Genesis
chapter 24 is a beautiful example of faith, obedience and trusting
God. It begins, “Abraham
was now old and well advanced in his years“.
Abraham calls his faithful servant to swear an oath to take on the
delicate task of finding a women for his son Isaac. He gives him
specific instructions, “you
will not go get a wife from the daughters of the Canaanites…but go
to my country and get a wife from my own relatives… make sure you
do not take my son back there“.
Abraham reiterated God’s promise of both a mighty nation and the
land. This obedient servant is never named, but his example of love
and respect for his master Abraham are remarkable. It says simple,
“Then
the servant took ten of his master’s camels and left, taking with
him all kinds of good things from his master“.
The servant makes it to the town of Nahor and “has
the camels kneel down near the well outside the town, it was toward
evening, the time the women go out to draw water“.
This faithful servant then prays for success and asks specifically,
that when he asks a women for a drink, that she would offer to draw
water for his camels as well. He does not want to choose a wife
based on looks alone, but also possessing a servants heart, kindness
and determination. “Before
he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her
shoulder“.
One of the greatest thrills about praying is when God answers them,
we know it immediately!
Rebekah
is related to Abraham’s brother Nahor. It says, She was, beautiful
and a virgin. As soon as she filled her jar, the servant asks her
for a drink and she answered, “Drink,
my lord”
and she quickly lowered the jar to his hands. She said, “I’ll
draw water for the camels too until they have finished drinking“.
I don’t know how much 10 thirsty camels drink, but I’m sure this was
no short task. The servant watches her closely, “to
learn whether or not the Lord had made the journey successful“.
He must have been observing the attitude she had while serving.
When she was finished the servant gives Rebekah a gold ring and two
gold bracelets and asks if she has room for he and the camels to
spend the night. When she told him they have plenty of room, “then
the man bowed down and worshipped the Lord“.
The servant explains to Rebekah’s family who he is and why he came.
They answer, “this
is from the Lord, we can say nothing to you one way or the other.
Here is Rebekah, take her and go“.
The servant wants to leave early the next morning, but the family
wants Rebekah to delay for ten days. They decide to let Rebekah
decide and she leaves immediately.
Isaac
is in the field when he sees them approaching, “Rebekah
also looked and saw Isaac“.
After asking the servant, she learns that is Isaac coming to meet
them, and “she
took her veil and covered herself“.
What a great lesson for young girls; leave something to the
imagination of young men, it is far more attractive and desirable.
“So
she became his wife and he loved her and Isaac was comforted after
his mother’s death“.
Don’t miss the symbolism of this story. This good servant leaved
the comfort of his masters home to travel to a distant land in order
to bring back a wife for his son. This is the role of God’s Holy
Spirit today. He brings with Him a taste of God’s richness and
invites us to be the bride of Christ. We are made pure and righteous
before God and we are given access to all of His abundance. “Let
us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our
eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith“.
(Hebrews 12:2)