Isaac and Rebekah
Text: Genesis 24
Core Idea: God guides His people not only through dramatic moments but through ordinary decisions shaped by prayer, character, and obedience. Abraham acted in faith, the servant discerned in faith, and Rebekah responded in faith. Then, may we trust Him in the same way – ready to obey wherever He leads.
INTRODUCTION
We’re continuing our journey through the Book of Genesis – tracing how God’s plan of salvation began. And last week, we watched Abraham purchase a burial site for Sarah – his lifelong companion and partner in faith. But even in that seemingly simple and painful moment, we learned something profound: that we’re called to remain faithful not just on the mountaintops, but also in the valleys. Faith isn’t just about dramatic moments of decision – it’s also about perseverance, integrity, and obedience in the slow, quiet, everyday seasons of life. Then, if Genesis 22 showed us Abraham’s surrender and Genesis 23 showed us his endurance, today’s passage, Genesis 24, will show us Abraham’s confidence – confidence that the God who tested him on the mountain and comforted him in the valley would also guide him in the ordinary decisions of life. So, with that in mind, please turn your Bibles to Genesis 24 – and let me invite Jiwoo up so that he can read the passage for us.
1 Abraham was now very old, and the LORD had blessed him in every way. 2 He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh. 3 I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, 4 but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.” 5 The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?” 6 “Make sure that you do not take my son back there,” Abraham said. 7 “The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’ – He will send His angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. 8 If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.” 9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter. 10 Then the servant left, taking with him ten of his master’s camels loaded with all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. 11 He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water. 12 Then he prayed, “LORD, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’ – let her be the one You have chosen for Your servant Isaac. By this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.” 15 Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16 The woman was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again. 17 The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.” 18 “Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. 19 After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. 21 Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful. 22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels. 23 Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?” 24 She answered him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milkah bore to Nahor.” 25 And she added, “We have plenty of straw and fodder, as well as room for you to spend the night.” 26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD, 27 saying, “Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned His kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.” 28 The young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things. 29 Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he hurried out to the man at the spring. 30 As soon as he had seen the nose ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man said to her, he went out to the man and found him standing by the camels near the spring. 31 “Come, you who are blessed by the Lord,” he said. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.” 32 So the man went to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and fodder were brought for the camels, and water for him and his men to wash their feet. 33 Then food was set before him, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told you what I have to say.” “Then tell us,” Laban said. 34 So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant. 35 The LORD has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys. 36 My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns. 37 And my master made me swear an oath, and said, ‘You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live, 38 but go to my father’s family and to my own clan, and get a wife for my son.’ 39 Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’ 40 He replied, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked faithfully, will send His angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son from my own clan and from my father’s family. 41 You will be released from my oath if, when you go to my clan, they refuse to give her to you – then you will be released from my oath.’ 42 When I came to the spring today, I said, ‘LORD, God of my master Abraham, if You will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come. 43 See, I am standing beside this spring. If a young woman comes out to draw water and I say to her, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar,” 44 and if she says to me, “Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too,” let her be the one the LORD has chosen for my master’s son.’ 45 Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ 46 She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too.’ So I drank, and she watered the camels also. 47 I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milkah bore to him.’ Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms, 48 and I bowed down and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son. 49 Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn.” 50 Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. 51 Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has directed.” 52 When Abraham’s servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD. 53 Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother. 54 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, “Send me on my way to my master.” 55 But her brother and her mother replied, “Let the young woman remain with us ten days or so; then you may go.” 56 But he said to them, “Do not detain me, now that the LORD has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master.” 57 Then they said, “Let’s call the young woman and ask her about it.” 58 So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she said. 59 So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the cities of their enemies.” 61 Then Rebekah and her attendants got ready and mounted the camels and went back with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left. 62 Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. 63 He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. 64 Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel 65 and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” “He is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself. 66 Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. 67 Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
Thank you, Jiwoo, for reading the passage for us. And children, I hope you enjoyed that video – a great summary of the story. Then, with that in mind, let’s go through this passage under three headings:
· ABRAHAM’S INSTRUCTIONS
· THE SERVANT’S DISCERNMENT
· REBEKAH’S RESPONSE
1) ABRAHAM’S INSTRUCTIONS
The story opens by telling us that Abraham was now very old and that the Lord had blessed him in every way. But with Sarah gone and his own death approaching, he knew there was one last thing he needed to do: find a wife for Isaac so the covenant story wouldn’t stop with him. In that culture, parents bore the responsibility of arranging a spouse for their children because marriage was not simply a union of two individuals but a union of families, values, and worldview. So, Abraham summoned his most trusted servant and gave two clear instructions. First: Isaac must not marry a Canaanite. Second: the servant must go to Abraham’s homeland and find a wife from his own relatives. Even though marrying a Canaanite would’ve offered political advantage and social standing, Abraham refused to let Isaac be joined to someone who would draw him away from the covenant, for the Canaanites were saturated in idolatry. In fact, Scripture is consistently clear on this principle. Deuteronomy 7:3-4 says, “Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods, and the LORD’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you.” In talking about widows remarrying, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:39, “If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.” And 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” It’s true that Paul here isn’t only speaking exclusively about marriage, the principle still applies. If we’re warned against being spiritually bound in lesser partnerships, how much more in marriage? Scripture is clear: believers are called to marry in the Lord.
