Application. Abraham obeyed without any questioning, when God demanded of him the hardest of sacrifices. God asks nothing very hard of you, and yet you are often disobedient, and transgress those commandments which, by the help of His grace, you might very easily keep. When you disobey your parents, you disobey God, for it is His will that you should obey your parents and superiors.
Abraham practised the three theological virtues of faith, hope and charity in a most perfect way. Try to kindle them in your own heart. Let us conclude this lesson by making acts of faith, hope and charity.
Chapter XIV.
ISAAC MARRIES REBECCA.
[Gen. 24.]
NOW Abraham was advanced [1] in years, and the Lord had blessed him in all things. He, however, wished, before his death, to see his son wedded to a virtuous wife. But as the daughters of the land[2] were wicked, he said to his old servant Eliezer: “Go to my own country[3] and kindred, and take a wife thence for my son Isaac, but beware lest thou take one of the daughters of the Chanaanites, among whom I dwell.” The servant promised faithfully all that Abraham had commanded him. He then took ten camels of his master's herd, loaded them with rich presents, and set out for Haran, where Nachor, the brother of Abraham, dwelt. Arriving there, he let his camels rest near a well outside the city. It was in the evening, the time when the young women were wont to come out to draw water from the well. Then he prayed fervently within himself that heaven might prosper his undertaking: “O Lord, I beseech Thee, show kindness to my master Abraham. Behold, I stand nigh the spring, and the daughters of the inhabitants of the city will come out to draw water. Now , therefore , the maid to whom I shall say: ‘Let down thy pitcher that I may drink’, and she shall answer: ‘Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also’, let it be
- ↑ Advanced. Abraham was now 140 years old, and Isaac 40.
- ↑ The daughters of the land. The inhabitants of Chanaan did not believe in the true God, but worshipped idols.
- ↑ My own country. Before Abraham lived in Chanaan he had lived with his father in Haran of Mesopotamia. Haran was several hundred miles from Bersabee.
