The Servant Closes the Deal for Isaac’s Wife.
May 19, 2024
Commentary
We are introduced to Rebekah’s brother Laban who on the surface was willing to pay lip service to God (v. 31) but without any real interest in spiritual things. When he heard about the gifts that Rebekah had received he became very interested and ran out to see the servant (vv. 29-30). Later on in Genesis Laban will appear again and his true character will be revealed. He remained a worldly sinner to the end of his days.
When food was put in front of Abraham’s servant, he said, “I won’t eat until I’ve said what I have to say, and Laban told him to speak up. The servant then explained how he was Abraham’s servant and had been sent by his master to get a wife for his son Isaac. He recounted to Rebekah’s family his mission and God’s providence and that he was there to gain their permission and blessing to take her to Isaac. In that society a woman’s brother gave his sister in marriage, which explains why Laban, Rebekah’s brother, was the negotiator in this marriage contract (vv.34-49). There are many Laban’s in Christendom today. Laban was so occupied with the servant and his gifts that he really had very little interest in Isaac. With Rebekah it was quite different. The more she heard the more she wanted to hear. Even though she had never seen Isaac she felt that she knew him. Already she gave her heart to him. Rebekah’s father and brother (Bethuel and Laban) said, “the Lord has done this. We have no choice in this matter. You can take Rebekah with you to marry your master’s son (vv. 50-51).”
Application
The more I become absorbed in getting to know who Jesus is and what He wants to do in my life the less I will be concerned about riches and positions in this life but to reach others with the gospel.
Genesis 24:29– 51 (NET)
29 (Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban.) Laban rushed out to meet the man at the spring. 30 When he saw the bracelets on his sister’s wrists and the nose ring and heard his sister Rebekah say, “This is what the man said to me,” he went out to meet the man. There he was, standing by the camels near the spring. 31 Laban said to him, “Come, you who are blessed by the Lord! Why are you standing out here when I have prepared the house and a place for the camels?”
32 So Abraham’s servant went to the house and unloaded the camels. Straw and feed were given to the camels, and water was provided so that he and the men who were with him could wash their feet. 33 When food was served, he said, “I will not eat until I have said what I want to say.” “Tell us,” Laban said.
34 “I am the servant of Abraham,” he began. 35 “The Lord has richly blessed my master and he has become very wealthy. The Lord has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys. 36 My master’s wife Sarah bore a son to him when she was old, and my master has given him everything he owns. 37 My master made me swear an oath. He said, ‘You must not acquire a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, 38 but you must go to the family of my father and to my relatives to find a wife for my son.’ 39 But I said to my master, ‘What if the woman does not want to go with me?’ 40 He answered, ‘The Lord, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you. He will make your journey a success and you will find a wife for my son from among my relatives, from my father’s family. 41 You will be free from your oath if you go to my relatives and they will not give her to you. Then you will be free from your oath.’ 42 When I came to the spring today, I prayed, ‘O Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you have decided to make my journey successful, may events unfold as follows: 43 Here I am, standing by the spring. When the young woman goes out to draw water, I’ll say, “Please give me a little water to drink from your jug.” 44 Then she will reply to me, “Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too.” May that woman be the one whom the Lord has chosen for my master’s son.’
45 “Before I finished praying in my heart, along came Rebekah with her water jug on her shoulder! She went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ 46 She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll give your camels water too.’ So I drank, and she also gave the camels water. 47 Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She replied, ‘The daughter of Bethuel the son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to Nahor.’ I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her wrists. 48 Then I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right path to find the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son. 49 Now, if you will show faithful love to my master, tell me. But if not, tell me as well, so that I may go on my way.”
50 Then Laban and Bethuel replied, “This is the Lord’s doing. Our wishes are of no concern. 51 Rebekah stands here before you. Take her and go so that she may become the wife of your master’s son, just as the Lord has decided.”
Illustration: What Are Your Priorities in Life
“Ronald Warwick, captain of the luxury cruise ship Queen Elizabeth II, questioned a passenger who paid full fare for his dog to join them on an around-the-world cruise. (Accommodations ranged from $25,000 to $150,000.) ’Wouldn’t it have cost less to leave him at home?’ “’Oh no,’ the man said. ’When we are away a long time, the dog’s psychiatrist fees are so high, it’s less expensive to bring him along’” When our priorities in life are out of whack, our sensibilities get out of whack. And when our sensibilities are out of whack we can waste a lifetime trying to do something but never accomplishing anything. William Barclay puts it this way, “It is not the things which are obviously bad which are dangerous. It is the things which are good (which are dangerous), for the ’second best is always the worst enemy of the best’” (William Barclay, Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel of Matthew, Vol. 2 (Westminster John Knox Press: Louisville, Kentucky, 1975, p.61).