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Studies in Genesis, Rebekah, A Bride For Isaac, Lesson 51, Genesis 24
Genesis, chapter 24 finds an Abraham well stricken in years and concerned for his son for he is without a wife.
Most likely this is a prevalent concern in all times when sons are getting up in years and find themselves without an helpmate.
But Abraham is a man of action and does something about it for he commissions his eldest servant to go to his former country and bring Isaac back a woman from his own people.
His eldest servant swears not to take a wife unto his son from the daughters of the Canaanites and also to not take his son out of Canaan for this is the land God had said Unto thy seed will I give this land.
So, taking ten camels the servant arose and went to the city of Nahor where he prayed at a well of water for guidance as to the wife for his master’s son Isaac. He prayed very specifically that a damsel who would offer to give his camels drink would be the one appointed to be the wife of Abraham’s son, Isaac.
And God answered his prayer for before he had done speaking, a woman of Nahor (Nay hor) named Rebekah did exactly as he had prayed, providing not only water for the servant but also providing water for all ten camels, quite a feat wouldn’t you say.
Introducing herself as the daughter of Nahor, Abraham’s brother she made known there was provision for him to lodge and for his camels to feed at their house.
And the servant glorified the Lord saying in:
Genesis 24:27, …… Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren.
Rebekah then ran ahead, wearing gifts from him of earrings and bracelets, to tell of the news that her uncle’s servant was come.
We first learn here of her brother Laban who will be very prominent in the life of Jacob, Rebekah’s son by Isaac.
The welcome of the emissary from Uncle Abraham was typical of eastern customs for straw and provender were freely given, feet were washed, and food was plentiful.
But before food was eaten the tale of the servant’s mission was told including a brief biography of what has taken place in the life of his master Abraham.
And of course, included in the account was his mission to find a wife for Isaac from Abraham’s people in Mesopotamia.
And he was sure to tell of God’s wonderful direction which took place at the well where Rebekah was clearly identified as the future wife of Isaac.
Both her father, Bethuel and her brother Laban sensed the thing proceeded from the Lord and readily agreed that Rebekah, Isaac’s cousin was to return with the servant and be given to Isaac to be his wife.
Rebekah was given the opportunity to decline but she did not hesitate, saying, I will go.
So, Rebekah departed, not alone for she went with her childhood nurse and her damsels, with great fanfare and blessings, riding upon the camels brought by Abraham’s servant.
Note that the servant was wise bringing ten camels supposing any proper woman for Isaac would have many things needed for a household.
Goodbyes were said and the servant’s heart no doubt was filled with joy for he had accomplished that which his master desired.
And in time Isaac’s eyes and Rebekah’s eyes first met for Isaac was at the well Laharoi (well of the living God) and she was on the returning camel.
She quickly lighted off the camel after the servant told her that the man in the distance was Isaac, her intended husband.
And according to this narrative there was no long engagement, no detailed wedding plans, no wedding dress, no bridesmaids, no best man, no great reception expense, no long list of invitees and not even a wedding license nor a preacher.
For that which constitutes a marriage is described in verse 67 where we read:
67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
This Biblical passage takes place 3 years after the death of Sarah.
Abraham was now 140 years old, called herein an advanced age, but not too advanced for he had yet to live another 35 years.
Isaac is 40 years old as we will learn in the next chapter, and Abraham senses it is time to prepare for his own death.
And within this preparation the greatest of concerns was who would Isaac marry for God had made clear Abraham was to raise up a godly seed.
What God said about this is in:
Genesis 18:19, For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
So, Abraham assigns a mission to his most trusted servant, not identified in this chapter, but perhaps Eliezer of Damascus, mentioned previously as the heir of Abraham’s house if he remained childless.
But whoever this servant was he was totally devoted to his master and his master’s God and his actions show us clearly a man who could by effectual fervent prayer and devotion access the heart of God.
And Abraham also knew that heart of God for in giving orders to the servant two stipulations in finding a wife for his son were stated by Abraham.
She must not be a Canaanite and Isaac must not, under any circumstances, be taken back to the land from where God had called Abraham out.
Today in the church age it is no different for those of us of faith are to operate in the same manner as our Father of Faith for look in II Cor 6:17 to receive your marching orders as to this doctrine of separation:
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
And as to marriage, again we have specific boundaries governing our conduct for II Corinthians 6:14 reads:
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Abraham had been called to live among unbelievers, but he was not to yoke himself or his offspring with unbelievers.
