49 DAYS OF PRAYER & FASTING FROM MONDAY 7TH OF APRIL TO TUESDAY 27TH OF MAY 2025 (PART 2)

49 DAYS OF PRAYER & FASTING FROM MONDAY 7TH OF APRIL TO TUESDAY 27TH OF MAY 2025 (PART 2)

THEME “PROPHETIC BLESSING AND FULFILMENT”

SCRIPTURE TEXT: Genesis 49:1 (AMP) "Then Jacob called for his sons and said, “Assemble yourselves [around me] that I may tell you what will happen to you and your descendants [a]in the days to come."

Saints Welcome to Part 2 of the 49 Day Fasting Program, due to the length of these in-depth teachings I have had to divide them. Now for those that want to go to the first 20 Days with the introduction and fasting instructions just click on this link https://www.repentancerevival.com/single-post/49-days-of-prayer-fasting-from-monday-7th-of-april-to-tuesday-27th-of-may-2025

Day 21, the 27th of April 2025: PLEASE FIRST READ THE WHOLE OF GENESIS CHAPTER 21

(Read either as an individual, family, or church and then read the questions that you can reflect and discuss, as well as read the prayer)

THINGS TO PONDER:

These are a few of the most fantastic chapters in the Bible! Abraham’s offering of his son? Why? And why there? [Also, an example of the Holy Spirit carefully editing the text for a prophetic implication!]

ABRAHAM AND SARAH RECEIVE THE SON GOD PROMISED THEM (21:1-7):

The Lord worked miraculously in Sarah and caused her to become pregnant. She gave birth to a son when she was 90 years old, and Abraham was 100 years old.

They named their baby son Isaac. The name Isaac (“he laughs”): Sarah said that God gave her laughter (v.6), that is, joy. Her laughter of unbelief (18:12) was now changed to rejoicing through the provision of her son. Everyone who would hear about this would laugh—that is, rejoice, with her. But Ishmael turned her laughter into a ridiculing mockery of God’s work.

Isaac was circumcised on his eighth day of life, just as God had instructed (17:10).

HAGAR AND ISHMAEL ARE BANISHED (21:8-21):

When Isaac was weaned, Abraham prepared a great feast.

Sarah observed Hagar, the mother of Ishmael, laughing and she became angry.

She told Abraham she wanted Hagar and her son banished from their house. God used this incident of Ishmael’s mocking Isaac to drive out the child Ishmael and Hagar (v. 10), for they would be a threat to the promised seed.

The word “mocking” is mesòahòeq (“laughing or jesting”), from which comes “Isaac” (yisòhòaq). Earlier Sarah had mistreated Hagar (16:6); now Hagar’s son was mistreating Sarah’s son. Earlier Sarah caused pregnant Hagar to flee (16:6); now she caused Hagar and her 16- or 17-year-old son to flee.

Bread includes all sorts of victuals—bottle, a leathern vessel, formed of the entire skin of a lamb or kid sewed up, with the legs for handles, usually carried over the shoulder. Ishmael was a lad of 17 years, and it is quite customary for Arab chiefs to send out their sons at such an age to do for themselves: often with nothing but a few days’ provisions in a bag.

When Abraham became distressed because of Sarah’s request to oust Hagar and Ishmael, God assured Abraham that Ishmael would have a future because he too was Abraham’s offspring (vv. 11-13).

Read Galatians 4:22-31: When Christ, the seed, came, the old was done away. Now that the promise has come, believers are co-heirs with the promised Seed by adoption through God’s grace. To go back under the Law would be to undo the fulfillment of God’s promise. Those adopted by the Seed become seeds and are set free from the bondage of the Law (Gal 5:1). Just as Ishmael and Isaac were in conflict (Gal 4:29), so the flesh and the Spirit do not harmonize. The flesh struggles against the Spirit, often mocking it (Gal 5:16-18). Therefore, believers are to “get rid of the slave woman and her son” (Gal 4:30), that is, to remove the threat of the flesh and “live by the Spirit” (Gal 5:16).

This troubled Abraham, but God told him to do as Sarah requested.

God’s blessings on Abraham’s family were to continue through the bloodline of Isaac, but God assured Abraham He would care for Ishmael and his future family.

