The Master, the Servant, and the Bride

45 "Before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her water jar on her shoulder; and she went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, 'Please let me drink.' 46 She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will also water your camels.' So I drank, and she also watered the camels. (Genesis 24:45-46)

The story of Abraham's servant seeking Isaac's intended bride, Rebekah, is a beautiful picture of faith. It could also be a representation of God's intended relationship with God's people.

The servant was sent to find a worthy bride for his master's son. Feeling daunted by his mission, the servant prayed for success - revealing the traits he sought.

12 Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” (Genesis 24:12-14)

The servant wanted the prospective bride to be prepared and willing to do the work put before her, and to have a kind heart that would go beyond what was asked. Rebekah fit the bill (she got water for all ten of the servant's camels), and when she was asked if she was willing to leave the people and land she knew, she agreed to go without pause - as Abraham, himself had done when God called him to travel to an unknown place of blessing.

God is still seeking kind hearts, willing hands, and fearless feet to go where God leads and be open to the blessings God longs to give.

58 And they called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will." 59 So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abraham's servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "May you, our sister, become thousands of myriads; may your offspring gain possession of the gates of their foes." (Genesis 24:59-60)