© Duplication and distribution of these readings is encouraged.

Internet: http://NonConformist.MyChurch.com

Genesis 24:

The quest

Now the Spirit picks up the story of the search for Isaac’s wife, she who was to be the new matriarch of Israel.

***************(Begin Quote)

Genesis 24:

1 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age [140, and missing his wife]: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 And Abraham said to his eldest servant of his house [Eliezer, an elder in the church, Genesis 15:2], that ruled over all that he had, “Put, I pray you, your hand under my thigh: 3 and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell [if I die]: 4 but you shall go to my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife to my son Isaac [right now].”

5 And the servant said to him, “Peradventure [maybe] the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land: must I needs bring your son again to the land from where you came?”

6 And Abraham said to him, “Beware you that you bring not my son there again. 7 The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spoke to me, and that swore to me, saying, ‘To your seed will I give this land’; He shall send His angel before you [to prepare her], and you shall take a wife to my son from there.

8 And if the woman will not be willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this my oath [my request]: only bring not my son there again.”

***************(End Quote)

Here we get a clear understanding that even a servant in the family (the elder in the church) had some responsibilities regarding the marriage of the heir.  He who might have inherited the wealth himself, was, in the event of the death of the patriarch to advise Isaac on his duty and go to find the wife for him. 

Abraham was so sure that the LORD would have a woman willing to follow His advice that he hardly thought it would not happen.  But he wanted the servant to go right now.

***************(Begin Quote)

Genesis 24:

9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning that matter. 10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed [with his companions]; for all the goods of his master were in his hand [he carried much wealth]: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor [a journey of about 4 months, Ezra 7:8– 9].

[Later information given to me has placed this area as being between the rivers Euphrates and Balikh, about 450 miles (700km) from Beersheba.  Approximately 3 weeks on foot.]

11 And he made his camels to kneel down outside the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.

12 And he said, “O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray you, send me good speed this day [he was in a hurry], and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: 14 and let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, ‘Let down your pitcher [from your shoulder], I pray you, that I may drink’; and she shall say, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels drink also’ [quite a hard task]: let the same be she that you have appointed for your servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that you have showed kindness to my master.”

***************(End Quote)

A wise man, Eliezer (“my God is a helper”) asked the Son of God to lead him to a courteous and helpful woman, one not afraid of hard work, knowing that such a one would be “fit” for the heir of the kingdom.

***************(Begin Quote)

Genesis 24:

15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah [“queen”], the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. 16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon [very beautiful], a virgin [unmarried], neither had any man known her [even though she was past normal marriageable age]: and she went down [the steps] to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.

17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, “Let me, I pray you, drink a little water of your pitcher.” 18 And she said, “Drink, my lord”: and she hastened, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

***************(End Quote)

It is rare for a woman’s name to be mentioned in Scripture, for Godly women prefer to remain in the background like the Holy Spirit.  When their names are recorded it is usually because their love for Jesus has been expressed in a positive way, and here we have not only Rebekah but also her grandmother Milcah spoken of repeatedly.  So we should expect to learn something from them. 

The characters of the Bible are all human though we too often judge them by any and every other test than that of humanity. True religion, instead of deadening, ever deepens and strengthens mere human feelings. No one has ever yet truly and devotedly loved God without feeling every natural affection heightened and made more precious.

So we always find the most affectionate feelings towards their fellow humans in those who follow the LAMB of God.

Only one more test was needed.  Would Rebekah offer to water the camels? 

***************(Begin Quote)

Genesis 24:

19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have done drinking.” 20 And she hastened, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. [She “ran” which showed her enthusiasm and joy of the gift of life.]

21 And the [old] man wondering at her held his peace, to wit [understand] whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not [because it was now up to her and her family]. 

22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold [and gave them to her]; 23 and said, “Whose daughter are you?  Tell me, I pray you: is there room in your father's house for us to lodge in?” 24 And she said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare to Nahor.” 25 She said moreover to him, “We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.”

26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD [in rejoicing]. 27 And he said, “Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.”

***************(End Quote)

Not only friendly and helpful by nature, Rebekah had been taught to entertain strangers by her grandmother, who was obviously the driving force in the family.  The same unsophisticated character that led Rebekah quietly to do her duty at home, without complaint or laziness, also prompted the active kindness to the stranger when he spoke to her, and the respectful deference to his age and sex, which the words 'Drink, my lord', imply.

It was the quiet self­possession, the modesty and yet openness, the total disregard of self, the unawareness as to the impression her own beautiful face and form might make which led the servant to rejoice. She not only gave refreshment to him, but filled the trough for the weary camels to drink also. Many times must she have ascended and descended to the well, burdened with a weighty pitcher –  a fair and gentle girl, while so many strong men were standing round –  but they were strangers and travellers, and she was in her own land.

***************(Begin Quote)

Genesis 24:

28 And the damsel ran, and told them of her [grand]mother's house these things. 29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out to the man, to the well. 30 And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, “Thus spoke the man to me”; that he came to the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well. 31 And he said, “Come in, you blessed of the LORD; wherefore stand you without?  For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.”

32 And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him. 33 And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, “I will not eat, until I have told my errand.”

And he [Laban] said, “Speak on.” 

***************(End Quote)

There is an obvious urgency in this quest (which was of the LORD) and therefore very important.

We can see the result next week.

Bye for now,

Ron

Some of the comments in these readings are adapted from books in my library.  No recognition is given because they are not intended as authorities, but are used because they express my understanding clearly. All the ideas expressed in these readings, right or wrong, are my own.

 ?????