In the morning, Abraham gave Hagar bread and a skin of water and sent her away. Beer-Sheba, on the border of Egypt, was about fifty miles S of Jerusalem and 27 miles S of Hebron. For those going southward, it was the last point of any significance in Palestine.

Hagar and Ishmael wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba until the water ran out, at which point they despaired of life.

As Hagar wept, the angel of God appeared to her and told her God was planning to make Ishmael into a great nation. The angel of God opened her eyes and showed her a well of water. Ishmael grew up and lived in the wilderness of Paran.

God told Hagar, as He had told Abraham, that from Ishmael would come a great nation (21:18; cf. v. 13). Paran (that is, Arabia), where his posterity has ever dwelt (compare Gen 16:12; also, Isa 48:19; 1Pet 1:25). “...his mother took him a wife”: On a father’s death, the mother looks out for a wife for her son, however young; and as Ishmael was now virtually deprived of his father, his mother set about forming a marriage connection for him, it would seem, among her relatives. Ishmael lived in the desert became an archer and married an Egyptian (21:21).

ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH MAKE A TREATY (21:22-34):

Abimelech and Phicol (his army commander) observed how God blessed Abraham, and they proposed a pact of peace with him. Here a proof of the promise (Gen 12:2) being fulfilled, in a native prince wishing to form a solemn league with Abraham. The proposal was reasonable and agreed to.

Abraham was willing to agree to the treaty, but he had one point of contention with Abimelech.

Apparently, some of Abimelech’s servants had seized a well that Abraham dug. Wells were of immense importance to a pastoral chief and on the successful operation of sinking a new one, the owner was solemnly informed in person. If, however, they were allowed to get out of repair, the restorer acquired a right to them. In unoccupied lands the possession of wells gave a right of property in the land, and dread of this had caused the offense for which Abraham reproved Abimelech. Some describe four, others five, wells in Beer-Sheba.

Abraham gave Abimelech 7 ewe lambs as a “witness” that the well belonged to him. The similarity of the Hebrew words sheba, “seven,” and shaba, “swear,” seems to indicate that there is a connection between them. Accordingly, Beer-sheba may mean “well of seven” or “well of swearing,” or “well of the oath.” The reflexive use of the word for “to swear” means “to seven oneself” or to pledge oneself by seven sacred things. Later Israel would learn about the solemnity of oaths and treaties.

Having settled the matter, Abraham and Abimelech made a covenant of peace.

The location of their treaty became known as Beersheba.  

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:

God does not overlook people who the world considers insignificant.

Hagar was a slave; many people would not have cared what happened to her after she was put out of her master’s house… but God cared.

Repeatedly in the scriptures, we see God’s kindness towards people who are typically categorized into the “lower-class.”

When Jesus came to the earth, He didn’t spend His time with the elites of society, He spent the balance of His time with the common people.

Abraham pursued peace with Abimelech in Genesis 21:22-24, even when asked to pay for a well that he already owned. Help Your saints to pursue peace with our neighbours, Lord, “as long as that peace does not involve compromise with God and His Word.”. Make us willing to yield our rights and opinions to listen and understand the perspective of others.

You do not have to be special in the eyes of your society to be special in the eyes of God.

Everyone leads someone saints. While we often like to think that our thoughts and actions are entirely personal, everything that we say and do impacts someone. Consider the influence of your character and personal priorities on those who may look to you. Now I want you to take a moment to reflect on the people in your life who are listening to your words and watching your actions. Make a list of those you are leading. Pray through each name individually, asking God for wisdom to lead with humility and act with integrity.

LET US PRAY SAINTS:

Heavenly Father in the Mighty Name of Jesus Your Son the Christ, cover us with Your precious blood and forgive us of all our sins, thank You Father, for I want to be enjoying your presence on a daily basis on my life and on everything I do in Jesus name. Your name, Lord, is great among the nations. Like Abraham, we call on You, “Lord, the Eternal God.” (Genesis 21:33) Forgive us, Father, for allowing fear to overcome our faith. Like Abraham in Genesis 20:1-2, we are guilty of returning to old sin patterns when we lose sight of Your sovereignty.

Father, You know that I will fail. Like Abraham and Sarah, I may question Your plan and I may doubt Your provision. But in Your patience, You are faithful. Humble me and help me to grow through Your continued mercy. Thank You, Lord, for giving us joy, especially when we see evidence of Your work. Just as Sarah exclaimed in Genesis 21:6, we, too, can rejoice that, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about (His work) will laugh with me.”

