Womeninthechurch42

Women in the Bible

Lesson Forty-Two: by turtle30c

I do not know about you, but if someone I just meet asked me to go on a trip with them I
would not do it. This next story is about a decision that would change a woman’s life forever.
She would become the wife of Isaac. She never meet Isaac and would decide to go and be his
wife. I have to wonder were things so bad at home that she pick up and move so far away from
her family. Never to hear or to talk to them again as far as we know. Actually I think Rebekah
was adventurous, it was not about not wanting to be with her family. She just loved an
adventure. Maybe she need to see somewhere else. The Bible does not say what caused her to
say I will go. Yet though we might wonder, we know God had his reason for choosing Rachel as
the second mother of the children of Israel,

Let’s begin our story at the beginning.

Genesis 24:1-9 KJV
(1) And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all
things.
(2) And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put,
I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
(3) And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth,
that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I
dwell:
(4) But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
(5) And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me
unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?
(6) And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
(7) The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my
kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give
this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from
thence.
(8) And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my
oath: only bring not my son thither again.
(9) And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him
concerning that matter.

Abraham was old and wanted grandchildren. He knew it was time for Isaac to have a mate. He
sent his trusted servant to go and fetch a wife for his son. Abraham made the servant make an
oath or a promise to not go to any land but the land of his people to get a wife for Isaac. He
also told him a woman would not go with him he be free from his oath. He also said an angel
would go before him. Now something we must know about this servant coming up is this
servant did not necessarily worship Abraham’s God. In fact it maybe the defining moment for
this servant to believe in Abraham’s God. Though the journey was long to Abraham’s people t
was also a step of faith to go. To go and not be sure to be received or be able to bring back to
Abraham a daughter in law. This servant would have a life altering experience with God.

Genesis 24:10-14 KJV
(10) And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the
goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of
Nahor.
(11) And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of
the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.
(12) And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this
day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
(13) Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come
out to draw water:
(14) And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray
thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the
same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou
hast shewed kindness unto my master.

In this passage what is interesting the servant says the God of my master Abraham. Implying
God was not necessarily his God. Yet he must of seen the work of Abraham’s God in Abraham
to the point he figure once this was for Abraham that he should request Abraham’s God for
help. Some are perhaps having doubt, yet if you bear with me for a moment you will see the
transformation in the servant. Yet first we must look at the first step in the process In verse 12-
14 you will see that the servant put a test before the Lord concerning the person who would
come and draw water from the well. Rebekah shows up.

Genesis 24:15-20 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.

The water was drawn not just for the servant but also for his camels. We need to understand
that God was making it clear who this woman was to the servant. Yet still these things made the
servant wonder. And he preceded to ask Rebekah some questions.

Genesis 24:21-25 KJV
(21) And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his
journey prosperous or not.
(22) And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring
of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
(23) And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's
house for us to lodge in?
(24) And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare
unto Nahor.
(25) She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to
lodge in.

The servant pays the woman with a bracelets of gold and request if there is lodging and if there
was room for him and his camels. Nahor is Abraham grandfather. This woman is of the line of
Abraham’s people. Nahor is Abraham’s grandfather. What good fortune the servant was
having. Yet the servant seen it more then fortune, but an act of God.

Genesis 24:26-28 KJV
(26) And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.
(27) And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left
destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the
house of my master's brethren.
(28) And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.

I wonder what made Rebekah to run, the sudden out burst of praise to God or the fact that she
understood that man was a servant of kin. I think really because she understood this man
servant of kin. She goes and fetches her father who comes immediately to meet this man at the
well. I wonder what the servant thought when the girl ran away. We do not know the Bible does
not say. But we could speculate all day. The fact at this point the servant was praising God
knowing in his own heart that God had answered his prayer. He now believed.

Genesis 24:29-32 KJV
(29) And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man,
unto the well.
(30) And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and
when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he
came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.
(31) And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I
have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
(32) And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and
provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.

Laban’s Rebekah brother shows all hospitality to the servant. The servant came to the supper
provided for him. Yet when he gets there to the feast, he wants to first get everything off his
chest before he dines. That way he can be free to enjoy his meal.

Genesis 24:33-49 KJV
(33) And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine
errand. And he said, Speak on.
(34) And he said, I am Abraham's servant.
(35) And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given
him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels,
and asses.
(36) And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath
he given all that he hath.
(37) And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the
daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
(38) But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.
(39) And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
(40) And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and
prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:
(41) Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they
give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.
(42) And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now
thou do prosper my way which I go:
(43) Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh
forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;
(44) And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be
the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master's son.
(45) And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her
pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her,
Let me drink, I pray thee.
(46) And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I
will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.
(47) And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of
Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the
bracelets upon her hands.
(48) And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of
my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter
unto his son.
(49) And now if ye 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.

The servant made his position clear, he told them why he had come and the reason for his
mission. He wanted to know if he could take Rebekah to be Isaac’s wife. The servant explained
how God had allowed certain signs to take place. How his master was a believer in God and he
was too because he worshipped God.

Laban’s response is surprising because this man could of been anyone.

Genesis 24:50-53 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.

The servant praised the Lord for Laban’s response of willing to not argue with what God as
seemed to have ordained. He believed in God. He gave Rebekah and her family gifts. The next
day the servant would then ask to be able to take Rebekah then and there to Isaac. Laban
looked at his sister and asked will you go with this man? Rebekah said she would.

Genesis 24:54-61 KJV
(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 enquire 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.

Rebekah went willingly with the servant she did not wait a day or two but gather her things and
her servants and went. The soon research the land where Abraham and Isaac dwelt and as soon
as she seen Isaac she lit off her camel. Isaac then took Rebekah into his tent and made her his
wife.

Genesis 24:62-67 KJV
(62) And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.
(63) And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and
saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
(64) And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.
(65) For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us?
And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.
(66) And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
(67) And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became
his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Following God means to follow his will and his direction. Sometimes we ask God to show us the
way so we know which door to walk through. Sometimes we wait and listen to what God speaks
to our hearts before making a decision. Are we like Abraham’s servant believing but never
testing to see if those doors before us are God’s will. Are we not believing because we have not
ask God to show us how to walk by faith. Abraham’s servant was not just a believer because
God was Abraham’s God, but because he experienced God for himself. That what a personal
relationship with God is about.