Genesis 24 Of ALL the Girls!

Sarah is dead. Abraham thinks it’s time that Isaac wed, but NOT from the women in Canaan. From his relatives. Of ALL the girls of the city, God sent the right one at the right time to Abraham’s servant.

This is one of those stories where you can truly say; “THIS was a God thing!” So many pieces had to fall into place at exactly the right time, including creating the ‘fleece’ that was to be laid in order to know the direction of God’s leading. God prepared the WHOLE way. There can be no other explanation for all that transpired in securing Isaac a wife. “Of all the gin joints in all the world, and she had to walk into this one.” Let’s join in this story as the ONE girl walks into Isaac’s life at just the right moment.

♥ ♦ ♥

Isaac and Sarah were very close. Maybe even too close. Sarah made sure Isaac lacked for nothing. She continued making his meals for him until she got so weak that she could no longer perform that task. Then she assigned it to one of her servants. Isaac never even had to finish the cooking area in his tent as all his meals were eaten with his parents.

Isaac has an empty spot in his heart now and doesn’t know how to fill it. Abraham does. He knows that it is time that Isaac took a wife. Not that Isaac has been out looking for one! Abraham has qualifications for this wife. Not the least of which is that Isaac’s wife must be from his own kindred.

Abraham is too old to travel back to the place where his relatives live. And NO WAY does he want Isaac traveling back. Isaac must remain in the land that the Lord has promised to give him and his descendants. Isaac may become lost in their culture or decide it was too much work to continue the life his father had been called to. No. Someone needed to go for them and bring a wife back.

Abraham calls for his oldest and dearest servant, Eliezer. This is the man he will entrust with this task. And he will have him swear the most solemn oath between men.

Eliezer arrives and bows before Abraham. “How may I be of assistance my lord?”

“Put your hand under my thigh, that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth. That you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac” (verses 2b-4).

This is a lot to ask. It is a LONG distance between where they started from and where they are now! Abraham’s servant is worried about being able to entice a woman to come all that way for a man she knows nothing about. “Maybe if I could bring Isaac to her, it would go better” thinks Eliezer. “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take you son back to the land from which you came?” (verse 5).

Abraham is adamant! “See to it that you do not take my son back there. The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there” (verses 6-8).

Abraham’s servant nods his head, then reaches over and slides his hand beneath his master’s thigh. “I swear to do exactly as you have said. And I will NOT bring your son back to that land for any reason.”

Abraham put his hand on Eliezer’s shoulder. “I knew I could count on you. Now, let’s go pick out some appropriate gifts to take with you.”

The two of them began moving through the camp and collecting things that would speak to the woman of the wonders and riches that awaited her. They gathered jewelry, clothing, blankets, and a few preserved fruits. “I hope these make it there” commented Abraham on the fruits.

“I’ve seen them last more than six months. They should be fine” replied Eliezer.

“True. Ok. Now we need transportation. Camels would be best. They can also carry my gifts without any problem. Also, it is unwise to travel alone over such a great distance. Take as many servants as you feel you will need along with you.”

When Eliezer was ready to go, he stood before Abraham with ten camels, three laden down with supplies and Abraham’s gifts, and seven men. Abraham was very pleased with the arrangements. These men were some of Abraham’s finest, in more ways than one. They were also skilled in battle and would prove quite useful, should the need arise.

As the caravan was setting out on its journey, Isaac was coming in from the herds. They waved at him as they passed and he waved back. Isaac then went to his abba to find out what was going on.

“Where are they going Abba?”

“On an important journey. To the land of my kindred.”

“Why so far? And for what purpose?”

“I’m sending for a wife for you. It’s high time you started working on some grandchildren for me” replies Abraham with a chuckle.

“Abba! Really?”

“Yes son. I don’t want you taking a wife from any of the places we have visited. They serve gods that are not ours. We know the God of all creation. I don’t want one of their women to entice you to serve other gods. You must remain faithful to Him for His promises to come true for your life and the future of your children’s lives.”

“They are not far. Can I join them?” Isaac says while looking out toward the caravan that just departed.

“No son. You are to remain in this land. The Lord has called us out of that land to this one. He will build a great nation of us in THIS land. The Lord will direct Eliezer to the woman who is to be your wife and he will bring her back here to you.”

“Yes Abba. I will wait patiently.”

