Chapter 16. Genesis 24. Rebekah.
SARAH was one hundred and twenty-seven years old when she died in Hebron, Abraham and Isaac mourned for her. Abraham bought the field of Machpelah in which was a cave where he buried his wife. The inhabitants of the land would have given it to him, for they looked upon him as a mighty prince and would have been glad to do him a favor, but he, to whom all this land had been promised for an inheritance, would not receive anything from the people of the land. He looked to God alone for possession of it.
Abraham had a faithful servant named Eliezer who had lived with him many years. Abraham called him one day and told him to go and find a wife for his son Isaac. But first, he made him promise not to take a woman from the Canaanites, who worshipped idols, but to go to Mesopotamia, his native country, where his relations lived, and from there to bring a wife for Isaac. Eliezer promised what Abraham desired, and took the camels he wanted, for he had full charge of his master’s riches, and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor.
Before entering the city, he made his camels to kneel down by a well of water, at evening time, when women were in the habit of going to draw water. And Eliezer prayed, “O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray Thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: and let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that Thou hast appointed for Thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that Thou hast showed kindness unto my master.”
Eliezer’s faith in God was not disappointed, for God ever takes notice of it. He wants us to go to Him for all our needs. Nothing is too small for Him to notice, and nothing too great for Him to do. “Ask and ye shall receive,” said Jesus when He was on the earth. With such a precious promise, we need never fear anything, since God wants to undertake for us. He also said, “Ye have not, because ye ask not.”
Before Eliezer was through praying, a beautiful young girl came to the veil to till her pitcher. He ran down to meet her and said: “Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water from thy pitcher.” And she said: “Drink, my lord,” and she put the pitcher down to let him drink, then added: “I will draw water for thy camels also,” and she emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran and brought enough for all the camels. Eliezer wondered whether the Lord had already answered his prayer. He drew out an earring and two bracelets of gold, very heavy, and gave them to her, asking: “Whose daughter art thou? Is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in?” She told him she was Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, (Nahor was Abraham’s brother). “We have both straw and food enough, and room to lodge in.” On hearing this, Eliezer bowed his head and thanked the Lord for having brought him to the house of his master’s brother. Rebekah ran to her mother’s house and told her people these things.
When Laban, Rebecca’s brother, saw the earring and bracelets in his sister’s hand, he ran to the man at the well, and invited him to come in, and bring the camels. Eliezer followed and they gave food and straw to the camels, and washed Eliezer’s feet and those of the men with him, and placed meat before them. But Eliezer said: I will not eat until I have told my errand ... .I am Abraham’s servant. The Lord has blessed my master greatly, and he is become great: and he has given him flocks, herds, silver, gold, men-servants, maid-servants, camels and asses. In his old age, God gave him a son, and to him, he has given all. And my master has sent me to get this son a wife from among his kindred, and to bring her to him. When I arrived at the well, I prayed to God to send the young girl appointed for my master’s son. Before I had done speaking, Rebekah came and gave me a drink and my camels also.
Bethuel and Laban saw it was the Lord’s doings, and said: “Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the Lord has spoken.”
Eliezer worshipped the Lord again, for His wonderful help and guidance, and brought jewels of silver and gold, and clothing to Rebekah, and her mother and brother; then he ate and drank, and the men with him.
In the morning, when he would have started on his homeward journey, they sought to detain him; but he said: “Send me away unto my master.” They asked Rebekah “Wilt thou go with this man?” She answered, “I will go.” Was it strange she should be willing to go, after hearing of the wonderful riches of Isaac’s house, and seeing the gifts he had sent? What manner of man must he be, who could draw such love and faithfulness from his servant? When we read in God’s word of Christ’s great love for His own; of His desire to have them with Him to share His glory in the Father’s house for ever, our hearts are so drawn to Him that we can but exclaim: “Come, Lord Jesus!”
So Rebekah left her father’s house, and became Isaac’s wife, and he loved her, and was comforted after his mother’s death.
ML 05/02/1909