ISAAC MARRIED REBEKAH 

Genesis 23:1-24:67, Key Verse: 24:67

     Part I: Go To My Country And Get A Wife For My Son Isaac (23:1-24:9)

1. Read chapter 23:1-4. What can you learn about Abraham's life in the promised land? (cf. Acts 7:5) Skim through 5-16. How did the Hittites want to show favor to Abraham (6,11,15)? How was Abraham's attitude toward them and toward their favor? 

2. Read 24:1-4. What is the situation of Abraham and his family? What mission did Abraham give his chief servant? Why do you think Abraham didn't want Isaac to marry a Canaanite woman? But from his own country?

3. Read verses 5-8. What question did the servant have (5)? What was Abraham's response? On what basis? What kind of woman did Abraham concern to be Isaac's wife (8)?

     Part II: I Will Go (24:9-56) 

4. Read verses 9-21. How did the servant respond? What did he do first when he arrived at Haran (12-14)? What kind of woman was he seeking for Isaac? What did he do when a woman was acting according to what he had prayed for (21)?

5. Skim through verses 28-49. How did he respond to the gracious hospitality which Rebekah’ s family extended to him? What was his main point in the long account he gave them of how he met Rebekah? What was his conclusion?

6. Read verses 50-56. How did Rebekah's father and brother respond (50,51)? What did the servant do (52-54)? Why did he not stay a few days and enjoy a well-deserved vacation?

     Part III: Rebekah (24:57-60) 

7. Read verse 57 through 60. What was Rebekah’s response? What broader meaning did Rebekah's famiily see in this marriage (60)? Read verses 61 through 66. How did Isaac respond to the whole event?

ISAAC MARRIED REBEKAH

Genesis 23:1-24:67, Key Verse 24:67

“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.”
 
In Chapter 23, Abraham’s beloved wife Sarah passed away in her old age.  In Abraham’s time, people usually buried their dead in their hometown. Even though the Hittites offered a burial place to Abraham, free of charge, Abraham insisted to pay the full price, so that this land might become truly his. When his descendants came back from the land of Egypt after 400 years, this small piece of land would be the base of their conquest. In this way, Abraham made every decision in his life according to the promises of God. What did he do next for his descendants?

Part I: “Get A Wife For My Son Isaac” (24:1-8)

Look at verse 1. “Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.” This verse describes Abraham’s later life. He had fought the spiritual battle of putting his trust in God and obeying God’s command absolutely. He was like a powerful spiritual general who set a good example for all believers to follow. Now, after going through these challenges and trials of life by faith in God, Abraham was enjoying a very peaceful and fulfilling life, with God’s blessing in every way. Life in God was indeed sweet and fulfilling. But Abraham had one more important mission to take care of by faith; it was to find a wife for Isaac, his son, and establish his marriage. 
  
One day, Abraham called one of his servants and had him swear by God that he would get a wife for Isaac not from Canaan, but from Haran, Abraham’s home town. Abraham considered it a very important matter. He understood that Isaac’s future life would be affected by his marriage partner in a huge way. Isaac was the covenant son who would carry God’s covenant to the next generation. So, his wife should be God’s covenant person with the same hope. In Canaan, there must have been many beautiful women. Some might have possessed charming personalities like Miss U.S.A. But fundamentally, they had different values and hopes that none of them could be one with Isaac. None of them could be a suitable helper for Isaac to carry God’s covenant blessing. So, he told his servant to go to Haran, his own country, and get a wife for him from his relatives.  

Who should be our marriage partner? This is a very important question because it is the reflection of the purpose of our marriage. If it is to solve our financial needs, then, we should marry with Donald Trump’s offspring. Why do we marry with whom? In Genesis chapter 2, we see God establishing marriage between Adam and Eve, so that husband and wife together might serve God’s mission more effectively. When established according to God’s design, they could enjoy a delightful life in the marriage relationship. But in Noah’s time, the believers left God out of their marriage, and married anyone they chose; as a result, the world was corrupt and invited God’s judgment.

