Genesis 24:1

Genesis 24:1 says, And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.  Abraham was getting old, but he was still being blessed by God in everything he did.  This implies that Abraham was still being obedient to God.  If we follow God's leadership, we will likewise be blessed all our life, no matter how long we live. Verse two states, And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:  Abraham had a servant who was in charge of all his household.  He called him and had him prepare to swear an oath, which was indicated by Abraham having the servant place his hand under Abraham's thigh.  Hopefully we have someone we can trust in times of need.  Verse three declares And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:  The oath was that the servant not choose a wife for Isaac from the daughters of the Canaanites.  Having someone else choose a wife for us may seem very strange, but it is still done in places today, usually by the parents.  Even if we are choosing our own spouse, we need to allow God to guide us and not be ruled just by romantic ideals.  Verse four adds, But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.  The servant was to go back to Abraham's home country and find a wife for Isaac.  Abraham was not going to return, nor was he going to send Isaac.  I believe that Abraham was removing the temptation to return and stay where he had been called out from.  We likewise must do all that we can to avoid returning to where we were, at least spiritually, before God called us out of our lives of sin.  Verse five asks, And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?  The servant asked a couple of reasonable questions.  What if he chose someone and she wouldn't come?  Should he then take Isaac to her?  We cannot force others to follow what we feel is God's will.  Verse six declares, And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.  Abraham warned the servant to not take Isaac there.  As stated earlier, Abraham was where God had led him, and there was no going back.  Isaac had never lived in that land, but might have been tempted to live there.  We should do all that we can to avoid allowing our children to fall into temptation, but ultimately the choice will be theirs whether to follow Christ or not.  Verse seven adds, The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.  Abraham had faith that the LORD Who had given him this land would guide the servant in his task.  We need to have the same faith today, that the God Who lead us to salvation will direct us in our everyday life.  Verse eight continues, And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.  Abraham said that if the woman would not come willingly that the servant was freed from his oath, but even then he was not to bring Isaac there. We cannot force others to follow God, but we cannot go back to where He has led us from.  Verse nine states, And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.  The servant made the agreement with Abraham.  Abraham had to trust his servant to do the right thing, and at times we must simply trust that those we may have to rely on will do what is right.  Verse ten says, And the servant took ten camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.  The servant, who had control of all Abraham's goods, took ten camels and departed.  Having made the oath, the servant left to carry it out.  If we have promised to do something for someone else, then we should act to carry out that promise.