Good evening.  Well, we have a big section of scripture to look at tonight, so let’s go ahead and jump right in.  Go ahead and turn with me to Genesis chapters 23 and 24.

While you are turning there, I will open with a word of prayer.

As we begin, do any of you have your burial plots already picked out and ready?

Well, as we examine this first chapter, we find that Abraham and Sarah are not really ready, but it ends up being a good thing that he has to buy land for a burial site.  Let’s go ahead and read that chapter.  Whoever has the first 2 keys go ahead and read them for us at this time please.  (READ)

Okay, well, I don’t have a lot of questions with this passage, but let’s work our way through Genesis chapter 23.  First, why might this property be an important part of God’s plan for Abraham?

As we look at Sarah’s death, how might she have been eulogized?

Okay, and how would you like to be eulogized when you pass away?

And finally, what can you learn from Abraham about a spouse’s love?

Well, I think that there are 3 key parts to this chapter.  First we see Abraham the mourner.  Sarah is the only woman named in the Bible whose age is given and burial described.  It was the death of a princess, a true woman of faith, and you can find that in Hebrews 11:1-13.  Abraham felt the pain of his loss and openly expressed his grief.  Faith is not the enemy of tears, for we sorrow as those who have hope, I Thessalonians 4:13-18.  In fact, even Jesus wept, knowing that He was about to raise His friend from the dead.  So it is appropriate for Abraham to mourn.

Second, we see Abraham the sojourner.  Ephron did not plan to give Abraham a valuable piece of land, but that is how typical Eastern bargaining always begins.  The land already belonged to Abraham if you remember back to chapter 15:7, but he could never explain that to his unbelieving neighbors.  He was a pilgrim and did not claim any of it for himself.

And finally, we see Abraham the owner.  He paid a high price for what became one of the most famous tombs in Bible history.  Eventually six people were buried there.  In Genesis 49:31-32 it says, “1”

Abraham owned only one thing on earth: a grave.  Genesis ends with a full tomb, but the gospel story ends with an empty tomb!  And because Jesus Christ lives, we who trust in Him never need to fear death.

Well, if there is nothing else, we will move on to the long chapter of 24.  In fact, chapter 24 is the longest chapter in all of Genesis and it focuses on faith, hope, and love.

To start, if you had to chose a spouse for yourself, or one of your children, what would you look for in that person?

Well, let’s go ahead and start this long journey of chapter 24.  Whoever has the rest of the keys, pleas go ahead and read them at this time.  (READ)

Well, let’s go ahead and work our way through this, and then I will end with a selection from one of my commentaries about this chapter.  God had promised Abraham that through his son Isaac that he would become the “Father of many nations.”  Now after Sarah’s death, Abraham takes the initiative to find Isaac a wife.

What do you find most amazing about the servant that Abraham sends?

Keeping in mind that arranged marriages were customary in that day, how would you have felt if you were Isaac or Rebekah?

Okay, from what you know about Rebekah so far, what do you like the most?

How is God’s hand evidently at work in this story?

Why does God go to such lengths to provide Isaac with a wife?

Okay, let’s get a little bit more personal now.  Do you think that divine match-making is something that God still does today?

What do you think is the key ingredient to in finding a spouse?

When have you asked God for a particular sign?

And finally, what do you think is the most amazing part about this story?

Well, let me end wrap this chapter up by reading for you what one of my commentaries had to say about this chapter as a whole.  It said, “The father (1-9) loved his son and wanted a bride for him.  He had faith that God would keep His promise (Gen. 12:12) and provide the bride.  Note that the bride could not be an outsider.  Is this whole event not a picture of the Heavenly Father getting a bride for His Son?

Next, the servant (10-49) loved his master’s son and asked God for guidance.  He knew how to “watch and pray” and discern God’s leading.  He was not disappointed, for God rewarded his faith.  Little did Rebekah realize that a small act of kindness would open up an exciting new life for her?

A quote says, “Make every occasion a great occasion, for you can never tell when someone may be taking your measure for a larger place.”  The servant talked about his master and not about himself, and he would not eat until he had given his message.

Next, the bride (50-60) had nothing to go on but the treasures she saw and the words she heard from this servant.  In spite of those who urged her to delay, she made a decision of faith and said, “I will go!”  This is an illustration of personal salvation.  The Spirit speaks to us about Christ and shows us His treasures, and we trust Christ even though we have never seen Him (I Peter 1:8).

And finally, the bridegroom (61-67) was last seen on the mountain with his father in chapter 22, but now he comes to meet his bride at eventide.  That is what Jesus Christ will do when He returns for His church.  Then we shall see Him and be like Him (I John 3:1-2).”

So, there we have a brief overview of what that chapter had in it, and the faith, hope, and love that could be seen there.  Before we close, does anyone have anything that they would like to add about this chapter?

Well, if there is nothing else, then I will close us with a word of prayer.  For next week be ready to look at and discuss chapter 25-26 hopefully.

Let’s Pray