Day 8, Genesis 24-25

One week down in this journey, and 51 to go!

Today was mainly about Isaac and Rebekah. Abraham, being advanced in years, was concerned about founding his son Isaac a wife. He asked his servant to help him in this task.

“Put your hand under my thigh, that I may make you swear by the Lord, God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of Canaanites, among whom I dwell, but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”

-Genesis 24:2-4

I have no idea what the symbolism or meaning of “Put your hand under my thigh,” means, but this passage is humorous to me on a personal level. My mother-in-law has made the joke that my husband went back to the “homeland” to find a wife; since I am from the Midwest, as they originally are. After reading this passage, it is even more relate-able and entertaining now that I understand the reference, and that is exactly what Abraham sought out to do for Isaac.

The servant took ten camels and set out on his journey. When he got to Mesopotamia, he made the camels kneel down outside of the city by the well of water, and prayed.

“And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink, and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’–let he be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master’…Before he could finish speaking, behold, Rebekah.”

-Genesis 24:12-15

Everything played out the way he prayed it would. Rebekah offered him water to drink and watered the camels. She took him to her father’s house to spend the night.

“The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord led me in the way to the house of my master’s kinsman.”

-Genesis 24:26-27

Rebekah ran to her brother Laban to tell him what had happened. Abraham’s servant explained everything to him.

“Now then, if you are going to show steadfast love and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right or the left.” Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing has come from the Lord; we cannot speak to you bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has spoken.”

-Genesis 24:49-50

They tried to keep her with them for ten days, but the man did not want to be delayed. They asked Rebekah if she would go, and she said she would. So they sent away Rebekah and blessed her.

“Our sister, may you become thousands of ten thousands, and may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate him!”

-Genesis 24:60

What?

When they returned, the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.

“Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

-Genesis 24:67

Abraham took another wife named Keturah. She bore him six children, and many grandchildren. He died at 175 years old, and gave all he had to Isaac. Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him with his wife Sarah. “After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac his son.”

Then, it explained the generations of Ishmael and his twelve sons, all princes according to their tribes. He died at 137 years.

It goes on to explain the generations of Isaac, however Rebekah was barren. Isaac prayed for his wife , the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah conceived.

“The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.”

-Genesis 25:22-23

Rebekah gave birth to twin boys.

“The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was Jacob (he takes by the heal, or he cheats). Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.”

-Genesis 25:25-28

I thought I read Isaac married Rebekah when he was forty. They were married for twenty years before they had any children? Was this because she was barren and it took that long for God to grant their prayers; why the delay?

At the end of today’s reading, for some reason Jacob wanted Esau to sell him his birthright. I guess because Esau said he was about to die, he did. This part was a little confusing.

“Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.”

-Genesis 25:31-34