Genesis Chapter 26

GENESIS 

CHAPTER

 26

1. Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar, to King Abimelech of the Philistines. 2 The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; settle in the land that I shall show you. 3 Reside in this land as an alien, and I will be with you, and will bless you; for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will fulfill the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven, and will give to your offspring all these lands; and all the nations of the earth shall gain blessings for themselves through your offspring, 5 because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws."

(Genesis chapter 26 verses 1 to 5)

The twenty-sixth chapter of the book of Genesis starts with a familiar setting in the spiritual life. This is the draft. Many Holy people have experienced periods of dryness or feeling completely cut off from the presence of God. This can happen to anybody so do not worry if it happens to you or me.


During such situations, we tend to take decisions that may not be according to the will of God. Although as in the case of Isaac we may seem to be transmitting from a different channel from that of God, He is always close by and is always ready to help us during such moments of dryness or desolation. He is not only close but promises to be with us during our moments of crisis. Therefore we are to feel assured that we are never alone. 


6. So Isaac settled in Gerar. 7 When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister"; for he was afraid to say, "My wife," thinking, "or else the men of the place might kill me for the sake of Rebekah, because she is attractive in appearance."

(Genesis chapter 26 verses 6 to 7)


As in the case of Abraham Isaac was tempted to use a lie in order to protect his well being. Although he was sure, that he had been chosen by God to give birth to a multitude of nations, Isaac still manifested fear when put to the test. Likewise when we are put to the test, we may also behave in the same manner and refer to our own resources instead of turning on God for His protection.


8. When Isaac had been there a long time, King Abimelech of the Philistines looked out of a window and saw him fondling his wife Rebekah. 9 So Abimelech called for Isaac, and said, "So she is your wife! Why then did you say, 'She is my sister?" Isaac said to him, "Because I thought I might die because of her."

(Genesis chapter 26 verses 8 to 9)


Although we may try to conceal the truth of the reality of our sins or sinful situation, the truth always comes to light and we will have to face the consequences of our sinful actions.



10. Abimelech said, "What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us."

(Genesis chapter 26 verse 10)


Another game that we tend to play as humans is that of displacement. We try to find reasons to justify an act by placing the burden of the judgement on to others. It would have been the responsibility of all the men in Abimelech's reign not to lie down with a woman that was not theirs. The fact that Isaac had or had not revealed that she was his wife and not his sister was irrelevant to the issue in question. The same argument is held by certain people who may be in a state of separation from their wives, or husbands. Some may take wives that are not theirs and even have intercourse with them on the premise that, when considering that they are separated, they are free to have relationships with other females, or males.


11. So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, "Whoever touches this man or his wife shall be put to death"

(Genesis chapter 26 verse 11)


On reflecting Isaac, who had inherited God's promise to Abraham, who had been declared a blessing to himself and to others, now became a form of curse, in the eyes of Abimelech and his people. On the one hand he is offered protection, and on the other hand Isaac and his wife could be viewed as a source of contamination. This may also be the effect of the consequences of sin. Before we sin people may perceive us as being good and law-abiding people, however, when they come to know our sins, we may be judged from  a different perspective that may be negative in nature. 


12. Isaac sowed seed in that land, and in the same year reaped a hundredfold. The LORD blessed him, 13 and the man became rich; he prospered more and more until he became very wealthy. 14 He had possessions of  flocks and herds, and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him.

(Genesis chapter 26 verses 12 to 14)


Although Isaac may have been labelled as a curse, God was still with him. This became so evident that it was reflected by the fact that God blessed Isaac and his profits increased greatly, however, the greatest treasure that we can have is not worldly material goods, but the Holy presence of God and a healthy relationship, with both God and our fellow persons especially those of our inner circles, meaning family, friends and work mates etc with whom we spend alot of our time.


15. (Now the Philistines had stopped up and filled with earth all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham.) 16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, "Go away from us; you have become too powerful for us."

(Genesis chapter 15 and 16)



On referring to previous chapters of the book of Genesis it comes to mind, that Abraham had given to King Abimelech, seven ewes, as a pact to confirm that Abraham had dug these wells. Therefore by blocking the wells with earth, Abraham's servants and in turn even Abimelech had breached the referred to pact or covenant. Moreover during this dialogue between Abimelech and Isaac we witness the process of displacement and or projection. Abimelech fears that Isaac has become stronger and more powerful than himself, therefore he is projecting his fears by means of anger through the use of his authority.


During our everyday life we can find ourselves doing the same to others, even those of our inner circles, with the consequence of hurting them or driving them away from us for good.


