An Outline For Mothers Of Messiah: Rebekah Series

An Outline for Mothers of Messiah: Rebekah

Introduction: Sarah was one of the first believers in the LORD who was barren, not able to bear any children. She wasn’t the last one, either, as Rebekah had the same problem. But, like Sarah, Rebekah remained true to the LORD and stands in the line as one of the mothers of Messiah!

(Full disclosure: Sermon Central accepted a message based on this text called “Rebekah And Isaac: Married At First Sight?” but this message is not simply a copy and paste of it.)

1 Rebekah’s life before her marriage

Some information about her background

Text: Genesis 24:15-21, KJV: 15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. 16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. 17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher. 18 And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. 19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking. 20 And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. 21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.

--Genesis 24 is a long chapter, dedicated to Abraham’s desire to see Isaac find a good wife. He gave his servant a list of non-negotiable standards.

--The servant and the caravan found their way to the land of Abraham’s brother even though the two families were many miles apart. The servant also prayed to the LORD for guidance to find the best girl for Isaac.

--Rebekah met the caravan and, in response to the servant’s request, went to the well and drew water for the men and the camels. Depending on how many camels and how many refills, Rebekah might have drawn hundreds of gallons of water (allowing 20 gallons for 10 camels, that’s 200 gallons alone, not counting what the other men drank as well!)

--Besides being considerate, drawing a lot of water, Rebekah was a relative of Abraham (okay for marriage in those days); she was beautiful (not many women were described as “very fair” or “very beautiful” in the Old Testament); and she was pure, a virgin. These are outstanding qualities for any woman in any era!

--The servant now began to wonder if Rebekah might be the one best girl for Isaac. What would happen next?

Some information about her betrothal

Text, Genesis 24:50-61, KJV: 50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. 51 Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken. 52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth. 53 And 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. 54 And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master. 55 And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go. 56 And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master. 57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth. 58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. 59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them. 61 And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

--The servant, in the verses omitted here to save space, described the terms of the journey and how Rebekah had met every condition he specified. He also gave the family various gifts from Abraham to perhaps prove Abraham had the means to support anyone who agreed to marry Isaac, Abraham’s unmentioned son by name.