Genesis 24-26

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Genesis Continues:

Abraham is now very old. He sent his servant to Abraham’s country where his family lived to find a wife for Isaac. The servant swore to Abraham that he would complete this task and not take Isaac with him.

The servant reached the land of Abraham’s kinsman and prayed for God’s help in finding a bride for Isaac. His prayer is similar to the prayer Gideon prayed in Judges 6 where Gideon asks for a sign. The servant’s prayer is answered immediately and Rebekah(or Rebeccah) agrees to become the bride to Isaac .

Rebekah returned with the servant and married Isaac. Isaac is comforted from the loss of his mother and he loves Rebkah.

The Holy Spirit and the Bride:

Abraham is a word picture for God the Father. Isaac, the chosen son, almost sacrificed, is a word picture for Christ the Son. The servant sent by Abraham is unnamed. Abraham's hope is to find a bride for his son. This servant is a word-picture for the Holy Spirit. Abraham's servant was intent upon his master's business. The Holy Spirit is intent upon the Father's business. Rebekah is yet another word-picture, a picture of the Church as a bride for Christ.

The Servant sought out Rebekah and found her. She was to be the Bride. The Servant asked Rebekah: "Are you willing to go with this man?" This is the same question Jesus asks, are you willing to go with me? Rebekah said yes and left with the servant. Jesus was intent upon His Father's business.

His Father's Business

Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. Do you think the work of harvesting will not begin until the summer ends four months from now? Look around you! Vast fields are ripening all around us and are ready now for the harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, ‘One person plants and someone else harvests.’ And it’s true. I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and you will gather the harvest.” John 4:34-38 (NLT)

Commentary on the Holy Spirit

From: John G. Lake, "Diary of God's General," Harrison House, Charismatic Classics, 1985

"A closing sentence of an interpretation of tongues given in 1910, in Somerset, East Cape Colony, South Africa:

"Christ is at once the spotless descent of God into man, and the sinless ascent of man into God, and the Holy Spirit is the Agent by whom this is accomplished." pp. 37-38

Beginnings and Endings:

After Sarah’s death (probably), Abraham, an old man, married Keturah. His sons with Keturah are given in 1 Chr 1:32 NIV: “The sons born to Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah.”

At age 175, Abraham died and was gathered to his people and was buried with his wife Sarah at Hebron in the cave of Machpelah in the field of Ehron. Hebron is located in what is now called the 'West Bank' and is currently controlled by the Palistinians. Here is an off-site link for more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machpelah

Last Account of Ishmael:

This is the last account of Ishmael and his descendants. Ishmael lived to be 137 and died. His descendants settled near the border of Egypt, well away from Isaac, The two sons, Isaac and Ishmael, buried their father together. And, at least at that time, resided together in peace. More information regarding Ishmael, basically the father of Islam, may be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishmael.

Muhammad the prophet of Islam is said to be a descendant of Ishmael, son of Abraham. The three great faiths, people of the Book, all take Abraham as their patriarch. This would be Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

However, the Hebrew Bible and Christian Bible make no more mention of Ishmael, as Isaac is the son of the wife, not concubine, and Isaac is the son of promise. Isaac was the miracle son given to Abraham and Sarah in their extreme old age.

The Seed

In Matthew 1:1-16, the genealogy of Jesus and King David is listed. They are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the patriarchs of the Jewish (Hebrew) and Christian Bible.

From Gal 4:29-31 NLT

"And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac. And we who are born of the Holy Spirit are persecuted by those who want us to keep the law, just as Isaac, the child of promise, was persecuted by Ishmael, the son of the slave-wife.

But what do the Scriptures say about that? “Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the family inheritance with the free woman’s son.” So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, obligated to the law. We are children of the free woman, acceptable to God because of our faith." Paul

Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah. After their marriage, Rebekah was barren. Rebekah prayed to God and became pregnant with twin boys. The Bible states the twins struggled together within her. (vs22)

Rebekah asked God why. "The Lord said to her, (The founders) of two nations are in your womb, and the separation of two peoples has begun in your body; the one people shall be stronger than the other, and the elder shall serve the younger." Genesis 25:23 (Amp)

Esau, which means hairy, was born first. Jacob, which basically means deceive or deceiver was born second. Isaac is now 60 years old. Isaac is partial to Esau, a hunter. And Rebekah loved Jacob. Jacob is described as a quiet and a plain man.

After hunting, Esau returned to camp very hungry. Esau wanted some of the stew Jacob was cooking. Jacob told Esau he could have some of the stew for Esau's birthright as the first-born. Esau traded his birthright for a bowl of stew. "Essau scorned his birthright as beneath his notice." vs 34 (Amp)

In Roman's 9:13, Paul refers to a scripture from Malachi and stated: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” Malachi 1:2-3 explains that the Edomites descend from Esau. (see also Genesis 36:60) The Seed descends through Jacob. Esau's descandents, the Edomites, will refuse to help the people of Israel as they travel from Egypt to the promised land. This is detailed in Numbers 20:14-20.

Why would a loving God hate Esau? Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. He spurned God. This means his birthright from God meant absolutely nothing to him. God knows the end from the beginning and knew Esau's descendants would harm the children of Israel (Hebrews), God's chosen people, in what was then the future as they travel through the land of Edom. We will speak further of Esau shortly.