Goodwill Departure

Goodwill Departure

Genesis 31: ⁵¹ Then Laban said to Jacob, “Here is this heap and here is this pillar, which I have placed between you and me. ⁵² This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. ⁵³ The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, and the God of their father judge between us.” And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac. ⁵⁴ Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his brethren to eat bread. And they ate bread and stayed all night on the mountain. ⁵⁵ And early in the morning Laban arose, and kissed his sons and daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place.

 

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Laban finalized the covenant by setting boundaries. If either party wanted to do harm to the other, the heap of stones was placed there to remember not to cross into the territory with ill will.

 

My Observations:

• Laban took an oath that he would no longer pursue Jacob and his family to harm them.
• Laban worshipped ancestors, so he mentioned GOD in the context of Nahor and Abraham and Terah.
• Jacob mentioned his father Isaac as he swore to not harm Laban.

 

GOD intervened and the two adversaries departed with goodwill. Jacob would leave with all of Laban’s wealth without having to look over his shoulder, wondering when Laban was going to strike a deadly blow to him.

 

For twenty years, Laban had benefitted from Jacob’s labor. He changed Jacob’s wages ten times, probably to benefit himself. GOD was changing Jacob during the twenty years. Jacob began giving up his deceitful ways, to serve the GOD of his father. Laban and Jacob departed on good terms.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about the covenant between Laban and Jacob?
• Have you ever been angry to the point where you could harm someone?
• If you are angry, are you willing to give it over to GOD so HE can give you peace?

They All Praised

 

They All Praised

Genesis 24: ²² So it was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels of gold, ²³ and said, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please, is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge?”

 

²⁴ So she said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah’s son, whom she bore to Nahor.” ²⁵ Moreover she said to him, “We have both straw and feed enough, and room to lodge.”

 

²⁶ Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord. ²⁷ And he said, “Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.” ²⁸ So the young woman ran and told her mother’s household these things.

 

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Abraham’s servant realized that Rebekah was the one who GOD led him to. He gave her gold from the Garden of Eden. I believe all gold came from there. She explained who she was related to.

 

My Observations:

• Rebekah was a strong woman who had a strong mother and grandmother.
• Rebekah got excited, but used wisdom and ran to her “mother’s household.”
• Abraham’s servant praised GOD for showing mercy to Abraham.

 

Rebekah was excited, Abraham’s servant was excited and soon the entire household would be excited. Milcah must have been a prominent figure in the community. She was Haran’s daughter. Haran was Abrahm’s brother who died. Rebekah mentioned Milcah in a way that she was the one who was known.

 

Abraham’s servant thanked GOD for showing him exactly what he was looking for. He wanted Abraham to get exactly what he asked for. He may not have know how important finding Rebekah was. GOD orchestrated the scenario where Abraham’s family would become involved. They seemed to be one of the few who worshipped GOD at the time.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD go into detail over whose household Rebekah belonged to?
• What did you do when GOD answered a prayer in your favor?
• Can you praise GOD for what HE has done and what HE will do in your life?

Stunned

Stunned

Genesis 24: ¹⁵ And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. ¹⁶ Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up. ¹⁷ And the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.”

 

¹⁸ So she said, “Drink, my lord.” Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink. ¹⁹ And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” ²⁰ Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. ²¹ And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.

 

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Abraham’s servant was praying to the LORD, probably because he had seen Abraham do this often. He was not testing GOD or even trying to muster up faith by forcing GOD to do the impossible on his terms. He simply asked GOD to help him not make a mistake in choosing a wife for Isaac. Before he could finish speaking, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulders.

 

My Observations:

• The HOLY SPIRIT orchestrated the perfect timing of Abraham’s servant being at the well when Rebekah came out.
• Rebekah had a servant leader’s heart, able to serve strangers without complaint or personal gain.
• Abraham’s servant was stunned because the LORD answered his prayer exactly as he asked.

 

“Is this too good to be true?”, the servant may have asked himself. He asked a very specific prayer and it was answered so quickly and specifically. I believe GOD still does this. HE does not mind a specific prayer that is coupled with the right heart.

 

Abraham’s servant would gain nothing from this prayer being answered. The wife would be for Isaac, and Abraham would get the promise GOD had for him. Abraham’s servant wanted what was best for everyone else because he was already blessed by running Abraham’s household. He had everything Abraham had so he was as wealthy as Abraham. His prayer was answered.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD mention to Moses that Abraham’s servant remained silent, “wondering at her?”
• Have you ever asked GOD for something and it came through so quickly that you were stunned?
• Are you willing to ask GOD for something for someone else without the need for personal gain?

Seeking the Best for Others

Seeking the Best for Others

Genesis 24: ¹⁰ Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, for all his master’s goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. ¹¹ And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water. ¹² Then he said, “O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. ¹³ Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. ¹⁴ Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”

 

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Nervous and confused, Abraham’s servant did as he was commanded. He went to Mesopotamia, city of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. Abraham and Nahor were born in Ur, land of the Chaldeans, but when their brother Haran died, they both moved. Nahor was named after his grandfather. Abraham’s servant prayed to the LORD.

 

My Observations:

• Even someone who did not speak to the LORD much, saw the power of GOD.
• Abraham’s servant had everything Abraham had at his disposal, so going on this quest must have been important.
• Abrahm’s servant wanted the best for Abraham and he sought clarity.

