T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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eventide, with its suggestion of Christ’s return for His Church at the close of the present age (John 14:1-3); and even his leading Rebekah into his mother’s tent, how it foreshadows the place of authority and glory the Church shall have when she reigns with Christ over the millennial earth. (Matt. 19:28; 1 Cor. 6:2; Col. 3:4; Rev. 20:4-6). —James M. Gray. When Sarah was 127 years old she died, causing Abra ham and Isaac much sorrow. Abraham bought a burial place for her in the land, that was to belong to his people, by and by. When Isaac grew up, his father was very old. There were nothing but heathen women ELEMENTARY around them, and Abraham did not Kate H. Hans want Isaac to marry a heathen, so he called his servant Eliezer, and made him promise that he would go way back to Abraham’s old home and there find a good woman as a wife for Isaac. Eliezer took with him many beautiful presents to give to the one he should choose as a wife for Isaac. When he reached Abraham’s old home, he prayed God to show him the young woman who would be the right wife for Isaac. He stopped near a well, where many women came to get water. Here Eliezer prayed God to help him choose the right one. He decided to take the one who was willing to give him a drink, if he asked it, as he was a stranger, and many would not give strangers drink. A very beautiful young woman came to the well, filled her pitcher and started off, when Eliezer called to her and asked a drink. When she saw he was a stranger, and had many cattle with him, she not only gave him a drink, but gave water to all his ten camels. Eliezer found out that she was from Abraham’s people, and thanked God he had found the right young woman. The Lord had led him to the right place. The girl’s name was Rebekah. She was given the beautiful presents Eliezer had brought, and he went to her house, and asked her parents if they would let her come with him as a wife for Isaac. He told what a good man Isaac was, how rich, and showed the beautiful presents that had been sent. He told how Abraham had made him promise to get a wife from among his relations, and now that he had found her, would they let her come. They called Rebekah, and asked her if she was willing to go with Eliezer, and become the wife of Isaac, the son of Abraham. She had heard such good things about Isaac that she said she would go, so she was taken to Isaac. Now Isaac had been watching for Eliezer, and when he saw him coming down the road to his home, he was sure he had found a good wife for him. Just as Eliezer told so many good things about Isaac, and gave Rebekah so many beautiful presents from Isaac, that she was anxious to go to Isaac, so the Holy Spirit tells us so many beautiful things about Jesus, and gives us so Many blessings from Jesus, that when we are asked to ac cept Jesus as our Saviour we ought to be as ready to do it as Rebekah was to take Isaac for her husband. Memory Verse: Rom. 8:14-16. L£AJ)S To JESl/s.
(6) He was a praying man. He lifted his heart In prayer for God’s blessing upon his undertaking. (24:12). (7) He was a praising servant. He returned thanks for.answered prayer (24:26, 27). (8) He was persistent in service. He would not eat until he had carried out his master’s will and finished his definite task. (24:33). 24:1. There is scarcely anything more beautiful and inspiring than the calm, bright, peaceful close of a long and honoured life.—Griffith Thomas. V. 3. His was an old age marked by persistent faithful ness to the Divine will (vs. 2-4). Abra- COMMENTS ham still clings with undimished faith FROM THE and persistence to the revelation of COMMENTARIES God concerning him and his seed. He V. V. Morgan is therefore urgent that his son should not take a wife from the daughters of the Canaanites. The commission which he now gives to his trusted servant (perhaps Eliezer, ch. 15:2) shows clearly that he desires and determines to follow closely the Divine will. The oath mentioned here and in 49:29 only occurs in these two passages in the Old Testament. It be tokens a specially solemn engagement, though the reason of the precise form and method is practically unknown, and is therefore variously interpreted.—-Griffith Thomas. V. 6. Whatever happens, Abraham is perfectly clear that God’s will must be done and His purpose maintained. —Griffith Thomas. 25:6. Abraham was careful to make Isaac’s position perfectly clear, and, by providing for his other sons and sending them away “eastward, unto the east country,” he took the necessary steps to maintain Isaac’s position free from possible difficulties.—-Griffith Thomas. 25:8. The description of his death (v. 8) is very beau tiful, and it :s interesting to note that he was “gathered to his people,” referring to their reunion in the unseen world. It is obvious that this phrase cannot possibly refer to his burial, since only Sarah’s body was in that tomb.— Griffith Thomas. 24:12. The true spirit of the man is seen in his earnest prayer for guidance (v. 12); his task was a difficult one. He was on a very unlikely and unusual errand, and so he prays that the God of his master would give him good suc cess. Not only does he pray for guidance, but for grace (vs. 13, 14). He seeks to know the road, and then asks for power to walk along it. He requests opportunities, and then grace to use them.—Griffith Thomas. 24:17. We cannot, however, fail to notice his perfect courtesy. Manner counts for a very great deal in all Chris tian work. We may spoil a good cause by our lack of con siderateness and courtesy. We observe, too, his patience (v. 21). He will not force matters, for there must be no hurry. The man is filled with a holy watchfulness for every indication of the will of God.—Griffith Thomas. The length of the chapter in a book whose spiritual pur pose is evident at every stage seems to compel the thought that, the full detail in these sixty-seven verses must have some deeper meaning than appears on the surface. Spirit ual commentators have consequently not been slow to find herein the seeds of profound spiritual truths.^—Griffith Thomas. . We have, in this beautiful story, a striking type of the union between Christ and His bride, the Church; (.1) Abraham arranged the marriage for Isaac, and so the Father has made the marriage for Christ (Matt. 22:1, 2 ). (2) The servant selected the bride, and so the Holy Spirit calls out the Church (1 Cor. 6:11; 12:3, 13). (3) The plan of the servant was simply to tell who his master was, and how he had honored his son, and so the Holy Spirit takes the things of Christ and shows them unto us (John 15:26; 16:13-15). See further the free agency of the bride in accepting Isaac, and the expression of her purpose in the words “I will go”; also, the separation from loved ones, but the compensation for all in anticipation. Observe, as well, Isaac’s coming out to meet her in the
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