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.