I’d like to begin this week’s comments by apologizing.  As I look over the entries I made last week, my tone reveals an edge of disapproval on how scripture is written concerning Abraham’s wife/concubine, Keturah.  Rewriting my comment, I’d like to say that in my human finite mind I didn’t see anything wrong with Abraham remarrying Keturah following Sarah’s death.  Many men have remarried after the death of their life partner.  Often it’s because of loneliness and the need for companionship, but it’s not outside the guidelines given by God in scripture.

Scripture seems to reveal in different places the words “wife” and “concubine” when speaking of Keturah.  A wife has privileges and respect, but a concubine has been defined as “a woman who is the lover of a wealthy married man but with the social status of a subordinate form of wife, often kept in a separate home”.  Another definition is “a woman who lives with a man and has a sexual relationship with him but is not married to him”.  Makes a difference if Keturah is a wife or a concubine, don’t you think?  In order to find out if this issue was a question for others, I looked it up on the internet.  Lots of interesting facts, but I have posted what I discovered.  If you want to read more just google “Keturah, Abraham” and the detailed information pops up.

“Why was Keturah called Abraham’s wife in one passage, and his concubine in another?” Are these two sections of Scripture really contradictory, as Bible critics would have us believe?

First, for Genesis 25:1 and 1 Chronicles 1:32-33 to be a contradiction, one must know whether or not these passages are referring to the same time. It is possible that Keturah was Abraham’s “concubine” in the beginning, and then became his “wife” at a later time. If such were the case, Bible writers could legitimately use both terms when describing her.

Second, although it was unusual for the terms “wives” and “concubines” to be used interchangeably during the monarchic period, evidence indicates that in patriarchal times, using these terms to refer to the same person was somewhat normal.

Keturah was a concubine-wife. Its seems that she was more than a concubine (often considered a second-rate wife of servant status), but not on a par with Sarah, Abraham’s first “wife,” and mother of the promised son (Genesis 17:15-22). Just as Bilhah, Jacob’s concubine-wife, did not rival Rachel or Leah, Keturah was not equivalent with Sarah. Thus, Bible writers were not mistaken when referring to Keturah and Bilhah as both wives and concubines; they simply used two words to indicate the “in-between” position the women held.

Proceeding to the comments posted by my husband, I thank him for taking the time to write his thoughts.  I would like to comment on one of Gary’s questions. 

Regarding Rebekah being a believer, I’ve been taught over the years the answer to that question can only be answered by God.  People in Biblical times as in today’s society appear to know the Lord, live by all the “rules” and have the actions to prove it and then do something that is totally off the rails of what defines Christianity.  Maybe it’s a weak moment; maybe they truly never prayed the sinner’s prayer and meant it, who knows?  But one thing we heard last week in Sunday School explained if you are a believer, God has saved you and that can’t be reversed.  However, if you continue live outside His will and become a stumbling block to others, God will not allow you to continue in that path.

Now onto Chapter 26 and this week’s assignment!  First of all, read the beginning of Chapter 12 concerning a famine in the land.  As a result of the famine, Abraham went “down” to Egypt.  Abraham explains to the Egyptians that Sarah is his sister because he fears they will kill him and take Sarah if she is revealed as his wife.  Now, begin Chapter 26.  There is a famine in the land and God warns Isaac, “Do not go down to Egypt”!  God forewarns Isaac, so Isaac stays put in Gerar.  However, when confronted with the men of that area about Rebekah, Isaac claims she is his sister!  Can you believe it?  Didn’t this story get passed down from Isaac’s father?  Remember, in order to keep the experiences of days gone by recorded, they had to share orally.  Wouldn’t you pass this important information on to your son?  Especially, when you had made the mistake twice??

Fortunately, Abimelech caught Isaac caressing Rebekah and confronted him, “She’s your wife, isn’t she, Isaac?  Why did you lie?”  So the lie was set straight and while Isaac lived in the land, he prospered incredibly.  This area of Gerar was located south of Gaza and was in Philistine.  Abimelech was King of the Philistines at the time and the Philistines became angry watching the prosperity of Isaac and company.  They began stopping up the wells being used by Isaac’s herdsmen to provide water for the animals.  Abimelech asked Isaac to leave the area  in order to keep the peace and Isaac did move to the valley of Gerar. 

After digging a well and finding an abundance of water supply, the herdsmen of Gerar and Isaac’s herdsmen began fighting over ownership again.  Isaac left that well, but named it Esek, meaning contention, and built another well.  The same occurrence happens with this well as arguing ensues over ownership so Isaac leaves again, but names this well Sitnah, meaning enmity.  Eventually, Isaac built the third well and was left alone.  This well he named Rehoboth, meaning broad places or room.  God comes to Isaac and reminds him of the covenant promise given to his father, Abraham, and Isaac builds an altar, pitches his tent and digs another well.  Interestingly, my commentary uses these three actions to remind us to worship the Lord (building the altar), to abide in the Lord’s promises (pitching the tents) and to refresh our spiritual life with His Word (digging the well).  A great note to remember.  All are action verbs and cause us to work; building, pitching and digging!

It is also a good reminder to understand that Isaac now has separated himself from the Philistines.  It’s at this point Abimelech and company come to Isaac and ask for a sworn agreement of peace between their people.  The Philistines recognize the powerful hand of God on Isaac and don’t want that favor to turn against them.  The agreement is made and signed and the Philistines go on their way.

