A Match Made in Heaven Part 1

March 3, 2009 at 12:09 pm | Posted in Bible Studies, Genesis | 10 Comments
Tags: Abraham, Canaanites, father-in-law, Genesis 18, Genesis 24, Isaac, Laban, Rebekah, romantic Bible stories, U-Hauls

Abraham was God’s friend, because he could be trusted by God (Genesis 18:19). It is wonderful to be a servant of the King. It is even more wonderful to be the King’s friend.

Abraham wanted his son, Isaac, to fulfill God’s promise of having many heirs. But Isaac was unmarried at age 40. Genesis Chapter 23 tells us that Isaac’s mother, Sarah, had died. Chapter 24 focuses on how Isaac met the bride that God wanted him to have. It was truly a “match made in Heaven.”

And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

Genesis 24:2

Abraham made his servant promise to find Isaac a bride who was not a Canaanite.

And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that 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

Here is a principle we must use today: Christians should not marry non-Christians. A Christian who does marry a non-Christian will have problems with his/her father-in-law. That is because a Christian’s Father is God. A non-Christian’s spiritual father is the devil.

Abraham’s servant wanted to know if he could bring Isaac on his journey, so that he would have some help in convincing the prospective bride. But Abraham did not want Isaac going back to the place Abraham had left.

And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.

Genesis 24:10

Abraham’s servant loaded up 10 camels. This would probably be the modern-day equivalent of loading up ten U-Hauls with gold and jewels and perfumes. He did this because he wanted to be able to show the prospective bride and her family his master’s wealth.

Abraham’s servant seemed to be worried about doing well at this important task. He did what we should all do when we are worried about doing a good job on something: He prayed about it.

And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand here 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 damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

Genesis 24:12-14

It was a hard job to get water in those days – women would carry the water in big pitchers on their heads.

Abraham’s servant was still praying when Rebekah showed up. She did offer to water the camels. Remember, there were 10 of them.

And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;

Genesis 24:22

I like to imagine the faces of Rebekah’s friends and family when she came home adorned with sparkling jewelery, and leading 10 U-Hauls full of treasure. Here’s where we meet ol’ Laban.

And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well. And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well. And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.

Genesis 24:29-31

Abraham’s servant was single-minded. He refused to eat until they had taken care of business. The result was that Rebekah agreed to go with him to marry Isaac.

Notice what Rebekah does the first time she sees Isaac.

And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.

Genesis 24:63-64

I know it sounds like she fired up a cigarette (“she lighted off a camel”), but, trust me, this does not mean that it’s okay to smoke because “they did it in the Bible.”

Next time, we’ll try to see some more Biblical principles in this romantic account of match-making.