Story 22: Ja'cob Dreams Of The Stairway To Heaven lll

   How fitting was this mid-night vision to the peculiar needs of Ja'cob at the moment! To his sense of loneliness caused by the loss of parental comradeship, God said "I will be with thee." To his feeling of poverty and homelessness, the LORD said "I will give thee all this land as an inheritance." To his despairing hopelessness for the future the promise was given "Thou shalt spread abroad to the east and to the west."
   This experience of Ja'cob on the lonely plateau near Beth'el was a turning point in his life; it was a changed man who continued the journey into Mes-o-po-ta'mia. Having now been taught by the LORD through heartfelt experience, his worldly and crafty nature was turned into higher channels. It is true that Ja'cob made further mistakes in the future, and that his life was far from perfect, but he was made a much better man by the vision.
   Ja'cob then walked on toward the east. Crossing the rugged mountain slopes to the Jor'dan valley, he waded across the river. Then he moved on over high plateaus and across the valleys until he reached the land from which his mother had come many, many years before. Here he lived for more than twenty years, and our next story will tell some of his experiences during that time.

Story 22: Ja'cob Dreams Of The Stairway To Heaven ll

   The LORD told Ja'cob that the whole land of Ca'naan should belong to his descendants, who could no more be counted than the dust of the ground. It was promised that in his children all the families of the earth should be blessed, and Ja'cob was assured that the LORD would guide and protect him in the journey just ahead. It was also promised that in due time he should be permitted to return to the land of Ca'naan, and that the property left him by his father I'saac would come to him as soon as he was worthy to receive it.
   When Ja'cob awoke the next morning he exclaimed with unspeakable joy, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I knew it not. I thought that God had completely forsaken me, but now He has appeared before my very eyes. Since He has promised to give me bread to eat, to protect me wherever I go, and to bring me back safely to my father's house, I will worship Him alone. Of all that the LORD shall give me in worldly things I will surely return one-tenth unto Him." Ja'cob then anointed a stone as an altar, and lifted up his heart to God in worship.
   While thinking about the meaning of the wonderful vision Ja'cob realized that the great distance which sin had put between him and the LORD was now wiped out by God's mercy. There was now an open way of communication between God and man, and over it the Angels of mercy came down to bless earth, then returned to Heaven bearing the prayers and thankful praises of the Saints. The vision also taught him that the light of Heaven brings comfort and assurance to even the darkest ways of life.

Story 22: Ja'cob Dreams Of The Stairway To Heaven l

   Ja'cob had led a happy life in his father's home, and had enjoyed many favors because of his mother's love for him. That is why it was a great trial for him to become a wanderer, facing unknown dangers in a world that was strange to him. The journey to La'ban's home in Mes-o-po-ta'mia was a long, hard trip, filled with many perils.
   Still he must go out and face with courage the hardships that would come to him for many years. With staff in hand, carrying a few necessities for the long journey, he took leave of his parents and started on the strange roads to a land far to the north. Leaving Be'er-she'ba, which lay on the border of the desert in the extreme southwestern part of the land, Ja'cob walked over the hills, through the valleys, and across the plains in a northerly direction. After several days of travel had wearied him, he paused one evening at a spot in the mountains not far from Beth'el, about fifty miles from his home at Be'er-she'ba.
   As Ja'cob rested his weary body upon the bare ground and looked at the countless stars overhead, many solemn thoughts filled his mind. A feeling of guilt rested heavenly upon his heart, and the loneliness of having to bear the results of wrong-doing without a mother's sympathy and good advice filled his soul with fear and worry. With the passing of the light and cheer of the sun a gloomy darkness descended upon him. As he fell into slumber his last thought was upon the need for protection and guidance from the LORD. He now realized that if the blessings promised in the Covenant with A'bra-ham were ever to be fulfilled in him they must come through the forgiving and redeeming love of God, and not the trickery or cunning fraud.
   There came to Ja'cob a wonderful dream, a spiritual vision from God. Suddenly the Heavens above him were radiant with the Glory of God; he saw a stairway leading from the ground near where he slept up into the Heavens where God was dwelling, and angels were going up and coming down the stairs. Carried away by the dream, Ja'cob opened his whole mind and heart to its message. The LORD seemed to be speaking to him from the top of the stairway, renewing in every detail the Covenant which He had made with A'bra-ham.

