Genesis 24:29-67

Genesis 24:29-67

When Laban saw the servant standing outside his house, and after hearing Rebekah’s account of what happened, he recognized the servant as one who followed the Lord. Esteemed at what he had heard, he also went all out to make the servant comfortable in his house. This shows the amount of trust that Laban had in this servant. Once again it is clear that when our lives reflect Christ, it will be evident to others.

As the servant explains to Laban why he had come, he is careful to tell it exactly as Abraham had commanded. He could have taken shortcuts. He could have tweaked the story to make it sound better to assure that Rebekah would go back to Canaan with him. He could have made it really easy on himself. But instead of taking these shortcuts, he told it like it was, knowing that God would provide. God was in control of the situation, and He did not need the servant to help him out. The servant showed that he had placed full trust in God to point out the correct woman for Isaac, and so he just sat back and let God do all the work. So many times we try to “help” God out, as if He really needs our help. I am not saying that God cannot use us, for He does, but it is not because He totally depends on us. If we were not here, He would still accomplish all He intended to accomplish. We must be like this servant who allowed God to work through Him rather than trying to “help” God out, which typically makes the situation worse.

Even as the servant recounted how he had met Rebekah and what he had requested of God, he was sure to tell the story as it had actually happened. He did not need to add any fluff to make the story sound good. He told the truth, and showed how God had already begun to work. We saw yesterday that the servant was quick to praise God after He had sent Rebekah. Now we see him retelling the story, and once again he makes sure that God receives all the glory. He does not praise himself for being faithful to Abraham or for finding the woman so quickly. Instead, He points straight to God, giving God all the glory for working this situation out so perfectly. While the servant told the story, Laban noticed God’s hand at work and stated that he could not argue with the Lord. It was obvious to Him that God had a plan for his daughter, Rebekah, and he chose to send Rebekah to Canaan to be with Isaac. Once more, the servant immediately praises the Lord (not himself, not Laban, and not Rebekah).

The end of Genesis 24 tells the story of when Isaac and Rebekah first meet. It is interesting to note that Isaac was meditating in the field when they first rode up to meet him. Obviously, he was still upset with the death of his mother (which had not been that long ago and is shown in v 67). So part of his meditation and prayer could have been over the grief that he was experiencing. Whatever Isaac was thinking about, it does appear that he too was developing a close relationship with the Lord, much like his father had done. This is a perfect example of how one should be prepared spiritually before marriage (which also takes place at the end of Genesis 24). He had prepared himself for the day when he would receive a wife, and now that day had come.

Matt