17. So Isaac departed from there and camped in the valley of Gerar and settled there. 18 Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham; for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the names that his father had given them. 19 But when Isaac's servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, 20 the herders of Gerar quarrelled with Isaac's herders, saying, "The water is ours." So he called the well Esek, because they contended with him.

(Genesis chapter 26 verses 17 to 20)


Isaac dug again the wells of water that had existed since the days of his father. Water is life, it is also symbolic of God and his loving presence in our lives. On Abraham's point of death, the Philistines, blocked the wells, thus shutting out water, which is a sign of life, and also of God's presence. Like the Philistines we are also at liberty to block our wells, or permit ourselves (Our Well) to become contaminated by the ways of the world. Isaac's servants who followed in their master's footsteps, who in turn followed the will of God, found happiness and life in abundance again. However when we make an experience of God, the Devil by means of his forces, tricks and dirty devices, attempts to rob us from the glory, love and presence of God, by implying that it is his glory. Although the Devil has no need of God's presence, he will do anything to deny us of this experience in order for us to despair and decide to walk in his crooked sinful ways.


21. Then they dug another well, and they quarrelled over that one also; so he called it Sitnah." 22. He moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he called it Rehoboth, saying, "Now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land."

(Genesis chapter 26 verses 21 to 22)


Although the Devil will never stop harassing us by throwing us into one desolation after another we are to persevere in our choice to follow God and remain strong in our faith and commitment to God and to our fellow persons.


23. From there he went up to Beersheba. 24 And that very night the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham; do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you and make your offspring numerous for my servant Abraham's sake." 25 So he built an altar there, called on the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac's servants dug a well.

(Genesis chapter 26 verses 23 to 25)


When God sees that we are faithful in doing His will, He manifests Himself to us by means of many sources, that at times includes showing us his very self. When I first received my call it was during a dream, during which I saw the sacred heart of Jesus, and that of his mother. I felt a strong wind blowing around me, and then I heard the voice of God which was firm and assertive "Leave everything and follow me".


26. Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army. 27 Isaac said to them, "Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?" 28 They said, "We see plainly that the LORD has been with you; so we say, let there be an oath between you and us and let us make a covenant with you 29 so that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD."

(Genesis chapter 26 verses 26 to 29)


On reflecting Abimelech and his associates wanted friendship with Isaac in order to secure their own safety from his wrath, on seeing that he had grown in abundance, although they tried to keep him under their control. They wanted to make friends with their enemy under the image of friendship. People may want to have fellowship with us or with God only for what they can gain from us or from God and not as the fruit of personal love or the wish of striking a relationship. Some may remain friends, until they get what they want, and then they will never even say they know us any more. We can do the same to God.


30. So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths; and Isaac set them on their way, and they departed from him in peace. 32 That same day Isaac's servants came and told him about the well that they had dug, and said to him, "We have found water!" 33 He called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.

 (Genesis chapter 26 verses 30 to 33)


Isaac gives us an example of love towards our enemies or to those whom we least love. Instead of becoming angry at them in anger or using our power against them, we try and nourish a healthy relationship with them. 


34. When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath daughter of Elon  the Hittite; and they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.

(Genesis chapter 26 verse 34)

Apparently not all people decided to follow in God's ways. Esau decided to marry daughters of the Hittite. This was strictly prohibited by God. When such things take place, there is what is called the ripple effect that leaves its mark on the rest of the family. Thus as parents, Isaac and Rebekah found it difficult to relate to the new comers, who were not people of God or even had God's approval as being the wives of their son Esau.

I would like to end this chapter with the following prayers:

Oh loving God and father. Thank you for being with me and with my family, especially in times of crisis. Thank you for being there for me, even though I did not perceive your presence at the time of desolation. Thank you for trying to show me the way out of my darkness every day of my life. Thank you for never giving up on me as others have done in my life. Thank you God for my family and my friends whom you gave me according to your divine providence. Help me oh God to nourish my relationships in a holy and healthy way, and please help me never to aim at what I  can get from the relationship, instead of what I can contribute, to both family friends and even work persons.

Thank You God.

As in the previous chapter Mr. Deevain Pawar has contributed as I hope all readers will, by sending me the following prayer along with the permission to publish it;

Thank you God, for being such a kind father who has always been looking over us, just like a father teaches his child to walk by holding his hands , thank you for holding my hands and teaching me to walk at the path u chose even though I sometimes leave your hand and try to go on my own and commit many sins  thank you for always being the first to lend me a hand and to bring me back to the path you chose, the path of salvation.