Story 21: The Crafty Scheme Of Re-bek'ah And Ja'cob To Gain The Blessing Intended For E'sau lll

   As soon as I'saac had given the blessing Ja'cob hurried out of the room. Presently E'sau returned from the hunting field, cooked the venison, and came to his father to receive the blessing which belonged to him. I'saac was then forced to admit that he had just finished a meal provided by one whom he thought to be his elder son. E'sau was overcome with disappointment and sorrow, and pleaded with his father to give him the blessing. It was too late to receive the blessing of the first-born, for once it was given it could not be changed.
   Realizing that he had now been twice supplanted by his brother Ja'cob, E'sau now begged his father to give him whatever blessing that could still be given. I'saac then promised that E'sau and his descendants should enjoy great prosperity and fame, and should be successful in war. With these blessings, however, there would be burden of servitude to his brother. Sometimes his descendants would triumph over the house of Ja'cob, but would then be forced again into serving them.
   Although E'sau wept bitterly in his disappointment, there was no repentance in his heart for the sins which brought him so great a loss. At no time was there a word of humility or an admission of sin; all that E'sau desired was revenge. In a fit of anger he vowed to kill Ja'cob at the first opportunity. He wept, not for the sins of selling his birthright and entering marriages forbidden in the Covenant with A'bra-ham, but for the loss of the blessing.
   Re-bek'ah became so alarmed by E'sau's threats against the life of Ja'cob that she decided to send her younger son to her brother's home in Mes-o-po-ta'mia until E'sau's anger had become less violent. She pretended to I'saac that her reason for sending Ja'cob away was to prevent him from repeating the error of E'sau in marrying among the women of Ca'naan. Hurried plans were made for Ja'cob's journey, and he went away with the blessings of his father and the anxious prayers of his mother. Re-bek'ah had thought that his visit would be brief, but she did not live to see his return twenty years later. Everyone who had taken part in the crafty schemes of Re-bek'ah and Ja'cob suffered greatly for the sins they had committed. Though the LORD overruled the entire affair for the accomplishment of His purposes and the glory of His name, sorrow and suffering came to all who had done wrong.

Story 21: The Crafty Scheme Of Re-bek'ah And Ja'cob To Gain The Blessing Intended For E'sau ll

   Re-bek'ah overheard the words between I'saac and E'sau, and knew that whoever brought the dish of venison to her husband would receive the blessing which belonged to the first-born. She also knew that E'sau had sold his birthright to Ja'cob, but she remembered the promise of God that the heritage should be given to Ja'cob, and that E'sau was morally and spiritually unfit to carry out the deeds which God had named in His Covenant with A'bra-ham. She felt that in some way I'saac should be thwarted in his plans, and that the blessing intended for E'sau should be given to her favorite son.
   In a desperate attempt to win the birthright for Ja'cob, Re-bek'ah used a cunning scheme. The scheme was unworthy of the high purposes desired, but Divine Providence permitted it for the sake of carrying on the chosen race of God. It is true that she tricked I'saac into doing what was right, but it is always wrong to deceive; both she and Ja'cob paid dearly for their acts of deception. The evil in their deeds did not cease to be evil merely because God was able to bring some good out of a wicked action.
   Re-bek'ah called Ja'cob and told him to go out among the flocks and kill two young goats, explaining that she would cook the meat into a savory dish which I'saac would think was venison, and that Ja'cob should take the meat to his father and receive the blessing intended for E'sau. Ja'cob was afraid that his father would discover the trickery, even though he was almost blind, for E'sau was a very hairy man, and his clothing had a strong odor of the huntsman. Re-bek'ah then declared that she could overcome all danger by having Ja'cob wear clothes which belonged to E'sau, and by covering his hands and neck with goat skins to give the appearance of human hair.
   Ja'cob finally gave in to his mother's will, and agreed to do as he had been told. The scheme was carried out perfectly, just as Re-bek'ah had predicted. In the course of the meal which he served to I'saac, Ja'cob not only represented himself as E'sau, but actually lied to his father in the name of the LORD. Tricked into believing  that he was speaking with E'sau, who was still searching for venison to bring his father, I'saac pronounced upon Ja'cob the blessings of the first-born. Among these blessings were: The promise of future security in the land of Ca'naan, prosperity and increase of both goods and family, the leadership of the Chosen people of God, and supremacy over his brother and all his kinsmen.
   Before these blessings were fully enjoyed by Ja'cob, he had to travel a long, hard road of trial and suffering, had to be cured of his craftiness and deceit, and had to have his name changed from that of Ja'cob, the supplanter, to Is'rael, the contender with God. Of these events we shall learn in future chapters.

