A Wife For Isaac.

A WIFE FOR ISAAC.

Genesis 24:34-38, Genesis 24:42-49, Genesis 24:58-67.

The 24th chapter of the Book of Genesis is a beautifully written and well-crafted telling and retelling of the history of the mission of Abraham’s servant to find a wife for Isaac. The whole passage moves along at a gentle pace, as calmly and sedately as a train of camels heading out on a 400 mile journey northwards and back again. Even the negotiations might seem long and tedious: but, with God, when things begin to happen, they happen decisively.

I. Genesis 24:34-38.

GENESIS 24:34-35. As we join the chapter, Abraham’s servant is talking to Laban, Rebekah’s brother. He speaks of the LORD’s blessing upon Abraham, and about his riches.

GENESIS 24:36-38. The servant next tells of how Sarah bore a son to his master when she was old, and of how this son stands to inherit all that is Abraham’s. He speaks also of Abraham’s instruction that the servant does not take a wife to his son from the Canaanites, but from Abraham’s kindred and father’s house.

Knowing the character of Laban from the accounts of his later encounter with Jacob, we can almost visualise Laban rubbing his hands together in glee at this hopeful prospect for his sister.

II. Genesis 24:42-49.

GENESIS 24:42-44. As we re-join the chapter, the servant is telling of his experience at the well, and recounts his prayer: “O LORD God of my master Abraham...” What the servant did was to ask for a specific indication of the LORD’s will in the discovering of who might be a suitable wife for Isaac (cf. Genesis 24:12-14).

GENESIS 24:45. Immediately, EVEN BEFORE he had “done speaking in mine heart” (what a beautiful motif for believing prayer), “Rebekah came forth with her pitcher upon her shoulder.” The LORD knows our prayers even before we ask (cf. Matthew 6:8).

GENESIS 24:46. The earlier part of the narrative tells us that Rebekah was ‘very fair to look upon’ (cf. Genesis 24:16), so we can imagine the servant’s hopes rose in anticipation of what might happen next. The servant was not disappointed. He asked, “Let me drink I pray thee,” and she MADE HASTE, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder and said, “Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also.” This was exactly the sign which the servant had requested in his prayer.

GENESIS 24:47-48. Next the servant had asked, “Whose daughter art thou?” We can imagine that his heart had leapt at her reply! He gave her jewels, and bowed his head and worshipped the LORD, and blessed “the LORD God of my master Abraham.” At the time he is speaking of, the servant’s testimony to the LORD had been: ‘I being in the way, the LORD led me’ (cf. Genesis 24:27). When we walk in God’s way, He does guide us and lead us in a right path.

GENESIS 24:49. Although the servant was undoubtedly sure that the LORD had already prospered his journey, he deferred to Rebekah’s family. It was only good manners that he should do so. Would they do the honourable thing towards their cousin Abraham by releasing their daughter to Isaac, or should the servant look elsewhere?

III. Genesis 24:58-67.

GENESIS 24:58. This was not something in which Rebekah was just a spectator: but she was at last asked, when the deal was all but sealed, “Wilt thou go with this man?” and immediately assented, “I will go.”

GENESIS 24:59-61. So they sent away Rebekah, along with her childhood nurse and her maids, in the company of Abraham’s servant and his men. Her family spoke a blessing over her: “Be thou the mother of thousands of millions.” This fitted in well with the promise that the LORD had already placed over the family of Abraham.

GENESIS 24:62-63. However long it took the caravan to come into view of Isaac, who was dwelling in the Negeb to the southwest of the Dead Sea, the narrative fast-forwards to this historic first encounter. Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening, and spotted the camels from afar.

GENESIS 24:64-65. Rebekah had been the first to draw attention to “the man that walketh in the field to meet us,” and learning that it was the servant’s “master,” she got down from her camel and veiled herself.

GENESIS 24:66-67. The servant immediately reported to Isaac, and Isaac brought Rebekah to Sarah’s tent. The future of the family line of Abraham and Sarah now lay in this union between Isaac and Rebekah. The couple were married, Isaac loved Rebekah, and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. In the good providence of the LORD the servant’s mission had been a complete success.