Genesis Chapter 25

GENESIS 

CHAPTER 

25

1. Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. 5 Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. 6 But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, while he was still living, and he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country

(Genesis Chapter 25 verses 1 to 6)

Apparently after the death of his wife Sarah, and the abandonment of Isaac, which may have taken place after the traumatic episode that took place on Mount Moriah, Abraham started feeling lonely at a delicate time of his life. He was now of a particular age and slowly but steadily coming close to death's doorstep.

Abraham seemed to have desired human consolation in the presence of Keturah. Apparently Isaac had been denied knowledge of this relationship and the offspring resulting from it. It is the case in the spiritual life, that although we may have grown intensely in our relationship with God, the temptation to seek comfort and consolation in humans more than in God will always remain. 

On the other hand having offspring from another woman, is like having an illicit relationship, thus placing God in the second place. The relationship is carried on in private so that others will not be aware of it as in the case of Isaac. In order to mend the matter Abraham, used money or gifts to cover up his action. During our times even people may have a price, that silences them from maybe disclosing sensitive data in relation to sinful acts. Some people may even end up shot so that maybe they would not testify to the truth. In the case of Abraham, Isaac, would never know that he had other brothers. However what may be hidden from others, is never hidden from God.

7. This is the length of Abraham's life, one hundred seventy-five years. 8 Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man full of years, and was gathered to his people.

(Genesis Chapter 24 verses 7 to 8)


With reference to Chapter 16 of the book of Genesis we can comment the following on Abraham's lifespan in comparison to those of his descendants: In comparison to Shem who was renown for his goodness Abraham fathered children at an earlier age, however in comparison to the latter's lifespan Abraham's lifespan was shorter.


                                Abram fathered children when he was eighty-six years old (died at 175 years)

Shem when 100 years old fathered children and died at 500 years

Arpachshad when 35 years old fathered children and died at 400 years.

Shelah when 30 years old fathered children and died at 403 years.

Eber fathered children when 34 years old and died at 430 years.

Peleg fathered children at 30 years old and died at 209 years.

Reu fathered children at 32 years old and died at 207 years.

Serug fathered children at 30 years old and died at 200 years.

Nahor fathered children at 29 years old.

9. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, 10 the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with his wife Sarah. 11. After the death of Abraham God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi.

(Genesis Chapter 25 verses 9 to 11)


Apparently on having separated from his father Abraham, Isaac had joined Ishmael and Hagar. Therefore they must have received the news together and attended to the funeral. There are times when sons and daughters are separated from each other as consequence of inheritance and or other factors, however there are other cases, when one person's death brings the unity of the entire family.


On the other hand, God's promise had not ended with the death of Abraham. The Biblical author, insists, that God's promise to Abraham had now been transferred on to Isaac, and his descendants as had been previously commanded by God. Unlike Abraham who had lived the life of a vagrant wanderer, Isaac who seems to be different in character and other traits, was given the opportunity of settling down instead of following in the footsteps of his father. God has a personal plan of salvation for each one of us. He deals with us in a special and particular way, taking into consideration both our strengths and even our weaknesses.


12. These are the descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's slave-girl, bore to Abraham. 13. These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 MIshma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes.

(Genesis Chapter 25 verses 12 to 16)


As much as God had kept his promise to Abraham and his descendants, in the background, God also kept his promise with Ishmael, from whom a great nation was also promised. God is working all the time, in the present, past and future. In my case, before I started working at C.V.A. Technology, there were other people working there. Even before I could undertake this job, God had found other jobs for the person I eventually was to replace and so on. God has the whole jig saw puzzle before Him and has a great job of constantly replacing pieces to keep it functioning as a whole and preserve the big picture of our lives. However God gives us the liberty to make our choices, even though these choices may not be according to His agenda for us. The most beautiful thing about God is that He always has a contingency plan, or backup plan ready, to cater for the eventuality, that we wander away from His ways.


17. (This is the length of the life of Ishmael, one hundred thirty-seven years; he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people.) 18 They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria; he settled down alongside of all his people.

(Genesis chapter 25 verses 17 to 18)



When adding Ishmael to the list of post-flood generation that we have been compiling, Ishmael can be placed in the following category that is at the very top because his life-span is the shortest:

Ishmael lived for 137 years

Abram fathered children when he was eighty-six years old (died at 175 years)

Shem when 100 years old fathered children and died at 500 years
Arpachshad when 35 years old fathered children and died at 400 years.
Shelah when 30 years old fathered children and died at 403 years.
Eber fathered children when 34 years old and died at 430 years
Peleg fathered children at 30 years old and died at 209 years.
Reu fathered children at 32 years old and died at 207 years
Serug fathered children at 30 years old and died at 200 years.
Nahor fathered children at 29 years old.


