Genesis 24 - A Bride for Isaac

"Wifehunt for bachelor Isaac" https://www.casualenglishbible.com/genesis-24/

Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com/2019/10/genesis.html
"Abraham asks the manager of his household to find a wife for his son Isaac. Isaac's future wife is to be from Abraham's land and his family; Isaac's wife should not come from the Canaanites.  Abraham's manager sets out for the town of Nahor. Once he gets there, he waits for the women of the town to draw water from the well. The manager prays to the Lord, asking God to reveal the woman who will be Isaac's wife. The woman who gives the manager along with his camels water from the well to drink will be the chosen one for Isaac. The first woman to come to the well is Rebekah--daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor. Rebekah gives the manager something to drink and gives water to the camels as well. Abraham's manager asks Rebekah to be wed to Isaac. Rebekah and her family agree to the proposition, and the manager gives Rebekah and her family gifts. Rebekah's family send her away with the manager to be wed to Isaac. When the manager returned to the land of Canaan, he told Isaac everything that transpired. Isaac brings Rebekah into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he takes her to be his wife. Isaac loves Rebekah."

Reading from the Amplified Bible (AMP) version..

• "Abraham said to his servant [Eliezer of Damascus], the oldest of his household, who had charge over all that Abraham owned, “Please, put your hand under my thigh [as is customary for affirming a solemn oath], and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live, but you will [instead] go to my [former] country (Mesopotamia) and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac [the heir of the covenant promise].” v.2-4

• "Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there! The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house, from the land of my family and my birth, who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give this land’—He will send His angel before you [to guide you], and you will take a wife from there for my son [and bring her here]. If the woman is not willing to follow you [to this land], then you will be free from this my oath and blameless; only you must never take my son back there.” v.6-8

• "He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of the evening when women go out to draw water. And he said, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness (faithfulness) to my master Abraham. Behold, I stand here at the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water; now let it be that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please, let down your jar so that I may [have a] drink,’ and she replies, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels water to drink’—may she be the one whom You have selected [as a wife] for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness (faithfulness) to my master.” v.11-14

• "Before Eliezer had finished speaking (praying), Rebekah came out with her [water] jar on her shoulder." v.15

• "When she had given Eliezer a drink, she said, “I will also draw water for your camels until they have finished drinking.” So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, and ran again to the well and drew water for all his camels. Meanwhile, the man stood gazing at Rebekah in [reverent] silence, [waiting] to know if the Lord had made his trip successful or not." v.20-21

• "The man bowed his head and worshiped the Lord. He said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not denied His lovingkindness and His truth to my master. As for me, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brothers.” v.26-27

• "Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “The matter has come from the Lord; so we dare not speak bad or good [to you about it—we cannot interfere]. 51 Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has spoken.” v.50-51

• "So they called Rebekah and said, “Will you go with this man?” And she answered, “I will go.” So they sent off their sister Rebekah and her nurse [Deborah, as her attendant] and Abraham’s servant [Eliezer] and his men. They blessed Rebekah and said to her,

“May you, our sister,
Become [the mother of] thousands of ten thousands,
And may your descendants possess (conquer)
The [city] gate of those who hate them.” v. 58-59

• "Isaac went out to bow down [in prayer] in the field in the [early] evening; he raised his eyes and looked, and camels were coming. Rebekah also raised her eyes and looked, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from her camel." v.63-64

• "The servant told Isaac everything that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and he took Rebekah [in marriage], and she became his wife, and he loved her; therefore Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death." v.66-67

My personal observations and reflections...

• SERIOUS OATH. Now a widower and an old man, Abraham decided to make an oath with his faithful servant-in-charge, Eliezer of Damascus. It came with a unique gesture of putting the servant's hand under Abraham's thigh. "According to ancient custom, to “put your hand under my thigh” describes a very serious oath.  Abraham is extremely concerned that Isaac not be married to a Canaanite bride." https://dwellingintheword.wordpress.com/2014/10/03/1415-genesis-24/

Abraham is not merely doing this for himself, and for Isaac, but he is doing it for God's great purposes and plans. No way Isaac can be associated or married to the daughters of the Canaanites, because Abraham knew that these people don't worship and believe in the one, true God that he believes in. It is not clearly mentioned why, but I think it's also because Abraham had GREAT FAITH and obedience in God's covenant that ONE DAY, his descendants will have the promised land. Abraham commands his servant to go to his [former] country (Mesopotamia) and to his relatives, and take a wife for his son Isaac.

