Rebecca

Genesis 24 tells the tale on how Rebecca became Isaac's wife.

After the death of Abraham's wife Sarah, Abraham sends his most trusted servant away to find a wife for his son Isaac.  The servant--who is never given a name--is given explicit instructions on how to find her.  He is to go back to Abraham's homeland, and among his relatives, there he will find one suitable for Isaac.  The servant came to a well, and prayed to the Lord that the girl who comes by a not only offer him a drink but will also be generous enough with her water to quench the thirst of his camels, would be the one the Lord has chosen.

Rebecca arrived . . . and she said everything that was supposed to be said.  She was also, indeed, one of the relatives Abraham spoke of.

The final piece of the puzzle was that Rebecca had to agree to go.  Her mother and brother wanted Rebecca to stay a week before leaving, but when asked, Rebecca said she would go immediately.

It's never said prior to this, but the death of Isaac's mother must've hurt him terribly, because when he saw Rebecca and they married, she comforted him and eased the pain of Sarah's death.

What are you willing to sacrifice?

"Go to the mountain and sacrifice your one and only son."

These were essentially the same words Abraham heard from the Lord.  As you know Isaac was Abraham's one and only son, a son born when Sarah and he thought they were beyond the age to be bearing children.

But when Abraham heard these words, he didn't question the Lord and ask, "Are you sure?"  Full of faith in the Lord, Abraham did as he was told.

This seems completely prophetic towards God's sacrifice of his own Son Jesus, a task that was taken to completion.  Because, as you know, as Abraham was about to plunge the knife into his son, Isaac, the Lord told Abraham that He now knew that Abraham had complete faith in Him.  In the end, God produced a ram and it was sacrificed in place of Isaac.

This may seem like such an extreme, but it simply shows the level of faithfulness in the Lord that Abraham had.

Psalm 2 - Fearing God

Psalm 2 starts with two questions:

"Why do the nations plan rebellion?"

"Why do people make their useless plots?"

It continues to tell how some rulers and kings plot against the Lord.

"The Lord laughs."

God mocks their feeble plans, for He could easily flood the Earth and end everyone's life.  This is funny, when you think about it: God, sitting up in Heaven, watching people plot against Him and denounce God's Word.  It's probably the same reaction He gets when atheists mock God's existence.  He mocks them.  He laughs at them.

But, in the end, we should both love and fear Him.  He is the Protector of all who ask for it.

It also mentions that He will be sending a King, who is his Son.  This, of course, is the foretelling of Jesus.  And that his Son will from the City of David, which also proves to be true.

One of the best lines--besides the line where the Lord laughs--is where it says, "Serve the Lord with fear."  Serve Him, and he will reward you.

The servant Lot

Genesis 19 depicts Abraham's nephew Lot, who resided in the sinful city of Sodom.

One night, Lot was visited by two angels of the Lord.  He knew the sinful nature of the city in which he resided, and when he's visited by the two, he immediately told them to come inside and he was to serve them.  The two refused and told him they are going to sleep in the city square, but Lot was persistent and they soon agreed to come inside.

The citizens of Sodom quickly learned the nature of the two who were in Lot's house, and ordered Lot to bring them out.  But Lot refused, and even went as far as to offer his two virgin daughters to the citizens if they'll leave him alone.  The citizens were relentless, and Lot went out to confront them.  The two angels them forced Lot back inside and ordered him and his family out of the city immediately, for they were going to destroy both the city of Sodom and Gomorrah.

The angels told Lot to run away quickly, but Lot hesitated.  Verse 16 said that Lot hesitated and the Lord took pity on him.  The two angels led Lot out of the city and told him to run for the hills.

Lot, the servant that he was, answered that he owed the Lord a great favor by saving him and his family.  Lot pointed to a small town and asked if they could hide out there.  The angels agreed.

And both Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.

A test of patience

"Daddy, Daddy, can I ask you something?"

"Mommy, please, why ______________________ ?"

Sound familiar?

In one of the most interesting exchanges between Abraham and God is on Chapter 18, Verses 23 through 33.  God tells Abraham that He is going to Sodom and Gomorrah, for he's heard rumor of great sins.

Abraham is fearful of this, as his nephew Lot resides there.  He asks God if He could find 50 innocent people, would He not destroy the city.

God agrees.

Then, Abraham apologizes for his boldness and asks if He only finds 45 innocent people, would He spare the city.

God agrees.  Again.

Abraham continues asking God by going down to 30 innocent people, and then 20, until arriving at 10.  Would God not destroy Sodom if He could find 10 innocent people--surely, in that entire city, there must be at least 10 God-loving people.

God agrees--very patiently--that if He finds 10 people, He will not destroy Sodom.

This exchange definitely shows the patience behind God, as Abraham continuously asks Him question after question and the Lord obliges.