19. These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham's son; Abraham was the father of Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean.

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 19 to 20)


The following verses appear to have been a small part of a list of descendants that for some reason seems not to have been finalized. One reason may be that as the Church, we are all the descendants of Abraham, through his and Isaac's descent.


21. Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.

(Genesis chapter 24 verse 21)


As in the case of his father Abraham, Isaac's wife was also barren, however in contrast to his father, Isaac had a different reaction to this situation. Isaac interceded in prayer to God, instead of offering God a particular sacrificial offering and his request was granted.


The power of prayer is very powerful. I believe that both Isaac and Rebekah, shared the same prayer. Therefore as in the New Testament Jesus tells us that when two people pray to God, He is in their midst and will gladly accept their prayer.


22. The children struggled together within her; and she said, "If it is to be this way, why do I live?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 And the LORD said to her,

"Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger."

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 22 to 23)


One may consider Rebekah's reaction as being strange. She questioned her reason for living, if her children who while still in her womb were already fighting. Rebekah gives us an example of our reaction to such issues in marriage. She consulted God and nobody else not even her marriage counselor, or psychologist or social worker! God is all in all and in a spirit of prayer is able to enlighten us in relation to our problems.


On reflecting the two nations seem to represent the two sides of human nature that are in a constant struggle with each other, that is the strife between good and evil, that both are active in human nature.


24. When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

(Genesis chapter 25 verses 24 to 26)


Symbolically we can attributed red to danger or evil. In this sense we can consider Esau as being the representative of evil, and Jacob the representative of what is good. On considering we share both of the goodness of God who dwells within us and also, the negative attributes of evil that is the product of our material sinful nature. As humans we are in constant war with our sinful self, that is always in combat with our spiritual side that is of God.


On reflecting Isaac has the following place in the gathered database of life spans or longevity:

Nahor fathered children at 29 years old.

Peleg fathered children at 30 years old and died at 209 years.

Serug fathered children at 30 years old and died at 200 years
Shelah when 30 years old fathered children and died at 403 years.
Reu fathered children at 32 years old and died at 207 years
Eber fathered children when 34 years old and died at 430 years
Arpachshad when 35 years old fathered children and died at 400 years.
Isaac 60 years old when fathering children

Abram fathered children when he was eighty-six years old (died at 175 years)

Shem when 100 years old fathered children and died at 500 years
Ishmael lived for 137 years


27. When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. 28. Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

(Genesis Chapter 25 verses 27 to 28)


Verses 27 and 28 also reflect the two sides of human nature. These are the destructive evil and killer, and the reflective wise and spiritual perspective. As humans we tend to swing between the two polarities. At times one may get the better of us, thus causing us either to side with God or to side with evil.


On the other hand, as parents we may also identify with these attributes in both ourselves and in the characters of our sons and daughters. However, to be fond of one or the other perspective is one case but to show partiality between sons is daughters is another thing, that we are never to do as we are about to witness in the following verses and chapters of the book of Genesis.

29. Once when Jacob was cooking, a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. 

(Genesis chapter 25 verse 29)


On reflecting we can do many acts of material giving that can be labelled as work, however on a personal or even spiritual level we can be famished. People who give alot on many levels still need their share of vitamins even on a spiritual level, or else they end up burnt out, with nothing more to give.

30. Esau said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished! (Therefore he was called Edom.) 31 Jacob said, "First sell me your birthright." 32 Esau said, " I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?" 33 Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.

(Genesis chapter 25 verses 30 to 33)


On reflecting on verses 30 to 33 we can reflect on the following issues. We first witness the issue of charity towards others. We can ask ourselves, if as Christians or even human beings, we are ready to go out of our way, in order to help others, even if this means, they will have an advantage over us, leading to an increase of material gain, that in their situation, they desperately need, and put aside our own created needs.

As Christians we have an abundance of spiritual graces and resources given to us by God. However, anything that He has given us is not only for ourselves, but in order to share with others, even if this means, time, money or any other means, that requires the giving of our selves in order to help others.


34. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

(Genesis chapter 25 verse 34)

On  having satisfied his carnal desires, Esau left as if nothing had happened. Esau was not aware of the value of his birthright or if he was he completely disregarded it. This can also happen in our spiritual life. Consciously or not we can decide to place our faith in danger by means of our choices, without considering the consequences of our actions.