Story 21: The Crafty Scheme Of Re-bek'ah And Ja'cob To Gain The Blessing Intended For E'sau l

   E'sau's lack of respect for the Covenant which God had made with A'bra-ham, and for his parents' wishes was shown in his marriage. During his hunting trips he had become well acquainted with the Hit'tites, a heathen people of Canaan who were under the curse of God for worshipping idols. When he was forty years old he took two wives in this heathen land. Such a deed brought great sorrow to his father and mother, for it was a disgrace to the family name. From these unholy marriages there sprang a people known in later history as the E'dom-ites, who were always enemies of God's Chosen people.
   In spite of his disobedience and scorn for True Religion, E'sau remained the favorite son of the patient, long-suffering I'saac. As the strength of I'saac began to fade and his eyesight grew dim, he felt that he should prepare for his death which might come at any moment. He was now one hundred and thirty-seven years old, his half-brother Ish'ma-el had been dead for fourteen years, and he was now so feeble that even his family thought death was near. Although he did not die until forty-three years later, he thought it wise to arrange for the division of his property. In those days it was custom for a father to make what is now called a will by giving his blessing to the sons who were to inherit his belongings. In these blessings the father would tell what each son was to inherit, and once a blessing had been given it could not be changed.
   E'sau's unholy marriages to the two Hit'tite women had taken place thirty-seven years before, but he had remained in the household of I'saac during all these years, and his father had gradually forgiven his disobedience. And so I'saac planned to bestow upon E'sau, his elder son and favorite, the blessing which belonged to the first-born son, in spite of the fact that E'sau had sold his birthright to Ja'cob many years before, and had proven himself unworthy of the heritage.
   One day as I'saac sat in the house, no doubt tired and worried by his feeble state of health, and believing that he might soon be called from this world, he said to E'sau "I am failing in strength, and my eyes are dim; I do not know how soon I may die. Before I die let me bestow upon you, my elder son, the blessings of the first-born. I wish you to inherit this land, and to become the head of the nation through which all the families of the earth are to be blessed. Before I give this blessing, however, take thy bow and quiver and go out into the fields. Kill a deer, and bring me the venison which I love so well.
   It was the duty of E'sau to remind his father that the rights of the first-born had been sold long ago to Ja'cob, and he should have admitted his unworthiness to carry on the family from which the Mes-si'ah was to come. Instead of acting honestly in this matter, E'sau was moved by the spirit of irreverence and boldness which had marked his entire life. That is why he obeyed his father's request, not so much in the spirit of a dutiful son as in the hope of gaining the blessing which he had sold to Ja'cob for a mess of pottage.

Story 20: E'sau Sells His Birthright To Ja'cob ll

   Ja'cob's desire for the birthright was probably caused by what his mother had told him about the place he was to hold according to God's promise, and one cannot blame him for such a desire. He did wrong, however, in trying to gain the birthright before the LORD was ready to give it to him, and in the cruel bargain which he forced upon E'sau when his brother was too weak to protect his own interests. His deed showed that he did not trust in the LORD to carry out the promise as He thought best. The use of unworthy means to gain an honorable end cannot be justified in the sight of God.
   The conduct of E'sau was also disgraceful. When he heard the shrewd offer of Ja'cob, he agreed to it without argument, and even spoke slightingly of his birthright. If he had been honorable enough to deserve the birthright, he would have preferred a crust of bread and a cup of water to the more satisfying food for which he was willing to give so much. He acted without any regard for his spiritual welfare, giving up all prospects of a great future inheritance for the sake of one good meal while he was hungry. The blessings promised to the descendants of A'bra-ham, the honor of being the head of God's chosen people, and all the property and wealth that would come to the one who held the birthright were exchanged for a mess of pottage.
   Ja'cob afterwards suffered much because of his wrong-doing on this occasion, and E'sau lost forever all that he had sold so cheaply. Of these consequences we shall learn in future chapters.

