Old Testament - Genesis 24 - February 21, 2022

 2/21/2022 – Genesis 24

Some facts: Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, and Esau and Jacob were born 20 years later. Isaac was a herdsman and had a large household. It was important that his large household, and herds, were able to find sufficient pasture. They had to move when they experienced famines in order to find more water. So Isaac dug many wells, in many places. He was a peaceful man. He would choose to move on and dig new wells rather than fight for the ones he had already dug. Isaac prospered exceedingly.

When Abraham was quite old, he asked the man who took care of all that Abraham had, to find a wife for Isaac, but Abraham stipulated that the wife could not be a Canaanite, for they had a different religions and worshiped idols. Abraham had been told by an angel to “take a wife unto my son” from the country of Abraham’s father. His servant, who was given this task, was worried that he would not be able to find a woman who would come to be a wife without knowing the future husband. (v’s 7-9)

The servant left on this errand, taking an extra 10 camels with him. After traveling a long way, he arrived at the city’s well in the evening, which was the same time the women came to draw water. He had his camels kneel down, and then he prayed:  ”O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw waters. And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, “Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for they servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.” (v 12-15)  

The servant’s prayer was answered absolutely as he had requested of the Lord—but the human in him was still unsure: “And the man wondering at her held his peace to wit whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.” (v21) But fortunately the conversation between the woman and the servant continued, and because of that conversation, the servant was more sure that this was the woman. In v’s 26 & 27 we learn that “the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord and he said, “blessed by the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy, and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my mater’s brethren.”

Rebekah’s family brought the servant a meal, “but he said, I will not eat, unto I have told mine errand.” (v33) This servant did not deviate from his errand.  This is where we learn that Abraham had prepared his servant well, for he had told him: ”The Lord, before whom I walk will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way…” This reminds me of the D&C which speaks of gifts from God, and one of them is to believe on the testimony of another.

In v 51 Rebekah’s father declared: “Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the Lord hath spoken….when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshipped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth.”

Rebekah had already proven to the servant that she was a willing worker and quick to serve, but she also walked by faith, and thus changed her life,  and she became his [Isaac’s} wife; and he loved her;” (v67)