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Saturday, January 1, 2022

Isaac Gets a Wife

Isaac Gets a Wife
Image Credit:  FreeBibleImages.org

In Genesis 24, Abraham requires his top servant to make an oath that he will bring Isaac a wife from Abraham's native land.  Isaac was not to take a wife from Canaan.  Abraham wanted a wife for Isaac who worshipped God.  This oath is a serious oath so Abraham's servant asks what he should do if no woman agrees to come back with him.  He asks Abraham if, in that case, he should take Isaac back to Abraham's homeland.  Abraham's response reflected his great faith in God who always keeps His promises.  His response also reflected his character as a fair man when dealing with others.

Isaac Gets a Wife
Image Credit:  FreeBibleImages.org

Beware 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 birth, and who spoke to me, and who swore to me saying, "To your descendants I will give this land," He will send His angel ahead of you, and you will take a wife for my son from there.  But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free of this oath of mine, only do not take my son back there. - Genesis 24:6-8

Isaac Gets a Wife

Abraham's servant then takes ten camels and other good things and sets out for the land of Abraham's brother, Nahor.

Isaac Gets a Wife
Image Credit:  FreeBibleImages.org

At the time of day when the women of Nahor go out to draw water from the well, Abraham's servant had the camels lay down by the well just outside the city.  The servant prays the God will allow him success in finding a wife for Isaac.  So that he would know which woman to take back to Isaac, he made a plan as he prayed to God.

Isaac Gets a Wife
Image Credit:  FreeBibleImages.org

Behold, I am standing by the spring and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water; now may it be that the young woman to whom I say, "Please let down your jar so that I may drink; and who answers, "Drink, and I will water your camels also," - may she be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know the You have shown kindness to my master. - Genesis 24:13-14

Before Abraham's servant could even finish praying, Rebekah shows up.  Rebekah is Nahor's granddaughter born to Bethuel, the son of Milcah and Nahor.  Rebekah comes out carrying her jar on her shoulder.  She fills her jar with water.  Abraham's servant asks her for a drink from her jar.  Rebekah gave him a drink and then offers to give his camels water as well.  

Isaac Gets a Wife
Image Credit:  FreeBibleImages.org

Abraham's servant is careful.  He watches her closely to make sure this woman, Rebekah, is God's chosen wife for Isaac.  

This servant sure didn't want to mess this up!

When the camels finish drinking, the servant gives Rebekah jewelry.  He asks her who her father is and whether or not her family has room enough for him to spend the night with her family.  She tells him who her family is and offers the servant a place to stay with her family for the night.

The servant, realizing Rebekah is the woman God has chosen for Isaac, prays a prayer of gratitude.

Blessed by the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned His kindness and His trustworthiness toward my master; as for me, the Lord has guided me in the way to the house of my master's brothers. - Genesis 24:27

Rebekah runs to tell her family what the servant has told her.  Rebekah's brother, Laban, welcomes the servant into the house.  Laban shows great hospitality to the servant, preparing him and his camels for the night and bringing him food.  The servant tells Rebekah's bother, Laban, that he will not eat until he says what he needs to say.  Laban prompts the servant to speak what he needs to speak.

Isaac Gets a Wife
Image Credit:  FreeBibleImages.org

Abraham's servant tells the whole story, starting from the oath he made with Abraham, the plan he made by the well so he would know which woman was the woman God has chosen for Isaac, and how Rebekah fulfilled that plan.  The servant gives all the details to Rebekah's family.

When the servant finishes his story, Rebekah's father and brothers basically say - "This is obviously from God so we can't argue with you.  Here is Rebekah.  Take her!" 

Then Laban and Bethuel replied, "The matter has come from the Lord; so we cannot speak to you bad or good.  Here is Rebekah before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has spoken." - Genesis 24:50-51

The servant gives Rebekah and her family precious valuable gifts.  The next morning, the servant requests to leave with Rebekah to return to Abraham and Isaac.  Rebekah's family requests that she stay a little longer, perhaps 10 days, but the servant insists that they leave immediately.  Rebekah's family checks with Rebekah again to see if she still agrees to go with the servant.  Rebekah says she will go.  

Rebekah leaves with the servant taking her nurse and other female attendants.  She also leaves with her family's blessing.

Isaac Gets a Wife
Image Credit:  FreeBibleImages.org

By Genesis 24:62, the servant is returning with Rebekah.  Isaac had gone out to meditate in a field when he saw the camels.  Rebekah sees the man, dismounts from her camel, and asks the servant who the man is.  The servant explains that the man she sees is his mister, Isaac.  Rebekah covers herself with her veil.

The servant tells Isaac all that had happened.  Isaac takes Rebekah into his mother's tent and marries her.  Genesis 24:67 tells us that Isaac loved Rebekah and he was comforted after his mother's death.

Isaac Gets a Wife
Image Credit:  FreeBibleImages.org

Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and he took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her; so Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. - Genesis 24:67

Teach the Kids

It is important to teach our children Biblical truths from the Bible as early as possible.  Here is a list of resources for teaching the story of Isaac and Rebekah to your children.

