Genesis 24
As the days went by and Abraham became older, the Lord blessed Abraham in every way. 2 Abraham said to the oldest servant of his household, who was in charge of everything he owned, “Put your hand under my thigh. 3 By the Lord, God of heaven and earth, give me your word that you won’t choose a wife for my son from the Canaanite women among whom I live. 4 Go to my land and my family and find a wife for my son Isaac there.”
5 The servant said to him, “What if the woman doesn’t agree to come back with me to this land? Shouldn’t I take your son back to the land you left?”
6 Abraham said to him, “Be sure you don’t take my son back there. 7 The Lord, God of heaven—who took me from my father’s household and from my family’s land, who spoke with me and who gave me his word, saying, ‘I will give this land to your descendants’—he will send his messenger in front of you, and you will find a wife for my son there. 8 If the woman won’t agree to come back with you, you will be free from this obligation to me. Only don’t take my son back there.” 9 So the servant put his hand under his master Abraham’s thigh and gave him his word about this mission.
10 The servant took ten of his master’s camels and all of his master’s best provisions, set out, and traveled to Nahor’s city in Aram-naharaim. 11 He had the camels kneel down outside the city at the well in the evening, when women come out to draw water. 12 He said, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make something good happen for me today and be loyal to my master Abraham. 13 I will stand here by the spring while the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water. 14 When I say to a young woman, ‘Hand me your water jar so I can drink,’ and she says to me, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels water too,’ may she be the one you’ve selected for your servant Isaac. In this way I will know that you’ve been loyal to my master.” 15 Even before he finished speaking, Rebekah—daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother—was coming out with a water jar on her shoulder. 16 The young woman was very beautiful, old enough to be married, and hadn’t known a man intimately. She went down to the spring, filled her water jar, and came back up.
17 The servant ran to meet her and said, “Give me a little sip of water from your jar.”
18 She said, “Drink, sir.” Then she quickly lowered the water jar with her hands and gave him some water to drink. 19 When she finished giving him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw some water for your camels too, till they’ve had enough to drink.” 20 She emptied her water jar quickly into the watering trough, ran to the well again to draw water, and drew water for all of the camels. 21 The man stood gazing at her, wondering silently if the Lord had made his trip successful or not.
22 As soon as the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold ring, weighing a half shekel, and two gold bracelets for her arms, weighing ten shekels. 23 He said, “Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”
24 She responded, “I’m the daughter of Bethuel, who is the son of Milcah and Nahor.” 25 She continued, “We have plenty of straw and feed for the camels, and a place to spend the night.”
26 The man bowed down and praised the Lord: 27 “Bless the Lord, God of my master Abraham, who hasn’t given up his loyalty and his faithfulness to my master. The Lord has shown me the way to the household of my master’s brother.”
28 The young woman ran and told her mother’s household everything that had happened. 29 Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and Laban ran to the man outside by the spring. 30 When he had seen the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and when he had heard his sister Rebekah say, “This is what the man said to me,” he went to the man, who was still standing by the spring with his camels. 31 Laban said, “Come in, favored one of the Lord! Why are you standing outside? I’ve prepared the house and a place for the camels.” 32 So the man entered the house. Then Laban unbridled the camels, provided straw and feed for them and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men with him, 33 and set out a meal for him.
But the man said, “I won’t eat until I’ve said something.”
Laban replied, “Say it.”
34 The man said, “I am Abraham’s servant. 35 The Lord has richly blessed my master, has made him a great man, and has given him flocks, cattle, silver, gold, men servants, women servants, camels, and donkeys. 36 My master’s wife Sarah gave birth to a son for my master in her old age, and he’s given him everything he owns. 37 My master made me give him my word: ‘Don’t choose a wife for my son from the Canaanite women, in whose land I’m living. 38 No, instead, go to my father’s household and to my relatives and choose a wife for my son.’ 39 I said to my master, ‘What if the woman won’t come back with me?’ 40 He said to me, ‘The Lord, whom I’ve traveled with everywhere, will send his messenger with you and make your trip successful; and you will choose a wife for my son from my relatives and from my father’s household. 41 If you go to my relatives, you will be free from your obligation to me. Even if they provide no one for you, you will be free from your obligation to me.’
