6 July 2008

The Rev'd Lloyd Prator

New York City

Today we hear another story from the cycle of tales about Abraham and his descendants. When we last left Abraham and Sarah, they had their son, they had been tested as to their faith, and they had come to think of God in a new way: A god who did not demand blood sacrifices, but demanded loyalty and piety along with ethical behavior.

Now Isaac was maturing. Sarah, his mother, had died after his birth, and now he was seeking a wife. He asked his servant to take a look around and see whom he could find.

Now this servant was a clever man. His name is unknown to us, but his exploits and his cleverness are essential to the story. In those days, the interfaith movement had not gained much traction, and so the servant decided to go to the other parts of the country where Abraham’s family was living and see if he could find someone suitable who came from the same religious background. Pious Jewish girls were the only ones to apply.

And the servant knew how to choose a partner for Isaac with a variety of qualifications. He mused to himself, “Now, let’s see, what sort of woman would we want? Let me approach her and see if she offers to help me with getting some water. And, let’s see if she notices that the camels are getting a little thirsty, too.”

By now he had arrived at the outskirts of the area where Abrahamic type people lived, so he began to look for a likely young woman. And here came Rebekah, carrying her own water jar, always a good sign, she was well prepared. The servant sidled up next to her and said the Abrahamic equivalent of “Know where the water fountain is, Miss?” Rebekah smiled coyly, and said, “Let me help you, Sir, and while I’m at it, how about a little sip for the camels?” Home Run!

“So who are you,” asked the servant pointedly. “I am the daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son.” Looks good to me, the servant thought to himself, and he dug around ins his backpack until he found some of Sarah’s old family jewelry that he had brought along for the occasion ... some nice Schlumberger bracelets and a nose ring. Never thought that those folks over in the meat packing district were emulating the Old Testament when they put on nose rings, did you?

Bow now they had got to Rebekah’s home and engaged in a little matrimonial negotiation with her family. They were pleased. After all, Abraham and Isaac were well known and to have Rebekah marry Isaac was quite a catch.

Now when the servant got home with Rebekah, it occurred to him that a direct introduction to Isaac might look to much like the put-up job that it was. So, he needed to find another way. He happened to know that Isaac liked to walk in the cool of th evening near Negeb, and so he suggested that Rebekah come sauntering over a sand dune outside the Negeb and just “happen” to meet Isaac. He had her put away her new jewelry because that might be a little pushy, and he suggested that the two of them meet and get acquainted.

And that is pretty much what happened. Actually, the servant did not have to encourage Rebekah or to give her much prompting. As soon as she saw Isaac, who was apparently a serious hunk, she immediately asked who he was and set out after him.

The last scene is of Rebekah, now Isaac’s wife, living in his tent with him. And he was beginning, just beginning, to get over the death of his mother. From that moment, life looked different for him, no longer was he a young man grieving his mother, but he was now a young man who hod found the love of his life.

What do we take from this story?

First, the power of romantic love is beyond measure. When we ask a couple, preparing to marry, if they are together for better or for worse, we do that because we know that the love of a couple for each other has great power. It is that love which overcomes all adversity. It will not necessarily take away all conflict; in fact, it probably will not. But it will empower the couple to go forward and overcome those conflicts and difficulties.

Second, God uses human passion for his self-revelation. We Christians, and our antecedents the Jews, do not, most of the time, find God at the end of profound meditations, contemplative journeys into nirvanas of various sorts. We find God revealed in the passion of life, in the give and take of human hopes and aspirations. We find God even revealed in little deceptions, like sending out a servant to hunt up a suitable mate.

Third, women play a dramatic, turning point role, in salvation history. While the servant went out seeking Rebekah, Rebekah picked up the offer quickly, took charge, and made the advances to Isaac . No shy retiring violet, she. Once she got an eye on Isaac, she knew what she wanted and went out to get it. This is the story of a strong, assertive woman. One of many in our history, and one of whom we should be aware.

So, today’s story reminds us of the strength and power of love, the fascination which God seems to have with human passion, and the appearance of a tough, aggressive woman who clearly meets with God’s approval.

May we ever embrace those women in our tradition who bring us that sort of strength. They can show us the way to God.