Story 20: E'sau Sells His Birthright To Ja'cob l

   In the course of events in the home of I'saac and Re-bek'ah, and in the strained relations between their twin sons, a small thing gave rise to circumstances which clearly foretold the separate character and destiny of each son.
   E'sau, the wild, roving lover of outdoor life, had just returned from a long, hard day of pursuing game in the forest and fields. He was very tired and hungry, and for the moment his ravenous appetite outweighed all other thoughts. His brother Ja'cob, whose quiet, domestic habits had given him practical experience in home comforts, had just prepared a bowl of red pottage made of different grains and lentils beaten in a mortar and boiled into a gruel. This was a favorite dish among the Oriental people of that day, and its odor brought the pangs of hunger in the exhausted, fainting E'sau to the breaking point.
   He begged his brother Ja'cob to give this bowl of pottage to him. Under the circumstances such a kindness would have been a natural expression of brotherly sympathy and love, but Ja'cob refused the request. Taking advantage of his brother's great hunger, and of his weakness at that moment, Ja'cob offered to give him the food which he requested in exchange for his birthright. It was really a cruel, unworthy thing to ask, even though Ja'cob may have had just reasons for believing that he was entitled to the rights and privileges of the firstborn.
   Ja'cob's conduct was also irreverent and sacrilegious, for the birthright dealt with religious privileges which should not have been sought by driving a hard bargain, or by any kind of trickery or scheming. To think of the birthright as something which could be bought or sold was altogether wrong, and to offer a mess of pottage for it was a shameful act.
   The rights of the firstborn included a double share in the property left by the father, leadership of the family, and the right to act as priest in family worship. In the case of Ja'cob and E'sau it also gave the honor of being the head of the chosen people who were later known as the children of Is'ra-el, and the right to occupy the land of Ca'naan.
  

  

Story 19: The Birth Of The First Twins In History ll

   When the two sons reached the age of maturity I'saac showed a strong preference for E'sau, to whom he intended to leave his property and family heritage. If I'saac knew of the Divine revelation to Re-bek'ah which declared that Ja'cob was to be the chosen son, he seems to have regarded it as only a wish of Re-bek'ah, and not as the voice of God.
   I'saac seems also to have felt that E'sau, who was strong, bold, and active, was better fitted than Ja'cob to take possession of the land of Ca'naan for the descendants of A'bra-ham. The rights which belonged to a first-born son, the physical powers of E'sau, and I'saac's personal wishes were all in favor of E'sau as the natural heir to his property.
   Re-bek'ah, on the other hand, preferred Ja'cob, feeling that his sharpness of mind, his love for domestic peace and prosperty, and the choice of God which had been announced before his birth overcame the natural preference of I'saac for E'sau.
   The strong preferences on the part of I'saac and Re-bek'ah became the source of much unhappiness in the domestic life of the family, and gave rise to the jealousy and bitterness which often broke out between the two sons. Happiness and justice in the home were forgotten, and the future relations of the two sons and their descendants were turned into hatred, disputes, and warfare. Later chapters in these narratives tell the story of the sad results of these unfortunate circumstances.