Now, Abraham’s second instruction, which was to return to his homeland, was given because he had recently heard the news about his family. Genesis 22:20 says, “Some time later Abraham was told, ‘Milkah is also a mother; she has borne sons to your brother Nahor.’” In other words, he heard that Nahor’s family had grown – which implied that there were potential covenant partners for Isaac there. So, Abraham sent his servant on a journey of 700-800 km – a trip that would’ve taken him several weeks. But considering how far the journey was, the servant understandably asked what he should do if the woman refused to come back with him. Should he take Isaac to her? And Abraham responded firmly: “Absolutely not. Isaac must never leave the promised land. If she refuses, it just means that she wasn’t the one. But I’m confident that that won’t happen because if she really is someone God prepared for Isaac, she will come. The Lord will provide.” Now, this wasn’t Abraham repeating the mistake of Genesis 16, where he took matters into his own hands and brought Hagar into the family. This wasn’t him forcing an outcome – this was him acting in wisdom within the boundaries of God’s truth and trusting God with the results. In other words, it’s a picture of mature faith – faith that reasons and makes decisions but leaves outcomes in God’s hands.
John Piper said, “The Bible does not tell you which person to marry, or which car to drive, or whether to own a home, or where you take your vacation, or what cell phone plan to buy, or which brand of orange juice to drink. Or a thousand other choices you must make. What is necessary is that we have a renewed mind, that is so shaped and so governed by the revealed will of God in the Bible, that we see and assess all relevant factors with the mind of Christ, and discern what God is calling us to do.” This is exactly what Abraham was modeling: ordinary decisions shaped by a God-saturated mind. And this is the kind of wisdom we need as well. We honor God not only through the big, dramatic choices but also through the countless small decisions that fill our daily lives – especially in gray areas where Scripture doesn’t give us a direct command but where wisdom is still needed. What does this mean practically? It means choosing a job that strengthens rather than weakens your spiritual life, choosing friendships that build you up rather than lead you to compromise, deciding how to structure your children’s activities so that the rhythms of worship and rest can be protected. It means managing what you watch, what you scroll through, or who you follow. It also means choosing honesty even when a lie could benefit you, choosing purity in dating rather than following what the world calls normal, choosing to rest when your soul is exhausted rather than saying yes to every ministry opportunity, or choosing to prioritize community over convenience. All that to say, it’s about making decisions with minds that are shaped and transformed by the truth and with hearts that genuinely desire to please Him. Pray for that.
Now, before we move on, I want to speak to those who are seeking to get married. If this is you, remember that Scripture is clear on with whom believers should marry – in that it should always be someone who is in the Lord. We cannot turn marriage into an evangelism project. Marriage is a lifelong covenant designed to reflect Christ and the church. Yes, it’s true that God sometimes brings unbelieving spouses to faith, but that’s the exception, not the pattern – and this happens only because of God’s mercy, not because the decision itself was wise. In fact, as much as I’ve seen non-believing spouses coming to Christ, I’ve also seen couples where the non-believing spouse has led the believing spouse away from the Lord. Friends, God designed marriage to be a partnership that runs toward Christ together. So, if you desire to marry, guard your heart. Don’t compromise because of your fear or impatience. Let the Word of God set the boundaries – not your emotions.
