Reading Genesis 22-24
Genesis 22 is a foreshadowing of what is to come many years later. Chapter 22 is probably one of the most well known story about Abraham and his son Isaac. The story is pretty much self-explanatory, but underpinning the entire story is two large theological concept.
- Abraham fear and trusted God. Knowing full well of God’s promises, Abraham trusted and believed. Recall earlier that Abraham was granted righteousness because of his faith. Here, we see the same faith being exercised. Remember that at this point, Isaac is the only hope for continuing the bloodline (at least the one promised by God). A sacrifice of Isaac immediately would display Abraham’s faith, but it would also immediately end God’s covenant.
- Therefore, God provided a substitute for the sacrifice. This is the theology of substitution. God substitutes the actual sacrifice (Isaac) with a ram. This substitution is a cornerstone of Christianity where we, who are sinful by nature, should be the sacrifice, yet God’s plan is for a substitute (Jesus) to take our place instead.
Following the death of Sarah in Chapter 23, Chapter 24 continues with the story of the chosen descendent by telling us about the arranged marriage between Isaac and Rebekah. Abraham sends a servant to look for a wife for Isaac, somehow the only condition is that the chosen wife should not be from the daughters of the Canaanites (recall that the Canaanites are the descendants of Ham, Isaac is from the line of Shem), moreover, the wife of Isaac should be from his (referring to Abraham) country and relatives.
Abraham, when arranging a marriage for Isaac continued to remember the promise God made. In particular, God brought Abraham out of his father’s land into a new land, which is given to him and his descendants; therefore, Isaac should not go back there, even if the arranged wife does not want to come to him. The servant’s very specific prayer leads him to Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel (a relative to Abraham).
This is a very odd story because we have a servant with an oddly specific request (though not of his own as it is from Abraham) a prayer almost automatically granted by God. Everything seems too smooth and not the kind of “problematic” situation the start of the Chapter is seemingly building up to. Despite opposition by Rebekah’s mother and brother, it does seem that everything is just too smooth. First from Rebekah miraculously appear and then Rebekah miraculously accepting the call to go to Isaac despite being presented the option to stay for another 10 days.
Honestly, I have no idea what to make out of this story. From the surprising lack of resistance to the ease of finding a wife for Isaac, the prayer and specific sign that the servant ask from God can either be concluded as a coincidence or an act of God. But it really just shows God’s hand in action during the entire episode. I think a lesson that I learn from these two lessons is that God is orchestrating everything. From providing the ram for the sacrifice to providing a wife, Isaac’s life would have ended in Chapter 22 if not for God getting involved. Similarly, God got himself involved again in Chapter 24 to ensure that the covenant to Abraham remains intact.
As much as we like to think we put in our effort to remain faithful, see here, that God is also putting in the effort to ensure that his promises to us never fail.
Joel Lai's Webpage 