- there are 70 faces to 
Post by alon on Feb 18, 2022 21:05:50 GMT -8
This Weeks Readings:
Parashah- Genesis 24:1-41
Haftara- Judges 19:10-21
Darash: This, the longest chapter in Genesis fixes primarily on faith/trust, hope, and love, and divine apointments. It is a picture of the Father of Mercies (2 Cor 1:3) obtaining a bride for His Son.
Here our story transitions from primarily about Avraham to Yitz’chaq, who is now forty years old:
Genesis 24:1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.
As mentioned last week, Avraham is old, about to die, and he is getting his affairs in order. One of the things he attends to is finding a wife for Yitz’chaq:
Genesis 24:2-4,9 And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh, that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” … So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.
Dr Stern agrees with Ibn Ezra that this custom of making vow was practiced in many ancient cultures. It’s still practiced in India today. Avraham had the servant swear Yitz’chaq would not get a wife from those dwelling in Cana’an. It is important that God’s people not marry those outside His covenant:
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Also he swore not to take Isaac back to the land of his forefathers. God had told the family to be in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 24:8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.”
The injunction not to take Yitz’chaq back is repeated. Last week we saw one key element of good Hebrew writing; rhythm. This week we see another; repetition. When juxtaposed like this in biblical writing it is emphasize the point. As believers we are to be where God wants us. In Gen 28:11 Ya’akov, just before he had his famous dream of the “ladder” to the heavens vayifga bamakom, literally “he arrived at the place.” Miracles only happen when we are where God wants, doing what He wants us to do. In the case of Yitz’chaq his father had been told they should dwell in this land that would one day belong to their descendants.
Genesis 24:5-7 The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there. The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.
In a parallel to the time he was to sacrifice Yitz’chaq we see the trust Avraham has in his God. The servant, like Yitz’chaq questioned the father, in this case Avraham. And Avraham’s faith; God will provide a wife, and He will send an angel before the servant to prepare the way. If we are in Gods’ will, He will lead us as well as prepare a good reception for us. Because of His long experience with his God, Avraham could say this in complete confidence. Avraham drew from his past as he looked to the future. We must ask ourselves, what kind of “past” are we building today? Growing up I heard so many sermons on “Tomorrow may never come.” True, but for most it will come, and todays experiences are what we will draw on when God calls tomorrow. Will we be prepared to face the challenges ahead?
Avraham’s servant was prepared, as when faced with a very uncertain task his go to answer was prayer:
Genesis 24:12 And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham.
Time spent in prayer is never wasted. The servant where God wanted him and at His appointed time there met Rivkah. For her part, Rivkah showed kindness and hospitality. She couldn’t have known that this would open an exciting new chapter in her life; one that would have eternal consequences for her descendants and indeed all mankind.
In next weeks parashah we’ll see:
תּוֹלְדֹת toldot, usually translated ‘story,’ but really there is no good translation into English. Sometimes it’s translated ‘descendants’ or ‘generations,’ because its’ root is ילד yalad, ‘to bear’ or to ‘conceive.’ However the best meaning for תּוֹלְדֹת toldot is ‘the origins and the consequences.’ And concerning Yitz’chaq and Rivkah these begin here at this well, and at this, Gods’ time. Dr. Marsden admonishes us to “Make every occasion a great occasion, for you can never tell when someone ma be taking your measure for a larger place.” Rivkah was asked for a drink, and she not only complied with this request, she then drew water for his camels to drink as well.
So the servant, loving the masters’ son asked for guidance from Ozer li, (God) My Helper (Ps. 30:10). We can draw a close analogy between this servant and the Ruach Ha’kodesh, come to seek a bride for Yeshua. For our part, we should be more like Rivkah and go the extra mile in helping others. That is a far greater witness than mere words:
- Proverbs 29:7 “A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.”
- Matthew 5:16: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
- Romans 12:13: “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
The divine appointment:
Genesis 24:13,15-16, Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. … Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, 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. The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden [Or a woman of marriageable age] whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.
The term rendered “maiden” here is בְּתוּלָה bethûlâh. As the footnote (in brackets) indicates, and as is stated in the KJV this means a virgin. This is important. Israel’s purity laws are meant to give rise to a moral society. Those outlooks and dispositions start with the home and the attitudes taught by the parents. And again, the past will inform the future. We can try to suddenly gain morality when teaching our children. However they will pick up on our amoral attitudes much quicker than our lectures on morality.
Genesis 24:26-27 The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master's kinsmen.”
Pastor Ed Cole used to say “Grab the gold but give God the glory.” The servant here gives thanks to the God of Avraham, who is also his own God for a good outcome. He also put his ministry before his own needs:
Genesis 24: 33 Then food was set before him to eat. But he said, “I will not eat until I have said what I have to say.” He said, “Speak on.”
Mekorot: All scripture from the ESV unless otherwise noted; Drs. Eli & Parker of the IBC; JPS Study TNK; CJB Study Bible; FB Meyer; W Wiersbe; Dr George Marsden; my father and others.
Next Week’s Readings:
Parashah- Gen 25:1-26:11
Haftara- 2 Sa 5:17-6:1
Apostolic references will be given in the darashot
Parashah- Genesis 24:1-41
Haftara- Judges 19:10-21
Darash: This, the longest chapter in Genesis fixes primarily on faith/trust, hope, and love, and divine apointments. It is a picture of the Father of Mercies (2 Cor 1:3) obtaining a bride for His Son.