Story 19: The Birth Of The First Twins In History l

   The life of I'saac, who took the place of A'bra-ham in the Covenant promise concerning the land of Ca'naan, the founding of a great nation, and the coming of the Mes-si'ah, was not unlike that of his father in the trial of faith. While the other sons of A'bra-ham had many children, I'saac remained childless, though it had been promised that his descendants should be like the stars of Heaven. His mother Sa'rah was barren for nearly half a century, and now his wife Re-bek'ah had entered the twentieth year of marriage without bearing a child.
   Unlike his father, I'saac did not stoop to unworthy means of overcoming the trying situation in his home. Instead, he prayed to the LORD without ceasing, constantly asking that a son and heir should be given to him. Re-bek'ah joined him in such prayers, earnestly asking the LORD to bless them with a son to carry on the line through which all the families of the earth were to be blessed.
   After twenty years of prayer and patient waiting their hopes were answered; Re-bek'ah knew that the promise would soon be fulfilled. And yet Re-bek'ah was made uneasy by certain vague, foreboding thoughts. Worried by such a state of mind, she turned to the LORD for guidance, and was told that she would become the mother of twin sons. It was also revealed that two great nations should spring from these twins, one of whom should be stronger than the other, and that the elder son and his descendants should serve the younger. Such strange thoughts in the mind of Re-bek'ah, and the revelations of God in answer to her prayer, had a strong influence upon her, no doubt accounting for her preference of the younger of the two sons after their birth.
   When the two sons were born the fears of Re-bek'ah were fully justified. The first of the two was abnormal in appearance, very red and hairy, while his brother was perfectly normal. The elder child was called E'sau, which means "hairy," or "rough," while the younger was called Ja'cob, which means "to trip" or "a supplanter."
   As the boys grew older the traits of character which were to divide them and their descendants became very clear. E'sau inherited from his mother a bold, active disposition, but one which lacked her nobility of spirit; from I'saac there came a liking for open spaces, and a fondness for good living. Ja'cob inherited from I'saac a quiet, thoughtful nature, and from Re-bek'ah a talent for sly, sharp dealing. In E'sau there were the elements of manly courage, great energy, and practical genius which tended to make him hasty and hard to manage. In Ja'cob there were the traits of timidity, gentleness, and cunning which led to the dangers of being too crafty for his own good in life.
   E'sau became a great hunter, and one who excelled in all of the rough, vigorous sports of the age. He took for granted the position of his father's favorite son, and acted as though he had already inherited the estates of his father. In the meantime Ja'cob gave his time to the gentle occupation of caring for the sheep, and was always ready to help around the home. He was the favorite of his mother, and was under her influence during the formative years of childhood and youth.

Story 18: The Closing Years, Death, And Burial Of A'bra-ham

   A'bra-ham lived for thirty-eight years after the death of Sa'rah, or thirty-five years after the marriage of I'saac and Re-bek'ah, thus reaching the great age of one hundred and seventy-five years. His good health, which had been restored prior to the birth of I'saac, was preserved to the end of life, while his strength of body and mind enabled him to survive the loss of his beloved wife.
   After the marriage of I'saac and his removal from his father's house, A'bra-ham sought to overcome his loneliness by taking another wife. He married Ke-tu'rah, who gave birth to six sons. They became the founders of families which grew into strong tribal nations outside of Ca'naan, which was the promised land for the descendants of I'saac. We shall learn something of their relation to Is'ra-el in future history.
   A'bra-ham remained active and successful in all the cares and responsibilities of life right up to the end. Provision was made for the settlement of his sons by Ke-tu'rah outside the land Divinely promised to I'saac and his descendants, and care was taken to see that all the rights and privileges which belonged to I'saac as the first-born son should be safeguarded. He was a strong, able-bodied man even in extreme old age, and his mind and senses remained clear and active to the last. Before passing into the higher life he put his house in order, both in matters of worldly importance, and in those which relate to spiritual welfare.
   A'bra-ham's body was laid to rest in the family cemetery which he had purchased for the burial of Sa'rah. There was a notable funeral, in which his family and great company of servants gathered to pay honor and reverence to his memory. All jealousy and bad feeling between Ish'ma-el and I'saac was forgiven in the presence of death, and they united in sorrow at the burial of their father. It is often true that, a time of great sorrow brings together those who have been separated by misunderstandings.
   The Bible tells us that "A'bra-ham was gathered to his people." These words do not refer to his burial, for his kinsmen were buried in far distant Mes-o-po-ta'mia, while A'bra-ham was laid to rest in the cave of Mach-pe'lah near He'bron. What it does mean is that his spirit passed into a continued personal existence after death, that his soul passed at once into the happy life to which all the saints who died before had gone. Thus ended the earthly sojourn of a noble patriarch, and thus began his heavenly citizenship in the glory of "the city whose builder and maker is God, for which he looked."

