Eliezer and Rebecca
“IMG_6535A” Nicolas Poussin. 1594-1665 Rome. Eliezer and Rebecca. 1648 Louvre. Bible. Genesis. Abraham’s servant Eliezer seeks a Jewish wife for Isaac son of Abraham, and is found in Rebecca. Photo by jean louis mazieres; flickr
Meditation
The Nineteenth Day of Lent brings our attention to the integrity of belief and being chosen to carry that trust. The Psalmist sings of the greatness of God and the many ways of pleasing his chosen people. The Old Testament lesson reveals the story of Abraham entrusting the selection of a wife for his son, Isaac. In a ritual that has been referred to over cultures, Abraham tells his servant, Eliezer, to ‘put his hands under his thigh.’ Jewish views (Yeshiva.org.il) split on the meaning. One says that this description is a euphemism for the one entrusted holding the private parts—representing the most important aspect of life, the seed and the future, of Abraham asking for the oath from his assistant. The second view also shows the importance of the oath that someone would allow another to put his hands so near the private parts, again, which carry the seed of future generations. In both instances, the selection of the an honored one—the trusted servant demonstrates Abraham’s supreme confidence it the trustworthy aide. The servant’s esteemed role gave impetus to his seeking God’s help to find Isaac a wife.
The servant clearly understands the importance and actually fears his ability to succeed, because he knows how strong family ties could be. Yet, Abraham insists. In modern times, the servant would be more like a Vice-President of the corporation, and the oath taken would be akin to putting a hand on the Bible and swearing to tell the truth. The fulfillment of the oath was one of profound importance.
What was so important? Choosing a wife from his own people instead of the Canaanites, who followed different gods. At the same time, Abraham insisted that Isaac not return to the land of Ur. Abraham was sending his servant in Isaac’s stead. Finding himself in the land of Mesopotamia, the servant stopped his caravan of camels by a well, and prayed for wisdom and divine intervention. He was very similar to many of us, who, like Gideon have our fleece to help us decide the right choice.
The servant asked God to guide him to the correct choice by having the right woman give him water from the well and not only him, but his camels. Rebekah arrived and did just that. She explained upon questioning that she was the granddaughter of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. So, Rebekah was Abraham’s grandniece and Isaac’s first cousin, once removed.
The Psalmist, Abraham and the servant all trusted God to work in their lives. Abraham insisted on the promise God made—the covenant that gave him both land and progeny. The New Testament deals with the chosen ones, too. The chosen lady—addressed in the epistle of John also has split interpretations: the church or a specific individual. But they both are chosen. Chosen to carry the most important truth—the humanity of Christ. False teachers were trying to suggest that Christ was not actually fully human. They said Christ was a spirit and not a man of flesh and blood. John clarified emphatically that Christ was indeed a real flesh and blood man and his sacrifice was as a man. To say anything different is to be an enemy of the gospel. John knew Jesus personally. He wrote to the chosen ones, restating the humanity and love of Christ. Anyone saying differently is false. We are to carry on the promise.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Click on the Scriptures for links to biblegateway.com, where many translations of the same text enhance the understanding the readings, which come from the (RCL) Revised Common Lectionary – Daily Lectionary
Readings. I add a Daily Prayer to bless you with God’s Favor.
Enjoy the Daily Encouragement and Bible Study and may you be inspired to be your best self for this Season of Lent.
Lenten Music
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah — 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, The Regimental Band, The Caerphilly Male Voice Choir
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Season of Lent Art
Rebecca and Eliezer
Silver Rebecca, Photo by John; flickr
I’ll Obey – Derrick Monk
Season of Lent Bible Readings
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2081%3BGenesis%2024%3A1-27%3B2%20John%201-13&version=NCV;ERV;GNT;NIV;KJV
(multiple versions)
Nineteenth Day of Lent
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
The “Traveler’s Psalm” is worth memorizing in its whole, but at least verses 1 & 2.
