This week, we looked at Family and relationships in the story of Isaac and Rebekah. On the heels of the death of Sarah, Abraham sends his servant on a quest for a bride for Isaac. This servant immediately began to travel and prayerfully sought God’s guidance for this task of finding a wife for Isaac. God led Rebekah right to the servant. Rebekah passed the test of offering water to the servant’s camels, as well as, being from Abraham’s family. The servant bowed down and worshiped God for His faithfulness. Rebekah’s family blessed her and she went to marry Isaac.
Abraham’s faithfulness to God is clearly seen in his instructions to the servant, but also, in the fact that those around him also walked closely with God. The servant’s active faith was rather sobering. He was more of a brother to Abraham. He seemed to have taken the task of finding Isaac a wife rather seriously, and was in constant prayer with God. When he saw how God was faithful, he bowed down and worshiped. He shared the story of God leading him to Rebekah over and over in the story, even before he would eat, blessing others with God’s love and faithfulness. What an amazing person! How can we be like that servant to our Christian brothers? Are we quick to take the needs of others so seriously, so prayerfully? Is there nothing left that we can do except to bow down and worship God and share the message of His love and faithfulness?
We saw Abraham’s faithfulness to God in Isaac as well. Isaac was in the field meditating when the servant returned with Rebekah. Imagining this scene from the story, I thought of Christ retreating from all of the action and going off by himself to pray. Isaac’s thoughts are not told to us, but what an interesting spot to be put in. So while he waits, he is meditating. He “leaves” the field to go find out the results of the servant’s quest. He takes Rebekah and marries her. Through Abraham, Isaac too walks with God. What do we need to “leave” in order to pursue our wives more? If only, we were so noble that it was our meditation that kept us from being with our wives.
Abraham, Father Abraham, provides such an amazing example of faith to us as men. We are all husbands, fathers, brothers, or leaders. Abraham showed us that he was a city on the hill. Those around him knew about God and his faithfulness. He knew that his descendants would be more numerous than the stars, but the line of blessing would go through Isaac. Isaac only had 2 sons. Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Rebekah live their lives hearing of God’s promise, but did they really have any idea of what was to follow? I kind of think Abraham did. From this story, may we be fathers like Abraham, in prayer for those around us, demonstrating an active faith; may we be brothers like the servant, taking the needs of our Christian brothers so seriously that we are in continuous prayer and sharing God’s faithfulness with others, so they may be blessed; let us be husbands like Isaac, loving our wives “greatly.