It takes two months for Eleazor and his caravan to reach the area where Abraham’s kindred were. To Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor. It was a long journey but Eliezer was determined to succeed. He knew that Abraham’s prayer to his God would make it so. All he needed to do was to be faithful and listen.

Eliezer entered the city of Nahor and came to the city well. There was a place like this in every city, were the women came to gather water. The task was usually given to the young women in the families; the unmarried ones. Here is where Eliezer decides to start his search.

Being here where younger women gather was not enough though. Eliezer knew that he needed to find the RIGHT woman. One who is beautiful both inside and out. One who is unmarried and a virgin. And one who is kin to Abraham. That was the only woman who would do. But how would Eliezer know which one was that woman. “I can pray for my master’s God to guide me” thinks Eliezer. “But I don’t know His voice like my master does. How will I know which one He has chosen?”

As these thoughts are circling in Eliezer’s mind, a specific plan rises up in his spirit. A prayer and a way to know Abraham’s God’s direction.

“O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. Behold, I an standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’ – let her be the one whom You have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master” (verses 12-14).

Eliezer didn’t even get the final words out of his mouth before he sees a young beautiful woman approaching. He watched her as she went down to the spring, let down her jug, filled it, then lifted it back to her shoulder. There were others performing this same routine, but Eliezer felt drawn to this one. “Could it be this one” he thinks.

As the woman is starting back from the spring, Eliezer runs up to meet her. “Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.”

The woman immediately felt compassion on Eliezer and lowered her jar so he could have a drink. “Drink, my lord” she said. She waited until he had drunk his fill. Then she offered the second part of Eliezer’s ‘test’. “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking” (verses 17-20).

The young woman hurried over and began pouring pitcher after pitcher of water into the trough until all ten camels had their fill. This took some time, as camels can drink quite a lot. Eliezer silently watched her, wondering if this was the woman his master’s God had sent him to.

Emboldened by the woman’s fulfillment of Eliezer’s ‘test’, he would make another move towards his answer. Eliezer took a gold nose ring and two bracelets from the gifts Abraham had sent. These were small pieces but should do nicely to gauge the woman’s heart.

While still holding the jewelry, Eliezer begins to question the woman. “Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?” (verse 23).

The woman answers him; “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” The woman quickly added “We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night” (verses 24-25).

Eliezer is both amazed and grateful. THIS is the woman God has intended for his master’s son Isaac. He is certain of that. Eliezer immediately places the jewelry on the woman’s wrists and nose.

Eliezer then bows his head and worships his master’s God in the presence of this woman. “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master’s kinsmen” (verses 27-28).

Eliezer asks one more question “May I know your name?”

“My name is Rebekah” she answers.

“It is a beautiful name” replies Eliezer.

Rebekah bows slightly to Eliezer and then runs home as fast as her legs will carry her. She has to tell her family about the man!

Rebekah’s brother Laban sees her running and he hurries over to her to determine the cause of it. “What is wrong Rebekah” Laban asks.

“Nothing is wrong. Everything is RIGHT!”

“And what is that supposed to mean?”

“I met a man at the spring. He is a servant of Abraham, our kinsman who left this region a long time ago. He said that his master and his master’s God sent him here. He gave me these as a gift.” Rebekah shows them the bracelets on her arms and the ring in her nose. “He asked if he could come and spend the night. I believe he has something important on his mind that he wishes to discuss.”

“Where is this man” asks Laban. He nearly drools when he sees the jewelry Rebekah has just put on.

“He is still by the spring. He has 10 camels with him.”

After a hurried word for the servants to get ready for guests, Laban runs as fast as he can back to the spring. He does NOT want this man to get away! As he nears the spring, he sees Eliezer waiting with his camels, just as Rebekah had said. He hurries up to Eliezer. “Come in, O blessed of the Lord. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house and a place for the camels” (verse 31).

Eliezer happily follows Laban back to his house. When they arrived, Laban’s servant showed Eliezer where the camels would stay. Eliezer unharnessed them and gave them straw and fodder. Laban’s servant was also waiting with water to wash Eliezer’s feet as well as the men who were with him.

The servants had also prepared a meal for Eliezer and his men before they arrived. This was a welcome sight to each of them, but Eliezer had business to conduct before they could relax and eat.

“I will not eat until I have said what I have to say” (verse 33) said Eliezer.

“Speak on” replied Laban.

