Lesson 52 Rebekah Says "Yes" Genesis 24:50- 54

The Plan of Eliezer to get on the Road

English Standard Version (Chapter 24)

50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing has come from the LORD; we cannot speak to you bad or good. 51 Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has spoken.”52 When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth before the LORD. 53 And the servant brought out jewelry of silver and of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments. 54 And he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and they spent the night there. When they arose in the morning, he said, “Send me away to my master.”

The father, Bethuel, and the son, Laban, both are looking at the story from a different perspective after this point. They are all for doing something that is from the Lord, but not and the deal is done. I’m thinking they were expecting to get to say a long good bye. Before they have their expectations shattered, they say, “take her and go” verse 51. This one daughter that is going to be a blessing to the nations and Eliezer wants to get the ball rolling. He bows to the Lord and the servants who came with him on the trip bring out the haul of presents for the family and Rebekah. There was feasting that night and a night of rest at the oasis where Rebekah lived. But in the morning, Eliezer presses the family to send them away with the girl. Speaking of a whirlwind courtship!

The Girl Says Yes to the Ring

Gen. 24:55-59  Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go.” 56 But he said to them, “Do not delay me, since the LORD has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.” 57 They said, “Let us call the young woman and ask her.” 58 And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” 59 So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 24:54–59.

It is interesting to note that this young lady was willing to leave her home for the promises of the servant. We also see mom getting involved, but she is unnamed. The theologian Warren Wiersbe said that this is a picture of Christ and the church. His bride will be pure and undefiled when the marriage takes place in heaven. The wealth of the Groom far exceeds any truth that is told today. Also, take note that Rebekah was willing be identified with the the flock of the groom, even though she had not seen him or his family. She did so by faith. It is soon to be rewarded.

It was a big decision to make and it is possible that Laban and the Father/mother thought that surely Rebekah will stay here for a while before she makes the journey. But, no. She wants to go with Eliezer. This was an act of faith that changed her life and made the way for God’s promises to be fulfilled through His covenant with Abraham. Rebekah was a woman with vision for bigger and better things. Rebekah does not go alone. She does take with her an entourage. verse 59 says she takes her nurse. Verse 61 adds more women to that number.

English Standard Version (Chapter 24)

60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,“Our sister, may you become thousands of ten thousands,and may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate him!”61 Then Rebekah and her young women arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebekah and went his way.

Their blessing on Rebekah was right in line with the promise of the covenant that God gave to Abraham, even down to the point of her offspring possessing the gate of those that hate Abraham and Isaac! Fortunately, they don’t have to walk all the way back as we see they rode on the camels. Not sure if she took her own camel from her families compound.

Meanwhile Back at the Negeb

Genesis 24:62- 67.

English Standard Version (Chapter 24)

62 Now Isaac had returned from Beer-lahai-roi and was dwelling in the Negeb. 63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming. 64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel 65 and said to the servant, “Who is that man, walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself. 66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67 Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Beer-lahai-roi was the well between Kadesh and Bered where Hagar met the angel of God. But here we find Isaac going back to that spot. Interesting to think of him frequenting the place of Ishmael. Perhaps he made a trip there occasionally because of those who were born in the same tent complex as he. It could be was just lonely to see some family? After all, they are step brothers. Isaac is now a man of God given to meditating about what God is doing. He does so in an unenclosed field, perhaps a cultivated field, for growing things but more likely a “not” heavily populated area of unwalled villages and scattered houses.

As he is meditating, he sees the caravan of camels coming. Rebekah sees him also and dismounts the steed. She asks Eliezer who is the man she sees. He tells her, it is my master. Then she veils herself, denoting that she is the bride who is arriving. Eliezer then tells the story of how it all happened. It is a testimony worth retelling of all that God has done.

Their wedding seems to be pretty immediate and the marriage starts before the camels are in the corral. I think a “Bride to be” today would have a problem with spending her wedding night in her mother-in-laws tent. That seems to be the custom so it may be different from how we would do it. Usually “ a man should leave his father and mother and cling to his wife.” But since Sarah is no longer around, she is not going to be a meddling mother in law. She is only a memory of her husband Isaac.. It appears that since Abraham is not here at this juncture. Probably because he is not the main character at this time. All of the excitement rests upon the shoulders of the new couple, Isaac and Rebekah. Some do say that Abraham is dead at this point, But that would seemingly conflict with the 25th chapter. If he is dead, then chapter 25 is an “aside.”

Rebekah is now the new Sarah. Perhaps that is the reason for them spending the wedding night in Sarah’s tent as it is the symbolic passing of the maternal guard over to Rebekah. It’s a new day for the household. No longer will servants rule the house, but now Isaac’s new bride will run the show. And so ends chapter 24. It is a portrait of a persistent servant who is rewarded with the knowledge of a job well done. We also see the faith of a bride who is willing to give up everything to be with her promised groom and in due time will become the key to God’s unfolding plan for His promised people and their promised land. This is a job well done for not just Eliezer, but also Abraham, the man for whom the promises came and he believed God.