Correct me in your Love oh Lord in Jesus name. Heighten in me an increasing awareness and reverence of You, in the knowledge that You are my Friend. Hallelujah! I ask this in Jesus' mighty name I pray, AMEN.

Day 22, the 28th of April 2025: PLEASE FIRST READ THE WHOLE OF GENESIS CHAPTER 22

(Read either as an individual, family, or church and then read the questions that you can reflect and discuss, as well as read the prayer)

THINGS TO PONDER:

THE OFFERING OF ISAAC: THE AKEDAH

Genesis does not reveal exactly how much time has passed since Isaac’s birth, but as we go deeper into this study you will see he was older than what most believe him to be. It is also clear, however, that having just sent Ishmael into the wilderness, after some time Abraham is now being asked to give up Isaac as well. This is a profound test of his faith also in what God has promised to him, especially considering that child sacrifice does not seem to have been a normal part of his culture. Abraham’s comment to Isaac suggests that he still trusts God to fulfill his promise somehow.

The test was very real: he was to give Isaac back to God. Saints as a test, it was designed to prove faith. Now Ishmael had been sent away and now also after a long wait, Isaac was to be given back to God.

Hosea 12:10 “I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.”

FIGURES OF SPEECH

• Simile: Resemblance (Gen 25:25; Mt 7:24-27);

• Allegory: Comparison by representation (Gen 49:9; Gal 4:22, 24) (Pilgrims Progress was written with this style by the famous John Bunyan)

• Metaphor: Representation (Mt 26:26);

• Hypocatastasis: an implied resemblance or representation (Mt 7:3-5; Mt 15:13);

• Type: A figure or example of something future (Rom 5:14; Gen 22, 24);

• Analogy: resemblance in some particulars between things otherwise unlike.

GOD TELLS ABRAHAM TO SACRIFICE ISAAC (22:1-19):

God tested Abraham’s faith by commanding him to go to the land of Moriah, take his only son and kill Isaac, and offer him as a sacrifice. “Only” son? “Love”: 1st Mention. And seen in John 3:16. No test could have been more severe than the one God now imposed. And no obedience could have been more perfect than Abraham’s.

The next day, Abraham got up early and began the journey to Moriah with two servants and his son. (At the beginning of chapter 22, Abraham and Isaac travelled to the land of Moriah. After returning from Moriah, Abraham lived in Beersheba.)

After a three-day journey, they arrived at the designated mountain. Why a three-day journey? (~50 miles) Why there?

Leaving the two servants, Abraham and Isaac ascended the mountain carrying wood and fire. Now I want to suggest to you saints that Isaac was not a child: possibly, 30 years of age!... you will see why shortly.

“Both of them together” = both in agreement. An image of the Son the Christ who said “Father … not my will, but yours be done” (Lk 22:42).

Isaac asked his father why they had not brought an animal for the sacrifice and Abraham replied, “God will provide Himself...” Who?!! Himself (cf. v.14).

When they got to the place the Lord had specified, Abraham built an altar, placed wood on it, and then bound Isaac and laid him on top of the wood.

Abraham took the knife in his hand to kill his son, but the angel of the Lord stopped him. Saints what can we learn from this picture is that a true worshiper of God holds nothing back from God but obediently gives Him what He asks, trusting that He will provide.

The angel of the Lord said, “Do not lay your hand on the body or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld you son, your only son, from me. Noe the KJV says Genesis 22:12 “And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him…..”

“Young lads”: Armed soldiers; Isaac is more than likely 32 years old?

Abraham did not withhold his son. Similarly, Paul wrote that God “did not spare (epheisato) His own Son but gave [delivered] Him up for us all” (Rom 8:32). A form of the same Greek word is used of Abraham in the Septuagint (This is the old testament version translated into the Greek and the Greek is extremely specific language):

“you have not withheld (spared) (epheiso) your (beloved) son, your only son, from Me.” (Gen 22:12).

“He shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the Lord; and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall sprinkle its blood all around on the altar.” (Lev 1:11)

“the whole bull he shall carry outside the camp to a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on wood with fire; where the ashes are poured out it shall be burned.” (Lev 4:12)

“And they made His grave with the wicked—But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.”  (Isa 53:9)

Saints the “wicked” mentioned here is not said of the two thieves: but rather of the location of the grave!

JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA

Joseph of Arimathea was a member of the Sanhedrin, a disciple of Jesus’, driven into concealment due to the plots on his life for having defended Jesus before the Sanhedrin openly; his appearance before Pilate may have been a shock to the Jewish leadership.

GOLGATHA

Joseph’s new tomb was hewn out of a rock adjacent to the very spot that criminals were put to death. The stony sides of the tomb—a new tomb, “the clean place” where Jesus was laid—were part of the malefactor’s hill. Thus, His dead body is “with the rich man and with the wicked” in the hour of His death! His grave is the property of a rich man; yet the rocks which form the partition between His tomb and that of the other malefactors, are themselves part of Golgotha.

GARDEN TOMB

General Charles George Gordon was commissioned as 2nd Lt., 1852; served in the Crimean War, 1853-56; and distinguished himself in the Taiping Rebellion against the Manchu Dynasty, 1860. He was sent on diplomatic and military engineering missions in England and Europe, 1864-74; was Governor of the Sudan, 1877; and then served the British government in India, China, Mauritius, and South Africa 1880-1883. He discovered the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem in 1883. The summary of the conditions required for the tomb were published by Andrew Bonar in his commentary on Leviticus in 1846—37 years before the Garden Tomb was discovered! (Leviticus, Andrew Bonar, 1846.) (For those that have travelled to Israel on a tour would have visited this place and shown the several possible locations of Golgotha also)

Looking up, Abraham saw a ram caught in a thicket by its horns.

“And Abraham called the name of the place, (Jehovah Jireh) The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” (Genesis 22:14)

A name only relevant in a prophetic perspective! Abraham knew he was acting out a prophetic ritual.

He took the ram and offered it to God on the altar.

Because of Abraham’s obedience and faith, the angel of the Lord told him his offspring would be multiplied, they would have victory over their enemies, and all the nations of the earth would be blessed through them.

God again confirmed His covenant with Abraham (cf. 15:5, 18-21; 17:3-8). His descendants would be numerous like the stars (cf. 15:5; 26:4), like the sand on the seashore (cf. 32:12), and “like the dust of the earth” (cf.13:16; 28:14). God then added another element: Abraham’s descendants would be victorious over the cities of their Canaanite enemies. This was done by Joshua in the Conquest.

After this, Abraham returned home and lived in Beersheba.

THE CHILDREN OF NAHOR (22:20-24):

The end of the chapter lists the family of Nahor, Abraham’s brother (11:26; 29).

Eight of Nahor’s children with Milcah are mentioned.

Four of Nahor’s children with Reumah (his concubine) are mentioned. Reports came from the East that the family of Nahor, Abraham’s brother (cf. 11:27-29), was expanding. Among those born was Rebekah, the future wife of Isaac (cf. 24:15, 67).

Rebekah the granddaughter of Nahor is also mentioned. She is given special attention because in a later chapter she marries Isaac. She was a daughter of Bethuel, the youngest of Nahor’s eight sons by Milcah (Nahor’s niece).

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:

God often requires big sacrifices from those who want to follow him.

When Jesus was on the earth, He required total commitment from those who wanted to become His disciples.

If we want to be like Abraham and the 1st Century disciples, we need a level of commitment comparable to theirs.

God isn’t looking for hobbyist disciples, He is looking for people who are prepared to sacrifice everything to follow Him.

LET US PRAY SAINTS:

Heavenly Father in the Mighty Name of Jesus Your Son the Christ, cover us with Your precious blood and forgive us of all our sins, thank You Father, for I want to be enjoying your presence on a daily basis on my life and on everything I do in Jesus name.

Though You spared Abraham’s son Isaac in Genesis 22:12, You sent Your own son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for all. Your mercy and grace extend into eternity and Your goodness offers true redemption.

Forgive us, Father, for taking Your sacrifice for granted. Through Genesis 22, Abraham’s faith and anguish become real to us. Help us to remember how precious and costly Your plan for salvation truly is.

God, grant me a faith like Abraham. Help me to obey quickly and fully, surrendering the things I cling to for security. Help me to trust Your perfect provision in all circumstances. I want to answer, “Here I am, Lord!”