I would like to end chapter 25 of the book of Genesis with the following prayer by Mr. Devain Pawar ;- 

Thank you God our loving Father, for giving me such a lovely, caring, affectionate and sweet family as your blessings who has always supported me in all times and has been with me in my good and bad times. As without them i do not think my life would be complete and i would achieve true happiness.  Ahmen

In name of all the readers of this blog I would also like to thank God for his loving care and wonders in my life: (Vince Micallef)

Oh God I would really like to thank you for being active in my life, for being the first, second, third and everybody in my life. Help me to remember that loving you, and my fellow persons is always to be my first priority in life.

Oh my loving father, I know that by nature I am inclined to do things that are not always acceptable in your eyes. You know that as a human I am not able to control my carnal and sinful nature and at times it gets, the better of me and I end up doing and saying things that I do not want to do and or say.

Oh father the war within me is so strong that without your help at the very beginning I am already a loser. Oh how I wish to be able to overcome myself once and for all. My soul is in anguish to do good, but my nature traps me in this carnal body of mine. It denies me of giving myself generously and completely without regrets to others, even to those whom I promised to do so in your presence.

Thank you God for listening to my prayer.

Thank You God

Genesis Chapter 24

GENESIS

 CHAPTER 

24

1. Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.

(Genesis chapter 24 verse 1)

Abraham had had a long and good relationship with God, it was one based on trials and even tribulations during which God manifested himself to Abraham many times. God proved to Abraham that He was his God and would always be with him. In life God is always with us although we do not always feel his presence.

2. Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his house, who had charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh 3 and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live, 4. but will go to my country and to my kindred and get a wife for my son Isaac."

(Genesis chapter 24 verses  to 4)

As all parents the future of our children is always on our minds. A question that we may ask ourselves especially when we are of a particular age is 'What will become of my children after I die?

In Abraham's case this issue was very important, especially when considering God's promise to him that a nation would descend from him. As a father to us, we are also on God's mind and even what may happen to us, especially if we wander away from His Holy Will. God is all awareness and knowledgeable of our present past and even our future and therefore feels compassion and understanding especially on perceiving the willful perdition or loss of our soul. 

As in the case of Christians who out of love and respect obey each other when asked to perform good, deeds we are also expected to show obedience to God when He asks something from us, as in following him by means of our way of life, and helping others to do so. However, at times we pay much attention to our earthly voices such as the media the sciences etc more than listen to the loving and caring voice of God.

5. The servant said to him, "Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land; must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?"

(Genesis chapter 24 verse 5)


As humans we have a fear of the unknown, however if we rely more on God than on ourselves, we will not be afraid of taking or making decisions in life.


6. Abraham said to him, "See to it that you do not take my son back there. 7 The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and swore to me, 'To your offspring I will give this land,' he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there."

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 6 to 8)


Now that Abraham had made a personal experience of God, he was a living testimony of God's love and faith. Moreover Abraham were now more credible because he could sustain his arguments by typical examples of how God actually intervened in his life. This is also to be our experience. As Christians we are to reflect on how God has throughout the years and even in the present times has intervened in our lives. Moreover when in the presence of people who have not made the same personal experience we are to refer to such typical examples which make our testimony more credible.

Although many years had passed after the birth of Isaac, Abraham still clung on the belief that God would make a nation out of Isaac's descent, so that God's plan for our salvation would continue to unfold, leading to the actual incarnation of God as a human to save the world in the person of Jesus.

9. So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.

(Genesis chapter 24 verse 9)

As much as we give our consent to the belief, theory, culture and other ways of the world, we are also to show our faith in the Word of God and obey his commandments and bind ourselves to them.


10. Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, taking all kinds of choice gifts from his master; and he set out and went to Aram-naharaim, to the city of Nahor.

(Genesis chapter 24 verse 10)


Abraham's servant took the best of his master's property as gifts to be given to the master of Isaac's future wife. On our journey towards our heavenly father and home, are we also going to offer God the best of our offerings or are we going to give God only the sinful and so inferior parts of our life. This is something we ought to stop and reflect on.


11. He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water; it was toward evening, the time when women go out to draw water.

(Genesis chapter 24 verse 11)


When God wants us to do something or be at a particular place for a particular reason, He sends us to that place or in those circumstances, so that His will be done.


12. And he said, "O LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. 13 I am standing here by the spring of water, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 Let the girl to whom I shall say, 'Please offer your jar that I may drink, and who shall say, 'Drink, and I will water your camels' - let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master."

