Let’s begin this lesson in Genesis 24:1 “And Abraham was old, [and]
well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.”
Genesis 24:2 “And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house,
that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:”
Genesis 24:3 “And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of
heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my
son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:”
Abraham realized that he was growing old. His son, Isaac, was at the
age where young men seek a wife. This servant that Abraham had entrusted all
to, had certainly been a man of integrity who loved and feared God, or else
Abraham would not have had the servant to swear by Him. Abraham realized
that the people around him were a heathen people. He did not want his son,
Isaac, unequally yoked to these women of the world. Canaan, at this time,
was not living for God. Abraham recognized God for being God of earth and
heaven, when he made the servant take the oath.
Genesis 24:4 “But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and
take a wife unto my son Isaac.”
Even today children would be much better off, if they would seek
someone of their own faith to marry. We should not even consider people of
the world for a lifetime mate. Abraham was sure this family was believers.
Genesis 24:5 “And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman
will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son
again unto the land from whence thou camest?”
This servant was not as sure as Abraham that he would be able to find
the right wife for Isaac. Even if he found her, he was not confident that
she would believe, and follow him into a strange land. His question was a
reasonable one, if you were not taking in to account Abraham’s standing with
God.
Genesis 24:6 “And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring
not my son thither again.” Genesis 24:7 “The LORD God of heaven, which took
me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake
unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this
land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto
my son from thence.”
You see, God had spoken to Abraham and he was sure that the girl, that
God Himself had chosen for Isaac a wife, would gladly come with the servant.
He felt that she would be such a lady that the Lord would already have
prepared her for just this. Abraham’s confidence in God was so strong there
was no chance for failure.
Genesis 24:8 “And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then
thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.”
Again, there was no question in Abraham’s mind. If God tells you to go,
then there can be no results except good results. Then he told the servant,
but if by some unusual circumstance this did not happen, I would not hold
you to the oath.
Genesis 24:9 “And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham
his master, and sware to him concerning that matter”.
After the servant realized that things beyond his control would not be
charged to his account, then he swore as Abraham had asked him.
Genesis 24:10 “And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his
master, and departed; for all the goods of his master [were] in his hand:
and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.”
This servant had to be a very trusted servant, because all of Abraham’s
goods were in his care. In these times, until the son became of age, the
father would trust an old faithful servant over the child. This was an
obedient servant, going where his master sent him to bring a wife for Isaac.
Note the ten camels. We have learned before that the number ten has to do
with the world. This was a close relative where the servant was going.
Genesis 24:11 “And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by
a well of water at the time of the evening, [even] the time that women go
out to draw [water].” Genesis 24:12 “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.” Genesis 24:13 “Behold, I stand [here] by the well of water;
and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:”
Genesis 24:14 “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.”
This servant, like so many of us today, was entering very strange
territory. He had no idea, on his own, how to seek Isaac a wife. He asked
God for His help. His plan was a good one, because all the women of the city
came to this well for water. Camels drink tremendous amounts of water, so
the girl who offered to draw water for them would, first of all, be very
industrious, and also have a great concern for people and animals in need.
This humble spirit in this girl would be just right for Isaac’s wife. Notice
that this servant spoke of God as Abraham’s God. This servant was
intelligent to be able to figure this little plan out and lay it before God.
Genesis 24:15 “And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that,
behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife
of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.”
Genesis 24:16 “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.”
This beautiful young maiden was not only beautiful on the exterior, but
was a virgin, as well, pure in every way. She was Isaac’s 2nd cousin. She
was at the very well where Abraham’s servant waited.
Genesis 24:17 “And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I
pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.”
Genesis 24:18 “And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let
down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.” Genesis 24:19 “And
when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw [water] for thy
camels also, until they have done drinking.”
As we can easily see, the Lord quickly answered his prayer, this maiden
was beautiful, courteous, tender-hearted, not lazy. The servant’s search was
over, but now, there was the task of convincing her and her family.
Genesis 24:20 “And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough,
and ran again unto the well to draw [water], and drew for all his camels.”
Genesis 24:21 “And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether
the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.”
Isn’t that just like we do? She did everything he had prayed about, and
yet, it seemed so easy to him, that he started doubting. God gives us a
sign, and we are too blind to see it.
