Genesis 24:28-33 The girl ran home to tell her folks, and when her brother Laban saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and heard her story, he rushed out to the spring where the man was still standing beside his camels, and said to him, “Come and stay with us, friend; why stand here outside the city when we have a room all ready for you, and a place prepared for the camels!”
So the man went home with Laban, and Laban gave him straw to bed down the camels, and feed for them, and water for the camel drivers to wash their feet. Then supper was served. But the old man said, “I don’t want to eat until I have told you why I am here.”
“All right,” Laban said, “tell us your errand.”
Well! Of all the things that have happened recently, having Rebecca come running home from the spring wearing a gold nose ring and heavy bracelets is the last thing Bethuel, Nahor, Milcah, and Laban are expecting. And when Rebecca begins her story about a stranger who has traveled all the way from their relative Abraham in Canaan, they are shocked. Frankly, Abraham’s relatives in Haran haven’t heard from him in so long that they have assumed he was dead. Now suddenly here’s this distinguished-looking gentleman claiming to be Abraham’s steward, leading a caravan with several camels obviously loaded with precious gifts.
34-35 “I am Abraham’s servant,” he explained. “And Jehovah has overwhelmed my master with blessings so that he is a great man among the people of his land. God has given him flocks of sheep and herds of cattle, and a fortune in silver and gold, and many slaves and camels and donkeys.
36-41 “Now when Sarah, my master’s wife, was very old, she gave birth to my master’s son, and my master has given him everything he owns. And my master made me promise not to let Isaac marry one of the local girls, but to come to his relatives here in this far-off land, to his brother’s family, and to bring back a girl from here to marry his son. ‘But suppose I can’t find a girl who will come?’ I asked him. ‘She will,’ he told me—‘for my Lord, in whose presence I have walked, will send his angel with you and make your mission successful. Yes, find a girl from among my relatives, from my brother’s family. You are under oath to go and ask. If they won’t send anyone, then you are freed from your promise.’
By now, Rebekah’s family is looking at this stranger skeptically. They think this man is telling the truth, but how will Rebekah react? Rebekah has never traveled outside the fields belonging to Haran. Now Abraham’s representative is putting forth a proposition: Abraham desires a wife for his son. If Rebekah agrees, it’s likely that her family will never see her again. After all, the trip took Abraham’s steward nearly three weeks of hard travel.
42-49 “Well, this afternoon when I came to the spring I prayed this prayer: ‘O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, if you are planning to make my mission a success, please guide me in this way: Here I am, standing beside this spring. I will say to some girl who comes out to draw water, “Please give me a drink of water!” And she will reply, “Certainly! And I’ll water your camels too!” Let that girl be the one you have selected to be the wife of my master’s son.’
“Well, while I was still speaking these words, Rebekah was coming along with her water jug upon her shoulder; and she went down to the spring and drew water and filled the jug. I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ She quickly lifted the jug down from her shoulder so that I could drink, and told me, ‘Certainly, sir, and I will water your camels too!’ So she did! Then I asked her, ‘Whose family are you from?’ And she told me, ‘Nahor’s. My father is Bethuel, the son of Nahor and his wife Milcah.’ So I gave her the ring and the bracelets. Then I bowed my head and worshiped and blessed Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, because he had led me along just the right path to find a girl from the family of my master’s brother. So tell me, yes or no. Will you or won’t you be kind to my master and do what is right? When you tell me, then I’ll know what my next step should be, whether to move this way or that.”
For some of us, this story might seem incredible; however, this family lives in an era when people put a great deal of weight on dreams and prayers. As far as these people are concerned, God has been speaking to Abraham and his servant has obeyed all Abraham’s orders. Now the whole matter comes down to Rebekah and her choices.
50-51 Then Laban and Bethuel replied, “The Lord has obviously brought you here, so what can we say? Take her and go! Yes, let her be the wife of your master’s son, as Jehovah has directed.”
At this reply, Abraham’s servant fell to his knees before Jehovah. Then he brought out jewels set in solid gold and silver for Rebekah, and lovely clothing; and he gave many valuable presents to her mother and brother. Then they had supper, and the servant and the men with him stayed there overnight. But early the next morning he said, “Send me back to my master!”
55-60 “But we want Rebekah here at least another ten days or so!” her mother and brother exclaimed. “Then she can go.”
But he pleaded, “Don’t hinder my return; the Lord has made my mission successful, and I want to report back to my master.”
“Well,” they said, “we’ll call the girl and ask her what she thinks.”
So they called Rebekah. “Are you willing to go with this man?” they asked her.
And she replied, “Yes, I will go.”
So they told her good-bye, sending along the woman who had been her childhood nurse, and blessed her with this blessing as they parted: “Our sister, may you become the mother of many millions! May your descendants overcome all your enemies.”
WOW! How much can one woman’s life change in 24 hours? Yesterday, Rebekah was simply going to the spring to fetch water. Today, Rebekah is climbing onto a camel, leaving for a new home and a new husband 500 miles and 3 weeks away. Rebekah will probably never see her family again. What if the man she is to marry turns out to be abusive or domineering? While Abraham’s servant might be trusting Jehovah, Rebekah has never heard of Him. Why is Rebekah willing to take such a bold step? Abraham’s servant, Eliezer, has spoken with conviction and God has moved in Rebekah’s heart. God is comforting Rebekah, even as she mounts that camel.
61-67 So Rebekah and her servant girls mounted the camels and went with him.
Meanwhile, Isaac, whose home was in the Negeb, had returned to Beer-lahai-roi. One evening as he was taking a walk out in the fields, meditating, he looked up and saw the camels coming. Rebekah noticed him and quickly dismounted.
“Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us?” she asked the servant.
And he replied, “It is my master’s son!” So she covered her face with her veil. Then the servant told Isaac the whole story.
And Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother’s tent, and she became his wife. He loved her very much, and she was a special comfort to him after the loss of his mother.
It’s been months since Eliezer left for Haran, and frankly, Isaac has nearly given up hope. But Isaac finds walking in the fields at dusk particularly calming. As Isaac climbs a hill near his home camp, he sees a small caravan approaching. Isaac recognizes Eliezer; but how many more people are riding those camels? Suddenly, Isaac realizes that there are two women in the party and begins running. Eliezer has returned, bringing Rebekah and her nurse with him. It’s tough to know who is more thrilled, Isaac, Rebekah, or Eliezer. As Rebekah meets Isaac, she realizes that she has made the best decision of her life. And both Rebekah and Isaac are comforted.
The story of Eliezer, Isaac, and Rebekah demonstrates what a Comforter God really is. Isaac has lost his mother at the age of 37 and is grieving. Rebekah has left her home, her family, her friends, and everything familiar. Only Rebekah’s nurse has accompanied her. Now Rebekah has to find her way into a new relationship as a married woman. And what about Eliezer, the faithful steward who has now traveled at least 1000 miles to satisfy his master’s orders? Eliezer can rest, comforted that he has pleased Abraham and fulfilled everything Jehovah has called him to do.
Do you believe God is calling you to do something radical, something you have never done before? Take heart, for the same God who guided Eliezer safely to and from Haran, the same God who selected Rebekah as Isaac’s wife and comforted Rebekah and Isaac-that same God will guide you and comfort you.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to trust You in all things, even when You are calling us to go in new directions. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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