Gen. 24:33-5333And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on. 34And he said, I am Abraham's servant. 35And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses. 36And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath. 37And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell: 38But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son. 39And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me. 40And he said unto me, The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house: 41Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath. 42And I came this day unto the well, and said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go: 43Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink; 44And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the Lord hath appointed out for my master's son. 45And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee. 46And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also. 47And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands. 48And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son. 49And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left. 50Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the Lord: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. 51Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the Lord hath spoken. 52And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth. 53And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. (Genesis 24:33‑53)
“AND there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.” v. 33. The faithful servant would not satisfy his hunger until he had proclaimed his message.
As all that follows cannot be quoted in this limited space, it is suggested that the reader review this entire chapter. It is a happy portion to meditate on. Eliezer began by sang, “I am Abraham’s servant,” and then proceeded to review before this family a complete picture of his master, extolling his position, his wealth, and the many blessings wherewith the Lord had blessed him. He told further of Sarah and of Isaac, saying of him: “Unto him hath he given all that he hath.” As the story progressed, he told of the father’s desire to secure a wife for his son and of his charge to Eliezer. Finally he recounted how that very day he had come to the well, that he had prayed to God, and God had answered his prayer right up to that very moment.
Would it not have been a privilege to look into that room, to hear the story so enthusiastically told, and to watch the expressions of each member of the family as they listened spell-bound? But, above all, the response of Rebekah would have been of primary interest to us, as it must have been to Eliezer. His story must have set her heart on fire, and given her visions of a man in a distant country who would be looking forward to the servant’s return with a bride for himself. How the words, “unto him hath he given all that he hath” must have rung in her ears as she thus learned that all the father’s honors and wealth were also his son’s, and knowing that these too would be hers to share with him, if such would be her choice.
Eliezer concluded his story with: “And now, if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.” v. 49. As was the custom of the day, both her father and her brother Laban answered him saying: “The thing preedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before thee; take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the LORD hath spoken.” vv. 50, 51.
The servant, hearing these words, again bowed himself to the earth in thankful worship to the Lord. He then brought forth jewels of silver and gold, as well as raiment, and presented them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother. Now that the betrothal had been announced, it was fitting that the one who was to be the bride should be adorned and clothed with that which was representative of such an heir.
The believer can rejoice in his adornment as well. “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath... covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” Isa. 61:1010I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10). Again, “let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.” 1 Pet. 3:44But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. (1 Peter 3:4).
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