As you know well, marriage affects one’s life entirely. Some people, because of marrying outside of God’s blessing, live in pain and sorrow all the days of their life; their families are broken, and their children are scattered. To them, marriage is the source of torture, argument, disappointment, gray hair and regret. But some other people, because of their marriage, grow to be great men and women of God. To them, marriage is the well spring of happiness and a delight. When Abraham was concerned about his son’s future, he could not have him marry just anyone. His marriage partner should be the one whom Isaac could form a spiritual unity with so that Isaac and his wife together, might serve God’s purpose effectively.  Find any strong Christian man and there is a strong Christian woman behind him; Martin Luther had Katarina Luther. Reverend Billy Graham had Ruth Graham.  

One proud Christian man married a non-believing foxy woman, saying that through his marriage, she would have a chance to come to heaven.  But after marriage, their situation became worse, and his faith was ruined. Just like in math, any positive number times a negative number always equals a negative number. There are many people who are willing to give everything to God except their marriage dream. They say, “I will give everything to God, but let me marry in my own way.” But if we understand the importance of marriage – it can either build us up or destroy our life, we realize that our marriage must be established in God, by God, and for God. Our marriage partner should be the one who can form a spiritual unity in serving God’s mission so that through our marriage, God’s purpose can advance in our life.

Abraham said in verse 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.” Abraham had a clear idea about what kind of woman should be Isaac’s wife. Isaac's wife should be such a woman who could leave her family and her country to marry Isaac even though she had never met him. Wow! What a daring vision he had for his son’s wife! From Haran to Hebron, it was about 600 miles, 20 days’ journey in those days. What woman on earth could say, “Yes,” and leave her country and her family and travel 600 miles to marry a man she had never met?! How could Rebekah even trust the old servant’s story that sounded too fishy?  

But no matter what, Abraham wanted that kind of woman to be his son’s wife. If any woman was not willing to come, simply, she was not the one for Isaac. Humanly, it was impossible. But Abraham said to his servant, “The Lord will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there.”  He believed that even though it was a mission impossible, by God’s help, it would be done. Only a girl who was led by God, who had absolute faith in God, would say, “Yes, I will marry him.” Abraham did not talk about any other condition such as wealth, intellect, character, Facebook friends, or outward appearance, but faith in God alone. He wanted a woman of faith for Isaac's wife, who could marry by faith in God alone.

Part II: “I Will Go” (24:9-60)

After preparing many gifts, the servant set out for Abraham’s hometown. When he arrived in Haran, it was toward evening, the time when women go out to draw water. He must have been tired after a long journey, and he could have checked into Motel 6 for a good night’s sleep. But instead, he started his mission right away by ‘praying.’ Look at verses 12 through 14. He prayed very specifically. Even before he finished praying, the Lord sent Rebekah who came out with her jar on her shoulder. The servant asked her, “Please give me a little water from your jar.” Then, she said, “Drink my Lord,” and quickly lowered the jar and gave him a drink.  

After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking.” “Wow!” What kind of woman was Rebekah? Verse 16 says, “The girl was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever lain with her.” Rebekah was beautiful and pure. Also, she was very thoughtful, even willing to take care of the animals. Scientists say ‘a camel can drink upwards of 13 gallons of water at a time.’  10 camels times 13 gallons, means gathering 130 gallons of water, not a small feat. She was a hard-working woman. Surely, she was material for a mother of many nations. When women are like this, the society has hope and vision. Brothers are encouraged and strengthened by them to do something truly great.

Isaiah 3:16 tells us that during the time of the prophet Isaiah, many women of Israel were corrupted and only concerned about their outward appearances. Soon the nation was destroyed by the Babylonian Empire. Modern women are like these Israel women, mostly concern about their sex appeal. They wholeheartedly seduce handsome brothers and have many casual boyfriends. Just look at the FOX marriage reality TV shows, “Joe Millionaire,” “Beauty and the Geek,” and “Who wants to marry a multi-millionaire?”  All these shows are based on women wanting to marry rich men for their money and nothing else. But these relationships never last. Such a society cannot stand firm. We must pray that God may establish many women of faith like Rebekah who can take care of many thirsty people in our society.

After the camels finished drinking, he took out a gold nose ring and two gold bracelets, and gave them to her. The gift was worth of $1,200. It was a lot of money for the service she had offered.  The servant already was convinced that the girl was the one whom God had prepared for Isaac. When he realized that the girl was Abraham’s grandniece, he bowed down and worshiped the Lord, 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.”