Genesis 24:22 “And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking,
that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two
bracelets for her hands of ten [shekels] weight of gold;” Genesis 24:23
“And said, Whose daughter [art] thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room
[in] thy father’s house for us to lodge in?” Genesis 24:24 “And she said
unto him, I [am] the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare
unto Nahor.” Genesis 24:25 “She said moreover unto him, We have both straw
and provender enough, and room to lodge in.”
This surely would convince the servant. God had sent him to this family
where he would find Isaac’s wife. These gifts that he gave Rebekah were very
valuable. They were made of pure gold. Since the gifts were made of gold, we
can be assured of his intentions. More than looking for a place to rest, he
was looking for a way to meet and talk to her parents.
Genesis 24:26 “And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the
LORD.” Genesis 24:27 “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.”
This servant suddenly had realized that God was able to do mighty
things to work things out according to His plans. Even though he had spoken
of God as Abraham’s God, he, too, bows and worships God himself. He knew
that it was not by accident that he was led to this well and met this
Rebekah.
Genesis 24:28 “And the damsel ran, and told [them of] her mother’s
house these things.” Genesis 24:29 “And Rebekah had a brother, and his name
[was] Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.”
Just like any little young girl would do, she ran home to tell all.
Rebekah’s brother seemed to be the nearest thing to a man in the home. Laban
rushed out to meet this man that his sister was telling about. “Laban” means
white. So this was a fair skinned tribe.
Genesis 24:30 “And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and
bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah
his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man;
and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.”
Rebekah told her brother about the gifts, and about what the man said
unto her. Laban went to check it out, and make sure his sister was telling
him the way it really was. The servant was still waiting at the well, now
knowing that his mission was about to be accomplished.
Genesis 24:31 “And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD;
wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for
the camels.”
Laban invited the servant in. He even called him blessed. Laban could
obviously see the ten camels laden with goods, and he knew this was a man of
means, else why would he give Rebekah these expensive gifts? Laban had
undoubtedly had his servants to prepare a place for this guest and put out
provender for his camels, as we see in verse 32.
Genesis 24:32 “And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his
camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his
feet, and the men’s feet that [were] with him.” Genesis 24:33 “And there
was set [meat] before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have
told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.” Genesis 24:34 “And he said, I
[am] Abraham’s servant.” Genesis 24:35 “And the LORD hath blessed my master
greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds,
and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and
asses.” Genesis 24:36 “And Sarah my master’s wife bare a son to my master
when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.”
There was great hospitality being shown Abraham’s servant and those
that were with them. The desert was dry and dusty. It was a very pleasant
custom to wash one’s feet after many hours in the hot sand in sandals. The
servant was so excited in finding the right family, that he would not eat,
until he explained who he was, and why he was there. He brought good news to
Abraham’s relatives about him. Abraham had left home at the request of God,
and probably, they had not heard from him since he left. They were happy to
know he was alive, and of all his blessings.
Genesis 24:37 “And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take
a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:”
Genesis 24:38 “But thou shalt go unto my father’s house, and to my kindred,
and take a wife unto my son.”
Now, he hast told all. The main thing was that Isaac was not to marry a
heathen.
Genesis 24:39 “And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will
not follow me.” Genesis 24:40 “And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I
walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt
take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father’s house:”
Genesis 24:41 “Then shalt thou be clear from [this] my oath, when thou
comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee [one], thou shalt be clear
from my oath.” Genesis 24:42 “And I came this day unto the well, and said,
O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:
Genesis 24:43 “Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to
pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw [water], and I say to her,
Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;” Genesis
24:44 “And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy
camels: [let] the same [be] the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for
my master’s son.” Genesis 24:45 “And before I had done speaking in mine
heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she
went down unto the well, and drew [water]: and I said unto her, Let me
drink, I pray thee.” Genesis 24:46 “And she made haste, and let down her
pitcher from her [shoulder], and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels
drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.” Genesis 24:47
“And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter [art] thou? And she said, The
daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the
earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.” Genesis 24:48 “And
I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of
my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master’s
brother’s daughter unto his son.” Genesis 24:49 “And now if ye will deal
kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may
turn to the right hand, or to the left.”
The servant had given the family the whole story, and then awaited
their answer.
Genesis 24:50 “Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing
proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.”
Genesis 24:51 “Behold, Rebekah [is] before thee, take [her], and go, and let
her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the LORD hath spoken.”
The family agreed, because they believed it to be the will of God.