Genesis 24:29-53
29 Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man by the well. 30 So it came to pass, when he saw the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, “Thus the man spoke to me,” that he went to the man. And there he stood by the camels at the well. 31 And he said, “Come in, O blessed of the LORD! Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels.”
32 Then the man came to the house. And he unloaded the camels, and provided straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. 33 Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told about my errand.”
And he said, “Speak on.”
34 So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant. 35 The LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys. 36 And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and to him he has given all that he has. 37 Now my master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell; 38 but you shall go to my father’s house and to my family, and take a wife for my son.’ 39 And I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.’ 40 But he said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s house. 41 You will be clear from this oath when you arrive among my family; for if they will not give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.’
42 “And this day I came to the well and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if You will now prosper the way in which I go, 43 behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass that when the virgin comes out to draw water, and I say to her, “Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,” 44 and she says to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,”—let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master’s son.’
45 “But before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah, coming out with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down to the well and drew water. And I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ 46 And she made haste and let her pitcher down from her shoulder, and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels a drink also.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels a drink also. 47 Then I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the nose ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists. 48 And I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of truth to take the daughter of my master’s brother for his son. 49 Now if you 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.”
50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing comes from the LORD; we cannot speak to you either bad or good. 51 Here is Rebekah before you; take her and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as the LORD has spoken.”
52 And it came to pass, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, that he worshiped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth. 53 Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.
When Abraham’s servant spoke to the brother of Rebekah and saw the engagement jewelry on her, he welcomed him as a blessed servant of the LORD to come to stay at their home. He even assured the servant of a place for the camels to rest. After bedding the camels down and feeding them, the servant refused to eat until he first explained his mission to the family. He explained that Abraham was his master and how he was a rich man by God’s grace of blessing. The messenger went on to describe how they had one son of promise, Isaac, and he was sent on this errand to find a wife for him of his own relation. He then explained his doubts on choosing wisely and if the woman would go with him when found, so when he saw Rebekah, he asked God to confirm the choice by the test of giving him water and offering it for the camels as well, which she did. He recalled how the LORD promised to guide him with an angel to prosper his quest, yet if the woman would not be willing to return and be wed to Isaac then he would be released from his search and could return home. Because Rebekah confirmed that she was the one after describing her familial relationship as Abraham’s brother Nahor’s daughter, he had given her the jewelry and worshipped God for bringing her to him in the way of truth. He then asked if she would be given to Isaac as a bride or if he had to go another way. Her brother and mother realized that this was a divine arrangement and meeting, and they handed Rebekah over to him for Isaac. They all rejoiced and the servant of Abraham again bowed down to worship the LORD and gave the rest of the gifts of jewelry and fine clothing to Rebekah, along with precious gifts for her brother and mother. The deal was done at the leading of the LORD! This was God’s leading of the godly errand to continue the promise to Abraham through the lineage of Isaac who was almost sacrificed but was replaced by God’s sacrifice of a ram before the altar on the way to God’s own Son sacrificed on a tree of cursing to pay our sin’s price and fulfill the promise of Abraham’s active faith. Do we likewise trust God in the plans He has for our lives to be fruitful and multiply disciples as spiritual children of promise? Remember this divine leading according to the promise of the Lord and step out in faith with our godly errand to make disciples as Matthew 28:19-20 commands us by the Lord’s sending to add to the bride of Christ.
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