Story 17: A Wife Is Chosen For I'saac V

   E-li-e'zer then took his departure as he had planned, taking Re-bek'ah with him, and followed by the good wishes, blessings, and prayers of the entire household. Be-thu'el bestowed upon Re-bek'ah certain goods according to the customs of those days, and gave her the maid who had watched over her from infancy. Her name was Deb'o-rah, and she remained a faithful servant of Re-bek'ah until her death many years later.
   While all these events were taking place in Mes-o-po-ta'mia, I'saac remained in Ca'naan, hoping and praying for the success of E-li-e'zer's mission. He went out to the well where the Angel Je-ho'vah had comforted Ha'gar, for A'bra-ham was now living once more in southwestern Ca'naan near Be'er-she'ba. Here I'saac recalled how many times the LORD had blessed his father's family, and here he entreated the LORD concerning his own marriage.
   We are not told how long I'saac remained lost in meditation, nor what thoughts filled his mind, but we do know that while his eyes were still lifted up toward Heaven, there suddenly appeared in the distance E-li-e'zer's caravan of camels. When Re-bek'ah was told that the man coming out to meet the caravan was I'saac, she followed the custom of the day by covering her face with a veil. I'saac loved her from the first moment, and in due time the marriage ordained by the LORD was carried out. As a token of love and respect I'saac placed Re-bek'ah in the tent which Sa'rah had occupied until her death, thus proving that he was comforted for his mother's death.
   Such is the story of this beautiful, romantic marriage, a marriage not unlike many which take place today among certain peoples of the East, except that it was directed in every detail by the LORD. It was a marriage made possible by faith in God: Faith on the part of A'bra-ham and his loyal servant E-li-e'zer, on the part of I'saac, and on the part of Re-bek'ah. The prompt, cheerful response of Re-bek'ah, and the good spirit which she showed in the course of so many strange events can be explained in no other way than to credit her with perfect faith in the LORD,
   This was truly a marriage in the LORD. It was pervaded by a spirit of reverence toward God as the Founder of the institution, and by a desire for His blessings. The motives of all concerned were pure and sincere, and supreme regard was given to the will of God. A spirit of prayer precipitated every movement, and the LORD'S indication of His own choice of a bride was accepted by I'saac as a gracious Providence.
   Although there were taints of idolatry in Te'rah's family and in the households of some of his descendants, there were also striking examples of loyalty to the True God worshipped by A'bra-ham, and Re-bek'ah may be counted as one of those who was most faithful. We shall learn more of this sublime truth in future chapters,

Story 17: A Wife Is Chosen For I'saac lV

   When La'ban, who was Re-bek'ah's brother, and Be-thu'el, her father, heard how A'bra-ham had sent his servant up to Ha'ran to find a wife for I'saac, and how E-li-e'zer had seen the will of God in the choice of Re-bek'ah, they both exclaimed, "Surely this comes from the LORD. Here is Re-bek'ah, take her, and let her be the wife of your master's son."
    Early the next morning E-li-e'zer prepared at once for the journey back to Ca'naan, but Re-bek'ah's family felt that they could not let her go away so soon. They asked that E-li-e'zer tarry with them, and that the return trip be delayed for ten days. A'bra-ham's servant felt, however, that his master's business required haste, and insisted that it was God's will that he go at once. His mission had been carried out, so the woman chosen by the LORD to become I'saac's wife must be taken to him without further delay. When Re-bek'ah was consulted about the matter she said, "I will go at once."

