· 22:20-24: One final thought from Gen. 22, why is the genealogy that brings Rebekah into the story presented now. The reason we have already noted. God is telling Abraham that He, God, can be trusted to fulfill His word to Abraham. Thus, immediately after the test, God’s word tells us that the historical procession continued. Sarah is about to die, and Isaac will need a wife. No longer is Abraham tested as to his faith. Instead he lives out his life of faith. Sarah will need burial, and Abraham purchases the first piece of land that can be called, in some sense, his own. And then, for the story to continue, his son will need to produce seed. Child-bearing is fundamental to the plan of redemption.
· 23:3,7: Proverbs says we must not forsake “mercy and truth” (chesed and emeth, lovingkindness and faithfulness). It will give you favor with God and man. This is exemplified in Abraham’s dealings with his Canaanite neighbors. The sons of Heth are the “Hittites.” Eventually, they will be evicted from the land and it will belong to the descendants of Abraham. But for now, their sins have not reached that level where God requires their judgment. Abraham is a gracious man.
· 24:3-4: There is the Abrahamic way, where a father has the task of finding a wife for his son. Then there is the Jacobian way, where he had his father’s instruction to find a good wife and then made his own journey back to the home country. But as you read the stories, God’s hand was seen in both stories.
· 24:16: Isaac is the promised son, and a bride is being provided. Christ is the promised Son, and the Father has provided a Bride, which is the Church. Rebekah was beautiful. The Bride of Christ is beautiful (Psa. 45:10-13; Eph. 5:27).
· There are many connections between Christ and Isaac. Here are several.
o 15:1-6: both were promised sons (Lk. 1:26-38).
o 12:5; 21:5: a long time between promise and birth (Gn. 3:15; Lk. 2:1-7).
o 17:19: the name of each was announced before the birth (Mt. 1:21; Lk. 1:31).
o 17:17: both had an “impossible” birth (Isa. 7:14; Mt. 1:22-23).
o 18:19: both born at an “appointed” time (Gal. 4:4).
o 21:8-14: the presence of each divided families (Lk. 12:49-56).
o 22:2: each was the only son of their father, whom their father loved (Mt. 3:17).
o 22:4: each was lost to his father for 3 days (Mt. 12:40).
o 22:2: both designated as an offering (Hb. 10:5-10).
o 22:2: both “died” in the land of Moriah (Gn. 22:14).
o 22:6: each bore the wood for their altar (John 19:16-17).
o 22:7-10: both were willing sacrifices (Mt. 26:36-46).
o 22:9: each was placed on an alter (Hb. 13:10).
We will continue this in the next post.
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