42 “Today I arrived at the spring, and I said, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you wish to make the trip I’m taking successful, 43 when I’m standing by the spring and the young woman who comes out to draw water and to whom I say, “Please give me a little drink of water from your jar,” 44 and she responds to me, “Drink, and I will draw water for your camels too,” may she be the woman the Lord has selected for my master’s son.’ 45 Before I finished saying this to myself, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder and went down to the spring to draw water. And I said to her, ‘Please give me something to drink.’ 46 She immediately lowered her water jar and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels something to drink too.’ So I drank and she also gave water to the camels. 47 Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son whom Milcah bore him.’ I put a ring in her nose and bracelets on her arms. 48 I bowed and worshipped the Lord and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who led me in the right direction to choose the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son. 49 Now if you’re loyal and faithful to my master, tell me. If not, tell me so I will know where I stand either way.”
50 Laban and Bethuel both responded, “This is all the Lord’s doing. We have nothing to say about it. 51 Here is Rebekah, right in front of you. Take her and go. She will be the wife of your master’s son, just as the Lord said.” 52 When Abraham’s servant heard what they said, he bowed low before the Lord. 53 The servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and clothing and gave them to Rebekah. To her brother and to her mother he gave the finest gifts. 54 He and the men with him ate and drank and spent the night.
When they got up in the morning, the servant said, “See me off to my master.”
55 Her brother and mother said, “Let the young woman stay with us not more than ten days, and after that she may go.”
56 But he said to them, “Don’t delay me. The Lord has made my trip successful. See me off so that I can go to my master.”
57 They said, “Summon the young woman, and let’s ask her opinion.” 58 They called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?”
She said, “I will go.”
59 So they sent off their sister Rebekah, her nurse, Abraham’s servant, and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah, saying to her,
“May you, our sister, become
thousands of ten thousand;
may your children possess
their enemies’ cities.”61 Rebekah and her young women got up, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.
62 Now Isaac had come from the region of Beer-lahai-roi and had settled in the arid southern plain. 63 One evening, Isaac went out to inspect the pasture, and while staring he saw camels approaching. 64 Rebekah stared at Isaac. She got down from the camel 65 and said to the servant, “Who is this man walking through the pasture to meet us?”
The servant said, “He’s my master.” So she took her headscarf and covered herself. 66 The servant told Isaac everything that had happened. 67 Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent. He received Rebekah as his wife and loved her. So Isaac found comfort after his mother’s death.
Genesis 24 Meaning
Genesis 24 tells the beautiful story of how Abraham’s servant was sent to find a wife for Isaac. It is a story that highlights the faithfulness of God in orchestrating divine appointments and guiding His people in their journey of faith. The main message of these verses is the importance of seeking God’s guidance and trusting in His providence in every aspect of our lives.
Also Read: Genesis 12 Meaning and Commentary
Genesis 24 Commentary and Explanation
The chapter begins with Abraham, who was advanced in age, realizing that it was time for his son Isaac to take a wife. Abraham’s decision to secure a wife for Isaac from among his own people is a clear demonstration of his commitment to maintaining the lineage through which God’s covenant would be fulfilled. This is in line with God’s promise to bless Abraham and make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5).
Abraham’s servant, whom some scholars believe to be Eliezer of Damascus, is entrusted with this crucial task. He is given strict instructions not to take a wife for Isaac from among the Canaanites but to go back to Abraham’s homeland and find a wife from his relatives. This underscores the importance of maintaining a pure lineage for the fulfillment of God’s promises (Genesis 24:3-4).
The servant’s journey to Mesopotamia is a long and perilous one, but he is guided by faith and prayer. He prays to the Lord, asking for a sign to identify the chosen woman. This act of seeking God’s guidance through prayer and faith is reminiscent of the importance of seeking divine guidance in our own lives (Proverbs 3:5-6).
God providentially answers the servant’s prayer, showing him Rebekah, a young woman who generously offers him water and also draws water for his camels. The servant recognizes this as a sign of God’s guidance and immediately blesses the Lord for His faithfulness (Genesis 24:26-27).
Rebekah’s family is then introduced, and her brother Laban plays a significant role in the story. Laban’s willingness to give his sister in marriage to Isaac is an example of God’s sovereignty in orchestrating events to fulfill His plan (Proverbs 19:21).
The chapter culminates with Rebekah’s departure to meet Isaac. When she sees him in the field, she veils herself, signifying her commitment to be Isaac’s wife. This veil can symbolize purity and modesty, virtues highly regarded in the Bible (1 Timothy 2:9).
