Successful Singleness - 3

Abraham, as he was getting old, realized that his son Isaac (40 years old) must have a wife. Genesis 24 tells the beautiful story of this event.

According to the custom of the times, Abraham should be the one to chose a wife for his son. But he is too old and feeble to travel, and he doesn’t want his son to marry one of their heathen neighbors. What to do? He decides to send his servant out, telling him: “thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.” Genesis 24:3, 4.

So the servant hops on his camel and rides over to Mesopotamia, where Abraham’s family lives. He asks God to give him a sign so that he will know which of the women is the one for Isaac. Whoever offers him water and water for his camels, is the one God has chosen.

Sure enough, as he waits by the well, Rebekah comes to draw water. The servant asks her for a drink. She quickly gives him a drink, and then offers to draw water for his camels. (You know, camels can drink a LOT of water!)

The servant is amazed at this girl’s willingness to help him. He finds out she is from his master's family, and goes to see her father.

After going to the house of Rebekah’s father and brother, the servant says: “And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter unto his son. And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left. Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.” Genesis 24:48-51.

“And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.” “And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.” Genesis 24:61, 66-67.

The most remarkable part of this story is that Isaac did not do the choosing. Eleazer did not choose either. God was leading out, and He showed by providence what to do.

Now that’s pretty radical, especially by today’s standards! Most of us would probably have a good laugh if our parents decided to go out and do the choosing for us. But you know, Isaac was the best choice for Rebekah. She never would have found him on her own. He wouldn’t have found her either. God worked it out for them.