Genesis 24, Pt 2, Will God be Faithful?

After my last Abraham blog I got a Gold Bond sponsorship!

Last time we were talking about Abraham he had decided to find a wife for his son, Isaac. Abraham made his servant promise, in a really gross manner, (see prior blog), that he would NOT take a wife for Isaac from the ungodly Canaanites where the lived, but would find a wife from one of Abraham's relatives. Today we're going to meet the servant and Rachel, (aka the Whoa-man).

A lot of people look at this chapter to learn how to find a mate, dating advice, or wisdom in relationships.* In my humble opinion Genesis 24 is more about showing God's covenant faithfulness to his servant. Sarah, Abraham's wife, had died in Genesis 23. Abraham is really old and he's going to die soon. God did so much in Abraham's life, (Genesis 12-23). How do we know the covenant will continue with Abraham's son, Isaac? I know God said he would, but can he be trusted? Will God's covenant continue? Will God continue to work his promises in Isaac's life? Will God be faithful? This is the key question answered in Genesis 24.

*To be sure there are some good things that can be taken from this chapter about finding a good spouse, but to be fair I don't think that was God's main purpose in this story. We have to be sure when we read the Bible that we are first understanding the original meaning and purpose of a story before we start making applications to our own life, capiche?

So let's meet the servant. Who is this guy? His name is never mentioned. He's just known as Abraham's servant. (I'll call him Phil). I think it's safe to assume he had lived and worked under Abraham for a long time. He was "the oldest of his household who had charge over all that he had," (sounds like Phil). He had probably witnessed a lot of Abraham's life and seen how God had worked in and through Abraham. He probably knew all about the miraculous conception and birth of Isaac as well as God's salvation of Isaac on Mt. Moriah, (Genesis 22). In short, Phil had seen and heard of the amazing works of God. He also knew about God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants, (Genesis 12, 15, 17, 22).

So what happens? Abraham tells Phil the servant to go the the land of his relatives and find a wife for Isaac. Abraham is confident God will provide the right woman for his son. But just try and put yourself in the shoes of Phil. You're riding your camel somewhere in the desert. You've got a long way to go. Abraham made you make a serious promise to find the right kind of wife for his son. He's your master and he's trusting you to be faithful. Meanwhile you've got to go to this country where you don't know anybody. Somehow you've got to find a good wife for Isaac, your master's son. It's a big responsibility. Would you be nervous? Anxious? Filled with doubt? I would. So Phil finally gets to the city and he prays. He needs God to be faithful to his covenant with Abraham. He needs God to provide and he knows he can't do it himself.

"And he said, 'O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let the young woman to whom I shall say, 'Please let down your jar that I may drink,' and who shall say, 'Drink, and I will water your camels'--let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master." 

Stop one second, I want you to see something. The servant mentions the term "steadfast love" here in his prayer. It's a word and idea that runs throughout this chapter, as seen in verses 12, 14, 27, and 49. Some versions translate this as "lovingkidness", "kindness", or "graciousness". I think those other translations fall a bit short of the idea of the word here. It's not just that God was being kind or loving or faithful to Abraham. That was true, but the word carries an even deeper meaning. God was being loving to Abraham, yet also faithful to the covenant he had made previously with Abraham. He was being faithful to carry out his gracious and loving promises to make a great nation from Abraham, to bless whoever blessed him, and to curse whoever cursed him, and to bless all of the nations of the earth through Abraham and his descendants. So it's not just love, or kindness, or faithfulness. I think the ESV translation is the best, "steadfast love". The idea is of God's loving faithfulness to his promises, which is what this entire chapter is about.