Story 17: A Wife Is Chosen For I'saac lll

   E-li-e'zer then told Re-bek'ah that he was a servant of her uncle A'bra-ham, who was now a prosperous herdsman in the land Ca'naan. Now certain that he had been led by the hand of  Divine Providence, E-li-e'zer bowed his head in a prayer of gratitude. Meanwhile Re-bek'ah ran to her father's house and told her family about the stranger, and the things which he had told her. Her brother La'ban went out to meet E-li-e'zer, whom he addressed as a servant of the LORD, and urged him to come into the house. E-li-e'zer and the servants which he had brought with him on the mission were shown all the courtesies of Oriental hospitality.
   E-li-e'zer refused to join the feast until he had explained his errand to the hosts. First he told them of his master's prosperity, and of the blessings which God had granted him, pointing out the fact that A'bra-ham had only one son to inherit his entire estate. He then praised the nobility and piety of both A'bra-ham and I'saac, explaining the many advantages that would be enjoyed by the woman who became the wife of I'saac. He also described the instructions which A'bra-ham had given him for the task of finding a wife for I'saac, and the Divine Providential guidance which had led him to the choice of Re-bek'ah. Finally, he asked that the parents give their consent for Re-bek'ah to become the wife of I'saac, and that he be permitted to return to Ca'naan with her.

Story 17: A Wife Is Chosen For I'saac ll

   In facing so difficult a mission, E-li-e'zer was naturally disturbed by the thought of failure. His fears, however, were overcome by the spirit of faith in God shown by A'bra-ham, and by the promise that if he should fail, he would not be held responsible or judged harshly by his master. It appears that A'bra-ham never had the slightest doubt of success, and that he sent his servant away in perfect faith that he would return in due time with a wife for his son.
   In making ready for the long journey, and for whatever might happen during it, E-li-e'zer took ten camels, a number of servants, and enough supplies to provide food for many weeks of travel. He also took presents to be given to the bride, and gifts for her parents, for these were required by the customs of those days.
   Having entered the land of Mes-o-po-ta'mia, and arrived in the vicinity of the region where Na'hor, one of A'bra-ham's brothers, made his home, E-li-e'zer stopped at a well to give water to his camels. Knowing that this was the time of evening when the women usually went to the wells to draw water, the faithful servant of A'bra-ham turned to the LORD in prayer. He prayed for the success of his mission, and for certain signs by which the woman who was to become the wife of I'saac might be pointed out to him. He asked that the maiden upon whom his choice should fall should come to the well, grant his request for a drink of water, and offer to draw water for the camels. The fulfillment of these signs would show that God approved the choice of the woman, and would prove that one so kind and thoughtful toward a stranger was well suited to become the wife of I'saac.
   Before the prayer was finished, there came to the well a beautiful maiden whose name was Re-bek'ah, a daughter of Be-thu'el. When E-li-e'zer asked her for some water she quickly lifted a jar from her shoulder, placed one hand under it, and tilted it for him to drink. She then offered to draw water for the camels, and did not pause until she had done so.
   E-li-e'zer was delighted by the kindness and dignity of the beautiful young woman, and felt in his heart that his prayer was already answered. He thought it best, however, not to tell her of his mission until he was absolutely certain that she was the woman chosen by the LORD. He gave her an earring and two bracelets of gold as a token of gratitude for her kindness, and then opened the way for an offer of hospitality in her father's home. Re-bek'ah assured him that there was room for him and his companions in her father's house, and that provisions could be found there for feeding the camels.

