Genesis 24:15-33 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Genesis 24:15-33. Let’s go!
Genesis 24:15-17 (NIV)
15 Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.
16 The girl was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever lain with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.
17 The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.”
On verses 15-17: Just as God brought Rebekah to Abraham’s servant even before Abraham’s servant finished praying, God knows your need even before you express it. So why ask God if He already knows what we need? Even though He already knows what we need, we ask God because asking is part of growing in our relationship with God, learning to rely on Him and experiencing the power of faith. Faith is like a muscle that grows with use. So use your faith muscles and ask God for what you need.
Genesis 24:18-20 (NIV)
18 “Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink.
19 After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking.”
20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels.
On verses 18-20: Watching the way Rebekah served Abraham’s servant here reminds me of the way Abraham served his three visitors in Genesis 18. Like Abraham in Genesis 18, Rebekah hurried to serve (as suggested by the words “quickly” (v18, 20) and she “ran” (v20)). Rebekah gave her best when serving. She was very polite and respectful. She showed an excellent work ethic. Rebekah didn’t have a team to help her, but unbeknownst to her she was about to meet her life partner. As Rebekah served with excellence, little did she know that her destiny was waiting.
What can we learn from this? God loves to honour, use and bless people who serve with humility and excellence. So serve God and others with excellence and consistency, knowing that your promotion and destiny are waiting around the corner.
Genesis 24:21 (NIV)
21 Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful.
On verse 21: Even though the prayer Abraham’s servant prayed was that he would find someone who would offer to serve him and his camels, Abraham’s servant didn’t rush into things the moment he saw Rebekah. Rather he “watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful”. In particular Abraham’s servant watched to see if Rebekah was a woman of her word: did she keep her promise? Was she diligent and hard working?
What can we learn from this? Sometimes the best thing you can do is just watch and learn: don’t make any rash decisions, keep your mouth shut, keep your eyes and ears open, and learn as much as you can about the person and the situation before making any decisions.
Genesis 24:22-27 (NIV)
22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels.
23 Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”
24 She answered him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor.”
25 And she added, “We have plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night.”
26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD,
27 saying, “Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”
On verses 22-27: I love the response of Abraham’s servant upon hearing that Rebekah was a relative of Abraham’s family. He didn’t take all the credit and say, “Look how smart I am! My master Abraham’s so lucky to have me.” No, he gave all the credit and praise to God (v27). Likewise, when you experience success, give God the glory and credit He is due.
Genesis 24:28-33 (NIV)
28 The girl ran and told her mother’s household about these things.
29 Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he hurried out to the man at the spring.
30 As soon as he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels near the spring.
31 “Come, you who are blessed by the LORD,” he said. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”
32 So the man went to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and fodder were brought for the camels, and water for him and his men to wash their feet.
33 Then food was set before him, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told you what I have to say.” “Then tell us,” [Laban] said.
On verses 28-33: Abraham’s servant meets Rebekah’s brother Laban, whom we will get to know in later chapters of Genesis. Laban welcomes Abraham’s servant into their home, but Abraham’s servant is so set on completing his mission that he refuses to eat before he talks about the business he came to do (v33).
Though we never learn his name, Abraham’s servant is one of the unsung heroes of the Bible. His diligence reminds me of Jesus, who diligently completed the mission his Father sent him to do. Likewise, may we be diligent in our responsibilities, doing our best in the work we are called to do. As Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Heavenly Father, may I be diligent like Abraham’s servant, faithfully fulfilling the assignment You have given me on this earth. Like Rebekah, may I serve with humility and excellence, knowing that my promotion and destiny are just around the corner. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
