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Genesis 25: 22-23: The war within

^“22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ So she went to enquire of the Lord. ²³ The Lord said to her, ‘Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the elder will serve the younger.’” NIV UK

We saw yesterday how Rebekah became aware of the babies jostling in her womb. She may not, however, have known at the time that she was expecting twins. But the Lord showed her that she was. Furthermore, the tussle between these two boys was to continue through their lifetimes, and between their descendants for generations to come.

‘That the younger son should rule the elder was contrary to human tradition and logic, but the sovereign God made the choice (Rom.9:10-12), and God never makes a mistake.’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘The Wiersbe Bible Commentary (OT)’, p.97.

This story pictures, for me, the inner struggle that takes place in the life of the Christian – a battle between the sinful nature and the Holy Spirit. By the grace of God, the old self can be subdued by the Spirit. But there can be no doubting the intensity and ferocity of this war within.

‘’Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life’’ (Galatians 6:7,8).

The great preacher, John Stott, spoke in very clear terms about how we cannot repeatedly sow to the ‘flesh’ and expect to reap holiness. What you sow in the field is what eventually comes up. You can tell what was sown by looking at the crop

PRAYER: Lord, please strengthen me that day by day I may feed my spirit, and starve the carnal nature.

Genesis 25: 22-23: Take it the Lord in prayer, part 2.

^“22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ So she went to enquire of the Lord. ²³ The Lord said to her, ‘Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the elder will serve the younger.’” NIV UK

Matthew Henry makes the point that not having children was Rebekah’s problem before; now having children was her problem. She had a difficult pregnancy. Perhaps she felt so disturbed by the inner tumult that she thought it might be the death of her. She must have felt uncomfortable at very least. I understand the Hebrew language used indicates that the foetal movements were abnormal. Whatever, Henry is surely right to say: ‘(1.) The comforts we are most desirous of are sometimes found to bring along with them more occasion of trouble and uneasiness that we thought of, vanity being written upon all things under the sun. God thus teaches us to read it. (2.) We are too apt to be discontented with our comforts, because of the uneasiness that attends them. We know not when we are pleased; we know neither how to want nor how to abound.’

In her perplexity, Rebekah sought understanding. She took it to the Lord in prayer. Prayer is not just about asking for things (i.e. making requests), as in yesterday’s reading (21). It can also entail asking about things (seeking wisdom). It is a good thing to ‘’enquire of the LORD’’, as Rebekah did (22,23). I have often referred to the wonderful promise in James 1:5-7, and I feel the need to do so again. God is not obliged to answer any of our questions, but He often chooses to do so, as here. It is so good to enter ‘’the sanctuary of God’’ (Ps.73:17)

Genesis 25:19-21: Take it to the Lord in prayer.

^“19 This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, ²⁰ and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. ²¹ Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.” NIV UK

There are certain repeating patterns in Biblical history. One of these is the case of the barren wife who conceives in answer to prayer. This is also part of a repeating pattern in the Abraham and Sarah/Isaac and Rebekah stories. Sarah was barren, but miraculously bore Abraham a son. Here we read:  ‘’Isaac prayer hard to GOD for his wife because she was barren. GOD answered his prayer and Rebekah became pregnant.’’ The Message.

‘Once more we see God’s active intervention in ensuring that the covenant promises given to Abraham and Isaac would be fulfilled. God’s purposes cannot be fulfilled by human effort alone.’ Tom Hale: ‘Applied Old Testament Commentary’, p.168.

‘Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah. For twenty years, they waited for a family that did not come. God blessed Isaac in everything but the thing he wanted most. He and Rebekah knew that God had promised descendants (Gen.15:5), so Isaac laid hold of the promise and prayed. True prayer lays hold of God’s Word (John15:7) and seeks to accomplish God’s purposes.’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘With the Word’, p.33.

