Father of Faith

Kwami Broadbelt

• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781662416002
• eBook ISBN: 9781662416019
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Criticism & Interpretation

This is a story that takes you on a journey through the life of Abram, whose name meant "the Father, " who was chosen and exalted by God to be renamed Abraham (the Father of Many Nations). It was to Abraham that a promise from God was given, a covenant to him and his descendants. A man who had faith in God to fulfill his promise even when he was being tested to sacrifice that promise. Yet through unconditional trust and faith he became the spiritual father of all those who have faith in the one true God.

Chapter 11

Joy Comes in the Mourning

Years passed and Abraham’s relatives and tribe prospered to the point in which they grew numerously. Everyone was having babies, even Abraham’s brother Nahor who lived far away. Nahor had eight sons: Uz, the firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemmel, Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethmel. Bethmel became a father and had a daughter named Rebekah.

Then one day there was news throughout Abraham’s tribe that Sarah had died. Sarah lived to be 127 years old.

The tribe was stationed in the land of Canaan, so Abraham buried her in Canaan. Abraham mourned for days and weeks over his wife Sarah’s death. Isaac also mourned daily over his mother, to the point where he went by himself in the wilderness and cried.

Abraham was now very old and knew he was not going to be around for much longer. In the midst of mourning and grieving over his wife Sarah’s death, he planned for the future of his family.

Abraham said, “Eliezer!”

Abraham called out for his head servant, the one in charge of all that Abraham possessed.

Abraham said, “Eliezer, God promised me that my descendants will outnumber the stars in the sky and the sand in the desert. Since I am too old, this means Isaac must start his family and fulfill the promise. Every day he goes by himself and cries over his mother’s death. He needs a wife to comfort him.”

Eliezer said, “What must I do, master?”

Abraham said, “Before I die, Eliezer, I want to see my son Isaac married. I want to see him happy. I don’t want to see him married to a daughter of a Canaanite. I want you to go to my country. Go to my relatives. Go see my brother Nahor and bring back a wife for Isaac.”

Eliezer said, “What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to the land of Canaan? Should I then take your son Isaac back to your country?

Abraham said, “No, make sure that you do not take my son Isaac back there! The Lord God who took me from my father’s house, from the country of my birth, spoke to me saying that my descendants will get this land of Canaan. God will send his angel before you to guide you. If the woman is unwilling to follow you back to this land, then you will be free and blameless from his promise. Only you must never take my son there.”

So the servant Eliezer swore to God and his master Abraham concerning the matter, then he took ten of Abraham’s camels and some goods and traveled a long journey to the city of Nahor. This was the home of Abraham’s relatives and brother. Upon arriving in the evening to the big city, Eliezer questioned himself of how he would find the right wife for Isaac? He then made all the camels kneel down outside the city by the well. At this time all the young women came out to draw water from the well.

Then Eliezer said to himself in the form of a prayer, “Oh Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success today. Show kindness and faithfulness to my master Abraham. I stand here and the young daughters of the men of the city are out here to draw water. Lord, let it be that the one whoever gives water to me and my ten camels to drink, be the one selected by you as a wife for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown faithfulness to my master.” Before Eliezer could finish praying, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder.

Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. Rebekah was very beautiful. No man had ever slept with her; she was a virgin. As she went down to the well, she filled her jar and came up to go back to her house. The servant Eliezer saw her and rushed to meet her saying,

Eliezer said, “Miss, please could I have a drink of water from your jar?”

Rebekah said, “Of course, drink, my lord.”

She quickly lowered her jar and gave him a drink. After she gave Eliezer a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for all your camels as well, until they have had enough to drink.”

Eliezer was stunned in amazement. He watched her run back to the well to draw more water for his ten camels. He was thinking to himself whether or not the Lord answered his prayers.

When the camels finished drinking the water, he gave her a gold earring and gold bracelets. Then he asked her, “What is your name?”

Rebekah said, “These are beautiful. My name is Rebekah.”

Eliezer said, “Whose daughter are you? Also is there room for me and my camels to spend the night at your father’s house?”

Rebekah said, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the granddaughter of Nahor. We have plenty of room for you to spend the night.”

Then Eliezer fell to his knees, bowed down, and worshipped to the Lord saying, “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Praise the God of my master Abraham!”

Rebekah ran to show and tell her family of the gifts from Eliezer. Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban.

When he saw the earrings and the bracelets on his sister’s arm, he asked her, “Who gave you those?”

Rebekah said, “A man at the well. He gave them to me because I gave him and his camels some water to drink.”

Laban rushed out to meet Eliezer. He saw a man standing by the camels at the well.

Laban said, “Are you the man who gave my sister those gifts?”

Eliezer said, “Yes, I am.”

Laban said, “Come with me, blessed of the Lord! My father has room for you and your camels.”

Laban brought Eliezer back to his father’s house. He unloaded his camel and fed them. He also gave Eliezer water to wash his feet.

Just as he sat down food before Eliezer, he said, “I cannot eat until I have stated the reason why I am here.”

Laban said, “Okay, why are you here?”

Eliezer said, “My name is Eliezer. I am the servant of Abraham. The Lord has greatly blessed my master. God has given him flocks, herds, silver, gold, servants, maids, camels, and donkeys. He had a wife named Sarah, and she had a son for my master when she was ninety years old. My master has given everything that he has to his son Isaac.”

Eliezer explains the whole story to them that God has chosen Rebekah to be the wife of Isaac, son and heir of Abraham who is her great uncle.

Eliezer said, “So If you are going to show kindness and truth to my master, tell me or if not allow me to go on my way.”

Laban and Bethuel answered.

Laban said, “This matter has come from the Lord.”

Bethuel said, “We dare not speak on it. We cannot interfere.”

Laban said, “Ta...

Table of contents

• Introduction of Ancestry
• Good Plan or God’s Plan
• A Lot Can Happen
• A Promise Is a Promise
• Good Things Come to Those…
• A Blessing in Disguise
• Thanks a Lot…But No, Thanks
• Here We Go Again
• Promise Keeper
• Fear of God
• Joy Comes in the Mourning