You, Lord, reveal Your faithfulness day after day. In times of testing, You never leave us. Thank You for granting us the gift of faith so we will obey when You call our name, just as Abraham did in Genesis 22. Lord, we know in Genesis 22:23 it gives us a glimpse into Your perfect plans, for us. While Abraham was being evaluated with Isaac, You were already preparing Rebekah to be Isaac’s wife. As governments change, wars continue and new threats emerge, help us to cling to You. Renew our confidence in You. Your perfect plans stretch beyond our understanding. Grant us the grace to get through every trial and temptation and show compassion and mercy to others especially when we do not see what they are going through. Heavenly Father, what a wonderful God You are! I praise Your holy name for all Your goodness and loving kindness to me and all people, by sending Your only begotten Son to take the punishment that I deserve. Thank You that You continue to provide for my daily needs, my Father. Thank You that in Your graciousness, You provide for all Your children, according to Your own promise, Yahweh-Yireh (Jehovah-jireh), the Lord will provide. I ask this in Jesus' mighty name I pray, AMEN.

Day 23, the 29th of April 2025: PLEASE FIRST READ THE WHOLE OF GENESIS CHAPTER 23

(Read either as an individual, family, or church and then read the questions that you can reflect and discuss, as well as read the prayer)

THINGS TO PONDER:

Sarah, the matriarch of what will become known as the people of Israel, dies and is buried in the land promised to her offspring. In the ancient world, burial in a place would have been seen as a way of laying claim to it; here, too, Abraham’s negotiation with Ephron shows a person of that land respecting Abraham’s right to bury his dead there. What you will also learn from this chapter as I have recently learnt from the recent death of my wife Aida is that Abraham had such a strong faith that he would soon see his wife again in the coming Millennium and did not want the assistance of the faithless kin around him who wanted to assist and give the land.

I also had a similar experience with this during the recent passing away of my wife and could heavily relate to this as we await not just the Millennium, but also the promise of all being resurrected and transformed into our mortal bodies on the day of the snatching away and rapture as stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Imagine the life of a prophet was never easy, as God told Ezekiel that his wife would die. In Ezekiel 24:15-16, God instructed Ezekiel that he would lose his "delight of his eyes" (his wife) and forbade him to mourn. This was part of a larger symbolic prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem. Ezekiel was to live out the prophecy by not mourning his wife, getting the people to question his behaviour so at least they would ask question about their heritage and the God they should follow and serve.

The Lord gave me that same scripture during my early mourning of Pastor Aida to also confirm the process and quickening that God is doing in this ministry to see the fulfilment of a pure message, anointing, and revival that is soon coming to the earth. My actions and strength will make people question God and the process of mourning to some, because of the call upon my life, just as God used the prophet Ezekiel. Though I have wept bitterly and healed faster than most, the relationship I have with the Holy Spirit is deep and, therefore, the quickening process in faster than most.

Ezekiel 24:15-20 "Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 16 “Son of man, behold, I take away from you the desire of your eyes with one stroke; yet you shall neither mourn nor weep, nor shall your tears run down. 17 Sigh in silence, make no mourning for the dead; bind your turban on your head, and put your sandals on your feet; do not cover your [a]lips, and do not eat man’s bread of sorrow.” 18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died; and the next morning, I did as I was commanded. 19 And the people said to me, “Will you not tell us what these things signify to us, that you behave so?” 20 Then I answered them, “The word of the Lord came to me, saying,"

When God shows you things about the future, it can still be hard to except, but like Abraham he knew the promise of where Sarah was waiting for him.

THE DEATH OF SARAH (23:1-2):

Sarah died at the age of 127: So, at the time of Sarah’s death Isaac would have been 37-40 and Abraham 137-40 years old. Abraham mourned for her. (Sarah is the only woman in the Bible whose age, death, and burial are recorded.)

The phrase, “in the land of Canaan,” is given regarding the place of Sarah’s death, in order that we might know that she did not die in the country of the Philistines, but rather in the “Promised land”. She had fought this good fight of Faith with Abraham every step of the way; consequently, in a sense, as he was the “father of us all” (Roman 4:16), Sarah was the “mother of us all” (1 Peter 3:6)

Sarah passed away, leaving Abraham bowed in grief. His love for her had been genuine and tender. She was to him “the princess.” In his sorrow Abraham revealed something of the dignity of soul that characterizes a strong man of God: besides wailing and otherwise loudly manifesting his grief, he broke forth into weeping. The Hebrew words for mourn and weep carry both ideas. [Sarah is the only woman in Scripture whose age, death, and burial are mentioned, probably to do honour to the venerable mother of the Hebrew people.]

