Read Genesis 24
Isaac and Rebekah
1 Abraham was now very old, and the Lord had blessed him in every way.2 He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh. 3 I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, 4 but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.”
5 The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?”
6 “Make sure that you do not take my son back there,” Abraham said. 7 “The Lord, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. 8 If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.” 9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.
10 Then the servant left, taking with him ten of his master’s camels loaded with all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. 11 He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water.
12 Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”
15 Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16 The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.
17 The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”
18 “Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.
19 After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. 21 Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.
22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels. 23 Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”
24 She answered him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milkah bore to Nahor.” 25 And she added, “We have plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night.”
26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, 27 saying, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”
28 The young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things. 29 Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he hurried out to the man at the spring. 30 As soon as he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels near the spring. 31 “Come, you who are blessed by the Lord,” he said. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”
32 So the man went to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and fodder were brought for the camels, and water for him and his men to wash their feet. 33 Then food was set before him, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told you what I have to say.”
“Then tell us,” Laban said.
34 So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant. 35 The Lord has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys. 36 My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns. 37 And my master made me swear an oath, and said, ‘You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live, 38 but go to my father’s family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.’
39 “Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’
40 “He replied, ‘The Lord, before whom I have walked faithfully, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father’s family. 41 You will be released from my oath if, when you go to my clan, they refuse to give her to you—then you will be released from my oath.’
42 “When I came to the spring today, I said, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come. 43 See, I am standing beside this spring. If a young woman comes out to draw water and I say to her, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar,” 44 and if she says to me, “Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too,” let her be the one the Lord has chosen for my master’s son.’
45 “Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’
46 “She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too.’ So I drank, and she watered the camels also.
47 “I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’
“She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milkah bore to him.’
“Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms, 48 and I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son. 49 Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn.”
50 Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. 51 Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed.”
52 When Abraham’s servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the Lord. 53 Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother. 54 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there.
When they got up the next morning, he said, “Send me on my way to my master.”
55 But her brother and her mother replied, “Let the young woman remain with us ten days or so; then you may go.”
56 But he said to them, “Do not detain me, now that the Lord has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master.”
57 Then they said, “Let’s call the young woman and ask her about it.” 58 So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?”
“I will go,” she said.
59 So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,
“Our sister, may you increase
to thousands upon thousands;
may your offspring possess
the cities of their enemies.”
61 Then Rebekah and her attendants got ready and mounted the camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.
62 Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev.63 He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. 64 Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel 65 and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?”
“He is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.
66 Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. 67 Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
Go Deeper
Divine favor is manifestly evident throughout Genesis 24. Abraham is blessed in all things (v. 1). His servant’s prayer is answered by divine guidance. Rebekah is chosen by divine providence. The journey is marked by divine protection. Chapter 24 emphasizes God’s sovereignty, faithfulness, and active involvement in the lives of his people.
Genesis 24:1 reflects Abraham’s favored status. He was not perfect, but God had promised blessing. Abraham was physically, relationally, and spiritually blessed for walking before God (v. 40). As he nears the end of his life, he has buried his wife and hopes to find a suitable spouse for his 40-year-old son. He commissions his most trusted servant (manager) to find a wife amongst kindred followers of God, not local Canaanites, to perpetuate Abraham’s line of promise.
The servant’s prayer for guidance and kindness to his master reveals a deep trust in God’s ability to intervene in his mission. God’s answer to the servant’s request for a specific sign a young woman offering water to both him and his camels – is a clear demonstration of divine intervention.
Rebekah’s appearance at the well, ready to offer water, is a classic example of divine orchestration. Her beauty, character, and willingness to serve align perfectly with the servant’s criteria. Leban’s recognition of God’s hand and blessing underscore her family’s confidence in divine providence. The servant’s triumphant return with Rebekah, Isaac’s acceptance, and their marriage are not significantly challenged, implying God’s blessing on their union.
We frequently seek but fail to see God’s blessing in most situations and circumstances. Genesis 24 describes what is possible. It demonstrates God’s sovereignty, faithfulness to His promises, and active involvement. We can mistakenly attribute our failure to hear an answer or see God move to His inaction. Genesis 24 is an excellent example of God faithfully implementing His will. As instruments of God’s will, Abraham, his servant, Rebekah, and Isaac are richly blessed to bless all nations.
Questions
- Can you think of a time when you’ve seen a direct answer to prayer?
- Was the prayer consistent with what you know of God’s will?
- Was the answer consistent with what you know of God’s character?
Listen Here
Listen to this podcast from The Bible Project on “Great Blessing and Great Responsibility”.
5 thoughts on “Genesis 24”
67 “So she became his wife, and he loved her”
This process of finding a spouse seems quite odd in the context of today’s norms. But it is quite insightful that not only was the objective achieved of finding a wife for Isaac, but even better that “he loved her”. Wow!
This has to be one of the most loved stories in scripture as it points to the faithfulness of God and what can happen when we cooperate with him. May it stir in our hearts a deeper affection to follow Christ with an unwavering faith.
God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow
1. Rebekah was chosen before marriage, believers in the body are part of God’s chosen people
2. Rebekah was told of Isaac’s wishes through his servant, we are told about Christ at some point in our lives by one of His servants.
3. Rebekah was asked to leave behind everything to go marry Isaac, we too have been called to leave behind our former lives to follow Christ.
4. Rebekah would be loved and protected by her husband Isaac, we too will be loved and protected by Christ.
1. Isaac was promised to Abraham and Sarah before his birth, Jesus was promised to Mary and Joseph.
2. Isaac’s conception and birth were miraculous just as Jesus’ was.
3. Both were given a name before their birth.
4. Both were sacrificed (or in Isaac’s case, attempted to be sacrificed) by their father.
5. Both carried wood upon their back on the way to their sacrifice.
6.Isaac prepared a place for his new bride just as Christ has prepared a place for his church.
Makes me go hum. Wow God, WOOHOO!, BUT GOD is not finished yet. We need to be the faithful servant and tell others about Jesus for the ultimate wedding ceremony.
God thank You for opening Your Word up so amazingly. Continue to show up, so that I can see the way I need to go. God I glorify You in the intricated details of Your Words coming to life in my heart. God direct my path to speak about You, Your son and what yall have accomplised so that I can be with and a part of You forever and all eternity. God, I have roughly 720 minutes in a day. Help me to see You, glorify You, think on You, speak about You, let Your light shine through me, in all these minutes. In 24 hours I have 1440 minutes. When I wake up let me use those minutes. God thank You for Your amazingness in Your word about connections. God give me love goggles to see YOur people and ears to listen, words from You to speak edifiing words. Thank You for today and these minutes in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Abraham’s servant shows a deep faith and faithfulness to the Lord and is shown God’s great mercy. May I gain this tireless faith as I walk daily in surrender to God’s will.
Let’s go! Man I’m hyped to be married one day! So cool to see what a great woman, us men are suppose to look for.
Also, so cool of how specific god can sometimes answer prayers. God has done this a small handful of times in my life & am forever thankful for it!