by Timothy W. Burnett
After Sarah died, Abraham called his senior servant to do a very important task, which was to find a wife for Isaac. This story has huge spiritual implications related to the promised seed through Isaac. He had to be matched with just the right woman so that the promised seed would be passed down. Let's look at the simple love story.
Having full authority over al that Abraham owned, the servant took ten camels and left to Mesopotamia toward the city of Nahor, where he made his camels to kneel down by a well of water at the time that women would go out to draw the water (Genesis 24:10-11). Next we see why Abraham chose this servant.
He immediately went to God in prayer saying, "O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray you, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water. And let it come to pass that the young woman to whom I shall say, ':Let down your pitcher, I pray, that I may drink.' And she shall say, 'Drink and I will give your camels drink also.' Let the same be she that you have appointed for your servant Isaac. And thereby shal I know that you have showed kindness unto my master" (Genesis 24:12-14). He went straight to God with trust that He would help him find the perfect woman for Isaac.
While he prayed, Rebekah came out with a pitcher of water. Wow! God's timing is so perfect. When the servant saw Rebekah, he immediately ran to her and did like he had prayed, and asked for a little water. She gave him the water and went so far as to give water to all of his camels. While the servant watched her run back and forth between the well and the camels with water, he held his peace and wondered if this was the woman.
After she finished, he gave her the traditional gifts for marital propositions, asked about her father and if there was a place where he could stay the night. She answered his questions and offered to let him stay with her family. Next he bowed down and thanked God in her presence.
Verses 30-54 describe the servant's interaction with Rebekah's family. He rehashed the events leading to his meeting with Rebekah and then asked if he came to the right place. Bethuel knew that this was from God and let her leave to be Isaac's wife. The next morning they left the city. As they approached Abraham's home, Rebekah lifted up her eyes and slid off the camel when she saw Isaac who was meditating in the field. Isaac also noticed her from a distance. She asked the servant about the man she saw in the field and he explained that he was Isaac his master.
Isaac and Rebekah became husband and wife. Wioth God as matchmaker, it truly was love at first sight. And Isaac loved her from that time on (Genesis 24:67 & 26:8).
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