Bible Study Online Article

In the last article we learned that Abraham's wife Sarah - had died.

Abraham would make an agreement with Ephron to purchase a field that he owned that was located in Machpelah near Mamre.

This field would be the place that he would bury Sarah.

Be that as it may, some time had passed after Abraham had buried his wife Sarah and now we find Abraham to be about 140 years old.

Know that Abraham knew that the Lord had blessed him in every way and that his time on this earth was coming close to an end. He began thinking about his son Isaac during this time in his life and he became concerned, because his son had not yet married. Isaac would be about forty years old at this time and it was custom that men should be married by at least their thirtieth birthday.

Because of this, Abraham would call his chief servant over. This would be the servant that was in charge of all that Abraham had. Now this chief servant is not named during this particular Biblical account, but most Bible scholars believed that this servant was Eliezer of Damascus. This viewpoint stems from this particular Scripture:

"But Abram said, 'O Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?'" -- (Genesis 15:2)

Now after Eliezer had came before Abraham, the man of God would say to him: "Put your hand under my thigh. I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of Canaanites, among whom I am living, but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac." -- Genesis 24:2-4

Abraham would ask this of Eliezer his chief servant, because of his concerns when it came to the Canaanite people. Abraham knew that the Canaanites practice idolatry and were sinners in the eyes of the Lord.

Understand that Abraham didn't want to take the chance of having the family name tainted by the Canaanites reputation of being wicked. Also keep in mind that they were also the civilization that God had cursed back during the days of Noah: "Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers." -- (Genesis 9:25)

Also keep in mind that Canaan was the son of Ham, who was the grandson of Noah. The other two sons that Noah had were Shem and Japheth. Know that Abraham would eventually come from the family line of Shem, so it would be idea for him to stay with the family linage that God had originally blessed:

"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem. May God extend the territory of Japheth; may Japheth live in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be his slave." -- (Genesis 9:26-27)

Understand that it was for these reasons that Abraham would instruct Eliezer to go out into his country amongst his own relatives to get a wife for his son Isaac. Now the country that Abraham is referring to, would be the one that God had called him out of originally. The name of this country is Mesopotamia this would be the place that the city of "Ur" was found to be located within, somewhere in its southern parts.

Now remember that right before Abraham's wife Sarah had passed Abraham did receive some good news concerning his brother Nahor. According to the report he recieved, Milcah the wife of Nahor had bore him eight sons. Now keep in mind that those sons were having families of their own during this time, so this would somewhat suggest why Abraham felt confident, when it came to sending Eliezer on this particular mission.

But Eliezer had some concerns of his own, and he decided to let his master know: "What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?"

After hearing this Abraham would reply: "Make sure that you do not take my son back there. The Lord, the God of heaven who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'To your offspring I will give this land.' The Lord will send His angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there." -- Genesis 24:6-8

So there's a good chance that Abraham felt that Isaac could be influence by the Canaanites within a negative as well, being that they were also seen as wicked idolaters. This is why Abraham didn't want Isaac going to the woman who was to be his wife, Abraham simply didn't want to take that chance.

For it's possible, that if Isaac was around people that he was more familiar with, and surroundings that he was more accustom too? The influence would be even greater and could cause Isaac to take up residence within that country, far away from the land that God had promised him. If this were to happen? This would not be good for the future of Abraham's household.

We must understand that if Isaac were to leave the land of Canaan, he would find himself operating outside of God's powerful "Promise Covenant" that He had made through Abraham. Simply put, this would not be a wise thing to do.

"I am God Almighty walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers. As for Me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram, your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.

"I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, were you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God." -- (Genesis 17:1-8)

So Eliezar placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore on oath to him concerning this matter that dealt with finding a wife for his son Isaac.

Now that Abraham has given his chief servant an important mission when it comes to finding his son Isaac a wife. We will see how this servants mission will actually turn out. Will it be easy, or very difficult for Eliezar to find a woman that will not only satisfy Isaac, but his father as well?

The Introduction of Abraham

**YOUR CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES WOULD BE HERE**

The Birth of Esau & Jacob

Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty

Jacob - Wrestles with God

Joseph the Favorite Son

Joseph the Overseer of Egypt

The Unveiling of Joseph

16) Abimelech Angry with Abraham

17) The Birth of Isaac

18) Hagar & Ishmael - Sent Away

19) Ishmael the Great Nation

20) Abraham & The Well of Oath

21) Abraham & The Great Sacrifice

22) The Death of Sarah

23) <-CURRENT PAGE->

24) The Discovery of Rebekah

25) Rebekah gets Permission to Leave

26) Isaac meets Rebekah

27) The Last Years of Abraham

28) The Twelve Rulers of Ishmael

29) The Birth of Esau & Jacob