• GOD WILL SEND HIS ANGEL BEFORE YOU. Since this is a very serious oath, the servant needs to make sure he understands it, in case it will not work out. What if he can't find a suitable wife, much less bring her back to Negev/Beersheba? That's a near impossible task. But Abraham made it clear, that Isaac is not to leave and go back to Abraham's hometown. There is no other way. God spoke ‘To your descendants I will give this land’, and in this land, they are committed to stay. Abraham then blessed his servant and assure him that God will be with him to guide him. In behalf of Abraham, God will send His angel before Eliezer the servant, how awesome!

• JOURNEY TO HARAN. It was a long travel I think [500 miles north (800 km)], but it was not mentioned because it doesn't matter that much. As if the spirit of God dawned upon Eliezer the servant, we read that he asked help and prayed to God, with a very specific and detailed prayer! Wow.. where did he get that wisdom all of a sudden? It's amazing how everytime we put our hopes and trust in God, He will reveal to us things, and He will teach us how to pray. The servant got the same faith as his master Abraham here.

* "The servant stresses the role of God in his mission to find a wife for Abraham’s son.  It is important for Rebekah and her family to understand that there is more at stake here than just finding a wife in Abraham’s family in order to strengthen the family line.  They must also know that God’s larger purposes are at work here." –Linda B. Hinton https://dwellingintheword.wordpress.com/2014/10/03/1415-genesis-24/

• REBEKAH WITH A WATER JAR. Even BEFORE Eliezer finished praying, behold, God showed him Rebekah, the first woman to come out to get water. Not even an option, or a candidate, but the specific answer to the prayer of Eliezer (and Abraham). So, the servant got on the move, and approached her to ask for a drink. I read somewhere that she obliges Eliezer when he asks for a drink, because "That is only to be expected, since it is a mark of common courtesy."

• VIRTUOUS WOMAN. All of a sudden, Rebekah offered to draw water for his camels until they have finished drinking! She must have thought, 'they must be tired and thirsty from their travels'. I'm wondering why Rebekah would do that, probably without expecting anything in return. She showed kindness, love, respect, "good samaritan"-like qualities, and selflessness here. "Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10

* "She would be a remarkable woman to volunteer for this task!  Considering that a camel may drink up to 20 gallons, watering ten camels meant at least an hour of hard work." –David Guzik 
https://dwellingintheword.wordpress.com/2014/10/03/1415-genesis-24/ 

For all this, the servant Eliezer, in his amazement, bowed his head and worshiped the Lord!

"90% of the camels in the world are these Dromendary (one-hump) camel" https://telioschurch.com/v2/sermons/genesis-24-a-match-made-in-heaven/

• REBEKAH'S HOUSEHOLD. Rebekah told her family what's going on-- then Laban, his brother entertained and welcomed the servant. Now, this is the moment of truth for Eliezer the servant, as he tirelessly stated his business of coming to the land of Haran, how God had led him in the right way to take the daughter of his master’s brother to his son [as a wife] (v.48). Every detail, and all ears are on him. Who wouldn't be amazed by that? Such a great testimony of God's power!

Bethuel the father of Rebekah, and Laban her brother, seems to understand and discern the supernatural hand of God in this situation, so they agreed and submit to God's will. All things are working for the good! This made Eliezer bow himself to the ground again [in worship] before the Lord.

• I WILL GO. How does it feel to go in an unknown land, to be married with a man you don't even know yet? This is such great faith, courage, humility, and trust and submission to God from Rebekah. She saw God's power and orchestration.. And so she was willing to be used by God. How many times can a rare opportunity like this will come in someone's life? Rebekah can say no and just stay in her land, but it seems that God has also prepared her for such a moment as this. A suitable, virtuous wife for Isaac is essential for the fulfillment of God's covenant/promise.

• MARRIAGE. "Isaac went out to bow down [in prayer] in the field in the [early] evening." I wonder what was he praying about exactly that moment, but we read that when he raised his eyes and looked, the camels were coming. At the same moment, Rebekah also raised her eyes and looked, and she saw Isaac. Aww, sounds like straight from a romantic movie. I found that really sweet. The first sight of Isaac and Rebekah with each other. I guess, Isaac had no idea after all, only after "The servant told Isaac everything that he had done." (v.66)

I wonder if there was a small and simple wedding ceremony that was held for them, but anyway, we read that "Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and he took Rebekah [in marriage], and she became his wife, and he loved her" (v.67) I believe that's a quick, shortcut narration. Isaac welcomed his bride in their home, maybe introduced her to his father Abraham, they got to know each other, they become husband and wife (one flesh), and Isaac loved her. Wonderful love story authored by God Himself! Answered prayer for Abraham!

"He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord." Proverbs 18:22

Read the Bible here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+24&version=AMP