REBEKAH’S DECISION OF FAITH
Genesis 24:50-67
So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she said. (58)
chapter 24
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."
52. When Abraham’s servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.
53. Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother.
54. Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, "Send me on my way to my master."
55. But her brother and her mother replied, "Let the young woman remain with us ten days or so; then you may go."
56. But he said to them, "Do not detain me, now that the LORD has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master."
57. Then they said, "Let’s call the young woman and ask her about it."
58. So they called Rebekah and asked her, "Will you go with this man?" "I will go," she said.
59. So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men.
60. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the cities of their enemies."
61. Then Rebekah and her attendants got ready and mounted the camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.
62. Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev.
63. He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching.
64. Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel
65. and asked the servant, "Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?" "He is my master," the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.
66. Then the servant told Isaac all he had done.
67. Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1. Laban and Bethuel, having heard the full account of Abraham’s servant, acknowledged the will of God and decided to submit to it. Abraham’s servant worshiped, gave more gifts, and was at last able to eat and drink. The next morning brought a new obstacle: when would he be permitted to leave? Their request for ten more days with the girl was reasonable. But Abraham’s servant was unwilling to delay. He had in mind to see things through as a matter of faithfulness. So too we may learn to finish what we start, especially in serving our Lord Jesus.
2. In a surprise turn, both parties chose to entrust the final decision to Rebekah, who up to this point had no voice in the discussion! All that God, Abraham and his servant, even Laban and Bethuel had worked for rested in the will of this young woman. We already saw something of Rebekah’s purity, hospitality, and work ethic. Now we see her faith as she agreed to leave her father’s household and go with God’s appointed servant, and their blessing.
3. This marriage revealed God’s faithfulness to Abraham, as well as to Isaac, who was comforted after the loss of his mother Sarah. But it reveals to us how God works through our decisions of faith.
Prayer: Father, thank you for the faith of Rebekah. Open my eyes to see your plan, trust you, and follow it by faith to the end.
One Word: Trust and obey by faith