 

Instead of asking people “Where are Nahor’s relatives?”, Abraham’s servant sought clarity from GOD. He had been with Abraham through difficult times and saw him succeed, over and over. He was probably nervous at disappointing Abraham, even though he would be released from the oath he took if things did not work out.

 

Abraham’s servant prayed a specific prayer, not to test GOD’s power, rather to know it was HIM who provided the answer versus guessing wrong on a matter of this importance. Abraham’s servant wanted the best for Abraham. He asked for GOD’s kindness to be shown. GOD listened to this prayer.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Abraham’s servant’s prayer?
• Have you ever needed clarity from GOD?
• Do you want the best for someone and are willing to ask GOD to show HIS kindness?

All in the Family

All in the Family

Genesis 22: ²⁰ Now it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham, saying, “Indeed Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: ²¹ Huz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, ²² Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” ²³ And Bethuel begot Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. ²⁴ His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Thahash, and Maachah.

 

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After the flood, GOD said to Noah’s family, “Be fruitful and multiply” just like HE said to Adam and Eve. Generations passed and Terah, father of Abraham, Nahor and Haran, was born. Haran died and tore Terah apart. Abraham and Nahor got a plan. They would get married and bring some joy to Terah.

 

Abraham married Sarah and Nahor married Haran’s daughter Milcah. Someone from Milcah’s family told Abraham about her children.

 

My Observations:

• Milcah was watched over by the LORD.
• Milcah and Nahor also shared in the blessing from GOD.
• Milcah had a child named Bethuel who was the father of Rebekah, who will be discussed later.

 

Though the family faced the difficulties of death, they lived for GOD in a way that HE mentioned them to Moses. JESUS, the Angel of the LORD, seemed close to this family and must have spoken to them regularly. The heartache of losing Haran was filled with joy through Nahor and Milcah.

 

Milcah was opposite of Sarah as she had eight children. They remained in the area that Terah left, amongst the Chaldeans. JESUS’ human lineage would come through this family. To clarify, I believe JESUS was the one who made numerous appearances in the Old Testament.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD give Moses this conversation and lineage?
• Have you ever thought you were not seen by GOD?
• Do you realize you are part of GOD’s family and HE sees you and loves you?

Surround the Grieving

Surround the Grieving

Genesis 11: ²⁷ This is the genealogy of Terah: Terah begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran begot Lot. ²⁸ And Haran died before his father Terah in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans. ²⁹ Then Abram and Nahor took wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah. ³⁰ But Sarai was barren; she had no child.

 

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Terah seemed to do things differently than his ancestors. He waited to have children and moved to a place that had conquerors. The Chaldeans were mentioned for the first time here. They were highly intelligent, but warlike culture. Terah may have been influenced by them, learning how to protect his family and grow wealth through the cattle industry.

 

He may have spent time with his family, discussing the stories of Shem and learned how to follow GOD, even in a land where they did not follow HIM. Unfortunately, his son Haran died. GOD does not go into the details of his death to Moses, but it may have been a disease. Terah was probably torn to pieces. Abram and Nahor surrounded Terah, along side their wives Sarai and Milcah, Haran’s daughter.

 

My Observations:

• Terah listened to the LORD and delighted in family.
• Terah was devastated with the death of his son Haran.
• Nahor, Terah’s son, decided to take care of Haran’s daughter Milcah by marrying her.

 

Abram and Sarai were there to support the grieving father, Terah. They also had to support Milcah and Iscah who had lost a father. For years Abram and Sarai may have thought that they could bring some delight to Terah by having a child. But Sarai was baren, supernaturally.

 

Abram may have taken to the family business of cattle herding. He may have listened to Terah talk about better places, so he may have learned techniques from the Chaldeans of how to take care of large amounts of cattle while on the move. This may have given some relief to Terah.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD mention Sarai and Milcah to Moses?
• Have you ever seen someone in grief and provided help?
• Have you ever been in grief and needed help?

 

Break in Tradition

Break in Tradition

Genesis 11: ²⁴ Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and begot Terah. ²⁵ After he begot Terah, Nahor lived one hundred and nineteen years, and begot sons and daughters.

 

²⁶ Now Terah lived seventy years, and begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

 

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Up to this point, the descendants of Shem had unique names. But Terah did something different and named one of his sons after his father Nahor. Terah may have been close to his father Nahor and possibly listened to the stories of Shem together with him.

 

Terah waited until he was older before having children. This was different from his ancestors who traditionally had kids in their thirties. Terah only had three kids, which was also another break in tradition.

 

My Observations:

• Lifespans were getting shorter which may have been a cause for concern for Terah.
• Terah was the father of Abram and may have taught him about the LORD.
• Terah may have learned about the LORD from his father Nahor and from Shem.

 

It seemed like Terah was different than his ancestors. Family seemed to mean a lot to him, but tradition may not have been his thing. Terah seemed to be growing restless living in the same traditional place as we will see in upcoming scripture. He wanted to see the world.

 

But the world was possibly getting meaner and sicker. Violence, that GOD mentioned to Noah, was in the hearts of humans. Ailments may have been introduced possibly due to a lack of contact with GOD. Greed was possibly growing and the desire for pieces of the Garden of Eden were in high demand. Gold was a precious rock people sought after. GOD saw and protected the descendants of Shem.

 

Challenge

• Why does it seem that Terah breaks tradition as GOD explains Shem’s descendants to Moses?
• Has GOD ever made you restless, wanting to do something different, specifically for HIM?
• Are you able to break traditions, yet keep your walk with the LORD solid?