God guides His children, and we must yield to that guidance. That’s the powerful lesson we can take from this week’s passage.
Sarah has died. Abraham has lived a long, blessed life. But he must have had a sense of urgency for the next generation. He recognizes his responsibility to pass along godly wisdom to the next generation, so he wants to help Isaac find a godly wife. This will help ensure that Abraham’s descendants will continue to choose to live as God’s special people.
Abraham asks his servant to go to his homeland of Haran, to his brother’s family, to find a wife for Isaac. Abraham did not want Isaac to marry within the local pagan cultures because they would pull Isaac and future generations away from God. In the same way, believers today are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (II Corinthians 6:14 and Deuteronomy 7:1-4).
Abraham makes an oath with his servant and holds him personally responsible for finding a wife for Isaac. It is apparent that the servant has a personal relationship with God. This probably is due to Abraham’s godly influence on all of the people in his sphere of influence.
As soon as the servant arrives in the designated area, he stops at a well and prays to God. The servant doesn’t trust himself to find the right wife for Isaac. Instead, he asks for God’s clear direction and confirmation. He asks for a reasonable sign from God. He wants God to reveal the right woman by the one who offers water to both the servant and his camels.
How is my own prayer life? Are my prayer requests to God reasonable? Do they line up with God’s will? I love the servant’s example that we can pray to God about our everyday circumstances and have confidence that He is listening and will answer our prayers.
Before the servant finishes praying, Rebekah arrives. Rebekah does exactly what the servant prayed about — she offers water to the servant and then waters the camels. Based on the amount of water the camels probably needed following their journey and the size of the water jars, it could have taken up to three hours for Rebekah to water the camels! This showed that she was kind, considerate, generous, hard working, strong and willing to serve — all are very good qualities in a wife!
Rebekah confirms that she is from Abraham’s family. Immediately, the servant worships God and gives Him the credit for finding this chosen woman for Isaac. The servant gives gifts to Rebekah. She brings the servant to her family. When they hear the servant’s story, who once again gives all glory to God, they agree that this is God’s will.
The next morning, the servant is ready to take Rebekah home with him, but her family is reluctant to let her go. Rebekah displays her strong faith in God and chooses to leave immediately with the servant. Think about all she was leaving behind, such as her home, her family and her familiar life. But also consider all that she was gaining — security, God’s blessings and being a part of God’s chosen family. When Rebekah arrives at Abraham’s home, she meets Isaac and marries him.
Less than 40 years later, Abraham dies. He leaves all of his inheritance to Isaac since he was the son of promise. Abraham has 18 other sons and provides for them in other land and riches. But he gives the chief blessings and the Promised Land to Isaac alone.
I’m a little sad to leave Abraham in our study. His life shows us that God rewards our faithful obedience and service. What would I do if I knew that my time on earth was coming to an end? In all honesty, I am not guaranteed anything. So God could take me home any time. But when I’m gone, what will others remember about me? What kind of legacy will I leave for the next generation?
Avery is doing a very good job of memorizing her Bible verses. On the other hand, Mommy is doing a very bad job of capturing them on camera! Here is the verse she learned last week:
Joshua 24:24 NIV