Abraham's faith journey (loose-ends) #15

 September 26, 2020 (Saturday)

     It seems the drama in Abraham’s life is over, but his life is far from over. Genesis 23 begins on a sad note, “Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old.” [Genesis 23:1 NIV] The rest of the chapter involves his negotiations with Ephron, the Hittite, for a plot of land with a cave suitable for burial. This cave became the burial place for his family.

    Abraham is going to live another 38 years. Genesis 24:1 notes, “As the days went by and Abraham became older, the Lord blessed Abraham in every way.” [CEB] Kind of nice to know God’s blessing does not expire. Despite the lack of drama, Abraham continues to be blessed.

     Abraham has one more order of business he must deal with … Isaac. The last time we saw Isaac, he was tied on top of a stack of wood prepared for sacrifice. Abraham is concerned that Isaac’s future will be connected to whom he marries. This theme seems to run strong in the Old Testament. Abraham is also concerned that Isaac does not return (leave the Promised Land) to his relatives.

     Abraham charges his servant with the task of finding a wife for Isaac among his relatives. The servant meets Rebekah at a well. As he was praying Rebekah arrived to draw water from the well. He asked her for water. Then a remarkable thing happened, “After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.” [Genesis 24:19 NIV]

     Her actions were remarkable because it was the answer (sign) to the servant’s prayer. I’m guessing the prayer was aimed at finding someone who would go well above and beyond what was customary. Her actions were remarkable because she gave water to a caravan of camels. My impression is that camels can drink a lot of water. Despite her position in a wealthy family Rebekah proves to have a servant’s heart.

     That night, the servant arranges a deal for Rebekah to become Isaac’s wife. The next day he begins the journey home with Rebekah. He takes Rebekah straight to Isaac, who is not living at home with his dad. “Meanwhile, Isaac, whose home was in the Negev, had returned from Beer-lahai-roi.” [Genesis 24:62 NLT]

     Think about it. Isaac’s last contact with Abraham was tied to bundle of wood on top of an altar with a knife at his throat. How many of us have grown up with parents who have sacrificed their children? Maybe it wasn’t a knife. Maybe it was a job. Maybe it was a church. Maybe it was a bottle or needle.

     Notice the bitterness, which would be natural toward such a parent, did not seem to effect Isaac’s relationship with God. Our tendency as adults is to reject the God of a crazy parent. Which, if you think honestly, is crazy.

     God loves us and accepts us where He finds us. His intentions are to mature us and move us toward His character. Not everyone does this. It’s their choice, not God’s fault. When parents fail, like everyone fails at some point in life, I’m pretty sure God cries with the child. But a crazy parent is just an excuse. Billy Sunday said, “An excuse is a skin of a reason stuffed with a lie.”