Juliana Claassens
The fresh lectionary decides to merely include choices of that it section, nevertheless preacher is well served to consider the complete of the story.
Genesis 24 fits toward book of Genesis total given central issues including if God’s vow regarding progeny, belongings and you will protection will be understood. On the matriarchal and patriarchal narratives that comprise the newest narrative time periods about book from Genesis, it’s evident you to during the each generation, God’s faithfulness needs to be located anew. Within the Genesis 24, it is Isaac which discovers you to God was not just faithful to Abraham, however, you to definitely God’s faithfulness reaches a different sort of age bracket as well.
The main topic of Genesis 24 is the question of several teenage boys and you will females ask when they already been of age, and that is in which do I have a wife or husband? In the case of Genesis 24 it question for you is all of the so much more pressing because Isaac requires a girlfriend to make sure that God’s pledge out-of progeny are fulfilled. When you look at the Genesis they claim you to Isaac is actually 40 as he hitched Rebekah, in virtually any decades, and especially because date, some a belated stage is a great bachelor. It ily lived beyond its residential property, such as for example since Abraham try adamant into the verse 37 one to Isaac is maybe not ean spouse you to definitely given a shared record and origins regarding Abrahams’ very early existence (cf.
So it taken-aside membership to find Isaac a girlfriend ultimately converts on the a romance facts, in the event the story enjoys a happy conclude. For the verse 67 it is said one Isaac married Rebekah, bringing her so you can their mom’s dated tent, and you can and so instating the lady once the the new matriarch of the clan. Additionally, the latest situations off Sarah’s death and you will Isaac’s relationship are aswell registered together with her whenever his marriage to help you Rebekah is claimed so you’re able to comfort Isaac after the loss of their mother. And more than notably, Isaac is considered to enjoy Rebekah – mostly of the era throughout the Hebrew Bible in which love vocabulary is used to spell it out the connection between one and you may a lady.
Such like that height, the brand new membership regarding Isaac trying to find a spouse keeps a rather secular question and outcome, indicating something of the average time periods from life and death you to definitely form the back ground many of one’s reports of your patriarchs and you may matriarchs. Yet not, so it average tale of finding a partner to have a bound bachelor, which will take individual feel positively, is provided with a religious taste as the theme regarding God’s true blessing and you may pointers is actually delivered while the a main part of the story.
Feedback to the Genesis -38, 42-49, 58-67
Thus during the passages 35-thirty six, the newest servant’s pitch so you’re able to Laban’s relatives regarding new s’ members of the family, we look at the servant’s interpretation away from Abraham’s lifetime, proclaiming that Jesus has actually richly blessed Abraham with many property just like the well because the magic baby when his partner Sarah had been old. Plus into the verses 42ff i read just how Rebekah can be as better since the said to be a cure for prayer, even for till the servant ended his prayer, Rebekah arrived, offering not simply water in order to him plus to any or all their camels (an image you to instance clearly attests to the girl generosity and you will relationship seeing as camels drink of numerous gallons out-of h2o and you can she merely has a singular liquids jug!). For the verse forty eight, the fresh slave talks about this type of ordinary occurrences having sight regarding faith when he professes that Goodness enjoys added your by best way to accomplish his employer’s charges to help you your.
It is in addition vital that you notice this new part that Rebekah performs inside narrative. So it girl who is inspired by a line of epic matriarchs (Rebekah as the grandchild from Milkah, partner out-of Nahor for the verse 47) is actually illustrated in certain traces while the a courageous, independent girl. When this lady family relations aims so you can decrease the lady departure, and the slave claims that they get off ultimately, Rebekah is called when you look at the and you may expected this lady viewpoint who does accept the matter, indicating a remarkable illustration of girls department on patriarchal context of the biblical way of life. Moreover, the lady ily and her land, in order to get married men through to south korean dating review whom this lady has never ever lay eyes, the thing is that the fresh new brave methods regarding Abraham making all of that is well known to go away on a holiday with the a not known upcoming, observed simply of the ample claims out of Goodness.
On the account out of Rebekah making their family, an interesting reference is designed to Rebekah’s nurse that is accompanying their toward next stage away from this lady lives (verse 59). Within the Genesis thirty five:8 we shall again learn about which nursing assistant, entitled Deborah, as soon as we discover new passing and you can burial of girl and especially how Rebekah mourned the fresh death of the woman nurse.
So it mention of nurse, whoever name is appreciated in the subsequent sections, attests on benefits so it girl held in the communal memory. Specifically, that it lady got a favorite added the life span away from Rebekah, offering the outcomes of the girl early in the day lifestyle and her coming life. The latest associated visibility of Rebekah’s nurse furthermore attests on the guarantee as well as the assumption to the of many pupils that will come from so it relationships between Isaac and you may Rebekah (cf. and the blessing by Rebekah’s family members in verse 60 one to she could well be richly blessed with youngsters that sufficiently strong enough to overcome its opposition).
Fundamentally, the reality that Goodness is considered to be maybe not above the ordinary existence occurrences with which some one hectic themselves; the challenges to find an appropriate wife and/or joy to find your true love also provides an essential theological perspective away from a jesus that is a personal Goodness; a goodness who is profoundly invested in and you may involved with God’s manufacturing.