Background:
God promised Abraham that he would have many descendants and that means not only Abraham would have Isaac, but Isaac would have descendants, too. Therefore, when Abraham was very old he would like to see Isaac to have a wife.
v.1 24:1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in everything.
Repeated phrases:
(1) "You must not acquire a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living. You must go instead to my country and to my relatives to find a wife for my son Isaac...“Be careful never to take my son back there!” v.3,4,6, "But you must not take my son back there!" v.8
Isaac and his wife had to live in the land of Canaan according to Abraham
(2)"What if the woman is not willing to come back with me to this land?" v.5, "But if the woman is not willing to come back with you" v.8.
Both the old servant and Abraham knew that it would not be that easy that a woman would willing to move so far away from her hometown to Canaan. If that was not possible then the search for the wife for Isaac was over.
24:8 But if the woman is not willing to come back with you, you will be free from this oath of mine. But you must not take my son back there!”
In other words, the continuation of the family was important, but not the most important. The right person to get marry who was willing to move to Canaan was more important. Abraham believed that God would be able to continue His promise even if he offered Isaac up as offering in chapter 22. Of course, he would believed that God could continued his family line even Isaac could not find a wife!
Reflection: What was important to you? For your children to have a spouse? Or for your children to have the right person to be their spouses? Do you believe God is the One who made impossible possible?
Abraham knew that God has a promise to him, and he tried to find ways to make it possible. However, he also realized that how that would be done totally depended on God. Do you believed that God would protect us? How will God going to that we would not know!
(3) "He will send his angel before you so that you may find a wife for my son from there" v.7, "He prayed, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, guide me today. Be faithful to my master Abraham...In this way I will know that you have been faithful to my master" v.12,14, "Silently the man watched her with interest to determine if the LORD had made his journey successful or not" v.21.
Abraham told his servants that God would helped him, but the servant also prayed to God before and after he met Rebekah. Compared with Lot, Abraham had taught his family very well about God. He was the senior servant who was in charge of everything Abraham had v.2.
Reflection: Will your faith influencing people around you? Even your employee, your coworkers, and your family could know about God through you?
Rebekah was not only beautiful v.16. She was generous and hard working. The servant's criteria was full of wisdom.
24:14 I will say to a young woman, ‘Please lower your jar so I may drink.’ May the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac reply, ‘Drink, and I’ll give your camels water too.’ In this way I will know that you have been faithful to my master.”
(NET) I will also give your camels water. It would be an enormous test for a young woman to water ten camels. The idea is that such a woman would not only be industrious but hospitable and generous.
Audrey
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