Genesis 24:15-16 – While he was talking to the Lord, God had already provided his answer (Isaiah 65:24) “It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. The appointed girl came alone so that there would be no distractions to the servant while he makes contact with the girl. The fact that she was the first to the well and alone speaks well of the character of this girl; the getting of water was not an easy chore, and one which was made a little easier in the company of other girls.
The servant eagerly approaches her and requests only a drink of water from her. Her response is to give him the water, and then observing the weary and thirsty camels Rebecca offers to draw water for them until their thirst is satisfied. This took quite awhile to accomplish and the servant remains silent until she is finished. In thanksgiving he gives her a golden ring, probably a nose ring and two bracelets, these gifts were very valuable.
Having done this he then pops the all-important question, whose daughter are you? When he learned that this was Rebecca, the very girl that had been reported to Abraham he could not help but fall down and give thanks to the Lord, who had so clearly answered his prayer, and the prayer of his master Abraham. The Lord guided him in the way he should go (Psalm 37:23) The steps of a man are established by the LORD; And He delights in his way.(Proverbs 3:6) in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
The servant then asks if there might be room for his party to spend the night in the home of her father. Rebekah graciously responds in the affirmative, perhaps she recognized the hand of God in this visit and visitor.
Genesis 24:28-33 – Rebekah ran to her mother’s house, probably her father Bethuel was old and not well, or was with his concubine, it seems that her brother Laban was the authority in the household and he is the one to greet the guests. She no doubt shared with them his prayer and of course the gift for her providing water for the camels. From later chapters in Genesis and Laban’s dealing with Jacob, it is easy to believe that the gifts motivated Laban’s reaction.
He no doubt had heard that his uncle Abraham had done well in the land of Canaan. Laban proves later that he is interested in wealth more than anything else. After providing for the animals the servant is brought to the house where food is put before him. The servant will not eat, however until first the reason for his journey is explained.
Genesis 24:34-51 – The servant begins to tell of his master Abraham, of his relationship to the Lord, and the blessings that God has bestowed on him. The story of the miraculous birth would explain how the son of one brother would want to marry the granddaughter of his brother. It also conveys the important fact that Isaac is sole heir of the estate of his father Abraham.
Rebekah needed to learn of the character of the family she was to marry into as well. The news of how the Lord led him directly to Rebekah also needed to be related, as this is still another indication of the blessing of the Lord on Abraham. Both Laban and her father recognize that this is clearly the hand of the Lord. They are left in awe and their response was “The matter comes from the LORD; so we cannot speak to you bad or good. They respond by saying “Behold, Rebekah is before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has spoken.”
Genesis 24:52-61 – The servant falls on the ground and worships the Lord in thanksgiving to the answer to his and Abraham’s prayers. The giving of gifts serve as a dowry for the bride’s family, these gifts gave proof of their ability to provide for the bride and were held in trust should the bride become widowed or divorced. In the morning the servant asks permission to leave and return with Rebekah so that he might bless Abraham before he dies.
Abraham sent his servant on this journey not knowing if he would even be alive when he returned. Laban and her father seem reluctant to let Rebekah leave. Their feelings may be like today’s parents letting their children go to a foreign land in response to the call of God on their lives. It seems that Rebekah is eager to go since the only one hesitating are Laban and her mother. They thought that 10 days would be the minimum amount of time to prepare for her departure.
The servant told them that it was the Lord who had set the timing and that he needed to leave immediately. At this they left the matter with Rebekah, she said she would go right away. Her family blessed her beseeching God to bestow on her many children. With her nurse and maids she leaves for the land of promise.
Genesis 24:62-67 – As the party was returning to the land of Isaac was away from his father seeking the Lord in prayer and meditation. No doubt when the servant left to find him a bride he began to seek the Lord. As evening was coming Isaac was on his way to prayer when the party arrives. He recognizes that this is the party that left have returned with more people then when they left. Rebekah also notices Isaac and guesses that this is her husband to be.
She covers herself with a veil, which is a sign of modesty. Isaac meets his father’s trusted servant who relates all that has unfolded, no doubt confirming the Lord’s blessing on this relationship. Isaac honors her by escorting her to his mother’s tent, which no doubt was the best of its kind. In due time they are married, and in her he finds comfort at the loss of the most important woman in his life up to this point in his life, his mother.