ABRAHAM PURCHASES THE FIELD OF MACHPELAH (23:3-20):

Abraham visited the Hittites and asked to purchase a plot of land to bury Sarah.

The Hittites told him he could have any location he desired.

He asked if Ephron would be willing to sell him the field and cave of Machpelah. (They had no idea that Abraham was looking forward to possession of the whole land; and because he did so look forward, the possession of the grace was by no means a small matter to him.)

Ephron told him he would give it to him for free, but Abraham insisted on paying a fair price.

The men agreed on a price of four hundred shekels of silver. (The purchase of the this tomb was not only a proof of his love for Sarah, but a testimony to his belief that she would rise again and with him to possess the whole land, which, to be sure, he will see in totality in the coming Kingdom Age.)

Abraham buried Sarah in the cave. Abraham asks the Hittites, among whom he lives, to let him buy property for a burial place, and they agree, as Abraham is an honoured prince.

When Abraham seeks to buy a cave on the property of a man named Ephron, Ephron tries to give Abraham the land outright, but they agree on a price. In this legal transaction Abraham wanted to purchase only the cave owned by Ephron, but Ephron wanted to sell the whole field. When Ephron said he would give the field and the cave (three times in v. 11), he did not mean it was free. This was bedouin bargaining—giving for giving. Though Abraham did not want the whole field, he was willing to take it at a high price (400 shekels of silver) to get the cave. The transaction was then finalized in the presence of all the Hittites at the city gate, the place of legal and business dealings. In this double cave was buried not only Sarah but also Abraham (25:9), Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah (49:29-31; 50:13). In later years it became a Muslim possession, and a mosque was built over it.

Then Abraham buries Sarah in the cave of Machpelah, east of Mamre. (Love bent down over her sleeping face, and faith “stood up” for before its dead, proclaiming the Resurrection that is most surely to come.)

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:

“Abraham’s walk with God offered many opportunities to trust God and prove Him faithful.” We too have opportunities to gain experience in faith through testing. Reflect on Your own walk with God. Make a list of times when God grew Your faith through difficulty. Remembering those times, ask God to strengthen Your faith today. How might God be asking You to trust Him now?

We often talk about the greatness of Abraham’s faith but rarely consider Sarah’s faith.

Sarah was willing to move hundreds of miles away from her home and family to obey God’s instructions to Abraham to move to Canaan.

She patiently waited for her promised son until she was 90 years old (Heb 11:11).

She had her faults, but so did Abraham, and so do we.

The Apostle Peter wrote that Christian women should consider themselves daughters of Sarah if they “do good and do not fear anything that is frightening” (1Peter 3:6).

She is a role model for modern women of all ages. 

LET US PRAY SAINTS:

Heavenly Father in the Mighty Name of Jesus Your Son the Christ, cover us with Your precious blood and forgive us of all our sins, thank You Father, for I want to be enjoying your presence on a daily basis on my life and on everything I do in Jesus name. In Genesis 23:7 and 12, Abraham, “bowed down before the people of the land.” Though these were not Your people, Abraham approached them with humility and respect, trusting You to fulfill Your promise. As we deal with unbelievers in our communities and workplaces, help us to assume this same attitude. Let our character and faith distinguish us from our neighbours.

Hallelujah! I ask this in Jesus' mighty name I pray, AMEN.

Day 24, the 30th of April 2025: PLEASE FIRST READ THE WHOLE OF GENESIS CHAPTER 24

(Read either as an individual, family, or church and then read the questions that you can reflect and discuss, as well as read the prayer)

THINGS TO PONDER:

ABRAHAM ASKS HIS SERVANT TO FIND ISAAC A WIFE (24:1-9):

Abraham was old and “well advanced in years.” He asked his most trusted servant to go to the city of Nahor, the land of his relatives, and find a wife for his son Isaac, because he didn’t want him to marry a Canaanite. Abraham, confident in the Lord’s promise, had his chief servant swear an oath to find a wife for Isaac from Abraham’s native land, 450 miles away. “Eldest Servant”: Ruled over all that Abraham had; would have inherited in the absence of issue. He is unnamed here (Gen 15:2, “Eleazer” = “Comforter.” Eleazer’s putting his hand under the patriarch’s thigh (cf. 47:29) was a solemn sign that if the oath were not carried out, the children who would be born to Abraham would avenge the servant’s unfaithfulness. Notice that the servant appears to be nameless…Jn 16:13: Will not testify of Himself.