Then, surprised, Rebekah ran and told her mother’s household about this. The family became excited and joyfully served the guests. Quickly a feast was prepared for him. The fragrant aroma came up from the hot meal just prepared. But the servant said to them, “I will not eat until I have told you what I have to say.”  “Then tell us,” Laban said.” In verses 34 through 48, he testified to his master’s blessed relationship with the Lord and to the Lord’s kindness in answering his prayer today in detail.  The whole point of his long testimony was that ‘God’ had chosen Rebekah to be Isaac’s wife.

The servant said in verse 48, “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.”  Then he immediately asked, “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.” He was very intense and persuasive. Like a laser beam, he was intense and focused.  Without faith it would have been impossible to ask such a thing. But because of his absolute faith and loyalty to his master, he was not afraid of the possibility of offending the hosts or being treated as a crazy man.

What was their answer? Let us read verses 50 and 51. “Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has directed.”” When Abraham’s servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD. He gave the gifts he brought to Rebekah and her family, and they joyfully ate and drank. How happy the servant must have been to accomplish his mission impossible!  They ate, drank, and spent the night there singing many Karaoke songs.  

The next morning, when they got up, the servant said, “Send me on my way to my master.” We are really shocked at his words. So were the family members. Since everything happened so sudden, they wanted to have at least 10 days or so to prepare her departure in order to say goodbye properly. It was understandable. But the servant denied his human good mindedness.  He knew too well the importance of the mission.  With the determination of a runner who competes in a 100-meter dash, he focused everything to reach the finish line. So the family members let Rebekah decide.  It was up to her if she would go or not. What was her answer?

Look at verse 58.  “So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she said.”  Rebekah was not only a woman of sacrificial service, but also a woman who made clear decisions by faith. It was her own decision to go with this man. To many women, the marriage dream is the most valuable hope they have. It is their lifetime dream to marry a prince charming, handsome, lovely, and gentle.  Even there are movies, “Unmarried Woman,” and “Runaway Bride.” Women are careful to make a final decision; even after checking out all possible marriage partners for years such as Prince William in England, still, they hesitate to jump into the marriage relationship, worrying about this or that. They are simply afraid.

But Rebekah decided to accept a man whom she had never met as her husband by faith in God. She made this decision, because she had accepted ‘God’s sovereignty’ upon her life that God chose her to be Isaac’s wife.  She would marry Isaac not because of Isaac, but because of God.  She believed that God knew what was best for her.  She trusted God, his provision and his love toward her. She decided to live, not by her sight, or her feeling, or human good mindedness, but by faith in the Living God.  So her family sent her out with prayer, “Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.”

Part III: Isaac Loved Rebekah (24:61-67)

Thus, they traveled from Haran toward Hebron about 600 miles. Isaac went out to a field in the Negev one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel 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. Then the servant told Isaac all he had done.

Isaac apparently did not know about his father sending his servant to find a wife for him. It must have been a great surprise to Isaac. But Isaac also was a man of personal faith. He was once almost sacrificed as a burnt offering on the altar by his father at the Lord’s command. He had learned the wisdom to trust the Lord with all his heart. When he saw the veiled maiden, quietly standing by his father’s loyal servant, he simply accepted her as his wife, sent by God. After taking her to his mother’s tent, how happy he must have been when he took away her veil and his eyes met Rebekah’s beautiful eyes full of faith and love.  How quickly his heart must have been melted by her lovely smile and her beautiful voice that praised the Lord.

Verse 67b says, “So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.” He was very happy and satisfied like this, not only because Rebekah was lovely to him, but because of God, who knew his innermost need and sent Rebekah according to his sovereignty, and shone his face fully upon his marriage. He could be very happy because he could know for sure that the Lord was fully delighted in his marriage, as much as Isaac himself was delighted. His joy was so lasting that even when Rebekah remained childless, Isaac refused to take another wife as was the custom of his time. Instead, Isaac prayed and prayed for his wife Rebekah for 20 years, until they, at last, were blessed with twin sons.

*Conclusion: The marriage between Isaac and Rebekah was indeed beautiful because of the faith and obedience of the people who were involved. It was established completely in a God-centered way, for the sake of God’s redemptive purpose through servants of God who honored him with reverence, prayer, and their absolute faith. God indeed blessed their marriage and one of the twin sons became the ancestor of Jesus Christ. May God bless us to raise many beautiful house churches not only for our happiness but also God’s holy mission! May God raise many men of faith like Isaac and women of prayer like Rebekah through our upcoming Summer Conference.