So, the first requirement to his servant was to bring a bride to Isaac from his people and the second requirement was to not isolate Isaac from the land of promise for that is where his seed was to prosper.
Isaac’s presence in the land of Canaan was to evidence his faith in God and to develop his devotion and dependence upon God alone.
Abraham and Isaac basically were missionaries in a foreign land, a land which in time would be a peculiar land of God’s people.
God had promised to make Abraham a great nation and to bless all nations through him and because of this, great care must be taken in the choice of a wife for Isaac, the one carrying the seed, in which this journey will begin.
It is not God’s will for all to be married but certainly Abraham knew it was God’s will for Isaac to be married and he therefore put all of this into place that Isaac marry the one whom God had chosen.
Abraham knew by faith that his servant would return with God’s choice for in verse 7 he told his servant that God shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
This of course inferred divine guidance in preparing the way for the servant, even including instruction to him if the woman was not willing to come back with him to wed Isaac.
Abraham operated in the realm of faith.
He sought a wife for his son within the confines of the word of God.
He did not operate according to the culture of the unbelievers but operated knowing the plans that God had for him.
Take note fathers, that Abraham entered into this process, not just sitting on his hands hoping something would come about but did something about his concern.
So, this man of faith chose another man of faith to represent him in this quest, this faithful servant who was wise to know that only God could bring this to a successful conclusion.
And we know of this by reading Genesis 24:12-14 where we find the servant at the well of Nahor praying:
And he said O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: 14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.
Notice where he prayed this prayer for wisdom had brought him to the right city, the right place in the city, the place where the women of city came to gain their daily supply of water.
(I being in the way)
But observation alone would not bring him knowledge as to who would be Isaac’s wife for observation to reveal a godly Christian character might take months or even years.
He was not there to choose based upon appearance.
Therefore, only God could reveal the one for Isaac, so the servant asked that the damsel for Isaac be a particular women, a women who looked after the needs of others and was not deterred in helping in a great and difficult way.
Camels are thirsty creatures especially after a long trek in the desert.
Most women will give a drink to the men but how unusual it would be to water ten camels, not even being asked to do it but to volunteer to do it.
The servant in his prayer said he would only ask for drink for himself which the woman would do gladly but also provide water for ten camels without being asked.
It was a very specific prayer and very hard to find anyone to do such a difficult thing.
But this is what the servant felt led to do.
This servant could have spent the day testing the women, asking for a drink with most likely no one offering to water the camels, but this servant was a man of God, a man of faith, praying an effectual fervent prayer which availed much.
And before he was finished speaking his prayer was answered. For Rebekah arrived at the well with her water container.
16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
God’s timing is perfect for Rebekah is the answer to this servant’s prayer.
So, running to the woman, he asked for a drink which was given and she without any prompting or coercion proceeded in haste to empty her pitcher into the trough again and again until the camels were satisfied.
The servant, speechless, was filled with wonder in how quickly the Lord had answered his prayer.
But one thing at this time was lacking and that had to do with her heritage or ancestry.
But this qualification was quickly satisfied for she told the servant she was the daughter of Bethuel, and the granddaughter of Milcah and Nahor, Abraham’s brother.
26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord. 27 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren.
One obstacle was overtaken, and now the next, was this woman willing to come to a foreign land?
Showered with earrings and bracelets Rebekah runs to bring the news to the family.
Here we meet for the first time her brother Laban whose notice of the jewelry gives us a clue of his character.
A character which will affect Jacob, a coming son of this very woman, Rebekah, who will eventually work for Laban to gain his wife Rachel.
So, this next obstacle to overcome, was Rebekah a willing woman?
Was she willing to go to a far country to meet an unknown man, a man who had never had a picture taken to show his future bride? A man whom she knew absolutely nothing about.
With the camels fed and bedded down and the meal prepared the servant refused to eat until his mission was settled.
Identifying himself as a representative of Abraham, Bethuel’s uncle and Nahor’s brother gave Rebekah’s family great comfort.
And not only family lines brought comfort the servant described God’s blessings upon Abraham and of course Isaac.
He told them of his greatness and his flocks and herds and silver and gold, and menservants and maidservants and camels and asses.
And also, of Abraham’s insistence that any bride of Isaac would be from his former country and family and that Isaac would not leave God’s promised land.
And lastly telling the wonderful tale of the prayer answer at the well.
All this together overwhelmed the assembly and Laban and Bethuel could only respond thusly:
50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the Lord: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. 51 Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the Lord hath spoken. 52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth. |