The servant swore an oath to Abraham that he would do as he requested. 

THE SERVANT’S PRAYER FOR HELP (24:10-14):

The servant loaded 10 camels with provisions and gifts and went to “Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor” (approx. 550 miles away). At the town of Nahor in Aram Naharaim (NW Mesopotamia) he received a precise answer to his prayer.

When he arrived, he prayed to God and asked Him to show him the right woman to marry Isaac.

While standing at a spring of water he prayed, “Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac.” Eleazer trusted the Lord to grant him specific leading. He prayed that Isaac’s future bride would give him and his camels water to drink. To water 10 thirsty camels involved much work, for camels guzzle great amounts of water.

THE SERVANT MEETS REBEKAH AT THE SPRING OF WATER (24:15-27):

Before finishing his prayer, a beautiful young woman named Rebekah came to the spring for water.

The servant asked her for a drink, and she offered to water his camels.

Realizing his prayer had been answered the servant gave Rebekah gifts of gold.

Rebekah invited him to spend the night in her father Bethuel’s house.

THE SERVANT EXPLAINS HIS INTENTIONS TO BETHUEL (24:28-49):

Rebekah’s brother Laban welcomed Abraham’s servant and cared for his camels.

The servant recounted the details and purpose of his journey to Bethuel.

REBEKAH LEAVES HER FATHER’S HOUSE (24:50-61):

Believing that God had blessed the servant’s mission, Bethuel gave Rebekah permission to leave and marry Isaac.

When the servant heard this, he bowed and worshipped God.

The next morning, Rebekah and the servant began the journey back to Canaan.

A BRIDE FOR ISAAC REBEKAH MARRIES (24:62-67):

Abraham commissions Eleazer to gather a bride for Isaac. Eleazar qualifies her by a well; she agrees to marry the bridegroom; he gives her gifts…she joins her bridegroom at the well of Lahai-Roi. So after their long journey, the servant found Isaac meditating in a field in the Negeb.

Genesis 24:63-64 “And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming. 64 Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from her camel;”

“Meditate”: Hebrew suah: has been rendered “walk about,” “pray,” “wail,” “lament,” or “moan.” [Verse 67 may throw some light on its meaning. Isaac needed comforting. It is possible that Sarah had passed away during the absence of Eleazer (Chapter 23).]

“Dismounted” or other translations “Lighted off”: Rebekah fell prostrate before; If Isaac were walking, it would have been most unmannerly for her to have continued seated; an inferior, if riding, always alights in presence of a person of rank, no exception being made for women.

Genesis 24:67 “Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her.”

TYPOLOGY

Abraham = The Father

Isaac = The Son

Eleazar = The Holy Spirit… sent to gather the Bride for the Son

Genesis 22:19 “So, Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.”

Where’s Isaac? Isaac is personally “edited out of the record” until he is united with his bride by the well of LaHai Roi…two chapters later. (The well of LaHai Roi: “the well of Living One [who] sees me.”)

One Integrated Design: The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed; The Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed.

Marriage Model: Gentile Brides (Eve, Rebekah, Asenath, Rahab, and Ruth—all have no death recorded...

WEDDING FEAST OF THE LAMB

When we look at the Jewish Wedding (Galilean) we see a picture of the saints preparing for the wedding feast of the Lamb.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 “Behold, I tell you a [a]mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

The rapture is the sudden, supernatural removal of all children of God that have made themselves ready to be snatched from earth to heaven. At the rapture, Jesus Christ will appear in the eastern sky and call His wise bride up to Heaven, leaving all the foolish Christians, those that are still in sin and unbelievers behind. It will happen in two stages the first being all the dead in Christ (saints) pre-rapture will rise from their graves in their glorified bodies and the second stage will be that all the true believers that are alive will then go up to be with Him on the clouds. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

Though Jesus will not set foot on the Earth at the rapture. He will just appear in the Eastern sky and call all His wise bride home to Heaven that have pure white garments.

