“Here Comes the Bride” – A Wife for Isaac (Genesis 24)
Heart of a Shepherd
Jun 02, 2023
Translations
French
"Voici la mariée" - Une femme pour Isaac (Genèse 24)
German
„Hier kommt die Braut“ – Eine Frau für Isaak (Genesis 24)
Urdu
"یہاں دلہن آتی ہے" - اسحاق کے لئے ایک بیوی (پیدائش 24)
Spanish
“Aquí viene la novia” – Una esposa para Isaac (Génesis 24)
Italian
“Ecco che viene la sposa” – Una moglie per Isacco (Genesi 24)
Portuguese
“Lá vem a noiva” – uma esposa para Isaque (Gênesis 24)
Russian
«А вот и невеста» - Жена Исаака (Бытие 24)
“Here Comes the Bride” – A Wife for Isaac (Genesis 24)
Scripture reading – Genesis 24
Faithful to His promises, God blessed Sarah in her old age. At 90, she gave Abraham a son when he was 100. Yet, incredibly, she lived to be a “hundred and seven and twenty years old” (Genesis 23:1), meaning Isaac was 37 at the time of his mother’s death.
An Urgency to Find a Suitable Wife for Isaac (Genesis 24:1-9)
We read, “Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things” (Genesis 24:1). Three years passed since Sarah’s death (Genesis 25:20). Abraham was impressed with the urgency to prepare his son to become not only the master of the household, but also the heir of God’s covenant for Abraham’s lineage. An essential part of that preparation was choosing a wife for Isaac.
Burdened that Isaac would have a fitting wife, Abraham summoned his eldest servant (Genesis 24:2) and charged him that Isaac “shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites [a heathen, idolatrous people], among whom I dwell: (4) But thou shalt go unto my country [the country out of which God had called him, Genesis 12:1-3], and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac” (Genesis 24:3-4).
The servant questioned Abraham concerning the considerations for choosing Isaac’s wife and was admonished that, should a young woman be unwilling to return with him to Canaan (Genesis 24:5), he must not permit Isaac to leave the land God had given him as an inheritance (Genesis 24:6-9).
The Search for Isaac’s Wife (Genesis 24:10-67)
A caravan of ten camels, servants, and supplies accompanied Abraham’s trusted servant for the 500-mile journey across the desert from Canaan to the city of Nahor in Mesopotamia (Genesis 24:10).
Arriving at the well in Nahor in the evening, the servant was aware that the young women of the households would come to the well for water, and there he compelled the camels to kneel (Genesis 24:11-13). Abraham’s servant made a passionate plea to the LORD to guide him (Genesis 24:11-14), and “before he had done speaking…Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder” (Genesis 24:14).
Rebekah was God’s answer to the servant’s prayer, for she 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” (Genesis 24:16). Beautiful, chaste (Genesis 24:16), considerate (Genesis 24:18), diligent in serving (Genesis 24:19-20), and of a household that called on Jehovah (Genesis 24:31a), the servant lifted his voice in praise and thanksgiving, testifying, “I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren” (Genesis 24:27).
Rewarding Rebekah with “a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold” (Genesis 24:22), she invited Abraham’s servant to her family’s household where he would meet Laban, Rebekah’s brother (Genesis 24:23-29).
The servant refused to be comforted by food or shelter until he stated his mission and testified of God’s providence in leading him to their home (Genesis 24:30-50). Upon declaring, “I am Abraham’s servant” (Genesis 24:34), he shared how God had blessed his master with great wealth (Genesis 24:35) and a son who would be his heir (Genesis 24:36).
Hearing God had providentially led the servant to Rebekah, her brother, and her father offered their blessing for her to become Isaac’swife (Genesis 24:50-56). When Rebekah was requested to give her consent to depart with Abraham’s servant and to be the wife of Isaac, she consented and said, “I will go” (Genesis 24:58). With the blessing of her family (Genesis 24:59-60), Rebekah departed with her attendant. She journeyed with Abraham’s servant to Canaan (Genesis 24:61).
As they neared their journey’s end, they spotted Isaac approaching them (Genesis 24:62-63). Rebekah then covered herself with a veil, expressing modesty and humility (Genesis 24:64). Isaac listened to the servant’s report and how the LORD led him to Rebekah (Genesis 24:66). Then, “Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent… and she became his wife; and he loved her” (Genesis 24:67).
Closing thoughts - Though their marriage was not always a picture of peace and happiness, Isaac and Rebekah’s union has served as an enduring testimony of God’s interest in our lives and His providential leadership in our marriages and families.
Oh, that we might choose to walk in righteousness and say with Abraham’s servant, “I being in the way, the LORD led me” (Genesis 24:27).
Challenge - Do Right, and you will not only do the will of the LORD, but also be confident in it!
Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith
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