Issac Gets a Wife Coloring Flip Book by ME.  :).  I just created a cute little flip book for your kids to color, bind together, and read.  

Isaac Gets a Wife Coloring Flipbook for Kids
Isaac Gets a Wife Coloring Flip Book for Young Children

This flip book is a condensed version of the Bible story for younger children so be sure to read the actual historical account with your child.  You'll find it in Genesis 24.  As your child colors the pages, talk to him or her about the story and remind your child that God promised Abraham many children and grandchildren.  God chose Rebekah as a wife for Isaac because God always keeps His promises.  

Your child can ALWAYS trust God and His Word.


More Ways to Teach Your Kids the Story of How Rebekah Became Isaac's Wife

Isaac and Rebekah Coloring Pages from Best Coloring Pages for Kids

Genesis:  Isaac and Rebekah from Bible Fun for Kids




A Wife for Isaac from Bible Wise

Isaac Gets a Wife
This Isaac and Rebekah Bible story book is available here.

This post is part of my Coloring Through Genesis Series featuring my Beautiful Word Coloring Bible.  You'll find all the posts in this series here.

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Isaac Gets a Wife
Image Credit:  FreeBibleImages.org


The Death of Sarah: Abraham Purchases Ephron's Field for Sarah's Burial

The Death of Sarah
Image by Tom Lovell (1909 - 1997)

Genesis 23 describes the death of Sarah, Abraham's wife.  This chapter of the Bible also describes Abraham's burial plan for Sarah.  

The Death of Sarah

Sarah dies at the age of 127 in Hebron.  In verse 2, we are told that Abraham mourned and wept for Sarah.  Then, Abraham prepares to bury Sarah.  Although Abraham was not a native of Hebron, he was apparently well known there.  When Abraham approached Heth about a burial site for Sarah, Heth responds:

Hear us, my lord.  You are a mighty prince among us.  Bury your dead in the choicest of our graves.  None of us will refuse you his grave for burying your dead.  

Abraham stands up, bows to the people of the land and responds:

If you are willing to let me bury my dead out of my sight, listen to me and plead with Ephron, the son of Zohar, for me that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he owns which is at the end of his field for the full price, let him give it to me in your presence for a burial site. 

Accountability was apparently important to Abraham because this is not the first time he bargained in the presence of others who would witness his agreement or covenant with others.

Ephron offers to give Abraham the field and the cave that is in it free and clear, but Abraham loudly enough so that the people of the land can hear him offers to pay full price for the field.

Ephron tells Abraham that the field is worth 400 shekels of silver.  Abraham, in the presence of the people weighs out 400 shekels of silver. 

So Ephron’s field, which was in Machpelah, which faced Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees which were in the field, that were within all the confines of its border, were deeded over to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who entered the gate of his city. After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah facing Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the land of Canaan. So the field and the cave that was in it were deeded over to Abraham for a burial site by the sons of Heth. - Genesis 23:17-20

When I first read this chapter, I thought Ephron was offering extreme generosity toward Abraham by offering the field and cave and everything in it for free, but the Believer's Bible Commentary explains the bargaining customs of that time.  This explanation sheds a little bit of a different light on the situation.  

When Sarah died at one hundred and twenty-seven years, Abraham bargained with the Hittite inhabitants of Hebron for the purchase of the cave of Machpelah as a burial place—his only purchase of real estate during his long life of pilgrimage. The passage gives a priceless description of the bargaining that is so typical in Eastern lands. At first, the Hittites suggested that Abraham choose any one of their burial places. With overflowing courtesy, Abraham refused and insisted on paying full price for a cave owned by Ephron. At first Ephron offered not just the cave but the entire field as an outright gift, but Abraham understood that this was just a polite gesture. The owner really had no intention of giving it away. When Abraham countered by insisting on his desire to purchase it, Ephron suggested a price of four hundred shekels of silver, pretending that this was a great bargain. Actually it was an extortionate price, and ordinarily the buyer would have continued to haggle. So it was a surprise to everyone when Abraham agreed to Ephron’s first asking price. Abraham didn’t want to be indebted to an unbeliever, and neither should we. - The Believer's Bible Commentary

Whether or not Ephron was offering extreme generosity, I'm not sure, but this explanation does show me that Abraham loved Sarah so very much.  He knew the field where he wanted Sarah buried and he didn't even try to haggle the price down.  He immediately paid Ephron's first asking price.  

Read a sermon about Sarah and Her Daughters by Charles Spurgeon.

Did you know that if you visit the Holy Land today, you can visit this very field?  You can.  Check out See The Holy Land or current information about Ephron's field, now called the Tombs of the Patriarchs, and where this historical place sits today.

The Tombs of the Patriarchs Today in the Holy Land, the Land of Ancient Hebron

Tombs of the Patriarchs, The Holy Land
Image Credit:  Ooman - CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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The Death of Sarah