The Marriage of Isaac and Rebecca
The Lord had truly blessed Abraham. he was given much more than he ever could have accomplished if he remained in his father's household. Abraham's greatest blessing given to him was something he once thought would be impossible. God blessed him with a son. The promised son. At the beginning of Genesis 24, As Abraham prepares to leave this world he knows of the importance of family for his son Issac. Because Issac was the eldest son, he will inherit all that Abraham has and he will pass that down to the next generation. All that the Lord had blessed day Abraham with was at risk of going to his servants if Isaac died without an heir. More importantly, Abraham was promised by God to be the father of nations. For Gods promise to be manifested Issac would need to have a wife.
Isaac was a man born to a blessed father he had recently lost his mother and was grieving her death. If you have experienced the death of a loved one or especially the death of your mother you will know that it gives you an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and loneliness. The loss of a mother will place you in a point where you feel as though no one else can ever connect with you or love you the way that your mother can. Has Abraham grew older he did not want his son to be lost in grief and loneliness. He needed to bless his son and secure the legacy of his household.
Eliezer the chief of Abraham's household was trusted by Abraham. The mission that Abraham had given him was probably the most important mission that this servant will have during the course of his life. He was being trusted with the very future and legacy of the household to which he has dedicated his life. Not only was he trusted with the treasures for her dowry but he was also given the responsibility and the authority of his master to choose future matriarch. He was given a contingent of men to accompany him and to provide protection as you travel with the caravan of loaded camels.
The servant would have been someone that has spent time with Abraham. He would have earned his trust. Later on in the chapter, we will see the servant's prayers, his approach to prayer is in sync with that of his Master's Abraham. We see that not only was Abraham a man of faith and prayer but also the servant of his household was a man after his own heart. Abraham's words when dispatching his servant we're not words of doubt or uncertainty. He knew that a wife would be found, that God would guide and direct him.
When the servant arrived in the land the bible tells us that he positioned himself in the place where the women meet. Once there he looked to God for his direction and the answer to his prayers. I find it interesting what he did not do. He did not ask locals to make recommendations. He did not ask for directions to find the people to who Abraham had sent him to. He focused his attention entirely and completely upon God's direction
As he prayed to God asking his direction the scripture says that immediately. He could not even complete the prayer before God had answered. I think that line alone can give hope to many who desire marriage and have been waiting. God has the ability to bring someone into your life immediately. but back to our narrative.
The young woman's words were confirmation to Abraham's servant that this is the woman that God has sent for his master's son. His prayers were answered and he received the confirmation that his journey was blessed. He gave honor and glory to God and did not glorify himself or even his team that were with him. he did not doubt or try to reconfirm with God was doing.
As soon as she took him to her home the servant explained to her family the nature of his journey and ask for her hand for his master's son. I can only imagine the level of faith that her family had. To accommodate and welcome a stranger for dinner. this is someone they've only known for minutes not even days and his first message. his opening line is that I'd like your daughter to leave your home and come with me. imagine the faith that they must have had in God to let her go after hearing his testimony. Her family blessed Rebecca and send her on her way.
Isaac. not knowing what is happening with his father's servant was a man that went out into the fields to meditate and pray. He was alone in the field. In his grief and loneliness, he still sought God out in prayer. in a point when you feel you will never be the same again. at a point when you still hurting from the loss of his mother still grappling with a dying father he still prioritized God at his lowest point. He was in this place of loneliness and grief when the wife provided by God accompanied by his father's servant entered into the field.
As we see Rebecca every action she takes is significant. According to the Jewish culture, she should cover herself with a veil. by covering herself veiling we can learn that she was still considered to be a single woman. she was engaged to be the bride since the dowry was paid. But she was not yet a wife. This meant the man that was walking towards her in the field did not have the right to look upon her face and therefore she concealed herself in the veil. We see her dismounting and positioning herself in a humble respectful position as the man she was engaged to approach her.
On the other side, we see Isaac in the field walking out to meet the approaching caravan. Did he know that these were his servants on the nature of the mission? Did he approach them anticipating to be introduced to the woman who would later become his wife? Upon greeting Isaac the servant immediately explain to him how God has blessed and prospered his journey. he explained to him the significance of the woman that he has brought to marry him. That she is not a wife sought out in the flesh but a wife appointed by God.
The Bible says that "Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death."
Once Isaac learns that the Lord has blessed the journey of Eliezer he then accepts this woman into his mother's tent. Sarah's tent would have been passed down to Isaac After her death. Isaac chose to move his new wife into the tent of his mother because this tent would have been his possession. This is important to note back the author mentions The owner of the tent for a reason. In biblical times one of the indications of accepting a wife would have been moving her into your household. Genesis 24 never mentions a wedding ceremony. But it does indicate that after moving into Isaac's household Rebecca became his wife.
The Bible says that Isaac was comforted by Rebecca her presence and intimacy comforted him in a way that only a wife can comfort her husband and he loved her.
One thing is clear when we read the story of Isaac and Rebecca and that is they both trusted God. Both relied upon him and they focused on serving him. Rebecca allowed God to lead her through comfortable, unfamiliar I'm strange places. Isaac trusted God to choose his wife. His choice was not built on personal preferences, compatibility scores or physical attraction. He trusted God to be the one to bring his wife into his life. but we also see that Isaac was brave enough to accept God's choice and take action. He brought her into his household. He made her his wife.
there is so much more we can say about what God is doing through Isaac and Rebecca's story. and I hope to write more in the near future. feel free to comment below and share your fee back on this biblical commentary.