2) THE SERVANT’S DISCERNMENT
After receiving Abraham’s instructions, the servant began his long journey. When he arrived near the town of Nahor, he stopped by a well at the time when the women would come out to draw water. And notice that the first thing he did was he prayed. In fact, in verse 12, we’re given the privilege of overhearing his prayer. Now, what’s striking about the prayer is its simplicity. He didn’t demand a miracle or a dramatic sign. Instead, he asked God to reveal the right woman through ordinary means – specifically, through her willingness to offer him water and also draw water for his camels. This was an enormous task. Kent Hughes writes, “We must understand that the ancient well was a large, deep hole in the earth with steps leading down to the spring water, so that each drawing of water required substantial effort. And more, a camel typically would drink about 25 gallons of water, and an ancient water jar held about three gallons of water. This means that she would’ve had to make between 80-100 descents into the well. A camel takes about 10 minutes to drink its full complement of water. So, she would’ve had to labor 1.5-2 sweaty hours.” This, as you can imagine, couldn’t have been easy. But this is what the servant prayed because this would clearly reveal the woman’s character – her kindness, humility, and sacrificial generosity. For the servant, outward beauty wasn’t the priority – godly character was. And verse 15 says, “Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out.” Even before he prayed, God was already answering his prayer. Jesus said in Matthew 6:8, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” Then, this scene was a living illustration of that truth. The world may call this “luck” or “chance,” but believers will recognize it as the hidden and gracious hand of God orchestrating every detail. Now, Rebekah demonstrated extraordinary character – in that she offered him water and voluntarily watered his camels. She didn’t know who he was. She wasn’t trying to impress anyone. She simply had a hospitable and generous heart. And when she finished, the servant gave her a gold nose ring and bracelets – far exceeding the value of her service. But he still had one more thing to confirm: her family lineage. And when she identified herself as the granddaughter of Nahor, the servant realized that God had led him directly to Abraham’s extended family. So, he bowed down and worshiped the Lord.
Well, what does this mean for us? This entire scene teaches us that God guides His people not only through miracles but also through ordinary means: through Scripture, prayer, wise counsel, timing, opportunities, and even interruptions. Elisabeth Elliot said, “If you believe in a God who controls the big things, you have to believe in a God who controls the little things. It is we, of course, to whom things look ‘little’ or ‘big.’” Think about that last sentence: “It is we to whom things look ‘little’ or ‘big.’” The point is that the categories of “big” and “small” exist only in our perspective, not God’s. We see some events as monumental and others as insignificant, but God doesn’t divide His providence that way. The same God who governs galaxies also directs conversations, decisions, delays, opportunities, and interruptions – which means that what feels trivial to us may be the very thing God is using to shape our character, guide our steps, or accomplish His purposes. Nothing in your life is too small for His care or too ordinary for His sovereignty. Then, let me ask you: Are you waiting for a dramatic sign when God may already be guiding you through ordinary means? How would your week look different if you believed God was present in interruptions as much as breakthroughs? Where is God asking you to trust His timing instead of your own urgency?
Now, one more thing for singles. While physical attraction, emotional compatibility, and personal chemistry matter, know that they cannot ultimately sustain a marriage. Look at what the servant valued: kindness, humility, generosity, selflessness, a willingness to work, and a joyful heart of service. Scripture consistently elevates godly character above outward beauty or charm. Now, some of you might say, “Of course, I’m looking for someone of character. Who isn’t?” But I want you to honestly examine your heart: Is that truly your top priority? Or have you added conditions that overshadow it? For example, do you ever find yourself saying, “Yes, character is important, but I need to be really attracted to them, they need to support me, they need to have this or that”? Now, don’t get me wrong – attraction, competence, and stability matter. In fact, I would never counsel someone to marry a person they’re not drawn to. But just take a moment to reflect on whether your heart truly values godly character above your preference list. Remember: you’re not looking for perfection – you’re looking for someone whose heart genuinely desires to honor God in all they do. And if you feel unsure about how to discern that, pray for wisdom and for eyes to see as God sees. But more importantly, pray that you yourself are becoming a person of character – because here’s the truth: why would a person of godly character desire a relationship with someone who is not pursuing that same godliness? Then, don’t just pray for the right person – pray to become the right person. And trust God’s timing.
