Date: 01 Jul 2002
Time: 21:23:03
Hmmm. No takers? Well, its still early in the week. :)
Date: 02 Jul 2002
Time: 12:14:09
OK. I'll start. What is the point, moral, good news of this story? If I were going to preach from it, where would I start and where would I go? Just wondering. Gail in Decherd
Date: 03 Jul 2002
Time: 05:22:16
I guess what really grabs me here is the action of the servant, once he decides that Rebekah is "the one" for Isaac: v. 47b - "So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her arms."
A ring in her nose? Treating the woman like a piece of livestock! Which, I guess, was pretty much the way society was ...
This contrasts with her brother (and father?) giving her the human dignity of deciding whether she will go with the servant to become Isaac's wife (v. 58), and finally with the simple statement at the end of the lesson that Isaac (despite having nothing to do with choosing her to become his wife) loved her.
Anyway, that's a middle-of-the-week look at the lesson.
Blessings, Eric in KS
Date: 03 Jul 2002
Time: 07:51:48
I, too, am wondering where exactly I will go with this passage. I am thinking perhaps some discussion about the differing meanings of marriage within our tradition. (Partly becasue I find the phrase "Biblical [or Christian] family values" to be so misused by many people) Another possibility is to look, as Eric has suggested, at the attitudes towards human dignity shown in the passage.
One other note: I am going to read the whole chapter (possibly adapting some of the repetitive sections). I find it nice to actually tell the whole story rather than the section that the lectionary people have decided is the "proper" part.
Gord in Ontario
Date: 03 Jul 2002
Time: 08:44:01
Actually, I may start with the end, indicating how Isaac and Rebekah were both married and in love. Then, I may backtrack to see how it all happened. Included in these thoughts are the idea that God was involved throughout, but that everyone also had to act, taking responsibility for their actions. Eliazar carefully and faithfully made a plan, and asked for God's help in very specific ways. Abraham, following the call of God to a place, is faithful to that call, making sure that Isaac remains. And Rebekah is willing to go and marry a man she'd never met. How does this happen? The gentle hand of God is guiding them, and they are responding to that care. Ordinary life is filled with God's gentle care. Bruce
Date: 03 Jul 2002
Time: 17:26:46
I am not preaching from this lection this week, but have an interesting thought - I think anyway.
As the sacrifice of Isaac story forshadows the sacrifice of Jesus, I believe the fetching of a wife story is a precursor to the coming of the Holy Spirit.
The father sends the servant to get a wife for his son and sends gifts along to woe her home.
God sends the Spirit to fetch a wife for His Son, and the Spirit brings gifts to woe us home.
To big a stretch?
Nate
Date: 03 Jul 2002
Time: 17:28:29
I am not preaching from this lection this week, but have an interesting thought - I think anyway.
As the sacrifice of Isaac story forshadows the sacrifice of Jesus, I believe the fetching of a wife story is a precursor to the coming of the Holy Spirit.
The father sends the servant to get a wife for his son and sends gifts along to woe her home.
God sends the Spirit to fetch a wife for His Son, and the Spirit brings gifts to woe us home.
To big a stretch?
Nate
Date: 04 Jul 2002
Time: 11:37:20
I am intrigued by the resolve of Abraham to not let Eliezar take Isaac to Abraham's homeland to look for a wife. Abraham is adamant that his son will not "slip back" into the culture and milieu Abraham moved away from in following Yahweh. I wonder how easy it is for us to "slip back" into the lifestyle we move from to follow Christ. Bill in LA
Date: 04 Jul 2002
Time: 19:18:06
Nate: I was just doing some surging about the web running some Google searches using terms from this week's lessons and found this on a site called "Simply Christians Australia" -- It touches on your idea of an allegorical reading of this story:
"Our marriage to Christ"
"Christians are figuratively 'married' to Christ (Rom 7:4). In some ways, our marriage to Christ is something like Rebekah's marriage to Isaac, and Rachel's marriage to Jacob. In Isaac's case, he seemed to do little until the happy ending where he marries Rebekah and loves her (Gen 24:67). Before that, Abraham, Abraham's manservant, and Rebekah seemed to make all the effort toward this marriage. People do a lot of work to convert us, and we make a lot of effort and sacrifice to come to Christ. After all that is done, then Christ welcomes us, and we become his accepted and beloved. In Jacob's case however, he had to go on a long journey to find Rachel, then he had to work hard and long in order to marry her. Christ did so much for us. He left his home and came all the way to this world for us. He suffered so much for us. Both pictures are true."
The URL is http://members.datafast.net.au/sggram/f606.htm
Thought you might be interested.
Blessings, Eric in KS
Date: 04 Jul 2002
Time: 19:50:17
I am interested in the link betweenthis passage and the gospel passage this week - the well. In the gospel Jesus says the weary shall receive rest - which I equate to "life". In Genesis we have the servant literally standing by a well - a place of life sustenance - and seeking "life" in THE WELL OF LIFE - GOD as he asks guidance in his quest. I'm stil playing with this one in my mind.
Chris, Australia
Date: 06 Jul 2002
Time: 08:42:18
Eric, interesting site, and interesting method of fishing around for material. tom in TN(USA)
Date: 06 Jul 2002
Time: 10:25:48
Is Abraham's insistence that Isaac not marry a woman from amongst their Canaanite neighbors a "read back" by the author(s) of Genesis who would have been all too familiar with the problem of Jewish-"pagan" intermarriage -- the dilution of Israelite traditions, the drifting away from correct worship, the adoption of practices not in-tune with following Yahweh, etc.? That's the way I'm reading this... Does anyone else see this?
Blessings, Eric in KS
Date: 06 Jul 2002
Time: 17:54:28
Take a look at this from Rebekah's example. She is showing the same hospitality that Abrahma showed to the three visiters. This is the same example of being open for what God has planned for us. We are free to choose not to follow our Master but we will lose the rewards in this world and the next. Blessings Jo Ann
Date: 06 Jul 2002
Time: 18:21:53
Eric, yes I'm with you that this is a "read back" in terms of the strong emphasis against marriage outside the religion. Very discerning of you! Mark in WI