The rapture is a wonderful thing for Christians. The rapture will be yet another very gracious act of God's love toward His children. God loves His children so much that He will remove us from this wicked world to a safe place in Heaven before His wrath is released upon the Earth. See God will not allow the beast to devourer His saints and will remove them, so they may go with Him to the wedding feast of the Lamb.

Revelations 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”

THE JEWISH WEDDING

• The Ketubah, Betrothal: Payment of the purchase price; set apart (sanctified); (Sharing of the cup of wine together, done at the last supper.) (Matthew 26:29)

• Bridegroom departs to Father’s House; Prepares room addition; Bride prepares for his imminent return (Acts 1:11)

• Surprise gathering; Huppah, Wedding (1 Corinthians 15:50-53)

• As they enter the door to the Wedding supper it is shut, which is the rapture (Matthew 25:10-13)

• Seven-day Marriage supper (Seven-year tribulation) (Daniel 9:24-27)

THE MARRIAGE FULFILLED

• Covenant established (1 Cor 11:25)

• Purchase price (1 Cor 6:19-20)

• Bride set apart (Eph 5:25-27; 1 Cor 1:2; 6:11; Heb 10:10; 13:12)

• Reminded of the covenant (1 Cor 11:25-26)

• Bridegroom left for the Father’s house… (Acts 1:11)

• Escort to accompany Him upon His return to gather His Bride (1Thess 4:16-17).

Next Time: Genesis 23, the Death of Sarah; Genesis 25, Birth of Esau and Jacob; Genesis 26, the Covenant Confirmed; and Genesis 27, the Stolen Blessing.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:

What are the prophetic implications of the ancient Jewish wedding ceremony to our understanding of the end times?

Abraham’s unnamed servant gives us a splendid example of a life permeated with prayer and worship.

His first thought when arriving in Mesopotamia was to pray for God’s help.

His response to God answering his prayers was immediate worship (24:25-26 and 24:52).

Our lives should also be marked by a revolving pattern of prayer and worship.

Abraham’s servant relied on prayer to guide him on his journey. God revealed His plan one step at a time, requiring faith and commitment. Is there an area of your life that feels uncertain? Do you struggle to see just how God can resolve Your difficulty? This faithful servant’s trust or belief was evident through his prayer. He was honourable, humble, faithful, specific and expectant. Make a list of these words and write ways that you can seek God through these characteristics. In your current uncertainty, how can you honour God? How can you express humility and faithfulness? Though we might not see God’s will clearly, we can trust that He will grow our faith through adversity and prayer.

When Rebekah’s family tried to delay their departure, Abraham’s servant responded, “Do not detain me, now that the Lord has granted success to my journey.” (Genesis 24:56) Help us to respond to Your calling, Lord, with the same sense of urgency. Let Your will be done in our homes, churches, life’s and workplaces.

LET US PRAY SAINTS:

Heavenly Father in the Mighty Name of Jesus Your Son the Christ, cover us with Your precious blood and forgive us of all our sins, thank You Father, for I want to be enjoying your presence on a daily basis on my life and on everything I do in Jesus name. Isaac trusted God with his personal happiness and future. Isaac expressed his faith by waiting at Beer Lahai Roi to meet his bride.” Help me to wait expectantly for You, Lord. Give me the wisdom to trust Your plan for my happiness and future instead of relying upon myself.

Heavenly Father, I pray that like Abraham, Isaac, Eliezer, and Rebekah, I will look to You moment by moment, trust in Your unfailing Word, and make the right choices in my life. I pray that I would not only walk in the way of righteousness and bring everything to You in prayer, but that my life and witness would bring honour to Your name as I grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus. May I be willing to take one step at a time, as prompted by Your Holy Spirit and permit Your plans and purposes to be carried out in my life, for the benefit of others, and for my own spiritual growth. Thank You for the many lessons there are to learn in the Scriptures, and may I develop a teachable spirit, and bring honour and glory to You. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.

In Genesis 23:7 and 12, Abraham, “bowed down before the people of the land.” Though these were not Your people, Abraham approached them with humility and respect, trusting You to fulfill Your promise. As we deal with unbelievers in our communities and workplaces, help us to assume this same attitude. Let our character and faith distinguish us from our neighbours. Hallelujah! I ask this in Jesus' mighty name I pray, AMEN.