Finally, this scene points us to the gospel. We read that before the servant finished praying, Rebekah appeared. And in the same way, before we prayed, Christ came. Before we sought God, God sought us. Before we even understood our need, God was already moving toward us in grace. Galatians 4:4 says, “When the set time had fully come, God sent His Son.” Jesus came not because we asked or deserved it, but because He knew exactly what our hearts needed. He entered our brokenness as a loving Savior, lived the perfect life we could not live, died the death our sins deserved, and rose again so we could be forgiven and reconciled to God. Then, salvation is not something we earn – it’s a gift God freely gives to anyone who will receive it. And because it’s Advent, this is the perfect time to ask yourself: Have I received the Savior who came for me? Have I responded to God’s invitation? Friends, if you’ve never trusted in Christ, today can be the day. You don’t need to clean yourself up. You simply need to come with empty hands and a believing heart. The Savior has already come for you. The question is whether you will come to Him.
3) REBEKAH’S RESPONSE
If Abraham heard about Nahor, Rebekah must have heard about Abraham, too – her grandfather’s brother, who left everything to follow an unknown God to an unknown place. But she didn’t expect to hear his name from this stranger. So, she didn’t waste any time – she ran home to tell her family. Now, her brother, Laban, immediately noticed the jewelry and the camels, which in that culture were unmistakable signs of wealth. And his reaction reveals something that later becomes even more evident in Genesis 29 (the story of Jacob and Rachel) – that he was materialistic. So, he rushed out to welcome the servant and prepared a feast for him. But the servant first retold the story – Abraham’s instructions, the journey, the prayer, Rebekah’s character, and God’s providence. Now, this could feel repetitive to us, but Rebekah’s family needed to hear how every part of this encounter was the result of God’s sovereign plan. So, when the servant finished, they responded in verse 50, “This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other” – affirming that this was the work of God. But the next morning, when the servant prepared to leave, the family asked if he could leave after ten days – most likely because they realized that they may never see her again. But the servant did not want to delay. It could’ve been because he wanted to share this good news with Abraham as soon as possible before he passed – or it could’ve been because he didn’t want Laban to go back on his word. Either way, because they couldn’t come to an agreement, they asked Rebekah directly: “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.” This was an act of faith because she didn’t have all the details. She didn’t know Isaac personally. She had no pictures, personality profiles, or social media to gauge who he was. She didn’t know what her life would look like. She had none of the security we often demand before we obey God. But she believed the testimony of God’s work that the servant shared and stepped into the unknown. Leaving her home meant leaving comfort, identity, and security – but she trusted the God she had only heard about.
Meanwhile, Isaac was in the Negev. We’re not sure why he was there and not in Hebron with Abraham – but some speculate that it was because he needed time to grieve the death of his mother. In fact, verse 63 says he was meditating in the field – which in Hebrew has the connotation of thinking in times of distress or trouble. So, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to think that Isaac was carrying great sorrow in his heart. But it was at that moment that he looked up and saw camels approaching. It’s almost like a scene from a romantic film. You could hear the music play. Isaac’s eyes are fixed on Rebekah as she walks toward him in slow motion. Now, the servant explained everything, and Isaac brought her into his mother’s tent – signifying that she was now the new matriarch of the covenant family. And the story ends with these words in verse 67: “He loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.” Through Rebekah, God gave Isaac not just a wife but also healing. Through Isaac, God gave Rebekah not only a husband but also a share in the lineage of Christ.
Then, here’s something we can take home: Just as Rebekah left her former life and journeyed toward the one whose love would become her home, so we are called to leave our old life and journey toward Christ, whose love would become our home. True discipleship always involves leaving and going – a departure from what enslaves us and a movement toward the One who saves us. Then, let me ask you: What is God calling you to leave behind so that you can say “I will go”?
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, God guides His people not only through dramatic moments but through ordinary decisions shaped by prayer, character, and obedience. Abraham acted in faith, the servant discerned in faith, and Rebekah responded in faith. And just as God wove their ordinary decisions into His extraordinary plan, He is faithfully directing our steps today. Then, may we trust Him in the same way – ready to obey wherever He leads.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) Why was Abraham adamant that Isaac must not marry a Canaanite or leave the promised land? How does this passage show the difference between faithful decision-making and taking matters into our own hands?
2) What stands out to you about the way the servant prayed and the type of sign he sought? How does this chapter teach us about God’s providence in ordinary moments rather than through dramatic miracles? What “gray area” decision in your life right now requires prayer, wisdom, and obedience?
3) For those who desire to get married: What tends to rank higher for you – godly character or personal preferences? How might God be inviting you to reorder that? And most importantly, are you growing as a person of character?
4) What does Rebekah’s reply (“I will go”) reveal about her faith and courage? Where might God be inviting you to say, “I will go,” even though you don’t have all the details?
