Now that Sarah is dead, Abraham must feel a heavier burden to find the appropriate spouse for Isaac.  Not that he’s leaving God out of the picture, but a man feels more comfortable if the mother of the child is incorporated into the decision, wouldn’t you think?  Anyway, Abraham knows this decision needs to be made and he’s not getting any younger.  I was intrigued by the servant putting his hand under Abraham’s thigh. 

Evidently, placing the hand under the thigh signified the fact that children come from the “thigh” or “loins” of their father.  This was a type of last will and testament given by Abraham to his servant, believed to be Eliezer of Damascus.  Under no condition was Eliezer to find a wife of the Canaanites, but a woman from Abraham’s relatives in his home country.

Another interesting fact was Abraham did not want Isaac to accompany Eliezer on this journey.  I can only speculate why.  Maybe Isaac would get in the way of the decision?  Would Isaac possibly see another woman and be sidetracked?  If I remember correctly, Abraham left the country of his relatives because they were caught up in idol worship and the making of idols.  Did this fact have something to do with Abraham’s decision for Isaac to stay home?  Whatever the reason, Eliezer went on the mission and Isaac stayed behind.

What a servant Eliezer must have been!  Abraham trusted this man with a life altering decision for his only son!  But Abraham had been told by God that the servant would be directed by an angel to discern the correct choice for Isaac.  The only release from the mission at hand is if the woman refused to return with Eliezer.  So off he goes accompanied by ten camels and lots of goodies for the bride to be once she is found.

After much prayer, Eliezer takes the camels to a well and waits for the women of the city to come and out and draw water.  Eliezer asks God to send a woman that will draw water not only for him, but for the camels as well.  Out comes Rebekah and she fulfills the request made before the Lord.  She draws water for Eliezer and his camels…all ten of them.  According to my commentary, ten camels after a long desert walk could empty four barrels of water…that’s a lot of drawing water from the well.  

If I am correct with my calculating, Rebekah is Abraham’s great niece.  She is Abraham’s brother, Nahor’s granddaughter.  As you have read in this chapter, the gifts are given to the family after full disclosure is made to Rebekah’s brother, Laban and to her father, Bethuel.  The next morning Rebekah leaves with Eliezer to return to Abraham and Isaac.

I enjoy reading the story of Isaac being in the fields when Rebekah arrived with Eliezer.  In verses 63 and 64 it reads like a scene from a love story.  Isaac looks up and then Rebekah looks up….see immediately inquires who he is and when told the man is Isaac, she covers her face.  Isaac takes her to be his wife and scripture says, “He loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.” 

Beautifully written, don’t you think?  Immediate love because it’s of God.  Rebekah becomes Isaac’s wife and comforts the sorrow of his mother’s death.  Just as our spouses comfort us in the loss of our loved ones, their spirits have united as one. 

I also want to note the faithfulness of Eliezer.  His prayer life is amazing.  He doesn’t know who he’s looking for, but he is aware of the gravity of the situation.  He is responsible for finding the needle in the haystack for Isaac as requested by his master, Abraham.  But through his prayer life we find God has equipped Eliezer with a metal detector for that needle.  Rebekah was drawn to Eliezer and those camels and to do the will of her Lord.

One last note...unlike other patriarchs mentioned in the Bible, Isaac had no other wife besides Rebekah!

Father, once again thank you for this lesson which deals with our faithfulness as servants to do the work of our Lord.  As Abraham trusted Eliezer with a significant task, so you have given us the crucial task of bringing the lost to you.  Enable us to serve others regardless of how many buckets of water need to be drawn to get the job done.  Open our eyes to the possibility that souls are thirsty and in need of living water.

Next week’s assignment:  Please read Chapter 25

Three major events take place in this chapter;

1.     The death of Abraham; any one detail jump off the page for you?

2.    Ishmael’s sons are listed.  What statement made long ago continues to be mentioned?

3.    Jacob and Esau, in 15 verses of scripture the story of these brothers unfold.  Could anything have been done differently in parenting these young men when clearly before they were born the Lord had already given a prophetic word concerning them?