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 12 to 14)


Due to our insecurity we often turn on God and ask him for signs, in order to be sure if we are on the right track or not. Instead of waiting for God's reply as in the case of Abraham's servant we set up our own conditions and criteria in order to verify if the action that we want is from God or not. On the contrary in such and every circumstances, we are to start our prayer with the 'magic words' (I chose them as magic words), Oh God 'if it is your will', because if anything is according to the will of God it will succeed however if not the project or aim is bound to fail, because it does not have God's blessing.

 15. Before he had finished speaking, there was Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, coming out with her water jar on her shoulder. 16 The girl was very fair to look upon, a virgin, whom no man had known. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up. 17 Then the servant ran to meet her and said, "Please let me sip a little water from your jar." 18 "Drink, my lord," she said, and quickly lowered her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink. 19 When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, " I will draw for your camels also, until they have finished drinking."

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 15 to 19)


On reflecting on verses 15 to 19, we can infer that when responding to our prayers, God gives particular attention to detail in the sense that he gives us according to our needs more than to our wants. God knows what is good for us, thus having the ability to view the big picture of our lives with all the related consequences to our decisions in both the present, past and even the future. Thus as in a jig-saw puzzle God knows where and when all the pieces fit together.


20. So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw, and she drew for all his camels. 21 The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful.

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 20 to 21)


On reflecting the attitude of Abraham's servant is to be ours. In difficult situations it is best to refer to God in prayer and in the silence of our soul refer to God in a spirit of humility and discernment in order to discover God's will in the given situation.


22. When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold nose-ring weighing a half shekel, and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels, 23 and said, "Tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?"

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 11 to 23)


On becoming aware that finally we are on the right track and walking in God's way, we experience spiritual excitement, that motivates us to ask more in order to increase our assurance that we are on the right track, the feeling is as if it is too good to be true.


24. She said to him, " I am the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor." 25 She added, "We have plenty of straw and fodder and a place to spend the night."

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 24 to 25) 


Rebekah spoke from experience. She was aware of the resources that her father had in his household. The question instantly comes to mind. Are we aware of the graces and benefits that are awaiting us in our father's house in heaven. Moreover are we aware of the graces and other resources that we are already benefiting from every day of our life. Most of all if we are aware, are we proclaiming our experience of God to others. God who is the grandest and most precious of all treasures and resources in our father's house and even in our earthly home, if we give Him the opportunity to be so in our lives.

 26. The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD 27 and said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the way to the house of my master's kin."

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 26 to 27)

Abraham's servant gave thanks to God for all the help He had given him and blessed the God of his master Abraham. Although the servant witnessed God's intervention he still referred to God as being the God of his master and not actually his. However on the other hand He acknowledged God as being his LORD. We can think that we have a relationship with God, however it may be a very artificial one without any personal depth.


28. Then the girl ran and told her mother's household about these things. 29 Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban; and Laban ran out to the man, to the spring. 30 As soon as he had seen the nose-ring, and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, "Thus the man spoke to me," he went to the man; and there he was, standing by the camels at the spring.

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 28 to 30)


On reflecting Laban, who was Rebekah's brother was more influenced by the riches of the visitor than in the visitor himself or maybe even the message that he was there to deliver as much as his assigned mission. This is a trap we can easily fall in. During mass we can become more interested or hindered by the preacher more than in the content of his message that is the Word of God.


31. He said, "Come in, O blessed of the LORD. Why do you stand outside when I have prepared the house and a place for the camels?"

(Genesis chapter 24 verse 31)

Without knowing the identity of his visitor Laban addressed the servant as being the 'blessed of the Lord'. It may well be that what was really the blessing was the treasures that the servant possessed more than the person himself. At times we tend to have respect or value more the status of the person than the person himself.


32. So the man came into the house; and Laban unloaded the camels, and gave him straw and fodder for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. 33 Then food was set before him to eat; but he said, "I will not eat until I have told my errand." He said, "Speak on."

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 32 to 33)


On reflecting verses 32 to 33, teaches us a lesson in the handling of what we consider as being a priority. Although the servant was surely hungry after such a long trip, his main priority was that of proclaiming his message before consuming the food brought before him. When confronted by a decision we are to consider the spiritual consequences of our decision as much as the material.


34. So he said, " I am Abraham's servant. 35 The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become wealthy; he has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys, 36 and Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and he has given him all that he has. 37 My master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live; 38 but you shall go to my father's house, to my kindred, and get a wife for my son.' 39 I said to my master, 'Perhaps the woman will not follow me.' 40 But he said to me, "The LORD before whom I walk, will send his angel with you and make your way successful. You shall get a wife for my son from my kindred, from my father's house. 41 Then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my kindred; even if they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.' 42 " I came today to the spring, and said, 'O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now you will only make successful the way I am going!

