Abraham was now old and the Lord had blessed him in every way. He made his servant swear that he would find his son a wife from among his own relatives and not from the Canaanites where he was living.
4, 8 “Go to my country and get a wife for my son Isaac. If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine.”
Sounds simple. I wonder where we started complicating marriage requirements.
The servant took ten camels and all kinds of goods. When he came to Nahor, he went to the well where the women were out drawing water. He prayed for a specific sign to know which woman was right.
The servant went searching for a wife to a place where there would be many women gathering, and he prayed. Again, sounds simple.
15 Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder.
Rebekah was the granddaughter of Nahor, Abraham’s brother.
16-17 The girl was very beautiful and a virgin. The servant hurried to meet her.
After she gave the servant and his camels water in the exact way he had prayed for as a sign, he took out gold bracelets and a nose ring, asked who her parents were, and asked if they could stay the night there.
She said they had plenty of room for him and his camels. Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, saying, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master.”
I imagine God delights in our immediate praise and thanksgiving.
The servant told Rebekah’s family the entire story before dinner. Her brother and father responded, “This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed.”
Rebekah’s family had to have had an intimate trusting relationship with the Lord to feel peace that this was the Lord’s will. I’m sure they didn’t want their daughter moving off, but they were more concerned with God’s ways than their own. Oh, that our trust in God would be so great that our primary requirement in life and marriage would be His leading.
Abraham’s servant bowed down to the Lord when hearing this. Then he brought out gold and silver jewelry and clothes to give to Rebekah. He also gave expensive gifts to her brother and mother.
The next morning, the servant got ready to go back, but Rebekah’s mother and brother asked for ten more days with her before she left.
56 He said to them, “Do not detain me, now that the Lord has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way.”
How often are we on a mission, find our answer, and then try to delay action because we don’t feel ready?
57-58 They said, “Let’s call the girl and ask her about it.” So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?”
“I will go,” she said.
So they blessed her and sent her on her way.
It speaks volumes that Rebekah trusted God enough to leave her land and family to go marry a stranger.
Isaac was in the field as the camels approached. When Rebekah asked who he was, she took her veil and covered herself.
66-67 Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. 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.
Lord, Your ways may be different than the world’s, but they are best. Thank you for being a God who answers prayers and gives signs. Let me be a person who walks in faith, prayer, and obedience with my life. Thank you for the heritage of faith from Abraham and for making us co-heirs of his blessing through faith in Christ.
A Walk Through The Bible 