GENESIS 24 - Isaac and Rebekah

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

** Abraham asked his servant to find a wife for his son Isaac among his relatives in his home country (not from the Canaanites) with God’s help

Genesis 24:2-4,9 NIV

[2] He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh. [3] I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, [4] but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac. ” [9] So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.

Genesis 24:7 NIV

[7] “The Lord, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'To your offspring I will give this land'---he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there.

** QUESTION: Why was Isaac, who was living in Canaan, not to live in Abraham's home country?

• Abraham had a fear that Issac would marry into a Canaanite family and settle there and gradually be led astray from God

Genesis 24:6,8 NIV

[6] “Make sure that you do not take my son back there,” Abraham said. [8] If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”

• God commanded Abraham to come out of Chaldea into the land of Canaan and he wanted his son to abide by this command also by staying in Canaan

• The fact that Abraham purchased a burial place for Sarah and the rest of his family in Canaan was proof of his faith that God would fulfill His promises to give all the land (including Canaan) as inheritance

** Abraham's servant prayed that God would lead him to Isaac's future wife, asking God to move in a specific way; God heard his prayer and confirmed his choice

Genesis 24:10-14 NIV

[10] Then the servant left, taking with him ten of his master’s camels loaded with all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. [11] He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water. [12] Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. [13] See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. [14] May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’---let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”

Genesis 24:15,17-19 NIV

[15] Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. [17] The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.” [18] “Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. [19] After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.”

** Abraham's servant watched closely as the situation unfolded, looking that God would confirm whether this woman was the one for Isaac  

Genesis 24:21 NIV

[21] Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.

Genesis 24:23-24 NIV

[23] Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night? ” [24] She answered him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milkah bore to Nahor.”

** Abraham's servant thanked and praised God for answering his prayer and making his journey successful

• Abraham’s faith in God won his chief servant, who knew him best of all, to a similar deep and selfless trust in God

• Abraham’s chief servant caught his master’s faith, as He prayed and experienced God’s answer to prayer  <R1795>

Genesis 24:26-27 NIV

[26] Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, [27] saying, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”

Genesis 24:52 NIV

[52] When Abraham’s servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the Lord.

** Rebekah had a brother Laban who wanted to show the Lord's servant hospitality and provide opportunity for God to confirm Isaac's future wife

Genesis 24:29-31 NIV

[29] Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he hurried out to the man at the spring. [30] As soon as he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels near the spring. [31] “Come, you who are blessed by the Lord,” he said. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”

Genesis 24:50-51 NIV

[50] Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. [51] Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed. ”

** We should remember the 'immediacy factor' when God calls us to a task, and follow Rebekah's example by not hindering the process

Genesis 24:55-58 NIV

[55] But her brother and her mother replied, “Let the young woman remain with us ten days or so; then you may go.” [56] But he said to them, “Do not detain me, now that the Lord has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master.” [57] Then they said, “Let’s call the young woman and ask her about it.” [58] So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she said.