacrifice Isaac notices they have everything necessary for a burnt offering, a knife, fire, wood, oops where is the lamb? He questions his faithful father on this matter and is told that God will provide the sacrifice. Imagine Isaac’s surprise when his father ties him up and lays him on the newly made altar!
Abraham prepares to slit his sons throat and drain out all of his blood, but before he can accomplish this task the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and tells him not to slay his son. Abraham has passed the test - he has shown reverence for God above all, even his own son. Then God foreshadows Jesus as He provides a ram with a crown of thorns to die in Isaac’s place. Because of Abraham’s obedience God promises once again to bless Abraham, multiply his descendants, give them victory over their enemies and bless the entire earth through them.
This chapter ends with a short genealogy of Abraham’s brother Nahor that leads to a granddaughter named Rebekah.
Overview of Chapter 23
At the age of 127 years Abraham’s wife Sarah dies, having seen the promise of God fulfilled in her own son Isaac. Abraham mourns and weeps for his wife, then purchases a place to bury her. This is Abraham’s first deed to any of the promised land.
Overview of Chapter 24
The widower Abraham wants to find a wife for his son before he dies. He asks one of his servants to find a wife for him, but it cannot be a local girl (a Canaanite) it must be a relative. The servant agrees and tells his master “thigh will be done.”
The servant travels to Mesopotamia the city of Abraham’s brother Nahor. When he arrives he decides the local watering whole is the best place to pick up women and it is apparently happy hour because the ladies are all coming to get a drink. Then the servant prays for his Lord to help him be successful in this task. He works out a sign with the Lord so he will know that it is the right woman for Isaac. The sign is simple, if he asks a lady to get him a drink she will offer to water his camels as well.
As soon as he finished his prayer a beautiful young woman named Rebekah shows up. He pops the question and she offers to get him a drink as well as his camels - SHE WAS THE ONE! He gives her a ring (a nose ring) and some bracelets and then asks if he can stay at her fathers house. She agrees and then tells him her father is Bethuel and her grandfather is Nahor.
When the servant hears this he begins to worship God because he realizes that she is a relative of Abraham - Isaac’s niece - just as Abraham had requested.
When they get to Rebekah’s house the servant refuses to eat until he can tell Rebekah’s brother Laban the whole story. After finishing the story the servant asks if he is going to be able to take Rebekah back to Isaac to be married, and he sweetens the deal with presents for both Rebekah and Laban. Laban agrees because “the matter comes from the Lord.” After some hesitation and consulting with Rebekah they allow her to leave after they bless her.
While Isaac is out meditating in the field he sees the camels approaching and Rebekah sees him. It is love at first sight and they consummate the wedding in Sarah’s tent.
Reflection
What tests has God put you through in your life? What would you be willing to sacrifice for God? Does your life prove to God that you revere Him? Have you allowed Jesus to be a substitute offering to make atonement for you? What promises of God have you seen fulfilled in your life? If you are looking for a spouse have you asked God to show you specifically which person it should be? Do you see the importance for believers today to marry only a close relative (a brother or sister in Christ)? Are you quick about fulfilling promises you have made to others, especially your Master?
For Further Study
Testing: Exodus 6:4-7, Deuteronomy 8:16, Psalm 26:1-7, Proverbs 17:3, John 6:1-14, 1Corinthians 3:12-13
Reverence/fear: Psalm 2:10-12, Proverbs 1:7, 10:27, 2Corinthians 7:1
Burnt offerings: Leviticus 1, Psalm 51
God’s Promises: Deuteronomy 27:2-3, Acts 2:37-41, James 1:12, 2Peter 3:3-9
posted by Shaun Sells | 12:02 AM
2 Comments:
Pastor Shaun,
Thank you again for this post and for your faithfulness in serving us.
The terminology "angel of the Lord" appear some 68 times in scripture--each time it seems to indicate that Jesus is the one carrying the message to a specific individual; as far as you know is that an acurate statement?
Michael -
The precise identity of the "angel of the Lord" is not specifically given in the Bible. However, there are many important "clues" as to his identity. The angel of the Lord speaks as God, identifies Himself with God, and exercises the responsibilities of God (Genesis 16:7-12; 21: 17-18; 22:11-18; Exodus 3:2; Judges 2:1-4; 5:23; 6:11-24; 13:3-22; 2 Samuel 24:16; Zechariah 1:12; 3:1; 12:8). In several of these appearances, those who saw the angel of the Lord feared for their lives because they had "seen the Lord." Therefore, it is clear that the angel of the Lord is a theophany, that is an appearance of God in physical form. It could not be God the Father, because no one could see him and live. However, when Jesus was asked by his disciples if they could see the Father Jesus told them that if they had seen Him, they had seen the Father. Interestinbly, appearances of the "angel of the Lord" cease after the birth of Christ.
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