The Sons of Isaac(32)

As the days and weeks went by, he became more and more curious about this cousin who was to be his bride. He tried to picture her, but only questions and problems filled his mind. He decided it was almost too much to hope that she would be as beautiful and as adventuresome as his mother had been. On the other hand, he had to admit to himself that even his own mother would not have come so far to marry someone she had never seen.

Gradually it occurred to him that Eleazar might be successful simply because the young woman was so undesirable or ugly no one had wanted to marry her. If she were really attractive, she would have so many suitors she would never agree to taking a chance on a distant relative she had never seen.

Then what would they do if after she had come so far they found her to be totally unsuitable? Under most circumstances, if a bride proved to be lacking in some way, she could be sent back to her parents. He had heard of one such case where a new bride could not bake bread without burning it, and she was sent back to her parents immediately in disgrace.

With a sinking heart he realized this could not be done with a cousin who had come so far to marry him. Also, since his father had made such a point of trusting Elohim to lead Eleazar to the right woman, there could be no question of not accepting her.

He understood his father’s concern that he not marry any of the local women. It would have been an impossible situation. Their lives and ways of living were so different. His half-brother Ishmael had many sons but the women he had married were a great trial to his father. Abraham was obviously determined to avoid that mistake a second time.

He was always amazed at how completely his father trusted Elohim. Abraham seemed to have no doubts that in spite of the difficulties, their prayers would be answered and the right woman would be found. It was his father’s way to first find Elohim’s will in a matter and then to trust completely in the outcome. He himself had not this certainty. He would have to wait and see what happened.

On this night he had been restlessly tossing and turning as he mulled over the possibilities. Finally he rose and quietly strapped on his bone-handled dagger, flung his cloak over his shoulder, and, as was his custom, walked out into the crisp, early morning darkness.

He walked toward the rocky heights that led to the Valley of Salt and his father’s well at Beersheba. “When Eleazar comes,” he reasoned, “he will probably be coming down from the highlands on one of these paths.”

He walked slowly, pondering the strangeness of his life and the importance of the events that were about to take place. He kept to the low trails where the paths were clear and distinct from constant use by his father’s sheep. Floating up and around him on the crisp morning breeze were the odors of fragrant herbs that gave off their most pungent aroma when crushed underfoot. He marveled at the constantly changing fragrance. At one time it would be the sharp scent of thyme; another, the stringent odor of sage or yarrow. All the time he was plunging farther and farther along the path leading to Beersheba.

Gradually he became aware of someone breathing heavily and at the same time the soft pounding sound of running feet. He stopped and looked around. Though the sky was lightening, he could see very little because of a fog that hung low in the valley below him and on the path ahead of him. He stopped and listened. It was evident that someone was on the path ahead of him and running toward him.

Suddenly a part of the mist darkened and as Isaac stood still and waited, the figure of a young boy emerged. The boy looked surprised and then frightened. He was breathing hard and couldn’t speak. He leaned against the rock wall that rose up on one side of the path and looked questioningly at Isaac.

“Where could you be going in such a hurry and so early in the morning?” Isaac asked.

“I have an important message to deliver and I was told I should go quickly.”

“And whom may I ask is the message for?” Isaac questioned.

The boy looked puzzled and then smiled. “I don’t suppose it would hurt to tell. It’s not that sort of secret message.”

“Then tell me where you’re going. These are my father’s grazing lands and …”

“Then your father must be Abraham.”

“My father is Abraham,” Isaac said. He was instantly alert and excited. He realized the message could have something to do with Eleazar. “Was it a man named Eleazar who gave you the message?” he asked.

“Yes, it was,” said the boy with a puzzled look.

“Did he have any women with him?”

“Oh yes, a very fine lady by the looks of her camel’s trappings.”

Isaac could hardly contain his excitement. “Did you happen to catch a glimpse of this young lady?” he asked hesitantly, knowing it was not customary to ask so openly about a young woman.