Unfailing Love
One-Year Bible: 01/10/2023
Genesis 23:1-24:51
Unfailing Love
When Sarah was 127 years old, she died in the land of Canaan, and Abraham wept for her. They had no homeland, so he searched for a family burial place.
Perhaps you may remember that Abraham told important kings twice that Sarah was his sister so they wouldn’t kill him. The second event was in yesterday’s passage found in Genesis 20 when Abraham told Abimelech, “She is my sister.”
You can read commentaries that tell you how Abraham lied, but if you read the passage carefully, you will know “the behind-the-scenes plot,” “She really is my sister, for we both have the same father, but different mothers. And I married her.” (Gen. 20:11-12) So, there’s that little fact…
However, he certainly didn’t tell the complete truth, “This is a godless place. They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.” (20:11)
At 90 years of age, she was still so attractive that the king viewed her beauty and wanted her. (It makes you want to buy some of her beauty products, Doesn’t it?)
Right when God was “opening her womb” to give her the long-awaited son, she was in the palace of a pagan king. So, God closed the wombs of their entire household. God protected his servant, Abraham, and his “Sister Wife,” Sarah. Not only that, but Abraham prayed for Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants because they were all infertile due to Abraham.
Now, Abraham’s wife is gone, and he is a man without a country and without his beautiful wife, but he is not alone nor forgotten.
The word “unfailing love” is used throughout this passage. Over and over, God continues to show his unfailing love to his friend, Abraham.
“Abraham was now a very old man, and the LORD had BLESSED him in every way.” (24:1)
Abraham is now concerned for his son, Isaac, to have a wife, and he does not want him to marry a Canaanite woman. So, he sends his servant on an outing. It’s like “Christianmingle.com,” but he doesn’t need technology to do the work for him. Abraham lets his servant know that an angel will guide him to the woman for Isaac.
Here is what Abraham tells his servant, “For the LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants. He will send his ANGEL ahead of you, and he will see that you find a wife there for my son.” (24:7)
Now listen to the servant's prayer, “O LORD, God of my master, Abraham, please give me success today, and show UNFAILING LOVE to my master, Abraham.” (24:12)
The servant then goes on to pray and request how he will know of God’s UNFAILING LOVE. The woman that comes to greet him will not only offer him water but offer water to his camels as well.
Her name was Rebekah, and she was the daughter of Bethuel, a relative of Abraham. This was in keeping with their prayers. Not only did the angel guide him, but Rebekah responded in the manner of the servant’s prayer.
Then Laban and Bethuel replied, “The LORD has obviously brought you here, so there is nothing we can say. Here is Rebekah; take her and go. Yes, let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has directed.” (24:50)
God kept his covenant through all of Abraham's ups and downs and showered Abraham and his descendants with UNFAILING LOVE.
That is the God that we pray to… His UNFAILING LOVE is mindful of life, death, and everything in between.
