Black Christian Mind

The Faithful Servant Finds a Generous Wife – Genesis Chapter 24
by Sabrina Dawkins

God was with Abraham’s eldest servant when Abraham sent him and his men to his country and kindred to take for Isaac a wife because Abraham did not want his servant to take a wife of the Canaanites, whom he lived among. So Abraham’s oldest servant went to Mesopotamia, to a city called Nahor, and he prayed to God at the well that his trip would be successful: that he would return to his master with a wife for Isaac from Abraham’s homeland. And God brought Isaac’s future wife right to Abraham’s servant.

Before he even had a chance to finish his prayer, Rebekah approached and was very beautiful. The servant ran to meet her. His prayer had been answered. Rebekah was one of the daughters of Bethuel, Abraham’s nephew, and she was very generous to him: She gave him water from her pitcher upon his request. And then, with haste, she also gave his camels water. Then the servant gave her a golden earring and two golden bracelets and asked if there was room for him and his men to sleep at her father’s house. Rebekah said there was and that there was also food for the camels, and the servant bowed his head and worshipped God.

Abraham’s loyal servant would not even eat the food he was served until he had told Rebekah’s family his mission. And once they agreed to it and the servant and his men had spent the night, he didn’t want to tarry there any longer. He wanted to quickly return to his master, having completed his mission. He was a faithful servant.

Rebekah chose to leave with Abraham’s servant and his men. And the servant gave her silver and gold jewelry and clothing. He also gave her mother and brother precious items. Isaac’s mother had died. He brought Rebekah into Sarah’s tent and she became his wife. And Isaac loved her.

It is important to emphasize God’s hand in all of this. Here is the servant’s prayer:

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.

Genesis 24:14

There was no way for Abraham’s servant to cause Rebekah, “when she had done giving him drink,” to say, “I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking” (Genesis 24:19). Only God could have either influenced Rebekah to say that or sent to Abraham’s servant the most generous woman in the land who would be most inclined to offer much more than was asked of her—or a combination of both.