Seventh In Ramah

Read: Genesis 24

Abraham is looking for his oldest servant. Sarah has just passed and the family is grieving. He has something very important on his mind. 

This servant has been a part of Abraham’s life since near the beginning of his journey. Through famine and war, the promises of God, birth of his children, name change, the Isaac on the mountain moment, all of the traveling, building, obedience. You have to think Abraham has a lot of trust in him after all this, because he put him in charge of everything he owned. 

Once he finds him, he asks him to swear to go back to Haran and bring a wife for Isaac. Those were the specific terms. She couldn’t be from here, but she had to come here. Abraham was protecting the calling of God and the progress they’ve made. God told him to set out. Going back would short circuit the end goal. The promise was forward, they couldn’t go back. 

“The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land,’ He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. And if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be released from this oath; only do not take my son back there.” Genesis 24:7-8

What a beautiful sentiment. The God who promised will send an angel before you. If it doesn’t work out, I accept the closed door and stay where God has me.

The servant swore, gathered a good show of his master’s possessions, and headed towards Haran. There had to be some weight to this request. A heaviness on his heart. Not only because he swore an oath, but everything he’s witnessed. He watched as Abraham and Sarah longed for this child. Watched the hope fade that he would ever come. Saw them rejoice when they finally got their Isaac. Every year he watched Isaac grow more into the man he was today. Now that man was grieving his mother and a wife would surely help. No pressure.. but pressure. 

He was walking the journey backwards. Coming up on landmarks that held a lot of memories. You ever ride with someone that’s going through their hometown, and they point out everything sentimental to them? Everything from ‘’met my spouse” to “ate pizza there as a teenager”. I could see a little of that going on. He was taking an actual trip down memory lane. 

When he finally got to Abraham’s home land, he stopped at the well. Before he made anymore moves towards fulfilling his oath, he prayed. 

Then he said, “O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink’ let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.” Genesis 24:12-14

Before he even said “Amen”, there was Rebekah. A vision of perfection with a pitcher on her shoulder. 

He ran to meet her and ask for a drink of water. I can almost feel an excited “I can’t believe it!” The question he chose in prayer might have had a little to do with actual thirst before. It had been a long journey. Two birds, one stone. I’m willing to bet he suddenly forgotten dehydration when she showed up. Could this really be playing out like this? This quickly?

Rebekah is as hospitable as they come. She didn’t know she was actually fulfilling someone’s prayers. 

And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not. -Genesis 24:21

A pause to take it all in. One of those times there’s a situation moving at such a fast pace you just stop, slow down, and feel God. Make sure this is right. He gave it a moment until the camels had finished drinking. 

He decided to proceed. Proceed with 10.5 shekels of gold jewelry. This would translate to a bit over 4oz today, having a value around $18,000. I feel like he had some confidence in him! 

He asked whose daughter she was and if they had room to lodge. Rebekah, again, answers with fulfillment to prayers. She’s from just the right lineage. Not only is there room to lodge, but there’s straw and feed. She wasn’t just saying “yes”, she was saying “yes, and-“. Indeed, an angel had gone before him. God was doing more than simply answering what was asked. 

Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the LORD. And he said, “Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.” Genesis 24:26-27

Rebekah told her mother’s house of all these things and gave an account to her brother, Laban. Laban finds the servant and asks why he’s even still outside! 

They were taking care of him from settling to supper, but he couldn’t eat. He had an oath and a burden. 

Food was set before him to eat, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told about my errand.” And he said, “Speak on.” -Genesis 24:33

The servant tells the whole story, giving God His glory. There’s no denying His fingerprint.

Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing comes from the LORD; we cannot speak to you either bad or good. Here is Rebekah before you; take her and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as the LORD has spoken.” And it came to pass, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, that he worshiped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth. -Genesis 24:50-52

Abraham’s servant bowed to the earth worshiping the Lord again. This wife wasn’t for him, this wasn’t his promise. He was on an errand for his master, but got a front row seat, a personal experience of God at work. God moving so clearly that everyone sees it and knows it’s Him. What a reason to worship. 

The next morning he was ready to go. I bet he couldn’t wait to share the good news and tell what God had done. Rebekah’s mother and brother tried to keep her a little longer, but ultimately left it up to her. 

Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.” -Genesis 24:58

Her willingness was the last piece. I want to take a moment to let that sink in. God’s guiding hand was leading every step. It was undeniable to everyone around, incredible to the servant who was even told God would send His angel. Still, the last piece was Rebekah’s willingness. 

They blessed her and sent her on her way. When they made it to Isaac, Rebekah was the first one to say something. I’m sure it was a long ride spent pondering the future. She veiled herself and the servant told Isaac the whole story. This time, to the one the blessing was for. I’m sure the story never got old, but this had to be his favorite time telling it. Isaac was starting his family, his big chapter, with this testimony. 

God had been so good to Abraham. When his family’s season of grief came, Abraham believed for Rebekah. He believed that God would send an angel and make the way. His servant prayed continually, blessed the Lord, and walked in obedience for this hope. Now, that hope’s name is cemented in history. Rebekah was a fulfillment to Abraham’s prayers, a comfort for Isaac. She was a fulfillment to each of the servant’s prayers along the way.

We don’t know what happened next in the servant’s life, but I assume he went back to running things. I’m sure in day to day life, he heard whispers of Rebekah. Surely he remembered God’s faithfulness when he heard her name. She was a walking testament to the goodness of God and answered prayers. I wonder if catching a glimpse of her brought back that feeling of worship; thanksgiving for the kindness God had shown his master. Her being in the camp, part of the family, was a confidence that God was all over their story. He cared about them. 

I have a little shelf in my office that has memorial tokens, my whispers of Rebekah. Small things that remind me of a big God moment. When I’m praying and fasting for what’s heavy on my heart, it helps keep me confident in God. He has before, He will again. 

Whatever season you’re in, God is there with you. If you are starting your big chapter and praying for your Rebekah, let the story of their Rebekah give you confidence that God has sent His angel before you. If you are in a season of praying for what’s next, remember what God has already done. Let the whispers of your Rebekah give you the assurance that He will again. What you’re praying for right now will one day be a story of God’s faithfulness, just like the stories before.