Gen. 24:1-41And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. 2And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: 3And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: 4But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. (Genesis 24:1‑4)
“AND Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house... I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: but thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.” vv. 1-4.
Since the days when God first called Abraham out of the land of the Chaldees, his life had been marked by a variety of experiences and trials of faith, all of which contributed to a deeper understanding of God’s ways and promises to him. Many of these deep exercises could not take place until earlier experiences of his life were concluded.
With this in mind, in considering chapter 24 and its typical meaning, it will be readily seen that this interesting story logically followed the death of Sarah. It is helpful, indeed, to see that the sequence of events as recorded sets forth a divine order, as follows: In chapter 22, Isaac offered up as a sacrifice, was a type of Christ in death, his release therefrom, a type of His resurrection. In chapter 23 Sarah’s death speaks figuratively of Israel, after the flesh, being set aside by God; and chapter 24 presents a beautiful picture of God’s calling the Church out of the world to be the Bride of His Son.
As long as Israel remained in the good of its position as God’s special people and were obedient to His ways, He was pleased to extend boundless favors to them, just as Abraham, loving Sarah, shared with her his riches and high calling. But when Israel was set aside, following their rebellion against God and rejection of their Messiah, grace was then extended to the whole world. All outside of Israel are referred to in Scripture as Gentiles, as distinct from Israel itself or the Jews who were a part of that nation. We read in Acts 13:46,4746Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. (Acts 13:46‑47): “It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you [Jews]: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.” It is from among the Gentiles (those figuratively dwelling in a distant country) that a “bride” is now being secured for God’s Son, although the Jews were, and still are, invited to come into this same place of blessing as well, if they too will come on the ground of salvation through the atoning work of Christ on Calvary.
Abraham could scarcely forget his affection for Sarah—just as God has never forgotten His people Israel, even though they are now spiritually dead. “For a small moment,” He declares, “have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment.” Abraham’s thoughts now turned to his much-loved son, Isaac, and he determined to secure a companion for him.
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