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Our Parasha begins with the announcement that Sara has died at the age of 127. Abraham mourns, then asks his neighbors, the sons of Heth, to grant him burial space. They greatly admired and respected Abraham, and offered to give him the choicest land free of charge. But Abraham insisted on purchasing it.
In chapter 24, Abraham decides to find a wife for his son Isaac. He says to his eldest servant, “Please, put your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”
In Ancient Near Eastern culture, the thigh was considered to be the source of future generations or, more properly, the ‘loins’. So, “under the thigh” was a euphemism.
There are two reasons why someone might take an oath in this manner. First, Abraham had been promised offspring by God, and this covenantal blessing would be passed on to his son, his grandson and future generations. So, Abraham had his trusted servant swear by the loins – Abraham’s offspring – not to take a Canaanite wife for Isaac.
Secondly, Abraham had received circumcision as the sign of the covenant. Thus, to swear by Abraham’s circumcision was to swear by that covenant. By contrast, Yeshua taught His followers not even to swear oaths, but rather to let their “yes” mean “yes” and “no” mean “no”. We should consider our words to have the weight of an oath, and we should have a reputation for honoring our word.
Abraham’s faithful servant made the long journey. When at last he arrived in Haran, it was early evening, a cooler time of day when women came to draw water. He prayed to Adonai, saying, “Let it come to pass that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please tilt your pitcher so that I may drink,’ will respond with, ‘Drink and I will give your camels water too.’”
He had just finished praying when Rebecca, a relative of Abraham’s brother, came down to the well and filled her pitcher. Abraham’s servant said to her, “Let me please sip a little water from your pitcher.” “Drink,” she said, “Then I will draw water for your camels too.” His prayer was answered!
Once the camels had finished drinking, the servant asked whose daughter she was and whether there was room in her father’s house for a guest.
When they arrived at her father Bethuel’s home, Abraham’s servant came in and explained his mission. He told them the specifics of his prayer to Adonai and how Rebecca came immediately and graciously fulfilled that prayer. He continued by saying, “I bless God for sending Rebecca to me and my master. Now, tell me if you wish to deal in loving-kindness and truth with my master so that I may know what to do.”
Rebecca’s brother Laban and his father, Bethuel, said, “The matter has come forth from God. Take Rebecca and go as God has spoken.” The servant of Abraham heard their words, bowed low before God and brought forth articles of gold and silver for Rebecca and delicious fruits for her family.
Although this was a God-ordained event, Rebecca still had freedom of choice. She could choose to follow God’s will, or choose her own way. Gratefully, she chose to follow God. Now began the long journey back to Canaan.
Once they arrived at Abraham’s home, the servant told Isaac all that had occurred. Then Isaac brought her into the tent of his departed mother, Sara. He married Rebecca and was comforted after the loss of his mother.
Abraham died at the age of 175, having lived a satisfying life. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, where his wife Sarah had been buried, and this is where our Parasha ends.
Non-believers are often quick to deny the idea of the virgin birth, saying it is a physical impossibility – that it defies nature. But the conception and birth of Isaac to the very elderly Sarah also defied nature. But that’s what a miracle is. And God is able to perform miracles, so it should not be difficult to believe the virgin birth.Sarah was 90 years old when God told Abraham that she would give birth to Isaac, the son of the promise. At 90, Sarah’s womb was way beyond childbearing age. In fact, one could say her womb was dead. How could life come forth from a dead womb? Sarah herself didn’t believe this could happen! We saw that she laughed when she overheard Adonai telling Abraham that she would bear a child. But the angel reminded her that nothing is too difficult for the Lord. Our Creator can do all things, since He is the all-powerful Three in One living God!
Finally, Genesis 24:60, foreshadows the work of our Messiah when Rebekah’s family blesses her with these amazing words: “And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “May you, our sister, become thousands of ten thousands, and may your seed inherit the gate of those who hate him.”
The ‘seed’ which is spoken of here will prove to be the same ‘seed’ of blessing that God promised to Abraham, who will in turn bless all the nations; the same One that we find in Genesis 3, who will crush the head of the serpent. And it is He who will keep us from stumbling and present us to the Father that we may stand in the presence of His glory faultless and with exceeding joy. That seed of blessing is none other than Yeshua our Messiah.
Shabbat Shalom.