Abraham was now old, getting on in years, and the Lord had blessed him in everything.

Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his household who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,

and I will have you swear by the Lord, God of heaven and God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live,

but will go to my land and my family to take a wife for my son Isaac.”

The servant said to him, “Suppose the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I have your son go back to the land you came from?”

Abraham answered him, “Make sure that you don’t take my son back there.

The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from my native land, who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘I will give this land to your offspring’—he will send his angel before you, and you can take a wife for my son from there.

If the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are free from this oath to me, but don’t let my son go back there.”

So the servant placed his hand under his master Abraham’s thigh and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.

The servant took ten of his master’s camels, and with all kinds of his master’s goods in hand, he went to Aram-naharaim, to Nahor’s town.

At evening, the time when women went out to draw water, he made the camels kneel beside a well outside the town.

“Lord, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “make this happen for me today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.

I am standing here at the spring where the daughters of the men of the town are coming out to draw water.

Let the girl to whom I say, ‘Please lower your water jug so that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels also’—let her be the one you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”

Before he had finished speaking, there was Rebekah—daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor—coming with a jug on her shoulder.

Now the girl was very beautiful, a virgin—no man had been intimate with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up.

Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me have a little water from your jug.”

She replied, “Drink, my lord.” She quickly lowered her jug to her hand and gave him a drink.

When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I’ll also draw water for your camels until they have had enough to drink.”

She quickly emptied her jug into the trough and hurried to the well again to draw water. She drew water for all his camels

while the man silently watched her to see whether or not the Lord had made his journey a success.

As the camels finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing half a shekel, and for her wrists two bracelets weighing ten shekels of gold.

“Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”

She answered him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.”

She also said to him, “We have plenty of straw and feed and a place to spend the night.”

Then the man knelt low, worshiped the Lord,

and said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld his kindness and faithfulness from my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”

The girl ran and told her mother’s household about these things.

Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and Laban ran out to the man at the spring.

As soon as he had seen the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he had heard his sister Rebekah’s words—“The man said this to me!”—he went to the man. He was standing there by the camels at the spring.

Laban said, “Come, you who are blessed by the Lord. Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”

So the man came to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were given to the camels, and water was brought to wash his feet and the feet of the men with him.

A meal was set before him, but he said, “I will not eat until I have said what I have to say.” So Laban said, “Please speak.”

“I am Abraham’s servant,” he said.

“The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, and camels and donkeys.

Sarah, my master’s wife, bore a son to my master in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns.

My master put me under this oath: ‘You will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I live

but will go to my father’s family and to my clan to take a wife for my son.’

But I said to my master, ‘Suppose the woman will not come back with me?’

He said to me, ‘The Lord before whom I have walked will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, and you will take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father’s family.

Then you will be free from my oath if you go to my family and they do not give her to you—you will be free from my oath.’

“Today when I came to the spring, I prayed: Lord, God of my master Abraham, if only you will make my journey successful!

I am standing here at a spring. Let the young woman who comes out to draw water, and I say to her, ‘Please let me drink a little water from your jug,’

and who responds to me, ‘Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels also’—let her be the woman the Lord has appointed for my master’s son.

“Before I had finished praying silently, there was Rebekah coming with her jug on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, ‘Please let me have a drink.’

She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels also.’ So I drank, and she also watered the camels.

Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She responded, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.

Then I knelt low, worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who guided me on the right way to take the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.

Now, if you are going to show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; if not, tell me, and I will go elsewhere.”

Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the Lord; we have no choice in the matter.

Rebekah is here in front of you. Take her and go, and let her be a wife for your master’s son, just as the Lord has spoken.”

When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed to the ground before the Lord.

Then he brought out objects of silver and gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious gifts to her brother and her mother.

Then he and the men with him ate and drank and spent the night. When they got up in the morning, he said, “Send me to my master.”

But her brother and mother said, “Let the girl stay with us for about ten days. Then she can go.”

But he responded to them, “Do not delay me, since the Lord has made my journey a success. Send me away so that I may go to my master.”

So they said, “Let’s call the girl and ask her opinion.”

They called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She replied, “I will go.”

So they sent away their sister Rebekah with the one who had nursed and raised her, and Abraham’s servant and his men.

They blessed Rebekah, saying to her:

Our sister, may you become thousands upon ten thousands. May your offspring possess the city gates of their enemies.

Then Rebekah and her female servants got up, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.

Now Isaac was returning from Beer-lahai-roi, for he was living in the Negev region.

In the early evening Isaac went out to walk in the field, and looking up he saw camels coming.

Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she got down from her camel

and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” The servant answered, “It is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself.

Then the servant told Isaac everything he had done.

And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and took Rebekah to be his wife. Isaac loved her, and he was comforted after his mother’s death.

📖 The Providence of God in Finding a Bride: A Study of Genesis 24:1-67

Good morning, everyone. Today, we turn our attention to one of the longest and most beautifully self-contained narratives in the book of Genesis: Chapter 24. This chapter recounts the pivotal event of finding a wife for Isaac, Abraham's promised son. More than just a love story, this account serves as a profound demonstration of God's providence, faithfulness, and the continuation of the covenant promise.

🤵 The Charge and the Oath (Verses 1-9)

The chapter opens by establishing the context: Abraham is old and richly blessed by God. His next priority is securing the future of the covenant through his heir, Isaac.

