WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:17.359 Good morning, everyone. Welcome to church to those who are visiting and new. It's lovely to have you with us. My name's Martin. Today we are embarking on our final talk in the series we've been covering on the life of Abraham in the book of Genesis. 00:00:17.359 --> 00:00:29.320 This is Genesis chapter 24. It is the longest chapter in the book of Genesis. Actually, it comfortably makes it into the top 10 for longest chapters in the Bible as a whole. 00:00:30.820 --> 00:00:36.480 And I've had a couple of trial runs this week in reading through Genesis 24 and it takes 10 minutes. 00:00:37.320 --> 00:00:43.219 So what I've decided about how we're going to approach it today is we're going to break up the whole chapter into sections. 00:00:43.219 --> 00:00:47.619 We are going to read the whole thing and we'll read it bit by bit for us. 00:00:47.979 --> 00:00:52.939 But we're going to do it in sections as I go through this sermon this morning. 00:00:53.039 --> 00:00:54.719 I want you to hear the whole story. 00:00:55.960 --> 00:01:03.519 One thing that struck me more about Genesis 24, even more than its length, though, is that it is its tone. 00:01:05.180 --> 00:01:07.759 It's just nice. 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:12.580 I mean, it's a pleasant chapter, even delightful. 00:01:13.080 --> 00:01:18.760 It's not only the longest chapter in Genesis, it's also the most charming chapter in Genesis. 00:01:20.060 --> 00:01:27.740 And if you think about the Bible, like a lot of the Bible, there's kind of this dark undercurrent running through much of the stories. 00:01:27.860 --> 00:01:34.700 But if you think about a lot of what we've read in Genesis so far, again and again, we come across people behaving very poorly. 00:01:34.700 --> 00:01:40.060 But reading Genesis 24, you can't really fault anyone. 00:01:40.240 --> 00:01:42.640 Like everyone seems to behave quite admirably. 00:01:44.400 --> 00:01:54.219 It feels a bit like, you know, the feel-good story about baby pandas that you get tacked on at the end of the evening news on the TV, right? 00:01:54.219 --> 00:01:56.239 You know, you've had all this awful stuff. 00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:01.719 And then just so you don't leave the TV feeling too depressed, you know, there's this... 00:02:01.719 --> 00:02:02.920 I mean, is that all it is? 00:02:03.039 --> 00:02:05.200 Or is there something deeper going on here? 00:02:05.260 --> 00:02:06.579 We're going to think about these things. 00:02:06.659 --> 00:02:07.519 Why is it so long? 00:02:07.640 --> 00:02:08.879 And why is its tone? 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:10.579 What's the reason for this different tone? 00:02:10.659 --> 00:02:11.960 We're going to think about that later on. 00:02:13.079 --> 00:02:20.879 In chapter 24, Abraham sets in place a scheme to find a wife for his son Isaac. 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:33.180 Now, it might be tempting as we listen to this chapter to kind of read it and seek advice on how we should make decisions in life. 00:02:33.340 --> 00:02:39.000 Maybe particularly advice for people who want to seek God's guidance when it comes to finding a spouse. 00:02:40.379 --> 00:02:42.359 But it isn't given for that reason. 00:02:42.360 --> 00:02:52.040 If you were to take this chapter as a manual on finding a spouse, you can't just pick and choose the bits you want. 00:02:52.420 --> 00:02:57.180 If you want to take this chapter seriously for, you know, spouse-finding advice, 00:02:57.360 --> 00:03:02.160 then I hope you like arranged marriages and I hope you have a bunch of camels in your backyard. 00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:11.300 But what we're supposed to see in Genesis chapter 24 is the steadfast love of God at work. 00:03:12.120 --> 00:03:17.159 God achieving his promises to bring blessings to all people. 00:03:18.620 --> 00:03:19.939 So that's where we're heading. 00:03:20.359 --> 00:03:26.979 But without further delay, let's get into scene 1, verses 1 to 9, Abraham's charge to his servant. 00:03:26.979 --> 00:03:37.280 Genesis 24, verses 1 to 9. 00:03:38.039 --> 00:03:46.339 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. 00:03:46.959 --> 00:03:56.379 And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had. 00:03:56.979 --> 00:04:03.159 Put your hand under my thigh that I might make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, 00:04:03.659 --> 00:04:09.859 that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I dwell, 00:04:10.539 --> 00:04:16.759 but will go to my country and to my kindred and take a wife for my son Isaac. 00:04:17.500 --> 00:04:23.420 The servant said to him, perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. 00:04:23.420 --> 00:04:28.220 Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came? 00:04:29.220 --> 00:04:35.960 Abraham said to him, see to it that you do not take my son back there. 00:04:36.420 --> 00:04:43.720 The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my kindred, 00:04:43.720 --> 00:04:50.900 and who spoke to me and swore to me, to your offspring I will give this land. 00:04:51.840 --> 00:04:58.020 He will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 00:04:59.020 --> 00:05:05.380 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine, 00:05:05.379 --> 00:05:09.620 only you must not take my son back there. 00:05:10.420 --> 00:05:14.800 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham, his master, 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:18.259 and swore to him concerning this matter. 00:05:24.659 --> 00:05:31.540 Verse 1 tells us two things about Abraham, that he's old and that he'd been blessed. 00:05:31.540 --> 00:05:38.180 Well, let's observe in this first scene the faith of old Abraham. 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:41.420 This is two or three years after Sarah's death. 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:44.640 Abraham is about 140 at this time. 00:05:45.320 --> 00:05:50.180 Half of his long lifetime ago, God had promised to bless Abraham, 00:05:50.520 --> 00:05:52.240 and God had kept that promise. 00:05:54.220 --> 00:05:56.939 The Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. 00:05:56.939 --> 00:06:01.620 He had protected Abraham, prospered him, given him a son, an heir. 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:05.879 But now Abraham turned his thoughts to the next generation. 00:06:07.540 --> 00:06:12.339 What would happen for his descendants after Abraham was gone? 00:06:14.139 --> 00:06:18.980 He turned his thoughts to finding a wife for his son Isaac. 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:21.420 But not from among the Canaanites. 00:06:21.420 --> 00:06:27.120 Abraham was conscious of the threat, the danger of assimilation into the people of the land. 00:06:27.460 --> 00:06:31.420 No, he wanted to take a wife for his son from his home country, from his kindred, 00:06:31.500 --> 00:06:32.640 from his extended family. 00:06:34.060 --> 00:06:40.800 And so he charges, Abraham charged his servant to go and find a wife for his son. 00:06:40.860 --> 00:06:45.340 And four things underline the seriousness of this charge. 00:06:46.200 --> 00:06:48.280 Firstly, there's the one who's entrusted with it. 00:06:48.279 --> 00:06:52.579 He's the oldest, most senior servant in Abraham's household. 00:06:53.059 --> 00:06:58.659 Secondly, there's the intimate physical gesture, placing his hand under Abraham's thigh. 00:06:58.979 --> 00:07:01.059 Thirdly, there's the requirement for an oath. 00:07:02.659 --> 00:07:06.719 The servant, Abraham calls on the servant to give an oath that he will do this. 00:07:06.919 --> 00:07:11.500 And fourthly, that the oath is to be made by nothing less than, in verse 3, 00:07:11.500 --> 00:07:15.439 the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth. 00:07:16.540 --> 00:07:21.660 We can hear echoes of Genesis 1 verse 1 there, the God who created all things, heaven and earth. 00:07:24.220 --> 00:07:29.339 So Abraham charges his servant to do this. 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:32.660 And in verse 5, the servant anticipates a possible hurdle. 00:07:32.920 --> 00:07:37.120 Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:46.180 You'll notice there, for both Abraham and for the servant, that taking a wife for Isaac did not mean kidnapping a wife for Isaac. 