“I am Abraham’s servant. The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, lame and female servants, camels and donkeys. And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has. My master made me swear, saying ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell, but you shall go to my father’s house and to my clan and take a wife for my son’ I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.’ But he said to me, ‘The Lord, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father’s house. Then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my clan. And if they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.’

I came today to the spring and said, ‘O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if how You are prospering the way that I go, behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, to whom I shall say, “Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,” and who will say to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,” let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.’

Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels drink also.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also. Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms. Then I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord and blessed the Lord, the god of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to take the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son. Now then, if you are going to show steadfast love and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left” (verses 34-49).

The whole family listened, spellbound to the story. They can hardly believe their ears! They are in awe of the way the Lord has worked in this matter. Laban, Rebekah’s brother, and Bethuel, her father, look to one another. Neither can refuse the request. “The thing has come from the Lord; we cannot speak to you bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go. And let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has spoken” (verses 50-51).

When Eliezer heard the answer, he KNEW that this was the Lord’s doing. He bowed himself before the Lord and wept. “Only by the hand of Abraham’s God could this have happened!” He would be taking home a wife for his master’s son, Isaac. Eliezer rose from the ground and called to the men who were with him. “Bring the gift of my master.”

Out came all that Abraham had packed. Jewelry, silver, gold, and garments were given to Rebekah. To her family they gave costly ornaments. He also brought out the preserved fruit that he had promised Abraham would still be good when he arrived. This was shared with the meal they all shared that evening.

Eliezer had to call a halt to the festivities on the part of his men, for they had a long journey ahead of them and he wanted to get started early the next morning.

Laban led the men to a place in the stables that had been prepared for them. Eliezer was placed in the house on a pallet near the fire. All were rested and ready to depart by the time morning broke.

Eliezer packed the camels before going to retrieve Rebekah and bid farewell to Laban. Send me away to my master” (verse 54b) requested Eliezer.

Laban had other plans. He wanted to stall. To possibly receive more of the wonderful gifts from his kinsman. “Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go” (verse 55).

Eliezer could smell a rat. They could not simply hang around for who knows how long. If the girl remained ‘for a while’ they would wind up having to send another caravan to retrieve her when Laban was finally ready to let her go. This would NOT do. She either came now, or she stayed home forever. “Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master” (verse 56).

Laban has only one chance left. Maybe Rebekah will find a way to delay them. But he cannot make her choice for her. “Let us call the young woman and ask her” (verse 57).

Rebekah, who had been tending to the animals, was called in so she could answer their question.

“Will you go with this man?”

Without hesitation, Rebekah answered; “I will go.” (verse 58).

Laban’s face fell but the decision was made. The only thing left to do was to pack Rebekah’s belongings; especially what had been given to her the evening before. They also packed Rebekah’s nurse’s belongings, for wherever Rebekah went, she went too.

Just before departing, the family gathered to bless Rebekah. “Our sister, may you become thousands of ten thousands, and may your offspring possess the gates of those who hate him!” (verse 59b).

Rebekah embraces her mother, then is helped onto the camel where she will ride during the long journey. It is her first time on such an animal and she is a little intimidated but Eliezer promises her that she is safe.

The journey is a little slower on the return because of the needs of the two women. For one thing, their backside is NOT used to sitting all day. Initially, Rebekah was also nauseous from the rolling of the camel as it moved. It was like waves on the ocean. She got used to it after a few days.

Rebekah peppered Eliezer with questions about where they were going, the things they would see, the people, Abraham and his story, and especially about Isaac. By the time they reached Abraham’s camp, Rebekah knew as much about the people waiting for her as anyone who had grown up in the company of Abraham.

Finally, they cross the last rise that separated Abraham and his kinsmen. Spread out in the valley below are so many tents that Rebekah can’t even count them.

While Eliezer was on his journey to bring a wife to Isaac, he had busied himself with moving the sheep to better pasture in Beer-lahai-roi. He had just returned to the camp of Abraham the week before. He had slowly been taking on some of the duties of caring for the large company. Abraham was still able, but he was aging and his attention was turned to his new wife and the children she bore him. He had also found comfort in the arms of several concubines, who also bore children to him.

When the caravan crested the hill, Isaac was walking in the field that evening. He liked to come apart from the camp and meditate, as his father had done on his hilltops and mountains. Isaac felt more comfortable and closer to the Lord in the rich grasses. He spied the camels in the distance and began walking in their direction. His mind was full of questions; the most pressing one was “Did they succeed in finding a wife for me?”

