And he told me, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you may take a wife for my son from my kindred and from my father's house. The LORDThe Hebrew word used here is "Yahweh," the personal name of God, emphasizing His covenant relationship with His people. This name is deeply rooted in the history of Israel, signifying God's eternal presence and faithfulness. In this context, it underscores the divine authority and assurance behind the mission. before whom I have walked
The phrase "before whom I have walked" reflects a life lived in conscious awareness of God's presence. The Hebrew word "halak" (walked) implies a continuous, habitual lifestyle. Abraham's life was marked by faith and obedience, setting a precedent for his descendants. This phrase highlights the importance of living a life that is pleasing to God, characterized by trust and righteousness. will send His angel with you
The mention of "His angel" indicates divine intervention and guidance. In Hebrew, "malak" means messenger, often referring to a supernatural being sent by God. This assurance of angelic accompaniment signifies God's active involvement in the affairs of His people, providing protection and direction. It reflects the belief in God's providence and His ability to orchestrate events according to His will. make your journey a success
The Hebrew root "tsalach" means to prosper or succeed. This promise of success is contingent upon divine favor and guidance. It emphasizes the belief that true success comes from aligning one's actions with God's purposes. The journey's success is not merely a matter of human effort but is ultimately determined by God's blessing. so that you may take a wife for my son
This phrase underscores the importance of marriage within the context of God's covenant promises. The selection of a wife for Isaac is not just a personal matter but a continuation of God's plan for Abraham's descendants. It highlights the significance of family and lineage in fulfilling God's promises. from my own clan and from my father’s house
The emphasis on choosing a wife from Abraham's own clan and father's house reflects the cultural and religious importance of maintaining purity of faith and heritage. It underscores the need to preserve the covenantal identity and values within the family. This choice is not merely about cultural preference but about ensuring that the covenant promises are upheld through future generations. Persons / Places / Events 1. AbrahamThe patriarch who is speaking in this verse, expressing his faith in God's guidance for finding a wife for his son, Isaac. 2. The LORDThe covenant God of Abraham, who is believed to guide and ensure the success of the mission. 3. The AngelA divine messenger sent by God to ensure the success of the servant's journey. 4. The ServantLikely Eliezer, Abraham's trusted servant, tasked with finding a wife for Isaac. 5. Abraham's Clan and Father's HouseThe family and lineage from which Abraham desires a wife for Isaac, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the covenant lineage. Teaching Points Faith in God's GuidanceAbraham's confidence in God's provision serves as a model for trusting God in our own decisions and journeys. Divine AssistanceThe mention of an angel underscores the belief in God's active involvement in the lives of believers, providing guidance and protection. Covenant FaithfulnessAbraham's insistence on a wife from his own clan highlights the importance of maintaining spiritual and covenantal integrity in relationships. Obedience and SuccessThe success of the servant's mission is tied to obedience to God's direction, illustrating the principle that true success comes from following God's will. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Abraham's faith in God's guidance challenge or encourage you in your current life decisions? 2. In what ways can you seek and recognize God's guidance in your daily life, similar to the servant's journey? 3. How does the concept of divine assistance, such as the sending of an angel, impact your understanding of God's involvement in your life? 4. What steps can you take to ensure that your relationships align with your spiritual values and commitments, as seen in Abraham's desire for Isaac's wife? 5. How can you apply the principle of trusting in God's provision and timing in areas where you are seeking success or resolution? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 17:1This verse connects to Abraham's walk with God, highlighting his faithfulness and God's covenant promise. Exodus 23:20Relates to the concept of God sending an angel to guide and protect His people. Hebrews 11:8-10Reflects on Abraham's faith and obedience, which is foundational to the account in Genesis 24. Proverbs 3:5-6Emphasizes trusting in the Lord for guidance, similar to Abraham's trust in God's provision for Isaac's wife. People Abraham, Aram, Bethuel, Canaanites, Isaac, Laban, Milcah, Nahor, Rebekah, SarahPlaces Beer-lahai-roi, Hebron, Mesopotamia, Nahor, NegebTopics Angel, Clan, Family, Father's, Habitually, Hast, Journey, Kept, Kindred, Mayest, Messenger, Possible, Prosper, Prospered, Relations, Relatives, Success, Successful, Walk, Walked, WifeDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 24:40 4111 angels, servants
4140 angel of the Lord
5681 family, nature of Genesis 24:12-51 5695 girls Genesis 24:28-60 5737 sisters Genesis 24:34-41 5671 clan Genesis 24:37-41 5430 oaths, human Library Guidance in the Way
'I being in the way, the Lord led me.'--GENESIS xxiv. 27. So said Abraham's anonymous servant when telling how he had found Rebekah at the well, and known her to be the destined bride of his master's servant. There is no more beautiful page, even amongst the many lovely ones in these ancient stories, than this domestic idyll of the mission of the faithful servant from far Canaan across the desert. The homely test by which he would determine that the maiden should be pointed out to him, the glimpse …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureNo Compromise
The faithful servant of Abraham, before he started, communed with his master; and this is a lesson to us, who go on our Lord's errands. Let us, before we engage in actual service, see the Master's face, talk with him, and tell to him any difficulties which occur to our minds. Before we get to work, let us know what we are at, and on what footing we stand. Let us hear from our Lord's own mouth what he expects us to do, and how far he will help us in the doing of it. I charge you, my fellow-servants, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 34: 1888 If, Therefore, Even they who are United in Marriage Only for the Purpose Of...
22. If, therefore, even they who are united in marriage only for the purpose of begetting, for which purpose marriage was instituted, are not compared with the Fathers, seeking their very sons in a way far other than do these; forasmuch as Abraham, being bidden to slay his son, fearless and devoted, spared not his only son, whom from out of great despair he had received [1997] save that he laid down his hand, when He forbade him, at Whose command he had lifted it up; it remains that we consider, …
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage Jesus Sets Out from Judæa for Galilee.
Subdivision B. At Jacob's Well, and at Sychar. ^D John IV. 5-42. ^d 5 So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 and Jacob's well was there. [Commentators long made the mistake of supposing that Shechem, now called Nablous, was the town here called Sychar. Sheckem lies a mile and a half west of Jacob's well, while the real Sychar, now called 'Askar, lies scarcely half a mile north of the well. It was a small town, loosely called …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
Ver. 8. "Judah, thou, thy brethren shall praise thee; thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; before thee shall bow down the sons of thy father. Ver. 9. A lion's whelp is Judah; from the prey, my son, thou goest up; he stoopeth down, he coucheth as a lion, and as a full-grown lion, who shall rouse him up? Ver. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto Him the people shall adhere." Thus does dying Jacob, in announcing …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament The Blessings of Noah Upon Shem and Japheth. (Gen. Ix. 18-27. )
Ver. 20. "And Noah began and became an husbandman, and planted vineyards."--This does not imply that Noah was the first who began to till the ground, and, more especially, to cultivate the vine; for Cain, too, was a tiller of the ground, Gen. iv. 2. The sense rather is, that Noah, after the flood, again took up this calling. Moreover, the remark has not an independent import; it serves only to prepare the way for the communication of the subsequent account of Noah's drunkenness. By this remark, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Genesis 24:40 NIVGenesis 24:40 NLTGenesis 24:40 ESVGenesis 24:40 NASBGenesis 24:40 KJV
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