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:48.480 She must be willing. 00:07:50.199 --> 00:08:01.379 Well, Abraham's reply in verses 6 to 8, in his reply, we see the faith of this man who had walked with God for decades. 00:08:01.379 --> 00:08:09.319 Gone is the Abraham of Genesis chapter 16, who tried to achieve the promise by his own means. 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:18.139 Gone is the Abraham of Genesis chapter 20, who deceived Abimelech and brought the promise into jeopardy to protect himself. 00:08:19.639 --> 00:08:27.040 Now Abraham fully understood that his future, his family's future, the future of God's plan to bless the nations, 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:31.260 did not depend on human schemes or power or tricks. 00:08:31.260 --> 00:08:34.560 It rested fully on the power and faithfulness of God. 00:08:34.800 --> 00:08:39.860 And so he says to his servant, he will send his angel before you. 00:08:40.920 --> 00:08:43.279 The Lord will send his angel before you. 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:48.360 When God's promise could not be fulfilled unless Abraham had a son, 00:08:49.320 --> 00:08:53.379 God had taught Abraham that he could be trusted to provide a son. 00:08:53.379 --> 00:09:01.460 Now that God's promise cannot be fulfilled unless the son has a wife, Abraham trusts God to provide a wife. 00:09:02.860 --> 00:09:04.740 But what if the woman were not willing? 00:09:05.740 --> 00:09:08.240 Well, in that case, the servant would be free of his oath. 00:09:08.700 --> 00:09:19.940 But above all, under no circumstance should any apparent difficulty or hurdle justify disobedience or unbelief. 00:09:19.940 --> 00:09:23.820 God had called Abraham to leave his home country. 00:09:23.940 --> 00:09:25.660 His son must not go back there. 00:09:25.940 --> 00:09:27.940 God had promised to give this land. 00:09:28.040 --> 00:09:30.520 His son must not leave it. 00:09:32.440 --> 00:09:37.740 Difficulties would be no excuse for disobedience and challenges no excuse for compromise. 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:41.940 Abraham charges his servant, trust God. 00:09:42.780 --> 00:09:45.060 He will give what he has promised. 00:09:45.059 --> 00:09:50.559 And when we reach 140, and some of you are a little bit closer than I am, 00:09:51.459 --> 00:09:53.799 may God give us the faith of old Abraham. 00:09:55.259 --> 00:10:03.479 When verse 9, the servant swore his oath, which brings us to scene 2, the servant's prayer at the well. 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:09.879 Verse 10 to 14. 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:19.759 Then the servant took 10 of his master's camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master. 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:24.799 And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. 00:10:25.419 --> 00:10:33.220 And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:38.559 the time when women go out to draw water. 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:39.979 And he said, 00:10:39.979 --> 00:10:49.639 O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. 00:10:50.539 --> 00:10:58.939 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 00:10:58.940 --> 00:11:05.660 Let the young woman to whom I shall say, please let down your jar that I may drink. 00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:11.360 And who shall say, drink, and I will water your camels. 00:11:12.060 --> 00:11:16.720 Let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. 00:11:17.760 --> 00:11:23.060 By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master. 00:11:23.059 --> 00:11:34.279 So accompanied by 10 camels laden with gifts, the servant set out to the northeast from the land of Canaan. 00:11:34.759 --> 00:11:39.699 In verse 10, a journey which would have taken a month or more is passed over without comment. 00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:45.539 And the narrative hurries us to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. 00:11:45.539 --> 00:11:51.939 Now, Nahor there is either the name of the city or it's also the name of Abraham's brother. 00:11:52.059 --> 00:11:56.539 So it just might be saying the city where Abraham's brother settled and raised his family. 00:11:57.240 --> 00:12:01.360 In verse 11, the servant arrived in the evening outside the city. 00:12:01.719 --> 00:12:04.579 He and his camels are no doubt thirsty from the journey. 00:12:05.139 --> 00:12:11.399 They stop at the city's well, but the servant doesn't presume to take water from the well without an invitation. 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:15.299 In any case, he's more concerned with his mission than his thirst. 00:12:15.459 --> 00:12:17.500 And so he comes up with a plan. 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:18.779 He springs into action. 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:21.740 Actually, he doesn't spring into action. 00:12:21.819 --> 00:12:23.439 That might be what I would have done. 00:12:23.980 --> 00:12:25.759 The first thing he does is pray. 00:12:27.439 --> 00:12:31.519 He remembers that Abraham had said, the Lord will send his angel before him. 00:12:31.579 --> 00:12:32.600 And so he prayed. 00:12:33.699 --> 00:12:39.259 And you see what his prayer is really about by looking at the beginning and the end of his prayer. 00:12:39.259 --> 00:12:42.879 There's a specific sort of plan he outlines in it. 00:12:42.899 --> 00:12:45.139 But at the beginning and the end, he tells us what he's praying for. 00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:48.039 What he's praying for is the steadfast love of the Lord. 00:12:48.700 --> 00:12:50.240 Verse 12 and verse 14. 00:12:50.319 --> 00:12:51.000 Verse 12. 00:12:55.439 --> 00:13:00.059 Please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. 00:13:01.299 --> 00:13:05.080 He's praying that God would show his loyal, faithful love. 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:07.319 Chesed is the steadfast love of the Lord. 00:13:09.259 --> 00:13:17.819 And the servant's plan itself, which is sort of encompassed in the appeal for steadfast love, is kind of secondary. 00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:22.980 But the plan itself concerns asking a woman for a drink at the well. 00:13:23.100 --> 00:13:27.860 And then if the woman will offer also to water the servant's camels. 00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:41.580 Now, I want you to realise, what we ought to realise here is the difficulty of the test which the servant is posing here for God, in a sense. 00:13:44.060 --> 00:13:47.180 Are the servants asking God to show which woman he's chosen? 00:13:47.179 --> 00:13:54.699 And it would be just a small thing if he were to ask a woman for a drink and the woman gave him a drink. 00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:56.479 I mean, any woman's going to do that. 00:13:56.599 --> 00:14:02.099 That's just an expected, trivial act of hospitality if the woman gave the servant a drink. 00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:09.039 So the servant poses this much more extreme test, an unlikely test. 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:15.699 If she says, drink and I'll water your camels too, let her be the one you've chosen for your servant Isaac. 00:14:17.439 --> 00:14:21.379 Now, that would be a very, very unlikely response. 00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:25.500 I was doing a bit of research about camels this week. 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:31.339 Do you know that camels are the fastest drinkers in the animal kingdom? 00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:38.060 I mean, because you think of their physiology, like how they're designed. 00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:44.560 They're designed to be able to take in a lot of water and store it so that they can, if need be, go days without water. 00:14:46.139 --> 00:14:50.280 But what that means is that when they get to water, they really go for it. 00:14:50.300 --> 00:14:51.300 Like, they go to town. 00:14:51.980 --> 00:14:54.639 They take the opportunity to drink as much as they can. 00:14:55.160 --> 00:14:58.480 And these camels, remember, had just been on a journey of a month. 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:01.680 You know, they would have maybe had some stops for water on the way. 