Genesis 22-24
We are launching into The World Stream again in the book of Genesis. This week we will read from the New King James Version. The NKJV was commissioned in 1975 and it took 7 years to complete. It’s keeps the style of the original King James Version from 1611 and updates the English to the modern day.
Last week, Abraham had settled by the tamarisk tree in Beersheba.
Prayer
Lord God, what a whirlwind Abraham journeyed through as we read this today. Remind us that you bring us through life’s trials, tragedies, triumphs. May we let the landmarks we trek past be reminders of God’s unwavering faithfulness. And may we thus endeavor to be true to what you have promised for us. No, Abraham did not handle all things perfectly; only Jesus did. But Abraham believed, persevered, had faith and lived that faith as he trusted you. Abraham worshipped in righteous faith that pleased the Lord. We can please the Lord with our righteous faith too. Thank you God for this example.
In our Savior’s Name, Amen.
Commentary
Genesis 22 is a tale of terrible intrigue; among the most perplexing in the Bible … in all of literature for that matter. Abraham’s son; Isaac is the blessed and promised one. He was granted to Abraham/Sarah long after they had run out of patience and strayed from propriety in allowing God to bring them a son to carry on their legacy – and to do so God’s way. We can imagine that Isaac was clung to, cherished, and protected like a chest of gems to say the least. But before God is going to resume and finalize his plan to make Abraham the “father of the faith”, there is one more aspect of Abraham’s faith that must be verified. God needs to know (forgive the humanized irony of that phrase, “God needs to know”) that Abraham prioritizes God’s blessing and following God’s orders over what Abraham perceives as needing to happen so that Abraham’s plans can materialize Abraham’s way. Abraham needs to know that God and he are both aware (and in both directions) that not even Isaac is going to come between God and Abraham. So against all sensibilities, Abraham proceeds toward Mt. Moriah with knife, wood, and fire to sacrifice Isaac as if they were another of the cultic tribes that plagued the entire region! BTW, Moriah is the same region where Solomon built the Temple 1000 years later and millions of animals ended up being sacrificed so to cleanse sin. While enroute, Isaac inquires as to where the sacrificial animal was and his father’s answer settles him. It had to be the oddest task ever to bind one’s son for sacrifice AND for Isaac to be peculiarly passive during the process. The Jews have a phrase for this binding of Isaac; “A-qe-DAH” (pronounced ‘ah-kay-DAH’) The discussions around this process have roiled for 4,000 years. Think this entire scenario through from all angles and there is not a nifty resolution that gets wrapped in a bow to make us feel better. What do we today have in our lives that matters more to us than God’s blessing? PLENTY! Abraham had nothing that mattered more. He knew God would provide. Do we? Even when faced with ridiculous odds? Do you see how the ram is caught in the thicket, by his horns, in the thorns? The ram is wearing a “crown of thorns” … before he is sacrificed – so that Isaac isn’t sacrificed but is free to live. Do you hear Calvary in this prophetic event? Christ wears a crown of thorns before he is sacrificed so that we can be free to live eternally.
Before chapter 22 ends there’s a mini-genealogy spelled out. Draw a tree of it if you wish. But do take note that this links to Abraham and is where Rebekah comes from; Isaac’s wife, Jacob’s mother, Joseph’s grandmother; this Joseph who ends up in Egypt and saves the known world from famine.
Genesis 23 – is the first chapter of the Bible dedicated to someone’s death. What did God say was going to happen in Genesis 2:17? Can you imagine Eve burying Adam 930 years later? Did she mutter, “hey, it was just a piece of fruit. I didn’t think it would become this serious.”? At the end of Genesis Jacob and Joseph die, just 27 verses apart from each other. Deuteronomy ends with Moses’ death. God is not telling us, “I told you so!” He is grieving with us. His plan was to spare us this heartache. So here is where Sarah dies. She is 127 and Abraham, now 137, is to bury her and does so in the town we know as Hebron today. The place of burial is the cave of Machpelah (m’ck-pay-la). The endearment and grace shown to Abraham is wonderful and encouraging. Abraham needs things to be as such at a time like this. Sarah is buried there and the land is permanently deeded to Abraham and family. It is 2029 B.C. The massive grave structure that Herod shored up and rededicated almost exactly 2,000 years later is done in the decades before Christ. This is what we can see today. In 1984-85 my husband was finishing college in Israel and was allowed to see the enclosed tombs of Abraham/Sarah, Isaac/Rebekah, Jacob/Leah (Rachel is commemorated north in Bethlehem, Gen. 35:16-20). Strangely enough, this is not an accessible site today – not for anyone of any faith.
Genesis 24 – It is time for Isaac, now in his late 30’s, to fetch a wife. Abraham’s insistence that his Covenant Son marry and start a family is merely strengthened and urged further in the aftermath of Sarah’s passing. Abraham can feel the time passing and this duty of his is past due. His chief servant makes a ritualistic promise to Abraham to go back to Abraham’s birthplace and get a wife for Isaac from Abraham’s extended family in NW Mesopotamia. Isaac must not marry a Canaanite or this ‘blessed to be a blessing’ calling is overwith. Look what wrong women did to Solomon and then the nation of Israel! Isaac must marry from his extended family. And she must leave the region of Ur and come back to where Abraham and Isaac are. She cannot stay there for it is a region of paganism. She cannot be a Canaanite for they are entrenched pagans. As for equations and Isaac’s future family there is no other way to go about it save for what Abraham just spoke. The stuff of this story is ingredients for an enchanted romance. The journey, the prayers, the water, the well, the watering of the camels, the fulfillment of the sign, Rebekah’s joy with it all. Wow. The repetition serves to assert that this is God at work. Events go perfectly as Providence has ordained. Once all realize that there is no going back on all that is developing, and Rebekah is going away to marry Isaac, the story sputters a bit. They try to detain Rebekah for 10 days. This is the first of a few future stunts from this family! But delay is not going to happen, not on this run.
They commence for Canaan. Isaac and Rebekah see each other from afar. She covers her face with a veil as is still done in weddings today! Hey grab a tissue and read it again. This is beautiful. And uh, do like Abraham and Isaac – – marry the right one.
The image of the cenotaph of Sarah’s Tomb was from this page about the Cave of Machpelah.