Tag: Genesis 24

Seeking Treasure

Posted on by jovial_cynic
When you think of the story of Abraham’s servant seeking a bride for Isaac, we tend to focus on Rebekah’s overwhelming service, which involved repeatedly drawing from a well in order to water 10 camels.

That’s special, but I don’t think “service” is the point.

Rebekah later becomes the mother of Jacob & Esau, and if you know the story (we’ll cover in greater detail later), you’ll know that Rebekah is a bit… tricky. I think we can even say she’s a little manipulative and self-serving in the story. That’s built into her character.

It seems odd that we should see her as being this almost angelic servant here in her introduction. I’ve heard multiple sermons outlining how much work she did out of the “goodness of her heart” to water the camels, but I’ve never heard a good explanation for why she did it. What was it about her, other than “just being a good person with a servant’s heart?”

Translation is part of the problem. In Genesis 24:10, most translations indicate the servant took SOME of Abraham’s goods with him. But the literal read, captured here by the NKJV, is “ALL OF HIS MASTER’S GOODS.”

He brought 10 camels and LOADED them.

Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, for all his master’s goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.
Genesis 24:10 (NKJV)

When Rebekah shows up, she doesn’t just see some man with 10 thirsty camels. She sees… TREASURE! She’s a GOLD DIGGER!

But… aren’t we all? If somebody rolled up with a caravan of 10 Lamborghinis and asked for help filling up car #1, wouldn’t you be quick to offer to fill up the other 9 cars, too? Because… what if they like that you helped? What if they give you a big tip?

If the image is of God extending an invitation to us to join God’s household, doesn’t God “tempt” us with treasures as well?

If God’s treasures are heavenly promises – love, joy, peace, rest… are you not tempted? Wouldn’t you edge closer to water the camels, too?

A Salvation Message

Posted on by jovial_cynic
We’ve journeyed 24 chapters into Genesis, and it’s impossible to ignore that the text is set up to be a redemption story for both Adam and Eve. For ALL of us.

There are two stories of salvation:

Adam:
I’ve done things I shouldn’t have done and brought harm to myself and others, and it has corrupted me. Please save me!

Eve:
I’m suffering due to the consequences of this broken world, and I’ve been abused and harmed by others. Please save me!

This isn’t a statement about “men” and “women,” but a statement about the full breadth of what salvation covers. Some of us are “Adam” in this story, whether we are male or female. We’ve caused harm, intentionally or accidentally, and for that, we must repent.

But some of us are “Eve” in this story, where the curse of someone else’s disobedience has harmed us, and we’re left to suffer for sins we didn’t commit. We carry wounds that we didn’t cause.

God can redeem all of this. God will.

God of Heaven and Earth

Posted on by jovial_cynic

Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household who was in charge of all that he owned, “Please place your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live.
Genesis 24:2-3 (NASB)

For the first time in Scripture, we see this phrase: “the God of heaven and the God of earth.”

The rabbis note that Abraham says this while in the Promised Land, but never says it while in Egypt or in Haran. Perhaps it’s a statement about the Holy Land. It is specially designated as God’s special place.

But there is a hint of divine parable in the phrase. In Genesis 1, God “created the heavens and the earth,” so we understand that God made them… together. To be together, like a man and his wife.

This chapter is about marriage and covenant, and how God establishes a union over an impossible distance.

Under Abraham’s Thigh

Posted on by jovial_cynic

Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household who was in charge of all that he owned, “Please place your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live.
Genesis 24:2-3 (NASB)

Some rabbis wondered if “under my thigh” meant for the servant to grab hold of Abraham’s circumcision, as that was tied to covenant.

But many disagree, and suggest that “sitting on the hands” was symbolic of binding the servant to an action.

A Reversal

Posted on by jovial_cynic
Genesis 24 introduces the union of Isaac and Rebekah, and in the chapter, very little is said about Isaac.

The focus sits squarely on Rebekah: she is the one who serves; she is the one who is praised; she leaves her father’s house, just like Abraham. But of Isaac, we read that he is comforted in his grief after his mother’s death.

What a fascinating reversal.

All Things

Posted on by jovial_cynic

Abraham was now old, advanced in years, and יהוה had blessed Abraham in all things.
Genesis 24:1 (The Contemporary Torah, JPS 2006)

I sometimes wonder if the Hebrew gematria (the system for finding numeric values of words based on the letters) is merely a helpful aid for memorizing scripture, or if it is also a part of the story.

ברך את אברהם בכל [THE LORD HAD] BLESSED ABRAHAM IN ALL THINGS — The numerical value of the word בכל is equal to that of בן (a son) — suggesting that God had blessed Abraham with a son and since he had a son he had to find him a wife.
Rashi on Genesis 24:1

For Abe to be blessed with “all things” and “a son” is fascinating.