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:07.240 But I think we're certainly to have every reason to expect these camels are quite thirsty. 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:15.980 I mean, even if they were only sort of moderately thirsty, they're probably each going to drink about 50 litres of water in a matter of minutes. 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:20.519 If they're very thirsty, they could drink 100, even up to 200 litres of water. 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:22.440 And they do it fast. 00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:25.659 Camels, I have a friend. 00:15:25.659 --> 00:15:34.519 And I have a friend who, after a soccer game once on a hot day, he drank too much water too quickly, like three litres or something too quickly. 00:15:34.679 --> 00:15:36.159 And he had to go to hospital. 00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:42.480 Because if you drink too much water too quickly, what it does to a human body is that, like, it thins out your blood too much. 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:46.179 And so you get really, you get disoriented, sick, vomiting. 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.659 It can actually be fatal. 00:15:47.659 --> 00:16:00.959 But camels have apparently oval-shaped red blood cells that can absorb more water and remain flexible and sort of grow in size. 00:16:01.079 --> 00:16:05.679 And so their whole physiology is just designed to be able to just take in water. 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:13.679 And here are these 10 thirsty camels that, you know, are going to drink hundreds of litres of water between them. 00:16:14.199 --> 00:16:20.479 And a woman coming to the well would have a jar that would, in itself, hold at most 10 litres of water. 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:36.720 So offering to water these 10 camels is, I mean, this is going to be making 50, 80, 100 trips to the well and back just to give these camels enough to drink. 00:16:37.940 --> 00:16:44.320 So this is a sort of extreme test that the servant is posing here. 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:52.320 The kind of response that could only come about, not merely from the woman herself, but by the prompting of God. 00:16:54.040 --> 00:16:58.040 And so having laid out this unlikely test, the servant concludes his prayer. 00:16:58.400 --> 00:17:02.960 By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to your master. 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:06.860 And so we come to scene three, the servant meets Rebecca. 00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:14.679 Verse 15 to 28. 00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:31.039 Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebecca, who was born to Bethuel, the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:38.000 The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden whom no man had known. 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:42.359 She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up. 00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:49.440 Then the servant ran to meet her and said, please give me a little water to drink from your jar. 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:52.599 She said, drink, my lord. 00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:57.059 And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink. 00:17:57.059 --> 00:18:06.480 When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, I will draw water for your camels also until they have finished drinking. 00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:13.539 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw water. 00:18:13.899 --> 00:18:16.480 And she drew for all his camels. 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:23.819 The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the Lord had prospered his journey or not. 00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:37.419 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing half a shekel and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels and said, 00:18:37.879 --> 00:18:40.179 please tell me whose daughter you are. 00:18:40.939 --> 00:18:44.899 Is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night? 00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:52.440 She said to him, I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor. 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:59.980 She added, we have plenty of both straw and fodder and room to spend the night. 00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:04.380 The man bowed his head and worshipped the Lord and said, 00:19:04.380 --> 00:19:15.000 Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. 00:19:15.660 --> 00:19:23.120 As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master's kinsmen. 00:19:24.120 --> 00:19:29.620 Then the young woman ran and told her mother's household about these things. 00:19:29.619 --> 00:19:46.939 Now, as we read through that passage, I wonder, did you notice how the narrative invites us as readers to admire this young woman, Rebecca? 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:54.419 I mean, we read this or hear it and we can't help thinking she really is an impressive young woman. 00:19:55.479 --> 00:19:57.419 She'd be quite the catch for Isaac. 00:19:57.420 --> 00:20:03.600 The first thing we're told in verse 15 is that she is from Abraham's extended family. 00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:08.060 Of course, the servant doesn't know this yet, but she's the granddaughter of Abraham's brother Nahor, 00:20:08.380 --> 00:20:12.680 which would, I think, make her Isaac's first cousin once removed. 00:20:14.300 --> 00:20:18.039 So she is, you know, in the required extended family. 00:20:18.860 --> 00:20:22.500 Then we're told in verse 16, she's beautiful, very attractive in appearance. 00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:23.800 She's eligible. 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:24.539 She's a maiden. 00:20:24.660 --> 00:20:25.320 She's unmarried. 00:20:25.319 --> 00:20:26.519 And she's virtuous. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.819 No man had known her. 00:20:28.859 --> 00:20:32.899 But what really impresses us is her character. 00:20:33.139 --> 00:20:37.299 She's respectful, saying, drink, my Lord, in verse 18. 00:20:37.439 --> 00:20:40.259 She's generous, offering to draw water for his camels. 00:20:40.639 --> 00:20:44.879 Notice that, draw water for his camels until they have finished drinking. 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:47.600 She's hospitable. 00:20:47.600 --> 00:20:52.880 When the servant asks if there's room to spend the night, she volunteers in verse 25 that not only is there room, 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:55.480 but we have plenty of both straw and fodder as well. 00:20:57.320 --> 00:20:59.040 Above all, she's industrious. 00:20:59.800 --> 00:21:02.780 There's this sense of alacrity to all that she does. 00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:05.960 Verse 18, she quickly let down her jar. 00:21:06.340 --> 00:21:09.060 Verse 20, she quickly emptied her jar into the trough. 00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:11.259 Verse 20, she ran again to the well. 00:21:12.099 --> 00:21:15.259 Verse 28, she ran back to her mother's household. 00:21:16.899 --> 00:21:23.179 In the Hebrew text, there's this rapid-fire sequence of verbs to capture all this eager activity. 00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:31.019 So what we have here, it's like the scene in a romantic comedy where we see the heroine, you know, 00:21:31.060 --> 00:21:35.259 like helping out in a soup kitchen and treating everyone with dignity 00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:39.560 or taking in some stray kittens from the lane behind her apartment 00:21:39.560 --> 00:21:43.820 or looking after a colleague at work who's been teased by everyone else. 00:21:43.820 --> 00:21:52.400 I mean, the narrative could have just shown Rebecca passing the servant's test in a simple matter-of-fact way. 00:21:53.180 --> 00:21:57.799 Without drawing any attention to anything particularly remarkable about her. 00:22:00.320 --> 00:22:06.680 Instead, the narrative develops in such a way that it doesn't just suggest that she is the one for Isaac. 