Now back to Phil: The servant is asking God to provide a woman, but he's also asking she be the right kind of woman. He's looking for a good woman who has a servant's heart, and who is hospitable. He doesn't want to bring a lazy, mean spirited and arrogant woman home to Isaac. (Who would?) Notice the servant doesn't pray for a hot woman with great legs. Either he just assumed God knew Isaac would like that, (not likely), or it's more important to find a woman with great character than great legs, (more likely). So what happens? "Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder," (v15). Alright, good start! She's a part of Abraham's family. The servant didn't know it at the time, but the first woman God brought out was a relative, which is what Abraham asked for. Groovy! What else do we find out about Rachel? "The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden whom no man had known," (16). BONUS! As Animal would say, "WO-MAN!"

Phil the servant is seeking to see if this woman was the answer to his prayers, so asks if she would give him a drink of water. Rebekah, without prompting, agrees to give this random stranger a drink, and furthermore agrees to provide water for all 10 of his camels as well. In short, Rebekah is a kind, servant-hearted, and hospitable female. So Rebekah is not only a woman of character, but family to Abraham, AND she's a babe! Whoa-man!

The servant, seeing God answering his previous prayer, runs up to this woman of inner and outer beauty and asks who she is. She confirms to him that she is related to Abraham's family. Why is this important, you say? Well Abraham knew his family had some understanding or belief in the one God. He knew a woman of his family would be of good character and a blessing to his son's faith in the Lord, (see also the prior blog on Genesis 24).

How does Phil respond to what has just happened? He praises God for his love and faithfulness. "Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness towards my master," (27). God has brought him a woman of great character. It doesn't hurt that she also appears to be quite the looker. Good looks and great character?! And all the men said "Hallelujah!"

Phil the servant is about to lose his mind right now because all of the pieces are falling together. He's so
overjoyed that he starts acting like Uncle Si. When he meets up with Rebekah's family he can't wait to share how God has worked in Abraham's life and how God had worked in that day's events to purposefully lead him to the right woman for Isaac. Literally in verses 34-49 the servant babbles on and on, (like Uncle Si), recapping everything that happened previously in chapter 24. He gives glory to God for his steadfast love and faithfulness to Abraham and his sovereign answer to his prayers. (To his credit, he appears to be much more coherent than Uncle Si).

After recapping all that God has done, the servant concludes, "Now then, if you are going to show steadfast love and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left." The servant has just described how God has faithfully worked to answer the prayers of Abraham and the servant and in so doing, continued the Abrahamic covenant God started many years ago in Genesis 12. God has shown steadfast love and faithfulness. Now the servant wants to know if Rebekah's family is going to get on board with what God is doing or not. Is she going to come with him and be Isaac's wife or stay here? (Cue the dramatic music and soap-opera time freeze looks).

This reminds me of the time when I went to my future in-laws and asked for their daughter's hand in marriage. I said, "Hey, Jack. I'm about to be a journalism graduate. I have no idea what I want to do with my life and I have no money. Can I marry your daughter?" Actually my story doesn't sound like Isaac's story at all, does it? Now that I think about it, what were my in-laws thinking? What was my wife thinking for that matter? Geez.

Luckily for me, Alison's parents didn't throw me out of the house. Luckily for Isaac, Rebekah and her family said "yes" as well. Rebekah chose to be Isaac's wife, and we even get a reference to the Abrahamic covenant continuing through her life. "And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, 'Our sister, may you become thousands of ten thousands, and may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate him!" (v60).

Mind = blown.

So what's the point of this story? Is it about dating? Not really. Is it about romance? You betcha. Does it have good insight on finding a good spouse? Sure. Is it about Si Robertson? No. No it is not. There are some neat and incredible things in this chapter, but the main point of Genesis 24 is the steadfast love and faithfulness of God. God had made a covenant with Abraham and he shows here that no matter what happens God will faithfully and lovingly keep his Word to Abraham and his descendants. Most of the Old Testament is about how God chose a person and a people, through whom he would accomplish his purposes and ultimately bless the world. We are reminded here of God's unfailing love and faithfulness to his people and his promises. Cool stuff.

Isaac and Rebekah live happily ever after...that is, until they have children. (Cue the dramatic music). See you next time.