and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling, and I will have you swear by the LORD,In ancient Near Eastern culture, oaths were solemn promises often made in the presence of a deity to ensure their seriousness and binding nature. Here, Abraham is invoking the name of the LORD, emphasizing the gravity of the task. The use of "LORD" (YHWH) signifies the covenantal relationship between God and Abraham, highlighting the importance of divine guidance in the matter of Isaac's marriage. the God of heaven and the God of earth,
This phrase underscores God's sovereignty over all creation, both celestial and terrestrial. It reflects a monotheistic belief in one God who rules over the entire universe, contrasting with the polytheistic beliefs of surrounding cultures. This acknowledgment of God's universal dominion reinforces the seriousness of the oath and the divine oversight of the mission. that you will not take a wife for my son
Abraham's concern for Isaac's marriage is rooted in the covenant promises God made to him. The choice of a wife for Isaac is crucial for the continuation of God's covenantal blessings and the fulfillment of His promises regarding Abraham's descendants. This reflects the biblical theme of God's providence in guiding the lineage through which the Messiah would eventually come. from the daughters of the Canaanites
The Canaanites were known for their idolatrous practices and moral corruption, which were in direct opposition to the worship of the LORD. Abraham's insistence on not choosing a wife from among them is a protective measure to ensure that Isaac's family remains faithful to God. This separation from Canaanite influence is a recurring theme in Scripture, emphasizing the need for God's people to remain distinct and holy. among whom I am dwelling,
Abraham's current residence in Canaan highlights the tension between living in a land that is promised to his descendants and the need to remain separate from its inhabitants' practices. This phrase also foreshadows the future challenges the Israelites will face in maintaining their distinct identity while living among other nations. It serves as a reminder of the call to be in the world but not of it, a principle echoed throughout the Bible. Persons / Places / Events 1. AbrahamThe patriarch of the Israelite nation, who is making a significant decision regarding the future of his lineage by ensuring his son marries within his own people. 2. IsaacAbraham's son, who is the heir to God's promises and is central to the continuation of God's covenant with Abraham. 3. The ServantLikely Eliezer of Damascus, Abraham's trusted servant, tasked with finding a suitable wife for Isaac. 4. The LORD, the God of heaven and earthThe covenant-keeping God whom Abraham serves and trusts to guide the process of finding a wife for Isaac. 5. The CanaanitesThe inhabitants of the land where Abraham is dwelling, known for their idolatrous practices, from whom Abraham wants to ensure Isaac's wife does not come. Teaching Points The Importance of Godly HeritageAbraham's insistence on a wife from his own people underscores the importance of maintaining a godly heritage and ensuring that future generations are raised in the faith. Trust in God's GuidanceAbraham's reliance on God to guide the servant in finding a wife for Isaac demonstrates trust in God's providence and timing. The Role of Faith in Decision-MakingThe decision to avoid Canaanite women reflects a commitment to faith-based decision-making, prioritizing spiritual values over cultural convenience. The Influence of Relationships on FaithThe potential influence of a spouse on one's faith journey is significant, highlighting the need for shared beliefs and values in marriage. Obedience to God's CommandsAbraham's actions reflect obedience to God's commands and a desire to align his family's future with God's will. Bible Study Questions 1. Why did Abraham insist that Isaac's wife should not be from the Canaanites, and how does this reflect God's broader plan for Israel? 2. How can we apply Abraham's trust in God's guidance to our own decision-making processes today? 3. In what ways does the principle of not being unequally yoked apply to modern Christian relationships, and what challenges might arise from this? 4. How does the account of Abraham's servant finding a wife for Isaac demonstrate the importance of prayer and seeking God's will in our lives? 5. What steps can we take to ensure that our relationships and family decisions align with our faith and God's commands? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 12:1-3God's initial call and promise to Abraham, emphasizing the importance of his lineage and the blessing to all nations. Deuteronomy 7:3-4God's command to Israel not to intermarry with the surrounding nations to prevent turning away from Him. 2 Corinthians 6:14The New Testament principle of not being unequally yoked with unbelievers, reflecting the importance of shared faith in relationships. People Abraham, Aram, Bethuel, Canaanites, Isaac, Laban, Milcah, Nahor, Rebekah, SarahPlaces Beer-lahai-roi, Hebron, Mesopotamia, Nahor, NegebTopics Canaanite, Canaanites, Cause, Daughters, Dwell, Dwelling, Heaven, Heavens, Isaac, Midst, Oath, Swear, Wife, WiltDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 24:3 1130 God, sovereignty
5674 daughters
9411 heaven Genesis 24:1-4 5077 Abraham, character
6650 finding Genesis 24:1-9 5076 Abraham, life of
5681 family, nature of Genesis 24:2-4 5523 servants, good Genesis 24:3-4 4696 yoke
5711 marriage, restrictions Genesis 24:3-9 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 24:3 NIVGenesis 24:3 NLTGenesis 24:3 ESVGenesis 24:3 NASBGenesis 24:3 KJV
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