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:10.620 It makes us want her to be the one for Isaac. 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:14.560 I mean, in this season of The Bachelor, we're team Rebecca. 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:23.579 In verse 21, the man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the Lord had prospered his journey or not. 00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:31.440 And in verse 22, when the camels had finished drinking, she did indeed draw water until that had enough. 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:41.460 He first indicates, the servant indicates his conclusion by lavishing these extravagant gifts of gold jewellery on her. 00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:47.000 And then after learning that she is from Abraham's extended family, 00:22:47.360 --> 00:22:55.799 the servant worshipped the Lord who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness towards my master. 00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:59.799 His prayer had been answered. 00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:06.440 Well, verse 28, the young woman ran and told her mother's household, which brings us to scene four. 00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:10.879 And in scene four, we're going to meet another character, Rebecca's brother, Laban. 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:18.180 Now, we need to be careful that we don't import back into this chapter things we might know about Laban from later in the book of Genesis. 00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:28.360 Because even Laban here, I think, acquits himself quite well by recognising the Lord's blessing on Abraham's servant 00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:33.820 and by displaying the same hospitality that his sister had offered. 00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:37.259 So, scene four, in the house of Rebecca's mother. 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:41.920 From verse 29. 00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:44.900 Rebecca had a brother whose name was Laban. 00:23:45.360 --> 00:23:47.740 Laban ran out towards man. 00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:49.220 To the spring. 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:59.799 As soon as he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister's arms and heard the words of Rebecca his sister, 00:24:00.320 --> 00:24:02.600 thus the man spoke to me. 00:24:03.120 --> 00:24:08.240 He went to the man and behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring. 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:09.259 He said, 00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:13.700 Come in, O blessed of the Lord. 00:24:14.379 --> 00:24:16.039 Why do you stand outside? 00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:19.359 For I have prepared the house and a place for the camels. 00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:27.000 So the man came to the house and unharnessed the camels and gave straw and fodder to the camels. 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:33.019 And there was water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:36.400 Then food was set before him to eat. 00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:37.700 But he said, 00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:41.960 I will not eat until I have said what I have to say. 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:43.099 He said, 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:44.359 Speak on. 00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:46.379 So he said, 00:24:46.379 --> 00:24:48.359 I am Abraham's servant. 00:24:48.919 --> 00:24:53.159 The Lord has greatly blessed my master and he has become great. 00:24:54.199 --> 00:25:03.740 He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys. 00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:09.959 And Sarah, my master's wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. 00:25:09.960 --> 00:25:14.039 And to him he has given all that he has. 00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:16.759 My master made me swear, saying, 00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:23.579 You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I dwell. 00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:30.900 But you shall go to my father's house and to my clan and take a wife for my son. 00:25:31.620 --> 00:25:32.860 I said to my master, 00:25:33.360 --> 00:25:35.259 Perhaps the woman will not follow me. 00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:36.759 But he said to me, 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:44.000 The Lord before whom I have walked will send his angel with you and prosper your way. 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:50.039 You shall take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father's house. 00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:55.839 Then you will be free from my oath when you come to my clan. 00:25:56.980 --> 00:26:01.839 And if they will not give her to you, you'll be free from my oath. 00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:05.500 I came today to the spring and said, 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:07.839 O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, 00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:11.439 If now you are prospering the way I go, 00:26:12.139 --> 00:26:14.619 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:17.639 Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, 00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:19.799 To whom I shall say, 00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:23.339 Please give me a little water from your jar to drink. 00:26:23.919 --> 00:26:25.179 And who will say to me, 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:27.919 Drink, and I will draw for your camels also. 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:33.519 Let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master's son. 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:36.960 Before I have finished speaking in my heart, 00:26:37.100 --> 00:26:40.720 Behold, Rebecca came out with her water jar on her shoulder, 00:26:40.860 --> 00:26:43.000 And she went down to the spring and drew water. 00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:44.539 And I said to her, 00:26:45.120 --> 00:26:46.440 Please let me drink. 00:26:46.820 --> 00:26:50.240 She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, 00:26:50.360 --> 00:26:53.340 Drink, and I will give your camels drink also. 00:26:53.860 --> 00:26:56.800 So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also. 00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:58.240 Then I asked her, 00:26:58.339 --> 00:26:59.659 Whose daughter are you? 00:27:00.339 --> 00:27:01.139 She said, 00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:03.839 The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, 00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.619 Whom Milcah bore to him. 00:27:05.859 --> 00:27:09.539 So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms. 00:27:09.859 --> 00:27:13.059 Then I bowed my head and worshipped the Lord and blessed the Lord, 00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:16.500 The God of my master Abraham, 00:27:16.919 --> 00:27:19.519 Who had led me by the right way 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:22.779 To take the daughter of my master's kinsman for her son. 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:24.599 Now then, 00:27:25.139 --> 00:27:29.420 If you are going to show steadfast love and faithfulness to my master, 00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:30.660 Tell me, 00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:32.079 And if not, 00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:33.399 Tell me, 00:27:33.819 --> 00:27:36.879 That I may turn to the right hand or to the left. 00:27:37.879 --> 00:27:41.420 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, 00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:44.779 The thing has come from the Lord. 00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:48.519 We cannot speak to you, bad or good. 00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:50.819 Behold, Rebecca is before you. 00:27:50.819 --> 00:27:52.579 Take her and go, 00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:56.139 And let her be the wife of your master's son, 00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:58.179 As the Lord has spoken. 