King James Version (KJV)
121 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Season of Lent Music
How Great Is Our God — Passion
Single Bible Study chapter to study
King James Version (KJV)
24 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.
Abraham, This stained glass window of Abraham (as Abram was later renamed by God) is in St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. Photo by Fr Lawrence O.P.; flickr
Abraham, This stained glass window of Abraham (as Abram was later renamed by God) is in St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. Photo by Fr Lawrence O.P.; flickr
2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
3 And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
5 And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?
Abraham and his sons; Stained glass window in Ely Cathedral apparently depicting the story of Abraham’s sons. Photo by Steve Day, flickr
6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
7 The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
8 And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
Abraham, National Museum of Ancient Art, Lisbon, Portugal Abraham sends Eliezer choosing woman for Isaac. Author: Peter Orrente, 1601-1645. Undated photograph. Produced during the activity of Studio Mário Novais: 1933-1983.; Photo by Biblioteca de Arte / Art Library Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian; flickr
11 And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.
12 And he said O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.
15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
Rebecca at the Well with Eliezar, Rebecca at the Well; Eliezer, the servant of Abraham, presents Rebecca with betrothal jewels – the bride of Isaac, Mesopotamia – old bible etching, 1885; Photo by Wonderlane; flickr
16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.
18 And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
“I was thirsty and you gave me drink” Stained glass in the cathedral church of St. Front, Perigueux, France. One of a set using incidents from Scripture to illustrate Jesus’ injunctions in Matthew, Chapter 25, verses 35-36. This is Abraham’s servant, searching for a wife for Isaac, being given a drink by Rebecca, Isaac’s second cousin who did, indeed, become his wife. Photo by Steve Day, flickr
19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
20 And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.
22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
23 And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in?
24 And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.
25 She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.
26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord.
27 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.
Mesopotamia, Great St. Mary’s, Cambridge; Detail of the war memorial window in the St. Andrew chapel, Great St. Mary’s church, Cambridge. Photo by Steve Day; flickr
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Dear God, we celebrate unity in Christ Jesus. May your name be first on our tongues; your wisdom at work in our brains, and your love at work in our hearts. In Jesus name. Amen.
Season of Lent Music
Lord, I Need You – Chris Tomlin
Carry You – Amy Grant
Season of Lent Humor
Eliezer Did Not Read ‘Valentines for Dummies’ in His Search for Isaac’s Wife
Jeff Larson. the backpew.com Used by permission
I hope you found a chance to encounter your Creator and experience the Love of God and the joy of Christ in this Season of Lent.
Conclusion
The Nineteenth Day of Lent chooses to emphasize those things of greatest importance. The Psalmist celebrates the stories of God’s interventions. The Old Testament lesson is about the profound choice of ones to carry the most important tasks—the servant and Isaac—in the story of the finding of a wife for Isaac by a key servant asking God for a woman who would show kindness to him and his camels—a woman of hospitality, and the great niece of Abraham. John writes to a church or individual about the critical importance of carrying the integrity of the gospel. Christ was fully human and anyone saying differently was false and an enemy of the good news.
We have a choice to make, too. We can be true to who Christ is. Even today, people like to question whether Christ was human or God; how could he be both? But we are assured by John, the son of God was human. The Messiah came in flesh and blood. John Backman of the Huffington Post, wrote an article last month, “How Human was Jesus?” The essence was that in the gospels, we can often see the human qualities—his fatigue, anger, frustration and need to withdraw. If Jesus can feel weakness, then how much more can we feel weakness? We can find hope in the fact that Christ experienced weak moments in the same way we do. As our example, he carried on and so can we. After all, we have been chosen, just as Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah and Abraham’s servant, Eliezer, were selected for particular tasks. Just as John wrote of being chosen for this task of spreading love and the good news, and being faithful to the integrity of Jesus’ humanity, we can hold to the truths of Scripture and carry on the task of spreading love.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. Please like if it was meaningful. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
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