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 34 to 42)


Our attitude is to be like that of the service, the magic words that we should say even though, we may not be sure if what we are asking for is according to the will of God is the following. In every situation we ask God that 'If it is according to His will, it will be done' and not 'please bend your will to fulfill my request'.


43. I am standing here by the spring of water; let the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I shall say, "Please give me a little water from your jar to drink," 44 and who will say to me, "Drink, and I will draw for your camels also" - let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son.'

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 43 to 44)


When in a crisis we tend to set up criteria for God. On reflecting it is a good time to share my personal experience.


For a long time I held the premise that I would never get married. However after God had confirmed to me that the life of a priest or a monk was not the call that he had given me, I changed my theses to the following. ' I will not marry unless you God will find me a girl friend who will lead me to you! It seems that God found pleasure in the second theses more than in the first one. At the time I was doing my summer work with the Ursuline Sisters where I was caring for resident children there, I met the lady who was later on to be my wife. At the time I had no will to speak to her. I was determined to be a monk so girls and dating were of my agenda. Years after I left the convent, after I had dated, without success several girls, God brought me face to face with my wife. She had joined a secular Franciscan community and therefore shared the same if not better spiritual values and had a strong relationship with God, which was the foundation of my relationship with her, which eventually led to our joining in marriage.


Another experience is the following;


After God showed me that He did not want me to continue living with the Friars of St. Augustine on consulting the wise advice of an old friar who was a real friend of mine and also after consulting God in prayer, I decided to go to Sicily and join the brothers of Mother Theresa in Noto. My greatest problem was the language. My Italian was close to zero level. However I made it to Sicily but the person who was to meet me broke his leg, and they sent nobody to meet me. To make a long story short I was desperate. I was in a foreign country, with almost no knowledge of language. I prayed to God and made the condition. If till mid-day I do not find the convent I will board the first ship for Malta. I made my last attempt. There was a person selling vegetables and I asked him and his customers in my broken Italian if they knew the way. Nobody answered me. I headed back to bus terminus. On the way God intervened. A man came running after me and offered to take me to the convent. I had no choice but to believe him. I accepted this as being God's will and I accepted the drive. After that I spent almost a whole month in Noto and one week in Victoria province of Sicily, where I reunited with a Maltese group and came back home on the same ship. Although God did not want me to become a brother of Mother Theresa He taught me an important lesson in placing my trust in Him. A lesson that I will never forget.


 45. "Before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring, and drew, I said to her, 'Please let me drink.' 46 She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I will also water your camels.' So I drank, and she also watered the camels. 47 Then I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you? She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him'. So I put the ring on her nose, and  the bracelets on her arms. 48. Then I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to obtain the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son.


(Genesis chapter 24 verses 45 to 48)


One of the issues mentioned in verses 45 to 48 is that of hospitality and its rewarding positive consequences. Hospitality has its positive attributes both on a human and even more on a spiritual level. God appreciates when we be hospitable to others. In the New Testament Jesus tells us that anything (as in hospitality) we do to others is as if we are doing to Him.


The other issue is that of thanks giving. On realizing that God had answered his prayer in abundance, Abraham's servant gave thanks and worship to God and even showed his blessings on God. Moreover we find the issue of thanksgiving in the behaviour of the servant who bestowed presents to the future wife of his master's son that could also have been a toke of thanks giving and appreciation, for her acts of generosity.


49. Now then, if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so that I may turn either to the right hand or to the left."

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 49)


Although God had proven to Abraham's servant that He had been faithful to him in his quest, Abraham's servant still had doubts about human behaviour and sought an affirmation in order to know where he stood. Although God grants our wishes humans may try to defile God's plan, however if the action or desire, is really from God, therefore God will also motivate humans to act according to God's will in order to make His plan for us unfold accordingly.


50. Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "The thing comes from the LORD; we cannot speak to you anything bad or good. 51 Look Rebekah is before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has spoken."

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 50 to 51)


As previously mentioned if anything or event as in the case of a miraculous appearance, is truly from God, no scientific inquiry is able to prove the event as being fraudulent or corrupted by human intervention.


52.  When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the ground before the LORD. 

(Genesis chapter 24 verse 52)


Again we are given another example of thanksgiving and gratitude to God. On having had his request granted, the servant showed respect, to his earthly and heavenly masters and treated them equally in gratitude and respect. It is important that we also find the right balance. At times we are not thankful to God, but only seek to gratify our earthly masters.


