Genesis 24:34-51 Click here for Bible Verses
Laban blessing Rebekah. Bible, Henry and Scott (c 1880).
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Genesis 24:34-51. Let’s go!
Genesis 24:34-48 (NIV)
34 So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant.
35 The LORD has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, and camels and donkeys.
36 My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns.
37 And my master made me swear an oath, and said, ‘You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live,
38 but go to my father’s family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.’
39 “Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’
40 “He replied, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father’s family.
41 Then, when you go to my clan, you will be released from my oath even if they refuse to give her to you–you will be released from my oath.’
42 “When I came to the spring today, I said, ‘O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come.
43 See, I am standing beside this spring; if a maiden comes out to draw water and I say to her, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar,”
44 and if she says to me, “Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too,” let her be the one the LORD has chosen for my master’s son.’
45 “Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’
46 “She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too.’ So I drank, and she watered the camels also.
47 “I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ “She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ “Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms,
48 and I bowed down and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.
On verses 34-48: Here Abraham’s servant recounts to Laban the mission the wealthy Abraham gave him to find a wife for Isaac from Abraham’s own clan and the remarkable way that God led him to Rebekah.
The mission the wealthy Abraham gave his servant was to bring home a wife for Isaac. This reminds me of the mission God the Father gave His Son Jesus to bring home his bride, the church. It’s interesting that when the Father was preparing a bride for His Son Jesus, He wasn’t content to find some angel in heaven. Rather, both the Father and Jesus had their heart set on fallen, broken humanity. The fact that the Bible describes the relationship between Jesus and His church as that between a groom and bride speaks to the level of love, commitment, joy, intimacy and fruitfulness God intended for our relationship with Him to have. You were made to love God and be loved by God in a relationship characterized by love, commitment, joy, intimacy and fruitfulness.
Genesis 24:49-51 (NIV)
49 Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn.”
50 Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other.
51 Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has directed.”
On verses 49-51: Based on the testimony of Abraham’s servant, Rebekah’s brother Laban and Rebekah’s father Bethuel could tell that “This is from the Lord”, and they approve Rebekah’s marriage to Isaac. To think that it all happened so suddenly. In less than a day, the lives of Rebekah and her family were turned upside down. Yet rather than putting up a fight or objecting, they surrendered to what they believed was God’s plan for Rebekah’s life. Similarly, may we live with an attitude of surrender toward God, such that rather than fighting or resisting His will, we will say to God, “God, have Your way with my life. Direct it in whatever way You wish.”
Thank You Father for making me to love You and to be loved by You. Thank You that Your plans for me are good, meant to prosper me and not to harm me, to give me hope and a future. Thus I surrender my life and the future into Your hands. Have Your way with my life. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