Story 17: A Wife Is Chosen For I'saac l

   The death of Sa'rah left an unhappy vacancy in A'bra-ham's family. For three years the man of God lived in deep, heart-felt mourning. He found the home very sad without the presence of Sa'rah, and he watched with anxiety the loneliness of his son I'saac. The chief interest in A'bra-ham's life was to provide for the happiness and security of I'saac, through whom the family was to be carried on according to the will of God.
   I'saac was now forty years old, about the usual age when men of those days began to think seriously of marriage. It was then the custom for parents to arrange the marriage of their children.
   In carrying out his duty as a parent A'bra-ham was both loving and careful, for he intended to find I'saac a wife whom the LORD approved. The people of the land in which they were now living worshipped idols, and were guilty of some of the worst sins. They were all descendants of Ham, but had divided into various tribes, which were known as the Hit'tites, Per'iz-zites, Ca'naan-ites, and similar names. Since few, if any of them, worshipped the True God, A'bra-ham did not feel it right for I'saac to take a wife from such heathen people. The LORD had already made it plain that the chosen nation of which A'bra-ham was the head should be descended from Shem, and had warned A'bra-ham not to allow any descendants of Ham or Ja'pheth to come into his family. His chief duty, therefore, in choosing a wife for I'saac was to carry out the will of God in this respect.
   For this reason A'bra-ham decided to send one of his most trusted servants back to the land of his kinsmen to find a wife for I'saac. When he and Lot had moved from Ha'ran in Mes-o-po-ta'mia down to the land of Ca'naan, his brothers had remained in Mes-o-po-ta'mia. They had prospered, and had reared large families, and news of these facts had been brought to A'bra-ham. He was certain that somewhere among his kinsmen there was the chosen wife for I'saac, a woman of outstanding character and deep religious feeling; to find her, he put his trust in the LORD.
   The task of searching for the woman and bringing her back to the home of A'bra-ham was placed upon E-li-e'zer, who had been a faithful steward of the household for nearly sixty years. To whom was given the duty of making the long journey of about four hundred miles back to the region between the two great rivers, the Ti'gris and the Eu-phra'tes, far to the north and east of Ca'naan. Here he was to trust in Divine Providence for discovering the woman whom God had chosen to become the wife of I'saac, and for securing her consent, and that of her parents, for the marriage.

Story 16: The Death And Burial Of Sa'rah ll

   A'bra-ham wished to provide an honorable burial for the body of Sa'rah, and to make sure that her grave would not be disturbed. For this reason he thought it wise to purchase a large plot of ground for a family cemetery. The LORD had promised the entire land of Ca'naan to A'bra-ham and his descendants, but the region in which he lived at this time was still held by people who were called the Hit'tites.
   There was a large tract of land which belonged to a man named E'phron, and on which there was a cave well-suited for a burial place. A'bra-ham proposed to buy this land, and to pay whatever price the owner might ask. Because of the high regard which the Hit'tites had for A'bra-ham and out of respect for his noble character and righteousness, E'phron offered to give him the land without cost. A'bra-ham appreciated the kind offer, but insisted upon  paying the full market price of four hundred shekels in silver.
   Thus we have the first record of the transfer of property by legal title, the first instance of the purchase of land for a burial place, the first account of the use of silver as money, and the first family burying ground known in history.
   The field  of Mach-pe'lah and the cave bearing the same name became the permanent property of A'bra-ham and his family. Here A'bra-ham himself was later buried, as were Ja'cob, Jo'seph, and many later patriarchs.

Story 16: The Death And Burial Of Sa'rah l

   After I'saac had been spared by the LORD on the altar of burnt offerings, A'bra-ham and his family moved once again to the hill country of Ca'naan. Here A'bra-ham settled at He'bron, where he had lived forty years before. He'bron was the oldest city and the first place that might be called civilized in that land. It had been built by descendants of Heth, who was a son of Ham, seven years before the building of Zo'an, the oldest capital of Egypt.
   Soon there came great sorrow to A'bra-ham, and the shadow of death fell upon his home. Death came at last to Sa'rah, the beloved wife of A'bra-ham, and the mother of his son I'saac. Married to A'bra-ham when they were both young, Sa'rah had gone with him on many long, dangerous journeys, had been a faithful companion to him during years of hardship and disappointment, and had rejoiced with him at the birth of I'saac. She had lived to the ripe old age of one hundred and twenty-seven years, having been spared to raise her only son until he reached the age of thirty-seven.
   The death of one who had been dear to him for so many years was a great shock to A'bra-ham. He was a stern, stout-hearted man, one who had borne many trials without complaint, and who had yielded only to the will of God, but now he bowed his head in bitter grief. But he wept not as those who have no hope; the blinding tears of grief opened the eyes of his soul to see more clearly into the world beyond. With a firm belief in the future life, A'bra-ham was comforted by the thought that Sa'rah's spirit had passed into a state of perfect happiness, and that soon he would follow.