Genesis 24:1-8
Abraham was old, and well stricken in age. Yahweh had blessed Abraham in all things. Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my thigh. I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live. But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”
The servant said to him, “What if the woman isn’t willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?”
Abraham said to him, “Beware that you don’t bring my son there again. Yahweh, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, ‘I will give this land to your seed.’ He will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. If the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this my oath. Only you shall not bring my son there again.”
What a wonderful blessing it is to witness mature faith. How powerful it can be in the lives of those who witness it. It is very clear by this time that Abraham’s faith had matured. Abraham called his servant to go and find a wife for his son, but didn’t allow the wife to come from somewhere outside of God’s promise. Abraham knew that there wasn’t a future for the people of Canaan because God had told him so. Now, with great confidence in the word of God, Abraham tells his servant to go back to where Abraham came from and get a wife for Isaac.
When the servant asked what to do if the woman won’t come, Abraham said that, in that case, he would be released from the oath. This shows the confidence that Abraham had gained in the word of God. He knew that God only needed one chance to completely fulfill his word. There was no need to worry about God doing what He says. Abraham knew that there was no chance that God would not find a wife for his son who would come back with the servant. Abraham had come a long way since the day he first believed. What an encouragement it is to see that God keeps building us up until we are strong in faith and willing to accept exactly what God says. When we read books like Genesis, God helps us to accept everything it says. Even if we doubt at first, sooner or later, we will realize that it is right because God works inside of us, from the very first day we believe.