Genesis 24:9 “So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.”

POWERFUL IMAGE

This passage has often puzzled me.  Why did the servant put his hand under Abraham’s thigh?  Why didn’t he just raise his hand or pinky swear?  Why didn’t he just say, “I promise”?  Because this binding ritual had significant covenant meaning.

By putting his hand under his thigh, he was putting his hand near the location of circumcision, which is a sign of covenant between Abraham and man.  Of course, Abraham was the first to be circumcised, so it had even greater meaning.  This wasn’t just a promise made by the servant. It was a binding vow which reminded the servant of the powerful Jehovah God who had literally “cut covenant” with Abraham.

TEACHING MOMENT

Now we don’t expect our children to put their hand under their father’s thigh in order to promise to do something.  But we do expect them to take their promises seriously.  Why?  Because keeping their word is a characteristic of an honorable person.  If people can’t believe them when they say something they will struggle all their lives in relationships.

Do your children make promises they don’t keep?  Do your children lie?  Do they tell untruths to make themselves look better?  Do they lie about their siblings to get them in trouble?  You must deal with these habits now.  You might want to use this story about keeping promises (just leave out the whole circumcision part until they are older, lol).

What “promise” do you need to keep today?  What untruth are you tempted to tell?  Whom have your hurt by saying things about them that you know are not true?  Keep your vows.  Keep your word.  And most importantly, let the words from your mouth always speak truth.

Little ears are listening!