53. And the servant brought out jewelry of silver and of gold; and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments. 54 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and they spent the night there. When they rose in the morning, he said, "Send me back to my master."

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 53 to 54)


Now that he had accomplished the will of his master the servant could relax and enjoy the company of his host. However his main priority was still on returning back to his master. Where ever we go, our first priority is to be in the presence of our father in prayer and not abroad away from Him.


55. Her brother and her mother said. "Let the girl remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go." 56. But he said to them, "Do not delay me, since the LORD has made my journey successful; let me go that I may go to my master."

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 55 to 56)


In the spiritual life the same things happen. At first we welcome God with gratefulness in the beginning of our relationship, however when God starts demanding more intimacy with us, we start having second thoughts, and begin to put forward many 'ifs' and or 'buts'.


57. They said, "We will call the girl, and ask her, "Will you go with this man?" She said, " I will," 59 So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abraham's servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her. "May you, our sister, become thousands of myriads; may your offspring gain possession of the gates of their foes."

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 57 to 60)


On reflecting many can share their opinions in relation to our decision to take God seriously in our lives and have a relationship with Him, or better let Him have a relationship with us, however in the end it is our 'Yes' or 'No' that will make the difference. On the other hand as parents we can either give our blessings to the decisions of our children after serious praying and reflection or we can be destructive and condemn or refuse our blessings. In such cases we are to be very careful in not condemning the person making the decision instead of the decision itself. We can either be agents of help to others, or we can be agents of destruction. The choice is ours. However, at times saying no does not mean we are being negative agents to others, as long as our decisions have a sound basis of praise, reflection and or rationale and are not simply a reflection of what we feel.


61. Then Rebekah and her maids rose up. mounted the camels, and followed the man; thus the servant took Rebekah and went his way.

(Genesis chapter 24 verse 61)


It is very interesting to observe Rebekah's obedience. On being asked to follow the servant she rose up to follow him. As Christians it is very important for us to obey the will of God and even what God tells us by means of his representatives on earth that is the Roman Catholic Church of God for those who believe and other Churches and religions according to one's belief. I believe that God also speaks by means of other churches, creeds and denominations.


62. Now Isaac had come from Beerlahai-roi, and was settled in the Negeb. 63 Isaac went out in the evening to walk in the field; and looking up, he saw camels coming. 64 And Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she slipped quickly from the camel 65 and said to the servant. "Who is the man over there, walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." So she took her veil and covered herself.

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 62 to 65)


Apparently while in waiting for the return of his father's servant, Isaac would go out in the fields and communicate with God in prayer. In turn God would listen to his prayers and also respond to them. During such time of prayer Isaac saw the answer to his prayer.


According to my personal experience of prayer and God I can testify that during such moments, God gives me ideas and insights, that I can share with the readers of this blog. Moreover the primary message is always for me, but then God shows me how I can input it so that others, can benefit from such prayer time on the 'Word of God' and likewise share this same experience.


On seeing Isaac, Rebekah slipped from the camel and covered her face. In our relationship with God we are to do the contrary. Instead of covering up our selves, we are to open up our selves to God so that God's righteousness and light and most of all His love can penetrate our sinful selves, and bring to light the ugliness of our sins, and thus leads us to repentance, and the making of a new experience of God's love.


66. And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67 Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent. He took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

(Genesis chapter 24 verses 66 to 67)


On having listened to the servants' testimony, Isaac who may have been paying more attention to the beauty of Rebekah than to the message of the servant, took Rebekah into his mother's tent and made love to her in his mother's tent.


Like Isaac it is very easy for us to become distracted by carnal pleasures and motivations. This may cause us to place our focus on worldly pleasure instead of focusing our vision on God.


In light of Isaac our Romeo that brings us to the end of this chapter on Valentines Day I would also wish that God is our valentine and wish you all a happy Valentines Day and Night;

I would also like include a prayer given to us by Mr. Deevain Pawar a regular follower of this blog:

Oh god our loving father ,even though we may have sinned intentionally or unintentionally by going against your will thank you for your kindness,compassion and blessing which have helped us in our lives and thank you also for leading us to right direction away from evil and toward you.  

Amen

I would also like to include a musical prayer played on the piano by Mr. Joseph Kiwanuka called God bless you for this song





I would like to invite anybody who desires to share prayers for a special intention personally or to be published in this blog, such as thanks giving or intercession in times of crisis, to send me an email on vincem20@gmail.com or sms on 79293904.