00:27:59.139 --> 00:28:02.039 When Abraham's servant heard their words, 00:28:02.159 --> 00:28:05.299 He bowed himself to the earth before the Lord. 00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:10.039 And the servant brought out jewellery of silver and gold and garments, 00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:11.419 And gave them to Rebecca. 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:16.779 He also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments. 00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:22.920 And he and the men who were with him ate and drank, 00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:25.019 And they spent the night there. 00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:35.920 Now this is the scene where the author's word count really gets out of control. 00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:40.379 Whenever I did essays for Bible college or university, 00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:45.000 The final stage would always be going over the essay with a fine tooth comb, 00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:49.420 Just trying to trim the content to squeeze it under the word count. 00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:52.400 If you wanted to do that to Genesis 24, 00:28:52.600 --> 00:28:54.380 This is the scene you'd be trimming. 00:28:54.560 --> 00:28:58.039 Well, we looked at this in my Bible study group on Wednesday night. 00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:05.380 And Ryan pointed out that when the servant eventually gets back to Canaan, 00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:07.560 In verse 66, 00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:08.279 It just says, 00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:10.700 The servant told Isaac all the things he'd done. 00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:13.100 So, I mean, 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:13.960 This was, 00:29:14.140 --> 00:29:19.700 That sort of brevity was a narrative technique that this writer was familiar with, 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:20.620 And could have used. 00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:21.660 I mean, 00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:24.620 Why doesn't he get to Rebecca's household and just say, 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:25.220 You know, 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:27.920 The servant told them all the things that had happened. 00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:29.080 Instead, 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:30.680 We hear the whole story again. 00:29:31.380 --> 00:29:31.620 You know, 00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:33.080 In detail. 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:33.900 At parts, 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:34.900 Just word for word. 00:29:35.600 --> 00:29:36.400 Why is that? 00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:37.940 Well, 00:29:37.940 --> 00:29:38.860 I think the question to ask, 00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:40.480 To put that same question another way is, 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:44.440 What's the narrative impact of that on us as readers? 00:29:45.099 --> 00:29:46.559 To hear this story again, 00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:47.960 Fleshed out in detail. 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:52.400 Did you notice how the story that the servant tells, 00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:57.120 How it interrupts the fellowship this family is about to share at the table? 00:29:57.819 --> 00:30:00.200 The food's been put in front of the servant, 00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:01.039 But he says, 00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:03.700 I will not eat until I've said what I have to say. 00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:08.559 And the eating and drinking only takes place in verse 54, 00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:10.279 After the story has been told. 00:30:11.160 --> 00:30:12.140 It's this interruption. 00:30:13.339 --> 00:30:15.140 It shows the servant's priorities, 00:30:15.880 --> 00:30:16.940 What he cares about more. 00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:17.519 But also, 00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:19.599 It sort of leaves us hanging in suspense, 00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:22.180 As this tale is told. 00:30:22.180 --> 00:30:27.279 And so that the narrative invites us as readers to hear it again. 00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:28.900 To hear it again. 00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:30.420 But now to hear it, 00:30:31.140 --> 00:30:33.820 With the ears of Rebecca's family, 00:30:35.080 --> 00:30:35.660 Her mother, 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:36.880 Her father, 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:37.400 Bethuel, 00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:38.500 Her brother, 00:30:38.580 --> 00:30:39.080 Laban, 00:30:40.080 --> 00:30:42.660 To hear this story told again, 00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:44.700 Step by step, 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:47.019 So that we can conclude, 00:30:47.160 --> 00:30:48.860 As they do in verse 50, 00:30:49.860 --> 00:30:52.680 The thing has come from the Lord. 00:30:53.600 --> 00:30:55.360 We cannot speak to you, 00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:56.539 Good or bad. 00:30:56.880 --> 00:30:57.600 In other words, 00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:58.940 God's behind this. 00:30:59.000 --> 00:31:00.019 This is God's doing. 00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:01.259 It's the work of God. 00:31:01.880 --> 00:31:03.480 And who are we to resist 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:05.200 What God is doing? 00:31:07.339 --> 00:31:10.099 When the servant tells the story 00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:12.960 Of the Lord's steadfast love, 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:17.120 What can Rebecca's family say? 00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:18.719 But yes, 00:31:19.639 --> 00:31:21.039 It's from the Lord. 00:31:23.799 --> 00:31:25.319 It's their response to, 00:31:25.619 --> 00:31:27.419 And if that's their response to even this, 00:31:27.500 --> 00:31:30.819 This one tiny sliver of God's work, 00:31:31.219 --> 00:31:35.119 This one little moment in the story of God's steadfast love, 00:31:35.979 --> 00:31:39.519 How much more should that be the response of us, 00:31:40.179 --> 00:31:42.000 Who have the whole counsel of scripture? 00:31:43.199 --> 00:31:44.399 How much more, 00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:47.380 We who have not only the beginning of the story 00:31:47.380 --> 00:31:49.180 Of the Lord's steadfast love, 00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:50.340 But at the end. 00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:55.340 If the story of the servant and Rebecca at the well 00:31:55.340 --> 00:31:56.759 Is worth repeating, 00:31:57.560 --> 00:32:00.640 How much more the story of Jesus 00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:04.000 And the Samaritan woman at another well? 00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:08.480 Or how much more the story of Jesus on the cross? 00:32:10.840 --> 00:32:13.840 The old, old story of Jesus and his love. 00:32:14.400 --> 00:32:19.920 When we hear the story of the Lord's steadfast love, 00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:22.200 What shall we do but say, 00:32:23.280 --> 00:32:26.420 Yes, it is from the Lord. 00:32:26.420 --> 00:32:33.160 Actually, there's another layer of what's going on here for Rebecca's family. 