Our last article looked at the last words of Sarah, as she restored order and harmony to the ecclesial family by “casting out the bondwoman and her son.” Paul picks up her words to remind us that we are the children of promise, not the children of bondage. We need to be harsh with ourselves, casting out from our life all that might offend or grieve.
The last recorded words of Abraham are found in Genesis 24:2-8, where he gives charge to his steward concerning finding a wife for Isaac. What a crucial time this was! The promised seed had not yet produced the next generation — yet the line of the “seed of the woman” had to continue. Choosing a suitable wife for Isaac was extremely important. Abraham was too old and frail to accomplish the task, so he gives a charge to his faithful steward.
It is interesting to note that this man may be the very same steward named Eliezer, who in Genesis 15:2 was considered by Abraham to be the heir, since Abraham at that point had no son. Now he was being asked to seek a wife for the true heir and preserve the lineage. He could have been jealous like Ishmael, since Isaac had in a sense replaced him. However, the record bears out his faithfulness, as he puts his own needs second to the needs of his master. It may have been this loyal example that Jesus so often referred to when he called upon us to be “faithful stewards” in our Master’s house.
“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?” (Matt. 24:45).
We also are called to suppress our own desires in order to serve others.
Abraham wisely instructs his steward in the ways of God. In Genesis 24:7 he tells him that God will “send his angel” before him to make his journey prosperous. Abraham must have emphasized the importance of this mission, explaining to his servant the truth about God’s promises. He assured him that God would guide him. Eliezer later demonstrates his own personal belief in Abraham’s God. In verse 12 he prays to God. He acknowledges the work of God in his mission in verse 27, and in verse 40 he echoes Abraham’s words about the guiding angel sent to prosper his journey.
It is interesting to note that the steward’s words in verse 27 contain the first Bible occurrence of the word “truth” (which means faithful or sure). The steward could see that the truth of God’s promises to Abraham necessitated finding a faithful wife for Isaac. He had now personally experienced God working in his life to fulfill that truth. (As an aside, what a wonderful woman Rebekah must have been to fulfill the “test” set up by Eliezer. Giving a stranger a drink is one thing, but volunteering to water his camels too! How many sisters reading this article [Editor: or brothers, for that matter] would have been successful candidates?)
Jesus says we must worship God in “spirit and truth”. Truth is a rare commodity in today’s world of ‘tolerance’, ‘non-discrimination’, and ‘ecumenism’. The popular notion of ‘situational’ or ‘circumstantial’ ethics means there is no absolute truth, but a kind of moving target of ‘truth’. Right and wrong are said to depend upon the situation or circumstance in which we find ourselves. In fact, it’s seen by the world as wrong to believe in absolute or divine truth. It’s said to be a sign of intolerance, fanaticism and bigotry. But for believers Truth must be valued and guarded. Jesus came to bear witness to the Truth (a statement he made in reply to Pilate’s scoffing “What is truth?”), and he has asked us to likewise witness to the Truth, by letting our light shine.
In Abraham’s “Famous Last Words” we learn to acknowledge the working of God in our lives through His ministering angels. We see an example of walking and working with God. We are reminded to value Truth and allow it to rule our lives — guiding us as we face decisions in our walk Zion wards.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One