Wiersbe also says that the purpose of prayer is to get God’s will done on earth, not to have man’s will done in heaven. He emphasises that Isaac’s prayer was not selfish. He must have heard the covenant promises made to his father repeated in the home again and again. How could they be fulfilled if he and Rebekah remained childless. Furthermore, he makes the point that Genesis emphasises the sovereignty of God, and shows the wisdom of His ‘delays’. Abraham and Sarah had to wait 25 years for Isaac to appear; Jacob had to toil for fourteen years to obtain his two wives, and Joseph had to wait over twenty years to be reconciled to his brothers. ‘Our times are in His hands (Ps.31:15), and His timing is never wrong.’ ‘The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, OT’, p.96.

PRAYER: Lord please teach me how to marry your Word with my praying. I feel like I am just ‘in the infants’ in this school of prayer. Please be my teacher, and make me a powerful intercessor like Abraham was, and his son Isaac.

Genesis 25:12-18: Brotherly hostility!

^“12 This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Sarah’s slave, Hagar the Egyptian, bore to Abraham. ¹³ These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, ¹⁴ Mishma, Dumah, Massa, ¹⁵ Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. ¹⁶ These were the sons of Ishmael, and these are the names of the twelve tribal rulers according to their settlements and camps. ¹⁷ Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people. ¹⁸ His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go towards Ashur. And they lived in hostility towards all the tribes related to them.” NIV UK

‘’And they lived in hostility towards all their brothers’’ (18b).

Conflict, division, hostility, murder are all consequences of the fall (see Genesis 4). They are the bad fruit of sin entering into the world. Christians should endeavour to ‘’seek peace and pursue it’’ (1 Peter 3:11), but we do so with realism, recognising the sinful forces constantly at play in the world, and in our own hearts, which would tear us apart if left unchecked.

As previously noted, Abraham and Sarah chose their own path when Abraham slept with Hagar. Although they could be forgiven, and Ishmael could be blessed, the consequences of sin could not be undone. The world continues to suffer from them today.

Genesis 25:1-11: Gathered to his people.

“Abraham had taken another wife, whose name was Keturah. ² She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. ³ Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan; the descendants of Dedan were the Ashurites, the Letushites and the Leummites. ⁴ The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah. ⁵ Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. ⁶ But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east. ⁷ Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years. ⁸ Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people. ⁹ His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, ¹⁰ the field Abraham had bought from the Hittites.^[a] There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. ¹¹ After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who then lived near Beer Lahai Roi.” NIV UK

After a great loss, although the pain is keenly felt, life does not have to come to an end. We have already seen how, following the death of Sarah, there was a new chapter in Abraham’s story, and we can see something more of that in today’s passage. There is also the further comment that: ‘’After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac…’’ (11). A bereavement – especially of a close family member – is likely to leave a deep imprint on you. But it doesn’t have to be the end of your life. It certainly doesn’t dry up the flow of God’s blessing.

But in life, we, being mortal, not only love and lose; we ourselves have to die. Although Abraham lived a long, long time, death eventually came knocking on his door. I love the line which says ‘’and he was gathered to his people’’ (8b). That phrase may mean nothing more than that he was laid with other dead relatives in the same cemetery. But I instinctively feel it means more. As believers, we have the confidence that we will see God after we have died. That is the greatest blessing to anticipate. However, we also carry in our hearts, the joyful prospect of meeting fellow-believers again, and enjoying their company – just as the disciples came to recognise Jesus and shared fellowship with Him again after His resurrection. As the hymn-writer rightly expressed: ‘What a gathering!’

PRAYER: Thank you so much Lord Jesus, you who are the Resurrection and the life, for the wonderful hope we have in you.

Genesis 24: 62-67: The beauty of marriage.

^“62 Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. ⁶³ He went out to the field one evening to meditate,^[a] and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. ⁶⁴ Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel ⁶⁵ and asked the servant, ‘Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?’ ‘He is my master,’ the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself. ⁶⁶ Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. ⁶⁷ Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.” NIV UK

There is something beautiful about the closing section of this story. We see Isaac the meditative man (63). This short sentence seems to provide such insight into the kind of person Isaac was. We are also caused to consider afresh God’s detailed care in the statement that ‘’…Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death’’ (67). When marriage functions as God intended, there is mutual comfort for wife and husband.

