Beresheet (Genesis) 23:1 – 25:8

In my most recent blog entry, Parashat Vayeira (And He Appeared), I wrote that I love the account from the book of Genesis 18:9-15 for many reasons; it reveals to us something about God’s character, His faithfulness to fulfill His promises, His unlimited favor, grace, and power, and the greatness of His ability to do what man thinks is impossible.

In this week’s parasha, we can be encouraged to trust and take hold of the Lord’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises, and take comfort in His unlimited favor, grace, and power; He alone can do what man thinks is impossible, and nothing will thwart His plan. Armed with this understanding, we can walk with Him without compromising and trust Him in all of our ways.

In Genesis 24, we read an amazing account that took place as Abraham sends his servant to bring a wife for his son, Isaac, in order to witness the fulfillment of God’s promise to bless him and his descendants, and to multiply them in numbers so that through him all the people of the earth would be blessed:

“Now Abraham was old, advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in every way. And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he owned, “Please place your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live, but you shall go to my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” And the servant said to him, “Suppose the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?” Then Abraham said to him, “Beware lest you 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 before 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 from this my oath; only do not take my son back there.” So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.” Genesis 24:1-9

Once again, Abraham’s faith was translated into action! Here, we see that he sends his servant to bring a wife for Isaac. He clearly understands that the line must be through his relatives, and not through the pagan Canaanites.

From here, the servant himself begins an amazing journey as he commences his search for that wife of promise, but even more than that, the servant is also tested in a way to trust that God will be faithful, and if he (the servant) would have the amazing privilege to partake in that miracle himself. We see this in verse 12 as he says, “O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, would it happen before me today, and you did (or showed) and act grace to my master Abraham.”

I can only imagine the excitement of Abraham’s servant as he stood patiently, waiting to see if God would make good on His promise: “Meanwhile, the man was gazing at her in silence, to know whether the LORD had made his journey successful or not.”

As we know, the Lord was indeed faithful and He provided Rivka (Rebecca) as Isaac’s future wife of blessing, and that Abraham’s servant had great “success” in his mission.

As I stated earlier on, this parasha demonstrates how we can be encouraged to trust in the Lord to do all that He has promised, to take comfort in His unlimited favor, grace, and power, and to know that nothing will thwart His plan! Even a humble, lowly servant demonstrated an awesome faith in Almighty God; verses 48-51 speak to this:

“And I bowed low and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had guided me in the right way to take the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son. “So now if you are going to deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, let me know, that I may turn to the right hand or the left.”

Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The matter comes from the LORD; so we cannot speak to you bad or good. “Behold, Rebekah is before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has spoken.”

My dear friends, what is it that the Lord has called you to? Has He asked you to believe that He can do what seems impossible? Do you trust that He has already provided everything that you need to accomplish that call?

Do not lose heart or be discouraged…He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until Messiah Yeshua returns! (Phil 1:6)

Shabbat Shalom

Moran