00:32:34.500 --> 00:32:39.460 Because as the servant tells his story of what God has done, 00:32:40.560 --> 00:32:44.920 They're invited not just to believe what the Lord had done, 00:32:45.460 --> 00:32:47.460 The story of his steadfast love, 00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:51.800 But they're also invited to be part of what God was doing. 00:32:51.799 --> 00:32:53.839 Verse 51, 00:32:54.379 --> 00:32:55.240 I'm sorry, verse 49, 00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:56.159 Now then, 00:32:56.799 --> 00:33:01.419 If you are going to show steadfast love and faithfulness to my master, 00:33:01.779 --> 00:33:02.339 Tell me, 00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:03.879 And if not, 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:07.059 Tell me that I may turn to the right hand or to the left. 00:33:07.740 --> 00:33:09.720 Rebecca's family had a part to play 00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:13.039 As instruments of God's steadfast love, 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:16.919 A part that had been scripted for them by the Lord, 00:33:16.920 --> 00:33:19.860 But a part which they willingly accepted. 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:21.460 Verse 51, 00:33:21.620 --> 00:33:23.140 Behold, Rebecca is before you. 00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:24.279 Take her and go, 00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:27.660 And let her be the wife of your master's son, 00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:29.220 As the Lord had spoken. 00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:31.620 And so, 00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:32.720 In the verses that follow, 00:33:32.839 --> 00:33:35.000 The steadfast love of the Lord is celebrated, 00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:36.960 With worship in verse 52, 00:33:37.100 --> 00:33:40.000 As the servant again bows down and worships the Lord. 00:33:40.579 --> 00:33:42.940 With precious gifts in verse 53, 00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:46.339 As the servant brings out bridal gifts for Rebecca, 00:33:46.500 --> 00:33:47.940 And gifts for Rebecca's family. 00:33:48.660 --> 00:33:52.500 With food and drink and merriment in verse 54, 00:33:53.079 --> 00:33:55.660 As the servant and the men with him eat and drink. 00:33:55.660 --> 00:34:01.500 See how the story of the Lord's steadfast love 00:34:01.500 --> 00:34:06.440 Inspires obedience and celebration and worship. 00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:10.619 So the servant and his men, 00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:13.780 The men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there, 00:34:14.180 --> 00:34:16.780 Which brings us to scene five in the morning. 00:34:21.720 --> 00:34:23.659 From verse 54b, 00:34:23.659 --> 00:34:26.539 When they arose in the morning, 00:34:26.659 --> 00:34:27.239 He said, 00:34:27.759 --> 00:34:29.799 Send me away to my master. 00:34:30.619 --> 00:34:32.619 Her brother and her mother said, 00:34:33.199 --> 00:34:35.659 Let the young woman remain with us for a while, 00:34:35.739 --> 00:34:37.039 At least ten days. 00:34:37.559 --> 00:34:38.940 After that she may go. 00:34:39.699 --> 00:34:41.099 But he said to them, 00:34:41.559 --> 00:34:42.599 Do not delay me, 00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:45.179 Since the Lord has prospered my way. 00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:48.960 Send me away that I may go to my master. 00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:50.500 They said, 00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:53.579 Let us call the young woman and ask her. 00:34:54.360 --> 00:34:57.139 And they called Rebecca and sent to her, 00:34:57.699 --> 00:34:59.559 Will you go with this man? 00:35:00.280 --> 00:35:01.019 She said, 00:35:01.139 --> 00:35:01.960 I will go. 00:35:02.760 --> 00:35:04.800 So they sent away Rebecca, 00:35:05.059 --> 00:35:06.760 Their sister and her nurse, 00:35:07.260 --> 00:35:09.440 And Abraham's servant and his men. 00:35:09.880 --> 00:35:13.240 And they blessed Rebecca and said to her, 00:35:13.239 --> 00:35:15.159 Our sister, 00:35:16.019 --> 00:35:19.599 May you become thousands of ten thousands, 00:35:20.159 --> 00:35:24.779 And may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate him. 00:35:25.899 --> 00:35:32.539 Then Rebecca and her young women arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. 00:35:33.199 --> 00:35:36.959 Thus the servant took Rebecca and went his way. 00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:42.320 In verse 55, 00:35:42.539 --> 00:35:43.980 Rebecca's brother and mother make it, 00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:44.280 I think, 00:35:44.360 --> 00:35:46.079 Quite a reasonable request. 00:35:47.440 --> 00:35:47.599 I mean, 00:35:47.619 --> 00:35:48.780 The servant had come, 00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:50.720 He'd turned up the previous evening, 00:35:51.280 --> 00:35:54.119 And now he wants to leave the very next morning. 00:35:54.260 --> 00:35:55.860 They met him twelve hours ago, 00:35:55.980 --> 00:35:58.500 And he's about to take away their sister and their daughter. 00:35:59.420 --> 00:35:59.639 I mean, 00:35:59.659 --> 00:36:00.400 This was huge, 00:36:00.460 --> 00:36:00.740 Right? 00:36:01.940 --> 00:36:05.440 She's going to a distant place to marry someone they'd never met. 00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:07.159 Would they ever see her again? 00:36:08.179 --> 00:36:09.059 Maybe not. 00:36:09.599 --> 00:36:10.179 If they did, 00:36:10.220 --> 00:36:11.139 It would be very rarely. 00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:14.240 So there's a reasonable request, 00:36:14.340 --> 00:36:15.420 Ten days or so, 00:36:15.539 --> 00:36:17.480 Just to spend time with her, 00:36:17.559 --> 00:36:18.300 To say goodbye, 00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:19.840 To help her pack and prepare. 00:36:20.380 --> 00:36:21.679 Is that too much to ask? 00:36:22.940 --> 00:36:24.480 But the servant wanted no delay, 00:36:24.639 --> 00:36:26.860 Since the Lord has prospered my way, 00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:27.460 He said. 00:36:27.960 --> 00:36:30.659 So Rebecca's mother and brother called the young woman, 00:36:30.740 --> 00:36:32.720 To ask her the very question, 00:36:32.719 --> 00:36:35.980 That had hovered over this story from its beginning. 00:36:37.219 --> 00:36:39.819 Will you go with this man? 00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:41.199 You know, 00:36:41.459 --> 00:36:43.980 That's the very possibility, 00:36:44.179 --> 00:36:47.819 Concerning which the servant had questioned Abraham, 00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:49.319 Right way back in chapter five, 00:36:49.459 --> 00:36:50.480 Verse five at the beginning. 00:36:51.639 --> 00:36:53.259 Perhaps the woman may not be willing, 00:36:53.739 --> 00:36:56.219 To go to follow me back to this land. 00:36:56.219 --> 00:37:03.039 It's an issue he hadn't concealed from the family, 00:37:03.039 --> 00:37:06.379 When he shared the story the night before, 00:37:06.959 --> 00:37:07.719 Before the meal. 00:37:08.299 --> 00:37:09.559 In verse 39, 00:37:09.699 --> 00:37:09.839 Saying, 00:37:09.919 --> 00:37:10.919 I said to my master, 00:37:11.019 --> 00:37:12.799 Perhaps the woman will not follow me. 00:37:12.800 --> 00:37:17.440 It was the one circumstance, 00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:20.140 Under which Abraham offered to release the servant, 00:37:20.140 --> 00:37:21.000 From his oath. 00:37:21.980 --> 00:37:23.240 The one circumstance, 00:37:23.240 --> 00:37:24.760 Under which the whole mission, 00:37:24.880 --> 00:37:26.320 To find a wife for Isaac, 00:37:26.420 --> 00:37:27.080 Might fail. 00:37:28.760 --> 00:37:30.060 A wife for Isaac, 00:37:30.300 --> 00:37:31.880 The future of Abraham's family, 00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:33.080 The promise of God, 00:37:33.380 --> 00:37:34.800 God's plan to bring blessing, 00:37:34.940 --> 00:37:36.519 The steadfast love of the Lord, 00:37:36.720 --> 00:37:38.519 All down to this one moment, 00:37:39.039 --> 00:37:41.360 Will you go with this man? 00:37:41.360 --> 00:37:45.180 Now see how the promise, 00:37:45.940 --> 00:37:47.720 And blessing of God hinges, 00:37:48.200 --> 00:37:49.039 At this moment, 00:37:49.140 --> 00:37:51.220 On the willingness of the one he calls. 