The Commission – Genesis 24:1-9
Equipping the next generation.
Genesis 24:1-9 (NLT)
A Wife for Isaac
1 Abraham was now a very old man, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. 2 One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, “Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh. 3 Swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. 4 Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.”
5 The servant asked, “But what if I can’t find a young woman who is willing to travel so far from home? Should I then take Isaac there to live among your relatives in the land you came from?”
6 “No!” Abraham responded. “Be careful never to take my son there. 7 For the Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants. He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son. 8 If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine. But under no circumstances are you to take my son there.”
9 So the servant took an oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master, Abraham. He swore to follow Abraham’s instructions.
Examine the Scriptures
Abraham had buried Sarah in Canaan.
He understood that Canaan was the Promised Land.
Now he was thinking about the next generation.
Genesis 24:1-9 (NLT)
A Wife for Isaac
1 Abraham was now a very old man, and the Lord had blessed him in every way.
Abraham was 137 years old in our last lesson and died when he was 175 years old.
Most likely this story takes place a number of years later then the last lesson.
- Abraham was blessed by God.
- God’s covenant with Abraham required Abraham’s obedience.
Genesis 22:16-18 (NLT)
16 “This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that 17 I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. 18 And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.”
- God’s blessings did not end with Abraham.
Genesis 25:11 (NLT)
11 After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac …
Genesis 26:2-5 (NLT)
2 The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. 3 Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. 4 I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 5 I will do this because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions.”
- God’s loves individuals, but His plans are universal.
Individual
Matthew 10:29-31 (NLT)
29 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
Universal
Colossians 1:15-17 (NLT)
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
2 One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, “Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh.
An oath
Again, Abraham acted. He wanted to be sure Isaac was not living outside of God’s will.
The oath was related to the continuation of Abraham’s line through Isaac.
If the oath were not carried out, the children of Abraham would avenge the servant’s unfaithfulness.
3 Swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women.
Abraham was not thinking about himself, he was looking out for Isaac.
- Abraham was looking out for future generations.
- Abraham wanted to make sure Isaac did not marry a Canaanite woman, which would have been outside of God’s will.
Deuteronomy 7:1-4 (NLT)
7 “When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are about to enter and occupy, he will clear away many nations ahead of you: the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. These seven nations are greater and more numerous than you. 2 When the Lord your God hands these nations over to you and you conquer them, you must completely destroy them. Make no treaties with them and show them no mercy. 3 You must not intermarry with them. Do not let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters, 4 for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and he will quickly destroy you.
Joshua 23:11-13 (NLT)
11 So be very careful to love the Lord your God.
12 “But if you turn away from him and cling to the customs of the survivors of these nations remaining among you, and if you intermarry with them, 13 then know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive them out of your land. Instead, they will be a snare and a trap to you, a whip for your backs and thorny brambles in your eyes, and you will vanish from this good land the Lord your God has given you.
1 Kings 11:2 (NLT)
2 The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.” Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway.
- Abraham was aware of some of the pitfalls the next generation would face.
4 Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.”
500 miles away (450-550)
It was customary for parents to arrange the marriage of their children and it was also customary to marry relatives.
5 The servant asked, “But what if I can’t find a young woman who is willing to travel so far from home? Should I then take Isaac there to live among your relatives in the land you came from?”
- Abraham wanted to be sure Isaac stayed in Canaan.
6 “No!” Abraham responded. “Be careful never to take my son there. 7 For the Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants.
“The Lord … solemnly promised …”
- Abraham believed and had faith in God’s promise to give the land of Canaan to his descendants.
- Abraham understood that God’s promises applied to future generations.
He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son.
Divine oversight
- Abraham understood the sovereignty of God.
8 If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine.
But under no circumstances are you to take my son there.”
Abraham understood that this would be contrary to God’s plan.
9 So the servant took an oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master, Abraham. He swore to follow Abraham’s instructions.
Abraham’s servant took his assignment very seriously and prayed and asked God to give him success.
12 “O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham.
Genesis 24:12 (NLT)
12 “ Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham.
Application:
What can you take away from this lesson?
