patriarchs and prophets-第42章
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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
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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
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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 after his mother's
death。〃
Abraham had marked the result of the intermarriage of those who feared God
and those who feared Him not； from the days of
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Cain to his own time。 The consequences of his own marriage with Hagar； and
of the marriage connections of Ishmael and Lot； were before him。 The lack of
faith on the part of Abraham and Sarah had resulted in the birth of Ishmael；
the mingling of the righteous seed with the ungodly。 The father's influence
upon his son was counteracted by that of the mother's idolatrous kindred and
by Ishmael's connection with heathen wives。 The jealousy of Hagar； and of
the wives whom she chose for Ishmael； surrounded his family with a barrier
that Abraham endeavored in vain to overcome。
Abraham's early teachings had not been without effect upon Ishmael； but the
influence of his wives resulted in establishing idolatry in his family。
Separated from his father； and embittered by the strife and contention of a
home destitute of the love and fear of God； Ishmael was driven to choose the
wild； marauding life of the desert chief； 〃his hand〃 〃against every man； and
every man's hand against him。〃 Genesis 16：12。 In his latter days he repented
of his evil ways and returned to his father's God； but the stamp of
character given to his posterity remained。 The powerful nation descended
from him were a turbulent； heathen people； who were ever an annoyance and
affliction to the descendants of Isaac。
The wife of Lot was a selfish； irreligious woman； and her influence was
exerted to separate her husband from Abraham。 But for her； Lot would not
have remained in Sodom； deprived of the counsel of the wise； God…fearing
patriarch。 The influence of his wife and the associations of that wicked
city would have led him to apostatize from God had it not been for the
faithful instruction he had early received from Abraham。 The marriage of Lot
and his choice of Sodom for a home were the first links in a chain of events
fraught with evil to the world for many generations。
No one who fears God can without danger connect himself with one who fears
Him not。 〃Can two walk together； except they be agreed？〃 Amos 3：3。 The
happiness and prosperity of the marriage relation depends upon the unity of
the parties； but between the believer and the unbeliever there is a radical
difference of tastes； inclinations； and purposes。 They are serving two
masters； between whom there can be no concord。 However pure and correct
one's principles may be； the influence of an unbelieving companion will have
a tendency to lead away from God。
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He who has entered the marriage relation while unconverted； is by his
conversion placed under stronger obligation to be faithful to his companion；
however widely they may differ in regard to religious faith； yet the claims
of God should be placed above every earthly relationship； even though trials
and persecution may be the result。 With the spirit of love and meekness；
this fidelity may have an influen