00:37:53.280 --> 00:37:54.440 And she said, 00:37:55.340 --> 00:37:56.480 I will go. 00:37:58.720 --> 00:38:00.340 And we see what followed immediately. 00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:02.900 They sent Rebecca away in verse 59, 00:38:03.059 --> 00:38:03.860 In verse 60, 00:38:04.420 --> 00:38:06.059 They blessed Rebecca and said to her, 00:38:06.240 --> 00:38:06.960 Our sister, 00:38:07.519 --> 00:38:09.840 May you become thousands of ten thousands, 00:38:09.840 --> 00:38:11.360 And may your offspring, 00:38:12.079 --> 00:38:14.160 Possess the gate of those, 00:38:14.579 --> 00:38:15.460 That is your seed, 00:38:15.620 --> 00:38:17.160 Possess the gate of those, 00:38:17.240 --> 00:38:18.400 Who hate him. 00:38:18.800 --> 00:38:19.220 Singular. 00:38:21.320 --> 00:38:23.059 Does this scene remind you of anything? 00:38:23.380 --> 00:38:24.180 Or this blessing, 00:38:24.860 --> 00:38:25.800 Remind you of anything? 00:38:26.600 --> 00:38:28.420 It ought to remind us of two things, 00:38:28.800 --> 00:38:29.180 I think. 00:38:29.960 --> 00:38:32.140 It ought to remind us of Genesis chapter 12, 00:38:32.220 --> 00:38:33.140 Verses one to three, 00:38:33.139 --> 00:38:35.420 When the Lord had first called Abraham, 00:38:35.420 --> 00:38:37.299 To leave this very same land, 00:38:37.299 --> 00:38:38.059 And his family, 00:38:38.440 --> 00:38:40.239 To go to the land of Canaan, 00:38:41.239 --> 00:38:43.480 To leave his country, 00:38:43.599 --> 00:38:44.019 And kindred, 00:38:44.079 --> 00:38:45.059 And father's house, 00:38:45.199 --> 00:38:46.559 To go to the land he'd show, 00:38:47.119 --> 00:38:48.539 And promise to bless him, 00:38:49.000 --> 00:38:49.699 When he did. 00:38:51.099 --> 00:38:52.579 It ought also to remind us, 00:38:52.639 --> 00:38:53.579 Of Genesis 17, 00:38:53.679 --> 00:38:54.719 Verse 16 to 18, 00:38:54.719 --> 00:38:58.000 Where after Abraham had offered his son Isaac, 00:38:58.219 --> 00:38:59.519 In obedience to God, 00:38:59.699 --> 00:39:00.480 As a sacrifice, 00:39:00.679 --> 00:39:02.339 And then God had provided a sacrifice, 00:39:02.559 --> 00:39:03.259 In his place, 00:39:03.719 --> 00:39:06.179 The Lord had confirmed, 00:39:06.839 --> 00:39:07.559 With an oath, 00:39:08.439 --> 00:39:09.019 The covenant, 00:39:10.339 --> 00:39:10.659 Saying, 00:39:10.739 --> 00:39:11.959 I'll surely bless you, 00:39:12.439 --> 00:39:13.859 I'll multiply your descendants, 00:39:13.980 --> 00:39:15.039 As the stars of the heaven, 00:39:15.159 --> 00:39:16.099 And your seed, 00:39:16.259 --> 00:39:16.619 Singular, 00:39:16.719 --> 00:39:18.419 Will possess the gates of his enemies, 00:39:18.619 --> 00:39:19.359 And in him, 00:39:19.859 --> 00:39:21.519 All the nations of the earth, 00:39:21.559 --> 00:39:22.199 Will be blessed. 00:39:22.199 --> 00:39:25.079 Now remember, 00:39:25.159 --> 00:39:26.739 We've got this major section of Genesis, 00:39:26.919 --> 00:39:27.639 Drawing to a close, 00:39:27.739 --> 00:39:28.719 The Abraham cycle, 00:39:28.859 --> 00:39:29.899 Drawing to a close, 00:39:30.439 --> 00:39:32.259 And as it began, 00:39:32.399 --> 00:39:33.159 So it's finishing, 00:39:33.839 --> 00:39:34.739 With God's plan, 00:39:34.819 --> 00:39:36.319 To bring blessing to all nations, 00:39:36.679 --> 00:39:37.480 His plans, 00:39:37.599 --> 00:39:38.699 To bring a saviour, 00:39:38.739 --> 00:39:39.559 Into the world, 00:39:40.619 --> 00:39:41.819 Focused on someone, 00:39:42.179 --> 00:39:43.179 Leaving their country, 00:39:43.639 --> 00:39:44.679 Leaving their family, 00:39:45.679 --> 00:39:47.699 To travel to a distant land, 00:39:48.639 --> 00:39:49.579 See Rebecca here, 00:39:49.739 --> 00:39:50.439 It's almost like, 00:39:50.439 --> 00:39:52.079 She's given this extraordinary, 00:39:52.199 --> 00:39:52.939 Distinction, 00:39:53.259 --> 00:39:54.659 Of as being portrayed, 00:39:54.799 --> 00:39:55.919 As a second Abraham, 00:39:56.559 --> 00:39:57.559 Here in this scene, 00:39:58.119 --> 00:40:01.519 But even better things await, 00:40:02.339 --> 00:40:03.219 In verse 61, 00:40:03.399 --> 00:40:04.299 The camel set out, 00:40:04.659 --> 00:40:05.199 From Canaan, 00:40:05.379 --> 00:40:06.939 For Mesopotamia, 00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:10.059 Set out from Mesopotamia, 00:40:10.139 --> 00:40:10.960 Back for Canaan, 00:40:11.819 --> 00:40:13.359 And let's bring this story, 00:40:13.419 --> 00:40:14.699 To a close with scene six, 00:40:14.699 --> 00:40:20.299 Verse 62, 00:40:20.300 --> 00:40:22.440 Now Isaac, 00:40:22.440 --> 00:40:23.880 Isaac had returned, 00:40:24.660 --> 00:40:27.000 From Beelahiroi, 00:40:27.620 --> 00:40:28.539 And was dwelling, 00:40:28.940 --> 00:40:29.680 In the Negev, 00:40:30.420 --> 00:40:32.539 And Isaac went out, 00:40:32.760 --> 00:40:34.060 To meditate, 00:40:34.620 --> 00:40:35.400 In the field, 00:40:35.560 --> 00:40:36.560 Towards evening, 00:40:37.240 --> 00:40:39.200 And he lifted up his eyes, 00:40:39.400 --> 00:40:39.960 And saw, 00:40:40.140 --> 00:40:40.920 And behold, 00:40:41.400 --> 00:40:42.700 There were camels coming, 00:40:43.100 --> 00:40:45.420 And Rebecca lifted up her eyes, 00:40:45.420 --> 00:40:47.780 And when she saw Isaac, 00:40:48.519 --> 00:40:50.780 She dismounted from the camel, 00:40:51.240 --> 00:40:52.599 And said to the servant, 00:40:53.380 --> 00:40:55.960 Who is that man walking in the field to meet us? 00:40:56.280 --> 00:40:57.159 The servant said, 00:40:57.240 --> 00:40:58.200 It is my master, 00:40:58.200 --> 00:40:59.800 So she took her veil, 00:41:00.019 --> 00:41:01.019 And covered herself, 00:41:01.460 --> 00:41:03.220 And the servant told Isaac, 00:41:03.219 --> 00:41:05.279 All the things that he had done, 00:41:06.179 --> 00:41:07.599 Then Isaac brought her, 00:41:07.659 --> 00:41:08.839 Into the tent of Sarah, 00:41:08.959 --> 00:41:09.459 His mother, 00:41:09.919 --> 00:41:10.939 And took Rebecca, 00:41:11.259 --> 00:41:12.799 And she became his wife, 00:41:13.139 --> 00:41:14.299 And he loved her, 00:41:14.939 --> 00:41:17.000 So Isaac was comforted, 00:41:17.039 --> 00:41:18.819 After his mother's death, 00:41:18.820 --> 00:41:23.620 There's this romantic moment, 00:41:23.720 --> 00:41:25.340 In verses 63 to 64, 00:41:25.680 --> 00:41:27.600 Isaac's there meditating in the field, 00:41:28.240 --> 00:41:30.539 Rebecca's riding in with the camels, 00:41:30.900 --> 00:41:32.640 Both lift up their eyes, 00:41:32.700 --> 00:41:33.280 And look, 00:41:34.019 --> 00:41:35.680 Rebecca sees Isaac, 00:41:36.800 --> 00:41:39.300 And Isaac sees the camels, 00:41:40.580 --> 00:41:45.000 I guess if Isaac were alive today, 00:41:45.120 --> 00:41:45.539 He'd be, 00:41:45.600 --> 00:41:45.780 You know, 00:41:45.840 --> 00:41:47.320 Into sports cars or something, 00:41:47.320 --> 00:41:50.440 But there are really two things, 00:41:50.440 --> 00:41:52.280 I want you to take from this final scene, 00:41:53.240 --> 00:41:53.980 Which show, 00:41:54.140 --> 00:41:54.380 I think, 00:41:54.420 --> 00:41:56.760 The real significance of this story, 00:41:58.080 --> 00:42:00.340 The first is seen in an absence, 00:42:00.760 --> 00:42:01.780 And a subtle shift, 00:42:02.660 --> 00:42:03.320 Verse 65, 00:42:03.519 --> 00:42:04.680 When Rebecca saw Isaac, 00:42:04.900 --> 00:42:05.820 She asked the servant, 00:42:06.120 --> 00:42:08.980 Who is that man walking in the field to meet us? 00:42:09.160 --> 00:42:10.340 And the servant said, 00:42:10.680 --> 00:42:11.400 Notice his words, 00:42:11.600 --> 00:42:12.980 It is my master, 00:42:15.700 --> 00:42:16.980 Now there are 20, 00:42:16.980 --> 00:42:20.219 There are 22 previous instances, 00:42:20.219 --> 00:42:21.539 In this chapter, 00:42:22.579 --> 00:42:23.500 Which have mentioned, 00:42:23.619 --> 00:42:24.740 The servant's master, 00:42:25.619 --> 00:42:28.539 At least the first 20 of them, 00:42:28.760 --> 00:42:31.000 Unambiguously refer to, 00:42:31.380 --> 00:42:31.579 Who? 00:42:32.240 --> 00:42:32.800 To Abraham, 00:42:33.320 --> 00:42:35.800 And that's naturally how we read, 00:42:35.900 --> 00:42:38.219 The two mentions in verse 54 and 56 too, 00:42:38.280 --> 00:42:38.659 When he says, 00:42:38.719 --> 00:42:39.940 Send me away to my master, 00:42:40.320 --> 00:42:42.139 But when he gets back to the land of Canaan, 00:42:42.260 --> 00:42:43.579 Whom does he call his master? 