Genesis 24

Abraham’s Instructions to His Servant

1 Abraham was old now, like real old, but God had blessed him in every possible way.

2 One day, Abraham called in his main servant, the one running all his business, and said, ‘Put your hand under my thigh.’

3 ‘I need you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not let my son marry one of these Canaanite chicks around here.’

4 ‘Instead, go back to my homeland and my family, and find a wife for my son Isaac.’

5 The servant said, ‘What if the chick does not want to roll with me back here, Should I take Isaac over there?’

6 Abraham said, ‘Nah, do not take my son back there.’

7 ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, brought me outta my homeland and made me a promise: to give this land to my descendants. He is going to send His angel ahead of you to make sure you find the right wife for Isaac.’

8 ‘If the girl does not want to come back with you, you are off the hook. But whatever you do, do not take my son back there.’

9 So the servant put his hand under Abraham’s thigh and swore to do what Abraham said.

The Servant Goes to Find a Wife

10 The servant took ten camels loaded with mad gifts from Abraham and headed out to Aram Naharaim, to Nahor’s town.

11 When he got there, he stopped by a well outside the city. It was evening, the time when the women came out to get water.

12 The servant prayed, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, hook me up with success today. Show some love to my master.’

13 ‘I am posted up here at the well where the ladies come to draw water.’

14 ‘If I ask a girl for a drink, and she says, Sure, and I will get water for your camels too, let her be the one You have picked for Isaac.’

15 Before he even finished praying, Rebekah showed up. She had a water jar on her shoulder. She was Bethuel’s daughter, who was Milkah’s son, and Nahor’s granddaughter.

16 Rebekah was fine, and she was still a virgin. She went down to the well, filled her jar, and came back up.

17 The servant ran over to her and said, ‘Can I get a drink of water from your jar?’

18 She said, ‘Sure thing, my lord,’ and lowered her jar so he could drink.

19 After he had his drink, she said, ‘I will draw water for your camels too until they have had their fill.’

20 She quickly poured the water into the trough and ran back to the well to draw more, getting water for all his camels.

21 The servant watched her in silence, wondering if the Lord had really answered his prayer.

The Servant Gives Rebekah Gifts

22 When the camels finished drinking, the servant gave Rebekah a gold nose ring and two gold bracelets for her wrists.

23 He asked, ‘Whose daughter are you, And is there room at your place for me and my crew to crash,’

24 She said, ‘I am the daughter of Bethuel, who is the son of Milkah and Nahor.’

25 ‘And yeah, we got plenty of straw and feed for the camels, plus space for you all to stay.’

26 The servant bowed down and worshiped the Lord.

27 He said, ‘Praise the Lord, the God of my master Abraham! He has been faithful and kind. The Lord has led me straight to my master’s family.’

Rebekah’s Family Welcomes the Servant

28 Rebekah ran back home to tell her family everything that happened.

29 Her brother Laban saw the nose ring and bracelets and heard Rebekah’s story. He ran out to meet the servant at the spring.

30 Laban said, ‘Come on in, blessed one of the Lord! Why are you standing out here, We have got a spot for you and your camels.’

31 The servant came into the house. They unloaded the camels and gave them straw and feed, then brought water to wash his feet and the feet of the men with him.

32 Food was set before him, but the servant said, ‘I am not eating until I explain why I am here.’ Laban said, ‘Alright, let us hear it.’

The Servant Tells His Story

33 The servant said, ‘Alright, let me break it down. I work for Abraham.’

34 ‘The Lord has blessed my master big time, he has got mad wealth: flocks, herds, silver, gold, servants, and camels.’

35 ‘And my master’s wife, Sarah, had a son in her old age, and now everything my master has is going to that son, Isaac.’

36 ‘My master made me swear to find a wife for Isaac, but not from around here. He told me to go to his family, back in his homeland.’

37 ‘I asked, What if the girl will not come back with me,’

38 ‘But Abraham said, Do not worry, the Lord will send His angel ahead of you to make sure you find her.’

39 ‘If she does not want to come, then I am off the hook. But I must try.’

40 ‘So I prayed to God, asking for a sign. I said, Lord, let the girl who gives me and my camels water be the one You have chosen for Isaac.’

41 ‘Before I even finished praying, your daughter Rebekah showed up, did exactly what I prayed for, and boom, I knew she was the one!’

42 ‘I thanked the Lord right there and gave her these gifts.’

43 ‘So now I am here to ask: Will you let Rebekah come back with me and marry Isaac,’

44 ‘If this is from God, let me know so I can move forward or look elsewhere.’

Rebekah’s Family Agrees

45 Laban and Bethuel said, ‘This is clearly from the Lord. We cannot say no to this.’

46 ‘Rebekah is here. Take her with you, and let her be Isaac’s wife. It is God’s plan.’

47 When the servant heard this, he dropped to the ground and worshiped the Lord.

48 He said, ‘Praise God for leading me straight to my master’s family and blessing this mission.’

The Servant Gives More Gifts

49 The servant gave Rebekah more gold and silver jewelry, plus clothes. He also gave gifts to her family.

50 They ate, drank, and celebrated that night. In the morning, the servant said, ‘Alright, time to head back to my master.’

51 But Rebekah’s family said, ‘Hold up, let her stay with us for a few more days, like ten, then she can go.’

52 The servant said, ‘Nah, the Lord made this successful. Do not delay me, let me take Rebekah and go.’

Rebekah Says Yes

53 They asked Rebekah, ‘Do you want to go with this man?’ She said, ‘Yeah, I will go.’

54 So they sent Rebekah off with her nurse, plus Abraham’s servant and his crew.

55 They blessed Rebekah, saying, ‘Sister, may you be the mother of thousands, and may your descendants conquer their enemies.’

Rebekah Meets Isaac

56 Rebekah and her crew mounted the camels and followed the servant.

57 Meanwhile, Isaac was chilling in the Negev desert, near Beer Lahai Roi.

58 He was out in the field meditating one evening when he looked up and saw camels coming.

59 Rebekah saw him too and got down off her camel.

60 She asked the servant, ‘Who is that man walking toward us in the field?’ The servant said, ‘That is my master.’ So she covered her face with a veil.

61 The servant told Isaac everything that had happened.

62 Isaac took Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent, married her, and loved her. Isaac finally felt comforted after his mom’s death.