Genesis 24 serves as a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises and the importance of seeking His guidance in our lives. It highlights the significance of maintaining a godly lineage and the role of prayer, faith, and obedience in the unfolding of His divine plan. Just as Abraham’s servant embarked on a journey guided by faith and prayer, we too can trust in God’s providence as we seek to fulfill His purposes in our lives.
Context of Genesis 24
Genesis 24 takes place after the incident of Abraham offering Isaac as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah (Genesis 22). It showcases the faithfulness of God to His promises by ensuring that Isaac finds a suitable wife who is part of Abraham’s family.
This story also lays the foundation for the establishment of the nation of Israel by ensuring that Isaac’s descendants come from the right ancestry.
4. Breaking Down the Key Parts of the Bible Verses
Abraham’s Concern for Isaac’s Marriage (Genesis 24:1-4):
- Abraham is concerned about finding a suitable wife for his son, Isaac.
- He makes his servant swear not to take a wife for Isaac from among the Canaanites but from his own relatives in Mesopotamia.
Abraham’s Servant’s Journey (Genesis 24:10-27):
- Abraham’s servant embarks on a long journey to Mesopotamia to find a wife for Isaac.
- He prays for God’s guidance and asks for a specific sign involving a young woman offering him water and also offering to water his camels.
- God providentially guides the servant to Rebekah, who fulfills the sign.
Rebekah’s Family (Genesis 24:28-60):
- Rebekah’s family welcomes the servant and hears his story.
- Laban, Rebekah’s brother, plays a role in the decision to allow Rebekah to marry Isaac.
- Rebekah’s family seeks her consent, and she agrees to go with the servant to marry Isaac.
Rebekah’s Departure (Genesis 24:61-67):
- Rebekah and the servant set out to meet Isaac.
- When she sees Isaac in the field, she veils herself, signifying her commitment to becoming his wife.
- Isaac and Rebekah are married, and Isaac is comforted after his mother Sarah’s death.
Key Themes and Principles
God’s Providence: Throughout the chapter, we see God’s providential guidance in leading Abraham’s servant to Rebekah. This highlights the belief in God’s sovereignty and His role in orchestrating events to fulfill His plans (Proverbs 19:21).
Prayer and Faith: Abraham’s servant’s prayer and faith in seeking God’s guidance serve as a central theme. This underscores the importance of seeking God’s will and guidance in our own decision-making processes (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Maintaining a Godly Lineage: Abraham’s insistence on finding a wife for Isaac from among his relatives underscores the importance of maintaining a godly lineage for the fulfillment of God’s promises (Genesis 24:3-4).
Modesty and Purity: Rebekah’s act of veiling herself when she sees Isaac symbolizes modesty and purity, virtues highly regarded in the Bible (1 Timothy 2:9).
Marriage as a Covenant: The chapter culminates in the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah, emphasizing the covenantal nature of marriage and the importance of choosing a spouse wisely (Proverbs 18:22).
Genesis 24 serves as a rich narrative that not only reveals the historical context of Isaac’s marriage but also provides valuable insights into the themes of faith, prayer, divine providence, and the importance of maintaining a godly lineage in the biblical narrative.
Bible Study on the Bible Verses Genesis 24
This story provides us with several lessons to apply in our own lives. Firstly, we learn the importance of seeking God’s guidance in our decisions. Just as Abraham’s servant prayed and sought God’s leading, we should also make it a habit to seek His wisdom and guidance through prayer and study of His Word.
Secondly, this story reminds us of God’s faithfulness and His sovereign hand at work in our lives. God orchestrated every detail of the servant’s journey and answered his prayer in a specific and unmistakable way. We can trust that God will guide us in the same manner when we align ourselves with His will.
Thirdly, it teaches us the value of recognizing and acknowledging God’s blessings. The servant immediately recognized God’s faithfulness and responded in worship and gratitude. We too should cultivate a heart of thankfulness and worship when we see God’s hand at work in our lives.
Finally, this story highlights the importance of family and the significance of marriage. Isaac’s marriage to Rebekah was not just a human arrangement, but a divine plan to continue the covenant promises made to Abraham. It emphasizes the value of finding a spouse who shares our faith and values, and the importance of seeking God’s guidance in such matters.
Final Thoughts
Genesis 24 is a powerful testimony to God’s faithfulness and His guidance in the lives of His people. It encourages us to seek His wisdom, trust in His sovereignty, and give thanks for His blessings.
May we learn from the example of Abraham’s servant and follow his footsteps as we navigate our own journeys of faith. Let us seek God’s guidance, recognizing His providence, and trusting in His perfect plan for our lives.