Here our story transitions from primarily about Avraham to Yitz’chaq, who is now forty years old:
Genesis 24:1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.
As mentioned last week, Avraham is old, about to die, and he is getting his affairs in order. One of the things he attends to is finding a wife for Yitz’chaq:
Genesis 24:2-4,9 And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh, that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” … So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.
Dr Stern agrees with Ibn Ezra that this custom of making vow was practiced in many ancient cultures. It’s still practiced in India today. Avraham had the servant swear Yitz’chaq would not get a wife from those dwelling in Cana’an. It is important that God’s people not marry those outside His covenant:
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Also he swore not to take Isaac back to the land of his forefathers. God had told the family to be in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 24:8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.”
The injunction not to take Yitz’chaq back is repeated. Last week we saw one key element of good Hebrew writing; rhythm. This week we see another; repetition. When juxtaposed like this in biblical writing it is emphasize the point. As believers we are to be where God wants us. In Gen 28:11 Ya’akov, just before he had his famous dream of the “ladder” to the heavens vayifga bamakom, literally “he arrived at the place.” Miracles only happen when we are where God wants, doing what He wants us to do. In the case of Yitz’chaq his father had been told they should dwell in this land that would one day belong to their descendants.
Genesis 24:5-7 The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there. The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.
In a parallel to the time he was to sacrifice Yitz’chaq we see the trust Avraham has in his God. The servant, like Yitz’chaq questioned the father, in this case Avraham. And Avraham’s faith; God will provide a wife, and He will send an angel before the servant to prepare the way. If we are in Gods’ will, He will lead us as well as prepare a good reception for us. Because of His long experience with his God, Avraham could say this in complete confidence. Avraham drew from his past as he looked to the future. We must ask ourselves, what kind of “past” are we building today? Growing up I heard so many sermons on “Tomorrow may never come.” True, but for most it will come, and todays experiences are what we will draw on when God calls tomorrow. Will we be prepared to face the challenges ahead?
Avraham’s servant was prepared, as when faced with a very uncertain task his go to answer was prayer:
Genesis 24:12 And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham.
Time spent in prayer is never wasted. The servant where God wanted him and at His appointed time there met Rivkah. For her part, Rivkah showed kindness and hospitality. She couldn’t have known that this would open an exciting new chapter in her life; one that would have eternal consequences for her descendants and indeed all mankind.
In next weeks parashah we’ll see:
יט. וְאֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת יִצְחָק בֶּן-אַבְרָהָם אַבְרָהָם הוֹלִיד אֶת-יִצְחָק
Genesis 25:19. And these are the generations of יִצְחָק Isaac, Abraham's son; Abraham fathered Isaac;תּוֹלְדֹת toldot, usually translated ‘story,’ but really there is no good translation into English. Sometimes it’s translated ‘descendants’ or ‘generations,’ because its’ root is ילד yalad, ‘to bear’ or to ‘conceive.’ However the best meaning for תּוֹלְדֹת toldot is ‘the origins and the consequences.’ And concerning Yitz’chaq and Rivkah these begin here at this well, and at this, Gods’ time. Dr. Marsden admonishes us to “Make every occasion a great occasion, for you can never tell when someone ma be taking your measure for a larger place.” Rivkah was asked for a drink, and she not only complied with this request, she then drew water for his camels to drink as well.
So the servant, loving the masters’ son asked for guidance from Ozer li, (God) My Helper (Ps. 30:10). We can draw a close analogy between this servant and the Ruach Ha’kodesh, come to seek a bride for Yeshua. For our part, we should be more like Rivkah and go the extra mile in helping others. That is a far greater witness than mere words:
- Proverbs 29:7 “A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.”
- Matthew 5:16: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
- Romans 12:13: “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
The divine appointment:
Genesis 24:13,15-16, Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. … Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, 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. The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden [Or a woman of marriageable age] whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.
The term rendered “maiden” here is בְּתוּלָה bethûlâh. As the footnote (in brackets) indicates, and as is stated in the KJV this means a virgin. This is important. Israel’s purity laws are meant to give rise to a moral society. Those outlooks and dispositions start with the home and the attitudes taught by the parents. And again, the past will inform the future. We can try to suddenly gain morality when teaching our children. However they will pick up on our amoral attitudes much quicker than our lectures on morality.
Genesis 24:26-27 The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master's kinsmen.”
Pastor Ed Cole used to say “Grab the gold but give God the glory.” The servant here gives thanks to the God of Avraham, who is also his own God for a good outcome. He also put his ministry before his own needs:
Genesis 24: 33 Then food was set before him to eat. But he said, “I will not eat until I have said what I have to say.” He said, “Speak on.”
Mekorot: All scripture from the ESV unless otherwise noted; Drs. Eli & Parker of the IBC; JPS Study TNK; CJB Study Bible; FB Meyer; W Wiersbe; Dr George Marsden; my father and others.
Next Week’s Readings:
Parashah- Gen 25:1-26:11
Haftara- 2 Sa 5:17-6:1
Apostolic references will be given in the darashot
