Genesis Part 2 - Week 6

Day 1 

READ 

Genesis 24:12-14 

¹² “O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham. ¹³ See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water. ¹⁴ This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master.” 

Abraham’s servant had made the long trip to his master’s homeland. He prayed for the Lord to give him a sign that a woman would be the one to be chosen for Isaac. If she offers both him and his camels a drink, that will be the one he’s convinced the Lord has chosen to be Isaac’s wife.  

REFLECT 

The Lord does not always give a sign when asked to do so. Have you ever asked the Lord to give you a sign? Did He give one to you? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 24:1-20 to see how the story developed. Imagine the long distance the servant had traveled and how anxious he must have been to find the bride for Isaac. 

Day 2 

READ 

Genesis 24:21-25 

²¹ The servant watched her in silence, wondering whether or not the Lord had given him success in his mission. ²² Then at last, when the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring for her nose and two large gold bracelets for her wrists. ²³ “Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “And please tell me, would your father have any room to put us up for the night?” ²⁴ “I am the daughter of Bethuel,” she replied. “My grandparents are Nahor and Milcah. ²⁵ Yes, we have plenty of straw and feed for the camels, and we have room for guests.” 

Even after the two signs had been met, the servant still wondered if this was the one the Lord had chosen. The woman told him who her father and grandparents were and assured the servant there was room for him and his camels for the night. He must have breathed a sigh of relief to think he was about to accomplish what he had been sent to do. 

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes had doubts about whether the Lord would answer a prayer and then were relieved to realize He did? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 24:21-33. Genesis 22:23 says that Bethuel was the father of Rebekah mentioned in Genesis 24. Her brother was Laban who figured into this account and others later. Laban cared for Abraham’s servant and others with him, but the servant would not eat until he told why he was there.  

Day 3 

READ 

Genesis 24:34-38 

³⁴ “I am Abraham’s servant,” he explained. ³⁵ “And the Lord has greatly blessed my master; he has become a wealthy man. The Lord has given him flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, a fortune in silver and gold, and many male and female servants and camels and donkeys. ³⁶ When Sarah, my master’s wife, was very old, she gave birth to my master’s son, and my master has given him everything he owns. ³⁷ And my master made me take an oath. He said, ‘Do not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. ³⁸ Go instead to my father’s house, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son.’” 

The servant told Laban about the special mission he was on. He pointed out how wealthy his master was and his desire to find a wife for his son but not of the local Canaanite women. The servant had made the long trip and delivered his message. Now the decision would be up to Laban and Bethuel whether Rebekah would be permitted to return with him or not.  

REFLECT 

Have you faced a project you felt it was necessary for you to do and the relief you felt after it was done? Perhaps it had to do with telling someone about Jesus. 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 24:34-54. Laban and Bethuel seemed to sense this was all of God and gave their permission for the servant to take Rebekah to be Isaac’s wife. This concluded the day so they ate and stayed overnight. 

Day 4 

READ 

Genesis 24:55-58 

⁵⁵ “But we want Rebekah to stay with us at least ten days,” her brother and mother said. “Then she can go.” ⁵⁶ But he said, “Don’t delay me. The Lord has made my mission successful; now send me back so I can return to my master.” ⁵⁷ “Well,” they said, “we’ll call Rebekah and ask her what she thinks.” ⁵⁸ So they called Rebekah. “Are you willing to go with this man?” they asked her. And she replied, “Yes, I will go.” 

The servant’s heart must have sunk when her brother and mother wanted Rebekah to stay ten days with them before she left. Finally the decision was left up to Rebekah. When asked if she wanted to go with the servant, her answer was “Yes, I will go.” Her answer must have greatly relieved Abraham’s servant. 

REFLECT 

When was the last time you thought your plan came to failure and then it turned out as you had hoped? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 24:55-61. Notice that not only Rebekah went with the servant but also her childhood nurse and servant girls. It was a large group on camels that made their way back to Abraham.  

Day 5 

READ 

Genesis 24:62-64 

⁶² Meanwhile, Isaac, whose home was in the Negev, had returned from Beer-lahai-roi. ⁶³ One evening as he was walking and meditating in the fields, he looked up and saw the camels coming. ⁶⁴ When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she quickly dismounted from her camel. 

The bride is about to meet the groom! Imagine the expectations and questions each might have of the other. Behind the scenes God was directing all of this. Isaac was the one with whom God made an everlasting covenant—with him and his descendants (see Genesis 17:19). When that promise was given Isaac was not yet born. 

REFLECT 

Do you have the confidence that God is directing your steps as you make decisions and carry them out? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 24:62-67. This concludes the search of the servant for a bride for Isaac and the union of Isaac with his bride.