patriarchs and prophets-第37部分

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But　the　word　of　God　had　not　failed；　neither　did　it　meet　its　final
accomplishment　in　the　occupation　of　Canaan　by　the　Jewish　people。　〃To　Abraham
and　his　seed　were　the　promises　made。〃

170

Galatians　3：16。　Abraham　himself　was　to　share　the　inheritance。　The
fulfillment　of　God's　promise　may　seem　to　be　long　delayed　for　〃one　day　is
with　the　Lord　as　a　thousand　years；　and　a　thousand　years　as　one　day〃　（2　Peter
3：8）；　it　may　appear　to　tarry；　but　at　the　appointed　time　〃it　will　surely
come；　it　will　not　tarry。〃　Habakkuk　2：3。　The　gift　to　Abraham　and　his　seed
included　not　merely　the　land　of　Canaan；　but　the　whole　earth。　So　says　the
apostle；　〃The　promise；　that　he　should　be　the　heir　of　the　world；　was　not　to
Abraham；　or　to　his　seed；　through　the　law；　but　through　the　righteousness　of
faith。〃　Romans　4：13。　And　the　Bible　plainly　teaches　that　the　promises　made　to
Abraham　are　to　be　fulfilled　through　Christ。　All　that　are　Christ's　are
〃Abraham's　seed；　and　heirs　according　to　the　promise〃heirs　to　〃an
inheritance　incorruptible；　and　undefiled；　and　that　fadeth　not　away〃the
earth　freed　from　the　curse　of　sin。　Galatians　3：29；　1　Peter　1：4。　For　〃the
kingdom　and　dominion；　and　the　greatness　of　the　kingdom　under　the　whole
heaven；　shall　be　given　to　the　people　of　the　saints　of　the　Most　High；〃　and
〃the　meek　shall　inherit　the　earth；　and　shall　delight　themselves　in　the
abundance　of　peace。〃　Daniel　7：27；　Psalm　37：11。

God　gave　to　Abraham　a　view　of　this　immortal　inheritance；　and　with　this　hope
he　was　content。　〃By　faith　he　sojourned　in　the　Land　of　Promise；　as　in　a
strange　country；　dwelling　in　tabernacles　with　Isaac　and　Jacob；　the　heirs
with　him　of　the　same　promise：　for　he　looked　for　a　city　which　hath
foundations；　whose　builder　and　maker　is　God。〃　Hebrews　11：9；　10。

Of　the　posterity　of　Abraham　it　is　written；　〃These　all　died　in　faith；　not
having　received　the　promises；　but　having　seen　them　afar　off；　and　were
persuaded　of　them；　and　embraced　them；　and　confessed　that　they　were　strangers
and　pilgrims　on　the　earth。〃　Verse　13。　We　must　dwell　as　pilgrims　and
strangers　here　if　we　would　gain　〃a　better　country；　that　is；　an　heavenly。〃
Verse　16。　Those　who　are　children　of　Abraham　will　be　seeking　the　city　which
he　looked　for；　〃whose　builder　and　maker　is　God。〃




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（171）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　15

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Marriage　of　Isaac


Abraham　had　become　an　old　man；　and　expected　soon　to　die；　yet　one　act
remained　for　him　to　do　in　securing　the　fulfillment　of　the　promise　to　his
posterity。　Isaac　was　the　one　divinely　appointed　to　succeed　him　as　the　keeper
of　the　law　of　God　and　the　father　of　the　chosen　people；　but　he　was　yet
unmarried。　The　inhabitants　of　Canaan　were　given　to　idolatry；　and　God　had
forbidden　intermarriage　between　His　people　and　them；　knowing　that　such
marriages　would　lead　to　apostasy。　The　patriarch　feared　the　effect　of　the
corrupting　influences　surrounding　his　son。　Abraham's　habitual　faith　in　God
and　submission　to　His　will　were　reflected　in　the　character　of　Isaac；　but　the
young　man's　affections　were　strong；　and　he　was　gentle　and　yielding　in
disposition。　If　united　with　one　who　did　not　fear　God；　he　would　be　in　danger
of　sacrificing　principle　for　the　sake　of　harmony。　In　the　mind　of　Abraham　the
choice　of　a　wife　for　his　son　was　a　matter　of　grave　importance；　he　was
anxious　to　have　him　marry　one　who　would　not　lead　him　from　God。

In　ancient　times　marriage　engagements　were　generally　made　by　the　parents；
and　this　was　the　custom　among　those　who　worshiped　God。　None　were　required　to
marry　those　whom　they　could　not　love；　but　in　the　bestowal　of　their
affections　the　youth　were　guided　by　the　judgment　of　their　experienced；
God…fearing　parents。　It　was　regarded　as　a　dishonor　to　parents；　and　even　a
crime；　to　pursue　a　course　contrary　to　this。

Isaac；　trusting　to　his　father's　wisdom　and　affection；　was　satisfied　to
commit　the　matter　to　him；　believing　also　that　God　Himself　would　direct　in
the　choice　made。　The　patriarch's　thoughts　turned　to　his　father's　kindred　in
the　land　of　Mesopotamia。　Though　not　free　from　idolatry；　they　cherished　the
knowledge　and　the　worship　of　the　true　God。　Isaac　must　not　leave　Canaan　to　go
to　them；　but　it　might　be　that　among　them　could　be　found　one　who　would　leave
her　home　and　unite　with　him　in　maintaining