The last few verses give insight into Esau’s life.  At the age of 40 this man finally marries not one, but two women!  They are women of the pagan Hittite clan.  But look at the very last line, “They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.”  As noted pagans, these women were unequally yoked to Esau.  My commentary writes this is further implication that Esau was unfit to be the owner of the birthright.  I understand that statement; however, during their earlier years as children weren’t these boys taught similarly when it came to instruction in the ways of God?  Was Esau always the one that was in defiance?  Were these unions intentional to bring sorrow to his parents?

Oh, that we could learn whatever we do in life is our burden to carry, our consequence to face.

Father, thank you for this lesson from Chapter 26 of Genesis.  Lord, you continually teach us that blessings continue to flow as we follow and obey your direction.  As numerous wells burst forth with an abundant water supply for Isaac, so our spiritual thirst will be richly supplied.  Help us to recognize that many will despise us and try to rob us of joy as your blessings are revealed, but enable us to do as Isaac demonstrated.  He walked away and you continued to meet his need day by day.  That, in itself, was a witness and caused the Philistine to comment, “We saw clearly that the Lord was with you.”  May we show forth that same testimony.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For next week:  Read Chapter 27  Every time I read this account it saddens me.  The deception, the heartbreak, the consequences for the behavior of these adults must have been overwhelming once put into motion.  I would like for you to take each person (Isaac, Rebekah, Esau and Jacob) and write a small entry on what that person did (if anything) deceptive and what consequence that deception reaped. 

Now that Sarah is dead, Abraham must feel a heavier burden to find the appropriate spouse for Isaac.  Not that he’s leaving God out of the picture, but a man feels more comfortable if the mother of the child is incorporated into the decision, wouldn’t you think?  Anyway, Abraham knows this decision needs to be made and he’s not getting any younger.  I was intrigued by the servant putting his hand under Abraham’s thigh. 

Evidently, placing the hand under the thigh signified the fact that children come from the “thigh” or “loins” of their father.  This was a type of last will and testament given by Abraham to his servant, believed to be Eliezer of Damascus.  Under no condition was Eliezer to find a wife of the Canaanites, but a woman from Abraham’s relatives in his home country.

Another interesting fact was Abraham did not want Isaac to accompany Eliezer on this journey.  I can only speculate why.  Maybe Isaac would get in the way of the decision?  Would Isaac possibly see another woman and be sidetracked?  If I remember correctly, Abraham left the country of his relatives because they were caught up in idol worship and the making of idols.  Did this fact have something to do with Abraham’s decision for Isaac to stay home?  Whatever the reason, Eliezer went on the mission and Isaac stayed behind.

What a servant Eliezer must have been!  Abraham trusted this man with a life altering decision for his only son!  But Abraham had been told by God that the servant would be directed by an angel to discern the correct choice for Isaac.  The only release from the mission at hand is if the woman refused to return with Eliezer.  So off he goes accompanied by ten camels and lots of goodies for the bride to be once she is found.

After much prayer, Eliezer takes the camels to a well and waits for the women of the city to come and out and draw water.  Eliezer asks God to send a woman that will draw water not only for him, but for the camels as well.  Out comes Rebekah and she fulfills the request made before the Lord.  She draws water for Eliezer and his camels…all ten of them.  According to my commentary, ten camels after a long desert walk could empty four barrels of water…that’s a lot of drawing water from the well.  

If I am correct with my calculating, Rebekah is Abraham’s great niece.  She is Abraham’s brother, Nahor’s granddaughter.  As you have read in this chapter, the gifts are given to the family after full disclosure is made to Rebekah’s brother, Laban and to her father, Bethuel.  The next morning Rebekah leaves with Eliezer to return to Abraham and Isaac.

I enjoy reading the story of Isaac being in the fields when Rebekah arrived with Eliezer.  In verses 63 and 64 it reads like a scene from a love story.  Isaac looks up and then Rebekah looks up….see immediately inquires who he is and when told the man is Isaac, she covers her face.  Isaac takes her to be his wife and scripture says, “He loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.” 

Beautifully written, don’t you think?  Immediate love because it’s of God.  Rebekah becomes Isaac’s wife and comforts the sorrow of his mother’s death.  Just as our spouses comfort us in the loss of our loved ones, their spirits have united as one. 

I also want to note the faithfulness of Eliezer.  His prayer life is amazing.  He doesn’t know who he’s looking for, but he is aware of the gravity of the situation.  He is responsible for finding the needle in the haystack for Isaac as requested by his master, Abraham.  But through his prayer life we find God has equipped Eliezer with a metal detector for that needle.  Rebekah was drawn to Eliezer and those camels and to do the will of her Lord.

One last note...unlike other patriarchs mentioned in the Bible, Isaac had no other wife besides Rebekah!

Father, once again thank you for this lesson which deals with our faithfulness as servants to do the work of our Lord.  As Abraham trusted Eliezer with a significant task, so you have given us the crucial task of bringing the lost to you.  Enable us to serve others regardless of how many buckets of water need to be drawn to get the job done.  Open our eyes to the possibility that souls are thirsty and in need of living water.

Next week’s assignment:  Please read Chapter 25

Three major events take place in this chapter;

1.     The death of Abraham; any one detail jump off the page for you?

2.    Ishmael’s sons are listed.  What statement made long ago continues to be mentioned?

3.    Jacob and Esau, in 15 verses of scripture the story of these brothers unfold.  Could anything have been done differently in parenting these young men when clearly before they were born the Lord had already given a prophetic word concerning them?