A Wife for Isaac

TBC Book 1, Chapter 17
Genesis 24:1-67
A time of great mourning had fallen upon Abraham, Isaac, and their entire household. At age 127, Sarah passed away. Isaac was now 37. He had been very close to both his mother and father. An emptiness pierced his soul as he sat alone and pictured her warm smile of approval.
Abraham often thought of how God had blessed him with his beautiful wife. Now he wanted that same joy for his son. So he called his most trusted servant into his tent.
“Put your hand under my thigh to take an oath. You must find a wife for Isaac. Swear that the woman you select will not be from the Canaanites, but from my own relatives.”
“What if she is not willing to come?” he asked. “Should I then take your son there?”
“No,” Abraham said, “you must not. The Lord will send his angel before you to guide you. If the woman is unwilling to come, you will be released from this oath.”
So the servant left the tent and prepared for his journey. He selected ten camels and many gifts from his master’s possessions. For one who seeks a bride must not come empty-handed.
The journey took him many days. When he reached a spring near Nahor, he prayed, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, may you show him kindness in this way: Bring the right girl into my presence. Reveal it by prompting her to say, ‘Have a drink, while I water your camels.’ ”
Before he had finished praying, a girl appeared, and she was beautiful. When the servant asked for a drink, she gave it to him. Then she said, “I’ll water your camels, too.” As the servant watched her, his heart began to pound. This is the one! Wait—I must find out one more thing. . . .
“Young woman, if I may ask, whose daughter are you?”
“I am Rebecca, the daughter of Bethuel. My father’s parents were Milcah and Nahor.”
Immediately, the servant bowed down in worship. “Praise you, Lord, God of my master, Abraham! For you have indeed shown him kindness by leading me to his relatives.”
Then he rose and explained why he came.
"Let me run tell my family,” Rebekah said.
As Rebekah came running into the house, her brother Laban said, “Where did you get that ring and those bracelets?” With excitement she told her family all about Abraham’s servant.
Laban’s eyes lit up when he saw the gifts. He rushed to meet the caravan and greet them. “Come, you who are blessed by the Lord! I’ve prepared a place for you and your camels.”
So the caravan continued toward the family’s house. But the servant refused to eat until he could explain his mission: “The Lord has blessed my master with great wealth. And it will all go to his son Isaac, born to him in old age by Sarah. I have been sent to find a wife for Isaac, a woman from your household.” Then he explained how God had answered his prayer.
Laban and his father Bethuel knew this was not a matter of chance.
“What can we say?” Bethuel replied. “This is obviously from the Lord.”
The servant bowed to the Lord in gratitude. Then he gave the family members more gifts.
The next morning, however, Rebekah’s brother and mother urged the servant to wait a number of days. But the servant was insistent. He feared that they might change their minds.
“Let’s ask Rebekah what she wishes,” Laban suggested. But he and his mother were surprised by her response. The servant had told her how terribly Isaac missed his mother. Surely it would please him if she came right away. So she left that day with her family’s blessing.
As they traveled, the servant told Rebekah about Isaac. When they finally neared the tents of Abraham, they saw someone in the fields all alone, just meditating. “Who is that?” Rebekah asked. The servant smiled. “That is your husband.” Shyly, Rebekah covered herself with her veil.
So Isaac married Rebekah, and he loved her dearly. The loss he had been feeling suddenly began to ease, for she brought him great comfort and much joy.
TBC 17
Genesis 24:1-67
A time of great mourning had fallen upon Abraham, Isaac, and their entire household. At age 127, Sarah passed away. Isaac was now 37. He had been very close to both his mother and father. An emptiness pierced his soul as he sat alone and pictured her warm smile of approval.
Abraham often thought of how God had blessed him with his beautiful wife. Now he wanted that same joy for his son. So he called his most trusted servant into his tent.
“Put your hand under my thigh to take an oath. You must find a wife for Isaac. Swear that the woman you select will not be from the Canaanites, but from my own relatives.”
“What if she is not willing to come?” he asked. “Should I then take your son there?”
“No,” Abraham said, “you must not. The Lord will send his angel before you to guide you. If the woman is unwilling to come, you will be released from this oath.”
So the servant left the tent and prepared for his journey. He selected ten camels and many gifts from his master’s possessions. For one who seeks a bride must not come empty-handed.
The journey took him many days. When he reached a spring near Nahor, he prayed, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, may you show him kindness in this way: Bring the right girl into my presence. Reveal it by prompting her to say, ‘Have a drink, while I water your camels.’ ”
Before he had finished praying, a girl appeared, and she was beautiful. When the servant asked for a drink, she gave it to him. Then she said, “I’ll water your camels, too.” As the servant watched her, his heart began to pound. This is the one! Wait—I must find out one more thing. . . .
“Young woman, if I may ask, whose daughter are you?”
“I am Rebecca, the daughter of Bethuel. My father’s parents were Milcah and Nahor.”
Immediately, the servant bowed down in worship. “Praise you, Lord, God of my master, Abraham! For you have indeed shown him kindness by leading me to his relatives.”
Then he rose and explained why he came.
"Let me run tell my family,” Rebekah said.
As Rebekah came running into the house, her brother Laban said, “Where did you get that ring and those bracelets?” With excitement she told her family all about Abraham’s servant.
Laban’s eyes lit up when he saw the gifts. He rushed to meet the caravan and greet them. “Come, you who are blessed by the Lord! I’ve prepared a place for you and your camels.”
So the caravan continued toward the family’s house. But the servant refused to eat until he could explain his mission: “The Lord has blessed my master with great wealth. And it will all go to his son Isaac, born to him in old age by Sarah. I have been sent to find a wife for Isaac, a woman from your household.” Then he explained how God had answered his prayer.
Laban and his father Bethuel knew this was not a matter of chance.
“What can we say?” Bethuel replied. “This is obviously from the Lord.”
The servant bowed to the Lord in gratitude. Then he gave the family members more gifts.
The next morning, however, Rebekah’s brother and mother urged the servant to wait a number of days. But the servant was insistent. He feared that they might change their minds.
“Let’s ask Rebekah what she wishes,” Laban suggested. But he and his mother were surprised by her response. The servant had told her how terribly Isaac missed his mother. Surely it would please him if she came right away. So she left that day with her family’s blessing.
As they traveled, the servant told Rebekah about Isaac. When they finally neared the tents of Abraham, they saw someone in the fields all alone, just meditating. “Who is that?” Rebekah asked. The servant smiled. “That is your husband.” Shyly, Rebekah covered herself with her veil.
So Isaac married Rebekah, and he loved her dearly. The loss he had been feeling suddenly began to ease, for she brought him great comfort and much joy.
TBC 17
"Take up the shield of faith, . . . the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
—Ephesians 6:16-17