172

the　pure　worship　of　the　living　God。　Abraham　committed　the　important　matter
to　〃his　eldest　servant；〃　a　man　of　piety；　experience；　and　sound　judgment；　who
had　rendered　him　long　and　faithful　service。　He　required　this　servant　to　make
a　solemn　oath　before　the　Lord；　that　he　would　not　take　a　wife　for　Isaac　of
the　Canaanites；　but　would　choose　a　maiden　from　the　family　of　Nahor　in
Mesopotamia。　He　charged　him　not　to　take　Isaac　thither。　If　a　damsel　could　not
be　found　who　would　leave　her　kindred；　then　the　messenger　would　be　released
from　his　oath。　The　patriarch　encouraged　him　in　his　difficult　and　delicate
undertaking　with　the　assurance　that　God　would　crown　his　mission　with
success。　〃The　Lord　God　of　heaven；〃　he　said；　〃which　took　me　from　my　father's
house；　and　from　the　land　of　my　kindred；　。　。　。　He　shall　send　His　angel　before
thee。〃

The　messenger　set　out　without　delay。　Taking　with　him　ten　camels　for　the　use
of　his　own　company　and　the　bridal　party　that　might　return　with　him；　provided
also　with　gifts　for　the　intended　wife　and　her　friends；　he　made　the　long
journey　beyond　Damascus；　and　onward　to　the　rich　plains　that　border　on　the
great　river　of　the　East。　Arrived　at　Haran；　〃the　city　of　Nahor；〃　he　halted
outside　the　walls；　near　the　well　to　which　the　women　of　the　place　came　at
evening　for　water。　It　was　a　time　of　anxious　thought　with　him。　Important
results；　not　only　to　his　master's　household；　but　to　future　generations；
might　follow　from　the　choice　he　made；　and　how　was　he　to　choose　wisely　among
entire　strangers？　Remembering　the　words　of　Abraham；　that　God　would　send　His
angel　with　him；　he　prayed　earnestly　for　positive　guidance。　In　the　family　of
his　master　he　was　accustomed　to　the　constant　exercise　of　kindness　and
hospitality；　and　he　now　asked　that　an　act　of　courtesy　might　indicate　the
maiden　whom　God　had　chosen。

Hardly　was　the　prayer　uttered　before　the　answer　was　given。　Among　the　women
who　were　gathered　at　the　well；　the　courteous　manners　of　one　attracted　his
attention。　As　she　came　from　the　well；　the　stranger　went　to　meet　her；　asking
for　some　water　from　the　pitcher　upon　her　shoulder。　The　request　received　a
kindly　answer；　with　an　offer　to　draw　water　for　the　camels　also；　a　service
which　it　was　customary　even　for　the　daughters　of　princes　to　perform　for
their　fathers'　flocks　and　herds。　Thus　the　desired　sign　was　given。　The　maiden
〃was　very　fair　to　look　upon；〃　and　her　ready　courtesy　gave　evidence　of　a　kind
heart　and　an　active；　energetic

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　173

nature。　Thus　far　the　divine　hand　had　been　with　him。　After　acknowledging　her
kindness　by　rich　gifts；　the　messengers　asked　her　parentage；　and　on　learning
that　she　was　the　daughter　of　Bethuel；　Abraham's　nephew；　he　〃bowed　down　his
head；　and　worshiped　the　Lord。〃

The　man　had　asked　for　entertainment　at　her　father's　house；　and　in　his
expressions　of　thanksgiving　had　revealed　the　fact　of　his　connection　with
Abraham。　Returning　home；　the　maiden　told　what　had　happened；　and　Laban；　her
brother；　at　once　hastened　to　bring　the　stranger　and　his　attendants　to　share
their　hospitality。

Eliezer　would　not　partake　of　food　until　he　had　told　his　errand；　his　prayer
at　the　well；　with　all　the　circumstances　attending　it。　Then　he　said；　〃And
now；　if　ye　will　deal　kindly　and　truly　with　my　master；　tell　me：　and　if　not；
tell　me；　that　I　may　turn　to　the　right　hand；　or　to　the　left。〃　The　answer　was；
〃The　thing　proceedeth　from　the　Lord：　we　cannot　speak　unto　thee　bad　or　good。
Behold；　Rebekah　is　before　thee；　take　her；　and　go；　and　let　her　be　thy
master's　son's　wife；　as　the　Lord　hath　spoken。〃

After　the　consent　of　the　family　had　been　obtained；　Rebekah　herself　was
consulted　as　to　whether　she　would　go　to　so　great　a　distance　from　her
father's　house；　to　marry　the　son　of　Abraham。　She　believed；　from　what　had
taken　place；　that　God　had　selected　her　to　be　Isaac's　wife；　and　she　said；　〃I
will　go。〃

The　servant；　anticipating　his　master's　joy　at　the　success　of　his　mission；
was　impatient　to　be　gone；　and　with　the　morning　they　set　out　on　the　homeward
journey。　Abraham　dwelt　at　Beersheba；　and　Isaac；　who　had　been　attending　to
the　flocks　in　the　adjoining　country；　had　returned　to　his　father's　tent　to
await　the　arrival　of　the　messenger　from　Haran。　〃And　Isaac　went　out　to
meditate　in　the　field　at　the　eventide：　and　he　lifted　up　his　eyes；　and　saw；
and；　behold；　the　camels　were　coming。　And　Rebekah　lifted　up　her　eyes；　and
when　she　saw　Isaac；　she　lighted　off　the　camel。　For　she　had　said　unto　the
servant；　What　man　is　that　that　walketh　in　the　field　to　meet　us？　And　the
servant　had　said；　It　is　my　master：　therefore　she　took　a　veil；　and　covered
herself。　And　the　servant　told　Isaac　all　things　that　he　had　done。　And　Isaac
brought　her　into　his　mother　Sarah's　tent；　and　took　Rebekah；　and　she　became
his　wife；　and　he　loved　her：　and　Isaac　was　comforted　aft