Rebekah’s attention was immediately drawn to the solitary man. On seeing him, she stopped her camel to watch him. After a minute, she asked Eliezer to help her climb down. “Who is that man, walking in the field to meet us?”

Eliezer had seen Isaac also so he had no need to check whom Rebekah was referring to. “It is my master” (verse 65b).

“The one I’m to marry” thought Rebekah. Rebekah quickly grabbed her veil and covered herself. It was not proper for a young woman to be uncovered before her intended until after the marriage ceremony.

When Isaac finally reached the caravan, he was ready to give voice to all his questions. Before he could begin, Eliezer asked “May I share the story of our journey my lord? It is a remarkable tale, filled with proof of the Lord’s hand on our journey. And concludes with the arrival of Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor whom Milcah bore to him. Your kinsman; just as my master commanded.”

Isaac’s eyes locked on Rebekah’s. “Please, Eliezer, tell the story.”

Eliezer spared no detail of all that had happened. He even included a more than a few perils they ran into on their journey to bring Isaac a wife.

Isaac listened to the entire story with rapt attention. This truly was a journey led by the hand of God. He would gladly take Rebekah as his wife.

Isaac rode with Rebekah on her camel the rest of the way into the camp. By the time they arrived, a large crowd had gathered to welcome home the travelers. Front and center among them was Abraham. He saw Isaac riding with a beautiful young woman.

“The Lord has brought me a daughter in law” shouts Abraham with his arms raised high in the air.

Isaac laughed. Then replied “He has at that!” He dismounted his camel and brought his bride to be to meet his father.

“Abba, this is Rebekah. Rebekah, this is my Abba.”

Abraham grasps Rebekah’s shoulders and gives them a gentle squeeze. “Welcome to our family.” Then he turns to those gathered around and shouts; “It’s time for a wedding!”

Isaac laughs and Rebekah blushes. She is not used to such a large company and they are still strangers to her at the moment. But they will soon be family.

The wedding feast was set for the very next day. Rebekah needed time to rest and refresh herself first.

Rebekah wore the wedding dress and veil she had stitched with her own hands during her years at home. These had been carefully packed away for the journey. Isaac wore his most cherished robe; the last one his ima had made for him before her passing. They made a beautiful couple. Abraham had given them the tent he and Sarah had shared during their lives as a wedding tent. This is where Isaac and Rebekah consummated their marriage.

Isaac loved Rebekah with all his heart. She filled the empty space left in his heart and life after his ima’s passing.

♥ ♦ ♥

A few things that I find interesting or questions I want to ask.

1. There were other servants who came with the servant Abraham sent to find a wife. They could have watered the camels. Rebekah could have pointed that out to him.
2. Did Isaac know about his father’s plan? He may not have known about it until the group was already on the way. I let him know earlier in my story.
3. Did Rebekah learn about Isaac and his personality along the way? I certainly would have been asking questions; a LOT of questions.
4. Was Isaac expecting a successful trip when the caravan arrived? His reaction to her would make me think so.
5. It appears as if Abraham had two reasons for looking for a wife for Isaac. A) Isaac needed comfort after his mother’s death. B) Abraham was growing old and Isaac hadn’t taken on the task himself. The only way he would have grandchildren of the promise is if Isaac gave them to him.
6. Did Abraham and Sarah live in separate tents? From other stories in the Bible, it would seem that the men and women only ‘came together’ when they wanted to procreate. In many places we see “_____ went into _______ and ‘so and so’ was conceived.” I put couples together in my stories. It is probably an ‘American’ thing, or even a ‘modern day’ idea. Maybe it is the difference between tent dwelling and living in a house.

I included a wedding for Isaac and Rebekah that scripture doesn’t. I doubt they just slipped into Sarah’s tent and became man and wife without some kind of ceremony.

The main thing to take from this story is that God has a plan for our lives. His fingerprints were ALL OVER this story! I LOVE seeing them in His stories AND in my life!

Father God, thank You for working out Your plan in my life. I don’t know how You manage to keep me on track with all my ‘rabbit trails’ and ‘derailments because of sin’. You somehow bring me back on track. Thank You for never giving up on me, no matter how far I stray. THANK YOU for all Your fingerprints in my life.