Genesis 22:20-2420And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor; 21Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram, 22And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel. 23And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother. 24And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah. (Genesis 22:20‑24)
PERHAPS the renewed pledges from God and the words, “By Myself have I sworn,” were instrumental in turning the footsteps of Abraham and Isaac back to Beersheba, “the well of the oath,” and its refreshing waters.
Before ascending the mountain with Isaac, Abraham’s last words to the young men were: “I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” The young men, owning their allegiance to Abraham, present a type of the nation of Israel, owning its allegiance to God. As the young men were left alone for a period of time, so too Israel was alone and apart from God at the time of Calvary, where the Son of God was offered up. The two remaining behind remind us that Israel was not equal to entering into that scene of the death of their Messiah. To their dull hearts it was an unacceptable offering and strange to them. The manifestation to them of the value of the sufferings of Christ for them awaits a future day, when “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” John 19:3737And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. (John 19:37).
But when Abraham and Isaac returned to the young men and they journeyed to Beersheba together, there was a foreshadow of the day when Israel will be restored and see the good of the death of the One from whom they have meanwhile been estranged. The two young men, raining faithfully by the goods and waiting for the return of their master, speak most impressively of the faithful remnant of Jews who will be obedient to God in the time of tribulation. These are the ones of whom it is prophesied: “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: This is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Isa. 25:99And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. (Isaiah 25:9)
This lovely story ends at this point —Abraham taking up his residence in Beersheba, where he has previously planted a grove and called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God. If we have enjoyed the contemplation of a new bond of relationship between this earthly father and son, may it not delight our hearts even more to think of the enriched relationship between God the Father and His Son when He had accomplished the work which His Father sent Him to do?
“And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also borne children unto thy brother Nahor.” v. 20. This verse and those that close the chapter recite the names of a number of individuals holding relationship with Abraham through his brother Nahor, back in the land of Haran, which Abraham had left so many years ago. News traveled slowly in those days and it was no doubt of real interest to Abraham to hear of these families. They are, however, of no more than passing interest to us, except for the name of one daughter mentioned in verse 23: “And Bethuel begat Rekah.” The Lord willing, we will soon come to the beautiful love story of Rebekah and Isaac.
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