提要
這則最美麗的故事表現出上帝的恩典和引導。亞伯拉罕已經一百四十歲了，他可能認為自己不久於世，因此想要在去世前解決重要的大事，為了使他的後裔保持閃族敬虔的血脈，並與迦南地罪惡的偶像崇拜分開，亞伯拉罕覺得有必要為他的兒子以撒（現已四十歲）娶自己家族（美索不達米亞的拿鶴或哈蘭）的女子為妻，而不能與迦南地的女子結親。亞伯拉罕告訴他的僕人，以撒不去，他要留在上帝所應許的土地，而由僕人去為他尋找一位妻子。亞伯拉罕使他最老的僕人，很可能是大馬色人以利以謝（參15：2），把手放在他大腿底下，起一個很莊嚴的誓。在這個古老的習俗裡，大腿象徵生殖的器官，用這種方式起誓顯得格外神聖而有約束力。
亞伯拉罕忠心的僕人既有智慧又敬畏上帝──他是個忠實、順服、和信任上帝的好榜樣。為以撒找妻子的任務使他得長途跋涉，主的使者也在他前頭行（24：7）。他知道如何禱告和敬拜上帝（24：12、26），且相信上帝會應允亞伯拉罕和他自己的禱告。這位僕人求上帝賜給他好機會，並向他的主人亞伯拉罕施「恩」（希伯來文「恩」hesed這個字的意思是恩典和恩惠）。在他還沒禱告完之前，上帝已經聽了他明確的祈禱，因為亞伯拉罕兄弟的兒子之女利百加（她是以撒的二代表親）出場了。在當時，年輕的女子會在清晨和傍晚成群到井旁打水。年輕美麗的利百加也在傍晚的打水群中，她正確的照著老僕人的禱告做了。為十隻乾渴的駱駝打足水可不是一件小事。當亞伯拉罕的僕人向利百加的家人表明來意時，他完全誠實且歸榮耀給上帝。利百加似乎也有一個敬虔的家庭，她的父親彼土利和哥哥拉班都看出這是出於耶和華上帝（24：50~51）。
老僕人因達成任務興奮不已，他急著想於次日清晨帶利百加回去，利百加的家人也同意了。他們快到家時，利百加一看見以撒就從駱駝上下來以示尊敬，又拿帕子蒙上臉，因為按照當時中東的習俗，新娘在未成婚以前，在新郎面前都需蒙臉。
上帝很明顯的是為以撒選擇配偶的那位，祂使用老僕人完成了祂的計畫。他們的結合很成功，因為聖經告訴我們，以撒愛利百加（24：67）。在今天的社會裡，由別人代為選擇配偶似乎是件難以想像的事，因為那是兩個想要結婚的人之間的決定。但在以撒的情況裡，他配偶是經由上帝的引導和禱告選來的，這也是我們今天最正確的原則。事實上，在所有重要的決定上，我們都應祈求上帝的引導和祂的旨意，並信賴祂，因祂是信實的。
|
Overview
This most beautiful story expresses the goodness and guidance of God. Abraham, at 140 years of age, possibly thought he was close to death, thus he wanted to settle important matters before he died. In order to keep his descendants in the godly line of Shem and to remain separate from the sinful idolatry of Canaan, he felt it necessary that his son Isaac (now 40 years old) marry a girl from his own family (Nahor or Haran in Mesopotamia rather than a Canaanite woman. Abraham told his servant that Isaac was not to go; he was to stay in the land God had promised them while a servant would search for a wife. He made his oldest servant, probably Eliezer of Damascus (cf. chapter 15:2), take a solemn vow by putting his hand under Abraham’s thigh. In this ancient custom, the thigh symbolized the organs of procreation and an oath made in this manner was particularly sacred and binding.
Abraham’s loyal servant was wise and God-fearing – a great example of faithfulness, obedience, and trust.. His obligation to find a wife for Isaac took him quite a distance away and the angel of the Lord went before him (24:7). He knew how to pray and worship God 924:12; 26) and believed God would answer Abraham’s prayers and his. The savant prayed God would grant him success in his mission and would show “kindness” (i.e. “hesed” in the Hebrew, meaning grace and favor) to his master Abraham. Even before he had finished praying, God began to answer his specific prayers, for along came Rebekah, the daughter of Abraham’s brother’s son, (which made her Isaac’s second cousin). In those days, the young women would go as a group to draw water from the well at dawn and at dusk. Rebekah, a beautiful young lady, was among those who came at dusk to fill their water jugs. She did exactly as the servant had prayed, and it was no small task to draw plenty of water for ten thirsty camels. When Abraham’s servant spoke with her family, he was totally honest and gave Gory to God. It seems Rebekah had a godly family and her father Bethuel and brother Laban discerned this was of the Lord (24:50, 51).
The servant, excited at the success of his mission and anxious to return, wanted to depart with Rebekah the next morning. She and her family agreed. Upon seeing Isaac, Rebekah dismounted from her camel showing respect, then she veiled her face, since it was the Eastern custom that the groom not see the bride without her face veiled until after their marriage.
God clearly was the One who had chosen Isaac’s mate for him and God used the servant to accomplish His plan. The union was successful, for we are told Isaac loved her (24:67). In today’s western society, it unthinkable for another to choose one’s mate for it is a personal decision between the two who want to wed. In Isaac’s case, it was with God’s guidance and prayer that his spouse was chosen, and this is the right principle for us today as well. In fact, in all important decisions we should pray for God’s guidance and His will, and trust Him, for He is faithful.
|
