Abraham’s Servant
Introduction: Isaac was still unmarried when Sarah died about 37 years after his birth. Abraham chose to send a trusted servant to his homeland to bring back a wife for Isaac from among his relatives while Isaac remained in Canaan. The servant was apparently not told who that woman should be, but Abraham told him he would be released of his oath if she would not return with him. The servant is not named in the account, but it is possible that it was Eliezer the man Abraham had much earlier thought would be his heir because Abraham was at that time childless.
NOTE: Scripture passages are from the American King James Version.
A — Sarah’s Death and Burial
Genesis 23 “1 And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. 19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.”
Comments: When Sarah was 127 she died and Abraham purchased a burial property from the inhabitants of the land. This would become the burial location for the three patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as well as for their three wives who were in the line of Christ. The owner of the field had wanted to give the property to Abraham, but Abraham insisted on a purchase, and it was documented in the gate of the city.
B — Abraham’s Servant Was Bound by Oath to Bring Back a Wife for Isaac
Genesis 24 “3 And I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: 4 But you shall go to my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife to my son Isaac. 7 The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house… he shall send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife to my son from there.”
Comments: Since Abraham was about ten years older than Sarah, he would have been at least 137 years of age when he decided to send his trusted servant to bring back a wife for Isaac. Abraham asked his servant to swear an oath by the LORD, and to make a solemn gesture with the placement of his hand to signify their mutual agreement. This was the first hint that the servant was a devoted believer in the LORD God. The servant asked what he should do if the woman would not return with him. Abraham said the LORD God of heaven would send his angel before the servant, enabling him to take a wife to Isaac from that land.
C — Abraham’s Servant Prayed to the LORD to Reveal the Right Woman
Genesis 24 “12 And he said O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray you, send me good speed this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down your pitcher, I pray you, 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. 15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out.”
Comments: Abraham’s servant organized the men, supplies and ten camels for a caravan to carry gifts for the family and to bring back the prospective wife and any attendants she might have. His prayer shows a measure of his own faith in the God of Abraham, and it indicates his firm loyalty to his master as he genuinely wanted to be successful in his mission. When the women came out to draw water the servant ran directly to Rebekah and requested that she give him a drink from her pitcher, with no indication that he knew her identity at this point. He carefully observed her in silence as she responded in the very fashion that he had prayed.
D — The Servant Acted Upon the Answer to His Prayer
Genesis 24 “24 And she said to him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bore to Nahor. 26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD. 27 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brothers.”
Comments: The servant immediately took out the valuable jewelry and asked Rebekah about her family. He bowed his head and worshipped the LORD when he saw such a direct answer to his prayer in the actions of the girl, and in the fact that she was indeed related to Abraham. His praise overflowed as he was a servant of Abraham, and that the LORD God had showed mercy and truth to Abraham by allowing his servant to find Abraham’s relatives. In all of the things he spoke, he continued to keep all emphasis on the LORD and on his master Abraham.
E — The Servant Explains His Purpose and Asks for a Decision
Genesis 24 “48 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 to his son. 49 And now if you 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. 50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceeds from the LORD: we cannot speak to you bad or good. 51 Behold, Rebekah is before you, take her, and go.”
Comments: Abraham’s servant insisting on telling his errand before eating is characteristic of his single-minded devotion to his mission. He gave complete detail about how he had prayed to the LORD, and his prayer was answered very specifically at the well. He then asked the family to let him know if they would show kindness to Abraham and fill this request for a wife. Her brother Laban and her father Bethuel said the events had been from the LORD, so they would send Rebekah with the servant. The immediate response of the servant was to bow and worship the LORD, and then to present lavish gifts to Rebekah and her family.
F — Rebekah Becomes Isaac’s Wife
Genesis 24 “58 And they called Rebekah, and said to her, Will you go with this man? And she said, I will go. 60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said to her, You are our sister, be you the mother of thousands of millions, and let your seed possess the gate of those which hate them. 67 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.”
Comments: The servant asked them not to delay him since the LORD had made his trip prosperous. When Rebekah was asked if she was willing to go that day, she agreed, and they sent her off with their blessing that she would have many thousands of descendants who would have dominion over their enemies. Isaac was out in the field meditating in the evening when he saw the caravan approaching. He was as much prepared to receive her as she was prepared to become his wife. When the servant said it was his master, Rebekah placed a veil over her face. The servant told Isaac all that he had done, and Isaac took Rebekah into his mother’s tent. She became his wife, Isaac loved her, and was comforted after his mother’s death.
Reflections in Prayer
The process of obtaining a wife for Isaac has provided much for me to contemplate about the way you LORD, carry out your purposes through those who will seek your direction. The interaction between the servant and Abraham as he commissioned him to bring back a wife for Isaac has the markings of mutual respect as they placed trust in each other to uphold their respective portion of the exchanged oath. Abraham had the faith that success would be provided by you Lord, and the servant followed through in his own faith by depending on prayer to reveal the one who would become Isaac’s wife. Each time the servant related his story, his emphasis was on his desire to serve Abraham; and each time he saw prayer answered he immediately worshiped you LORD. His prayers and open worship cause me to examine myself to see if I have any similarity to such responses. I want to have the devotion to serve others as a means of serving you. Help me LORD to have an appreciation for the number of your faithful servants who have gone before me, and let me give all glory and praise to you for those things you use in my life to serve the cause of Christ. Amen.
Published 18 June 2013