Tom Hale writes: ‘We are left in wonder at God’s provision not only for Isaac but also for Rebekah. One moment she was an unknown village girl. Then she offered some water to a stranger (Mark 9:41). The next moment she was betrothed to Isaac, heir to wealth, heir to the promises of God. Before long she would become the mother of a nation, Israel, out of which would issue the Messiah, God’s Son. Truly her faith was rewarded more abundantly than she could ever have imagined.’ ‘Applied Old Testament Commentary’, pp.167, 168.

Writers have often commented on the servant in this story as a type of the Holy Spirit, who is self-effacing, and brings the ‘bride’ (the church) to Jesus.

‘This is an illustration of personal salvation. The Spirit speaks to us about Christ and shows us His treasures, and we trust Christ even though we have never seen Him (1 Peter 1:8).’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘With the Word’,pp.32, 33.

Genesis 24: 59-61: Parting blessing

^“59 So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men. ⁶⁰ And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,                                         ‘Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the cities of their enemies.’ ⁶¹ Then Rebekah and her attendants got ready and mounted the camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.” NIV UK

As Rebekah left, her family bestowed their blessing. It was particularly that she might have ‘’thousands upon thousands’’ of descendants, and that they would ‘’possess the gates of their enemies’’ (60). In other words, take possession of enemy strongholds (see 22:17). Tom Hale makes the excellent point that: ‘Since Rebekah’s spiritual descendants today constitute the church of Christ, one is reminded of Jesus’ statement that the gates of Hades will not be able to overcome His church (Matthew 16:18).’ Tom Hale: ‘Applied Old Testament Commentary’,p.167.

The song, ‘To dream the impossible dream’, has in it a line which speaks about marching into Hell ‘for a heavenly cause.’ It has long seemed to me that this is the role of the church. We are on the offensive in Jesus’ Name, taking ground from the enemy, who will be unable to prevail. Our enemy is real and we must not underestimate him. But let us always believe that in Jesus we are ‘on the victory side.’ As someone said, ‘We are not fighting for victory, we are fighting from victory.’

Genesis 24: 50-58: What’s your response?

^“50 Laban and Bethuel answered, ‘This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. ⁵¹ Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed.’ ⁵² When Abraham’s servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the Lord. ⁵³ Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewellery and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother. ⁵⁴ Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, ‘Send me on my way to my master.’ ⁵⁵ But her brother and her mother replied, ‘Let the young woman remain with us ten days or so; then you may go.’ ⁵⁶ But he said to them, ‘Do not detain me, now that the Lord has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master.’⁵⁷ Then they said, ‘Let’s call the young woman and ask her about it.’ ⁵⁸ So they called Rebekah and asked her, ‘Will you go with this man?’ ‘I will go,’ she said.” NIV UK

Have you heard God’s call to go somewhere else and serve Him there? Has a ‘door’ clearly opened up in front of you? Has God’s will become patently obvious? Then what’s keeping you? Why are you still here? Doesn’t this call for decisive action? What’s your response to be?

‘Rebekah thus proved herself to be a woman of faith, ready to leave her home and family, and journey to an unknown land – just as Abraham had done before her.’ Tom Hale: ‘Applied Old Testament Commentary’, p. 167

Genesis 24:50-51: Get on with it.

^“50 Laban and Bethuel answered, ‘This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. ⁵¹ Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed.’ ” NIV UK

As I opened my Bible this morning, my eye fell on a quote from George Mueller. I had written it inside the front cover many years ago:

‘I have joyfully dedicated my whole life to the object of exemplifying how much may be accomplished by prayer and faith.’

To my mind, George Mueller’s life story is a form of apologetics. How can we explain what happened, consistently, to him – the many remarkable answers to prayer he received – if God is not real? He took God seriously, and God took him seriously, and, it seems to me that this still happens to people today. (I appreciate someone reading this may need to go and bone up on George Mueller. Apologies, but in this short thought I don’t have time or space to provide the details).

Abraham’s servant showed a similar confidence in God. The Lord did not let him down.

I know we are fallible. We sometimes get things wrong. We are not always clear about guidance. But there are those times when it appears God has so remarkably guided; a ‘door’ has so obviously opened, that we just need to get on with it and go through it.