The Priority: Abraham understands that the covenant promises—land, nation, and blessing—are tied to Isaac and his descendants. Therefore, Isaac must marry someone who will preserve and participate in that covenant.
The Prohibition: Abraham swears his trusted, unnamed "elder of his household" (often thought to be Eliezer, though not explicitly named here) to a solemn oath: "You will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites" (v. 3). This is a crucial command, preventing the dilution of the covenant line through marriage with the idolatrous people of the land.
The Mandate: The servant must return to Abraham’s "land and my family" (Haran/Aram-naharaim) to find a suitable bride. This reinforces the idea that the seed of the covenant must remain separate.
The Contingency: The servant raises a practical question: What if the woman won't follow him? Abraham is resolute: Isaac must not go back (v. 6). The Promised Land is now their permanent home. Abraham expresses his absolute confidence in God's faithfulness, stating that "The Lord, the God of heaven... will send his angel before you" (v. 7). This highlights faith in God's guiding hand over human arrangements.

🙏 The Servant’s Prayer and God’s Answer (Verses 10-27)

Armed with a divine mandate and his master's possessions, the servant embarks on the long journey. Upon reaching Nahor's town (Haran), he enacts a plan that demonstrates both wisdom and dependence on God.

The Setup: The servant positions himself and his ten camels at a well outside the town, precisely "at evening, the time when women went out to draw water" (v. 11). This is a strategic and culturally appropriate location to meet young women.
The Prayer for a Sign: The servant doesn't rely on random chance; he prays for a specific, unambiguous sign from God (v. 12-14). He asks for the chosen woman not only to offer him a drink but also to offer to water his camels.
- The Significance of the Sign: Ten camels could drink a vast amount of water—perhaps 200 gallons or more—requiring an extraordinary effort from the woman. This sign wasn't just about charity; it would reveal remarkable kindness, diligence, strength, and hospitality, far exceeding the normal duties of courtesy. It was a test of character.
The Immediate Answer: "Before he had finished speaking, there was Rebekah" (v. 15).
Rebekah's Character: Rebekah proves to be everything the servant asked for and more. She is described as "very beautiful, a virgin" (v. 16). Critically, her actions fulfill the sign perfectly (v. 18-20). She runs and hurries to complete the immense task.
The Servant’s Response: The servant’s immediate actions are twofold: he observes in "silence" (v. 21)—a posture of reverent watching—and then he gives lavish gifts, a gold ring and two bracelets (v. 22). After confirming her family lineage (she is the granddaughter of Abraham's brother, Nahor), he worships the Lord (v. 26-27). This act of worship is the true climax of the scene, confirming that this was indeed God's doing.

🤝 The Proposal and the Decision (Verses 28-61)

Rebekah’s family, upon seeing the gifts and hearing the servant's story, recognizes the divine hand in the matter.

Laban's Eagerness: Rebekah's brother, Laban, is the first to rush out, perhaps motivated by hospitality but certainly by the sight of the gold (v. 30).
The Servant’s Testimony: The servant, committed to his mission, refuses to eat until he has presented his case (v. 33). He repeats the entire story—Abraham's wealth, the oath, his prayer, and Rebekah's actions—not just as an explanation, but as a testimony to the Lord's guidance. This repetition emphasizes the supernatural nature of the events.
The Family’s Affirmation: The response from Laban and Bethuel is decisive: "This is from the Lord; we have no choice in the matter" (v. 50). They acknowledge that human will must yield to divine direction.
Rebekah’s Choice: When the servant asks to depart immediately, the family seeks to delay. They call Rebekah and put the matter directly to her: "Will you go with this man?" Her response is simple and absolute: "I will go" (v. 58). This highlights Rebekah's active role and willingness to follow God's call, much like Abraham before her.
The Blessing: The family blesses Rebekah with a powerful, covenant-focused promise: "May your offspring possess the city gates of their enemies" (v. 60). This blessing explicitly links her marriage to the wider purpose of the Abrahamic Covenant.

💍 The Consummation of the Covenant (Verses 62-67)

The story concludes with the meeting of Isaac and Rebekah, bringing the entire mission to a joyful and covenant-fulfilling end.

Isaac’s Waiting: Isaac is not actively involved in the search. He is a man of the land, returning from Beer-lahai-roi and "went out to walk in the field" (v. 63)—traditionally interpreted as a time of meditation or prayer. This sets him up as the passive recipient of God's provision.
The Meeting: Rebekah, upon seeing Isaac, immediately shows reverence by dismounting her camel and taking her veil (v. 64-65). This is a gesture of modesty and submission appropriate for a bride meeting her future husband.
The Conclusion: The servant narrates the successful journey to Isaac. The chapter ends with Isaac bringing Rebekah into his late mother Sarah’s tent—a symbolic act of her stepping into the role of the covenant matriarch. Critically, "Isaac loved her, and he was comforted after his mother’s death" (v. 67). Love and comfort solidify this relationship as not just a strategic arrangement, but a personal blessing from God.

🌟 Theological Takeaways

Genesis 24 is a masterpiece of storytelling with profound lessons:

The Power of Providence: The narrative is structured to show God orchestrating every detail, from the servant's prayer to Rebekah's specific actions and timely arrival. It teaches us that God actively guides the lives of His people, even in seemingly mundane details like a journey to a well.
Faithfulness in Obedience: The servant's success is a direct result of his faithful obedience to Abraham and his reliance on prayer. He acts as a model for believers: obey the mandate, then pray for guidance, and then watch for God's answer.
The Preservation of the Covenant: The entire episode is focused on preserving the purity and direction of the covenant lineage. This marriage ensures that the promise of a great nation will continue through Isaac and Rebekah, unmixed with the practices of the Canaanites.

This story reminds us that when we seek to follow God's will and are faithful to the principles He has laid out, He will prove faithful to guide our steps and fulfill His promises.

Are there any questions about the character of Rebekah or the significance of the servant's oath?

Bible lecture

Saturday, November 29, 2025

Genesis 24