00:42:43.579 --> 00:42:44.860 Not Abraham, 00:42:45.059 --> 00:42:46.380 But Abraham's son Isaac, 00:42:46.539 --> 00:42:46.860 In fact, 00:42:46.940 --> 00:42:47.840 Abraham himself knows, 00:42:47.900 --> 00:42:50.139 Is entirely absent from this final scene, 00:42:51.219 --> 00:42:52.119 Not even mentioned, 00:42:54.719 --> 00:42:55.299 See we suddenly, 00:42:56.679 --> 00:42:58.759 Abraham sent out the servant, 00:42:59.759 --> 00:43:01.319 But the servant returned to Isaac, 00:43:01.319 --> 00:43:02.360 What we're seeing here, 00:43:02.440 --> 00:43:04.199 Is God's plan of salvation, 00:43:04.259 --> 00:43:05.259 Has advanced, 00:43:05.500 --> 00:43:07.619 From one generation to the next, 00:43:07.860 --> 00:43:09.319 From Abraham and Sarah, 00:43:09.539 --> 00:43:11.019 Now to Isaac and Rebecca, 00:43:11.019 --> 00:43:14.199 But there's a second thing, 00:43:14.239 --> 00:43:15.800 I want you to notice in this final scene, 00:43:15.900 --> 00:43:17.219 That's the last verse, 00:43:18.739 --> 00:43:19.800 See in verse 67, 00:43:20.000 --> 00:43:21.659 We behold the outcome, 00:43:21.800 --> 00:43:23.380 Of God's steadfast love, 00:43:23.460 --> 00:43:25.000 As this chapter presents it, 00:43:26.000 --> 00:43:27.659 Then Isaac brought her, 00:43:27.719 --> 00:43:29.460 Into the tent of Sarah his mother, 00:43:30.019 --> 00:43:31.019 And took Rebecca, 00:43:32.019 --> 00:43:33.539 And she became his wife, 00:43:34.179 --> 00:43:35.119 And he loved her, 00:43:36.019 --> 00:43:37.619 So Isaac was comforted, 00:43:37.619 --> 00:43:39.019 After his mother's death, 00:43:39.019 --> 00:43:41.199 Now this is only the second time, 00:43:41.239 --> 00:43:41.659 In the Bible, 00:43:41.780 --> 00:43:43.820 That the specific Hebrew word for love, 00:43:44.119 --> 00:43:45.300 That's used here occurs, 00:43:45.880 --> 00:43:48.239 When it says Isaac loved her, 00:43:48.940 --> 00:43:50.940 The previous one is in chapter 22, 00:43:51.119 --> 00:43:53.000 Where God calls Isaac the son, 00:43:53.340 --> 00:43:54.380 Whom Abraham loves, 00:43:54.440 --> 00:43:56.840 So the first two uses of this word love, 00:43:57.239 --> 00:43:58.039 In the Bible, 00:43:58.179 --> 00:43:59.820 Have been a father's love for his son, 00:43:59.860 --> 00:44:01.219 And the son's love for his bride, 00:44:02.420 --> 00:44:04.380 But let's think about what chapter 24, 00:44:04.380 --> 00:44:05.699 Of Genesis has given us, 00:44:05.699 --> 00:44:08.359 It begins with the mention of, 00:44:08.460 --> 00:44:10.059 The God of heaven and earth, 00:44:10.799 --> 00:44:13.079 There's been much talk of blessing, 00:44:14.159 --> 00:44:15.659 There's been abundance, 00:44:15.759 --> 00:44:16.799 An abundance of water, 00:44:17.239 --> 00:44:18.439 An abundance of food, 00:44:19.399 --> 00:44:20.779 Of gold and silver, 00:44:21.599 --> 00:44:23.839 There's been evening, 00:44:24.699 --> 00:44:25.539 And morning, 00:44:26.379 --> 00:44:28.199 And now the chapter closes, 00:44:28.199 --> 00:44:28.839 With a wedding, 00:44:29.839 --> 00:44:32.119 A man leaves his father and mother, 00:44:32.239 --> 00:44:33.460 To be united to his wife, 00:44:33.460 --> 00:44:35.059 A woman leaves her father and mother, 00:44:35.139 --> 00:44:36.780 To be united to her husband, 00:44:37.539 --> 00:44:38.800 And the two become one, 00:44:39.800 --> 00:44:42.699 I think it's like this story, 00:44:42.820 --> 00:44:45.240 Is setting up in narrative form, 00:44:46.179 --> 00:44:47.000 A new beginning, 00:44:47.280 --> 00:44:49.380 Almost a return to Eden, 00:44:50.059 --> 00:44:53.320 Perhaps that's why this chapter, 00:44:53.480 --> 00:44:54.740 Is so different in tone, 00:44:54.860 --> 00:44:56.059 To much of the rest of Genesis, 00:44:56.519 --> 00:44:58.240 Why it's charming and delightful, 00:44:58.240 --> 00:45:00.119 And why people behave so well, 00:45:00.119 --> 00:45:03.480 And then we're told, 00:45:03.960 --> 00:45:06.239 In the closing words, 00:45:06.639 --> 00:45:08.460 So Isaac was comforted, 00:45:08.839 --> 00:45:10.339 After his mother's death, 00:45:12.039 --> 00:45:13.719 See since Genesis chapter 3, 00:45:13.900 --> 00:45:15.519 Death has been in the world, 00:45:16.519 --> 00:45:18.500 But now at last, 00:45:18.619 --> 00:45:19.400 We read of, 00:45:20.359 --> 00:45:20.940 Comfort, 00:45:21.719 --> 00:45:22.639 After death, 00:45:22.639 --> 00:45:25.619 It's like it's saying, 00:45:26.219 --> 00:45:29.039 What brings about comfort, 00:45:29.920 --> 00:45:31.199 In the face of death, 00:45:32.079 --> 00:45:34.279 Is the steadfast love of the Lord, 00:45:35.279 --> 00:45:38.099 The story of God's steadfast love, 00:45:38.500 --> 00:45:39.500 Which he'd begun, 00:45:39.859 --> 00:45:41.159 Which he'd caused to prosper, 00:45:41.679 --> 00:45:43.059 Which passes unfailingly, 00:45:43.199 --> 00:45:44.879 From one generation to the next, 00:45:45.460 --> 00:45:48.299 That story is God's ultimate answer, 00:45:48.519 --> 00:45:50.420 To the fall in Genesis 3, 00:45:50.420 --> 00:45:53.400 The steadfast love of God, 00:45:53.480 --> 00:45:54.960 Takes us backward in time, 00:45:55.280 --> 00:45:58.260 Beyond the tears of Genesis 3, 00:45:59.139 --> 00:46:01.659 To the joy and delight of Genesis 2, 00:46:03.559 --> 00:46:04.519 And that picture of, 00:46:05.220 --> 00:46:06.639 The picture Genesis 24, 00:46:06.820 --> 00:46:08.840 Leaves us with in verse 67, 00:46:09.980 --> 00:46:11.700 That picture of Isaac, 00:46:12.019 --> 00:46:12.599 The son, 00:46:13.800 --> 00:46:14.380 The heir, 00:46:14.539 --> 00:46:16.720 Who inherits all things from his father, 00:46:16.719 --> 00:46:19.679 The focal point of God's, 00:46:19.679 --> 00:46:21.379 Plan to bless his nations, 00:46:21.539 --> 00:46:22.539 Isaac the son, 00:46:23.539 --> 00:46:24.939 Rebecca his bride, 00:46:25.419 --> 00:46:25.859 Beautiful, 00:46:26.239 --> 00:46:26.739 Radiant, 00:46:26.939 --> 00:46:27.899 Willingly his, 00:46:29.959 --> 00:46:32.679 That picture of the son's love, 00:46:33.219 --> 00:46:34.359 For his bride, 00:46:35.719 --> 00:46:37.319 In this picture, 00:46:37.439 --> 00:46:38.839 We have this little glimpse, 00:46:38.980 --> 00:46:39.980 This little promise, 00:46:40.759 --> 00:46:42.559 Of the undoing of sin, 00:46:43.559 --> 00:46:45.279 Of the defeat of death, 00:46:45.280 --> 00:46:48.360 By the steadfast love, 00:46:48.740 --> 00:46:49.500 Of the Lord, 00:46:50.180 --> 00:46:52.519 So what better way, 00:46:52.620 --> 00:46:54.540 Could we bring this series to a close, 00:46:55.360 --> 00:46:56.600 Than with the greater wedding, 00:46:56.740 --> 00:46:58.780 To which the wedding of Isaac, 00:46:58.920 --> 00:46:59.460 And Rebecca, 00:47:00.300 --> 00:47:02.040 Points, 00:47:03.100 --> 00:47:05.140 In the words of Revelation 21, 00:47:05.280 --> 00:47:05.960 Verses 1 before, 00:47:05.960 --> 00:47:12.019 Then I saw a new heaven, 00:47:12.300 --> 00:47:13.460 And a new earth, 00:47:14.119 --> 00:47:15.280 For the first heaven, 00:47:15.400 --> 00:47:16.539 And the first earth, 00:47:16.619 --> 00:47:17.900 Had passed away, 00:47:18.000 --> 00:47:19.659 And the sea was no more, 00:47:20.380 --> 00:47:22.300 And I saw the holy city, 00:47:22.960 --> 00:47:23.960 New Jerusalem, 00:47:24.559 --> 00:47:25.500 Coming down, 00:47:25.619 --> 00:47:27.099 Out of heaven from God, 00:47:27.820 --> 00:47:29.500 Prepared as a bride, 00:47:29.920 --> 00:47:31.380 Adorned for her husband, 00:47:31.380 --> 00:47:34.220 And I heard a loud voice, 00:47:34.220 --> 00:47:35.440 From the throne, 00:47:35.599 --> 00:47:35.980 Saying, 00:47:36.500 --> 00:47:37.180 Behold, 00:47:37.700 --> 00:47:39.400 The dwelling place of God, 00:47:39.519 --> 00:47:40.519 Is with man, 00:47:41.340 --> 00:47:42.920 He will dwell with them, 00:47:43.300 --> 00:47:45.019 And they will be his people, 00:47:45.519 --> 00:47:46.680 And God himself, 00:47:47.180 --> 00:47:48.140 Will be with them, 00:47:48.200 --> 00:47:49.240 As their God, 00:47:49.980 --> 00:47:51.360 He will wipe away, 00:47:51.480 --> 00:47:53.539 Every tear from their eyes, 00:47:53.920 --> 00:47:56.140 And death shall be no more, 00:47:56.760 --> 00:47:58.380 Neither shall there be mourning, 00:47:58.380 --> 00:47:59.960 Nor crying, 00:48:00.599 --> 00:48:01.480 Nor pain, 00:48:02.019 --> 00:48:02.820 Anymore, 00:48:03.420 --> 00:48:04.920 For the former things, 00:48:05.240 --> 00:48:06.440 Have passed away, 00:48:07.579 --> 00:48:08.420 Amen.