REBEKAH’S DECISION OF FAITH

Passage: Genesis 24:50-67

Key verse: 58

NIV

50 Laban and Bethuel(A) answered, “This is from the Lord;(B) we can say nothing to you one way or the other.(C) 51 Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed.(D)”

52 When Abraham’s servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the Lord.(E) 53 Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing(F) and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts(G) to her brother and to her mother. 54 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there.

When they got up the next morning, he said, “Send me on my way(H) to my master.”

55 But her brother and her mother replied, “Let the young woman remain with us ten days or so;(I) then you[a] may go.”

56 But he said to them, “Do not detain me, now that the Lord has granted success(J) to my journey. Send me on my way(K) so I may go to my master.”

57 Then they said, “Let’s call the young woman and ask her about it.”(L) 58 So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?”

“I will go,”(M) she said.

59 So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way,(N) along with her nurse(O) and Abraham’s servant and his men. 60 And they blessed(P) Rebekah and said to her,

“Our sister, may you increase
    to thousands upon thousands;(Q)
may your offspring possess
    the cities of their enemies.”(R)

61 Then Rebekah and her attendants(S) got ready and mounted the camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.

62 Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi,(T) for he was living in the Negev.(U) 63 He went out to the field one evening to meditate,[b](V) and as he looked up,(W) he saw camels approaching. 64 Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel(X) 65 and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?”

“He is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil(Y) and covered herself.

66 Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. 67 Isaac brought her into the tent(Z) of his mother Sarah,(AA) and he married Rebekah.(AB) So she became his wife, and he loved her;(AC) and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.(AD)

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Footnotes
  1. Genesis 24:55 Or she
  2. Genesis 24:63 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing has come from the Lord; we cannot (A)speak to you bad or good. 51 Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, (B)as the Lord has spoken.”

52 When Abraham's servant heard their words, (C)he bowed himself to the earth before the Lord. 53 And the servant brought out jewelry of silver and of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments. 54 And he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and they spent the night there. When they arose in the morning, he said, (D)“Send me away to my master.” 55 Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go.” 56 But he said to them, “Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.” 57 They said, “Let us call the young woman and ask her.” 58 And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” 59 So they sent away Rebekah their sister and (E)her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,

“Our sister, may you (F)become
    thousands of ten thousands,
and (G)may your offspring possess
    the gate of those who hate him!”[a]

61 Then Rebekah and her young women arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebekah and went his way.

62 Now Isaac had returned from (H)Beer-lahai-roi and was dwelling in the Negeb. 63 And Isaac went out (I)to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming. 64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel 65 and said to the servant, “Who is that man, walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself. 66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67 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 (J)comforted after his mother's (K)death.

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Footnotes
  1. Genesis 24:60 Or hate them
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Laban and Bethuel, having heard the full account of Abraham’s servant, acknowledged the will of God and decided to submit to it. Abraham’s servant worshiped, gave more gifts, and was at last able to eat and drink. The next morning brought a new obstacle: when would he be permitted to leave? Their request for ten more days with the girl was reasonable. But Abraham’s servant was unwilling to delay. He had in mind to see things through as a matter of faithfulness. So too we may learn to finish what we start, especially in serving our Lord Jesus.

In a surprise turn, both parties chose to entrust the final decision to Rebekah, who up to this point had no voice in the discussion! All that God, Abraham and his servant, even Laban and Bethuel had worked for rested in the will of this young woman. We already saw something of Rebekah’s purity, hospitality, and work ethic. Now we see her faith as she agreed to leave her father’s household and go with God’s appointed servant, and their blessing.

This marriage revealed God’s faithfulness to Abraham, as well as to Isaac, who was comforted after the loss of his mother Sarah. But it reveals to us how God works through our decisions of faith.

Prayer: Father, thank you for the faith of Rebekah. Open my eyes to see your plan, trust you, and follow it by faith to the end.

One Word: Trust and obey by faith