By NikkiDerouin
The story of Isaac and Rebecca has always
fascinated me. Here a young girl, going about
her daily life, is suddenly confronted with a
choice that will change the course of history.
And although that last sentence may sound like
an over-dramatic line from a movie preview, it
very much describes the scene in which Rebecca
found herself. But long before Rebecca was ever
asked to decide the path she would take,
Abraham’s eldest servant was also asked to take
"a walk of faith” for the Lord’s sake.
“Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and
the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. So
Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house,
who ruled over all that he had, “Please, put
your hand under my thigh, and I will make you
swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God
of the earth, that you will not take a wife for
my son from the daughters of the Canaanites,
among whom I dwell; but you shall go to my
country and to my family, and take a wife for my
son Isaac.” (Gen. 24:1-4)
Abraham was determined that the only proper way
to carry on the seed promise God gave him, was
for Isaac to marry a wife from the very land
Abraham came from. I find it very interesting
that Abraham wanted his servant to go back to
the land that God had called him out of. And I
believe that the servant had a similar concern.
” And
the servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman will
not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I
take your son back to the land from which you
came?” (Gen. 24:5)
Yet Abraham was well aware of his requirement.
“But Abraham said to
him, “Beware that you do not take my son back
there. The LORD God of heaven, who took me from
my father’s house and from the land of my
family, and who spoke to me and swore to me,
saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land,’
He will send His angel before you, and you shall
take a wife for my son from there. And if the
woman is not willing to follow you, then you
will be released from this oath; only do not
take my son back there.” (Gen. 24:6-8)
It seems to me that Abraham wanted to provide
Isaac with a wife who was willing to step out on
faith and leave the comforts of her home, her
friends, and her family. Abraham was not
arbitrary in his command: he had been asked to
do the exact same thing. He wanted to give Isaac
a wife whose faith was greater than her sight.
I
am going to assume that we know the story of the
servant’s prayer, Rebecca’s kindness, her
family’s concern, and ultimately her decision to
leave for her new home. But if you are
unfamiliar (or want to reread these scriptures
with the above comments in mind, please read
through the entire 24th
chapter of Genesis. [Genesis
24])
As soon as the servant saw that Rebecca was the
one the Lord intended for Isaac, he gave her a
golden nose ring and two bracelets of gold. It
was by these items that Laban recognized that
the servant was on a mission from God. These
pieces of jewelry were only the beginning of the
treasures she and her family received from
Abraham.
“Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver,
jewelry of gold, and clothing, and gave them to
Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her
brother and to her mother.” (Gen 24:53)
Although Rebecca chose to ‘walk by faith and not
by sight’, she was rewarded during her lifetime
for doing so. The long journey from Nahor (where
she received her impressive bridal dowry) to
Canaan (were she met her betrothed) appears to
only be a moment to Rebecca. Here Rebecca was
given a blessing far more valuable than any
material gain, that of a husband who loved her (Genesis
24:67). Ultimately, Rebecca was
blessed by being a part of the lineage that
would bring the Savior into the world.
The
Wardrobe for Isaac’s Bride
Questions
1) Abraham did not want Isaac to marry a wife
from among what people?
2) What condition was put on bringing back a
wife for Isaac?
3) What did the servant do before choosing a
wife for Isaac?
4) What did Rebecca do that showed the servant
that Rebecca was the wife for Isaac?
5) Who ultimately chose Isaac’s wife?
6) Which person ultimately made the decision?
7) Who was Rebecca’s brother?
8) Where does the quote “walk by faith and not
by sight” come from?
9) What did Rebecca receive from Abraham as a
dowry?
10) Thought Question: In what ways did Rebecca’s
upbringing, character, and personality prepare
Rebecca for the role she would play as Isaac’s
wife? Rebecca was in no ways perfect (nor are
any of us). Later on in her married life, she
played an interesting role in the events of her
sons. What family member did she at times
resemble? Ultimately, she sought the best for
the son that God had chosen. In what ways did
she help her husband accept the will of the
Lord?