Feed My Camels Too

Seeking: (Gen. 24)

The marriage of Isaac and Rebecca

Things that the servant did

There was a conscious decision to seek a wife for Isaac. It wasn’t a random occurrence or unexpected.

The servant was the most trusted among all of Abrahams servants. Abraham desired that he neither take a wife from among the Cannanites nor take Isaac back to the land of the Caldeans.

The servant prayed to God and entrusted his hope to God. He was the most faithful servant in Abrahams house and in a time of expectation he did what very likely his master would have done, and that is pray. He prayed for success this day. For he had made the journey, which in itself is an action of faith, and was now in a desert waiting expectantly on God to deliver.

The next two scriptures exhibit wise judgement and are very honorable, very esteemed in that the servant knew how to ask and what to ask for.

The heart of God that the servant had is the first thing that appeals to me in this verse. There is something to be said about having the righteous judgment in his heart to ask for a specific sign, not an abstract one such as “Your will” or “what is meant to be”. Instead being able to perceive what is the will of God. The sign that the servant asked for revealed that he was in tune with the will of God such that what he asked for received favor in the sight of God; that the Lord saw it and approved of it. It also revealed the type of character that he was seeking in the woman. A selfless one, an uncontentious woman, a giving woman, a caring woman who would even care for the beasts – of a stranger. So he asked for a very specific sign that would reveal these traits if they were present. He did not ask for a vain sign based on physical beauty or physical traits, but one that revealed the inner person.

Furthermore the sign that he asked for was based on his action. The sign would only be a response given after he took the initial step to ask for water;  after his initial question is posed. The sign again was very specific, not just any act of kindness; so as not to confuse her with anyone performing a kind act- “let her be the one you have appointed.” It was a sign that benefitted his beasts, not one that flattered him. If you love me then you will love all that is of me, feed my camels. It is very similar to what Jesus tells Peter, that if you love me feed my sheep. If you love me, look after my flock. The love you have for me should and will lead you to nurture and take care of that which is of me and belongs to me. Even if they have no apparent or immediate value to you.

(added 12-26-15) The servant also asked for a bold thing, but confidently. He knew that he had ten (10) camels with him and that it would be a task for anyone to water his animals. Whether it was common to see someone with ten camels (for Abraham was very rich) or whether it was more common to see a traveler with one, perhaps two, camels is unbeknownst to me there fore I do not know what someone would be prepared to do mentally upon knowing they would have to quench camels. It still remains that the servant himself knew how many camels he had and that for any woman to do the task, it would be a big act. Sufficient for proof, proof based on the virtue and implication of the act and proof based on the specificity of the act.

Before he was finished praying to the Lord, the Lord sent Rebecca in his direction. He had not asked for a sign that pleases the eyes, but the scripture says that indeed she was very beautiful to behold. The Lord supplies the desires of his children, and when He gives He pours.

Now when the servant saw her, the Bible says that he ran to meet her. He did not drag his feet having asked for this sign, but he approached her and did ask for water as he said would. He was faithful in this part.

v.18 In verse 18 Rebekah’s spirit of gentleness is revealed and she allows the servant to drink from her bucket. The scripture indicates that she let the bucket down to her hand and allowed the man to drink. Perhaps she had been carrying it on her head and let it down to her hand however she did not put the bucket on the floor for the servant to drink but held it while he drank.

v.18 So she said, “Drink, my lord.” Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink. She had not yet offered to quench his camels and at this time perhaps the servant was wondering if she would indeed ask, if he had chosen the right woman or if he would have to ask another woman before the sign would be confirmed. In this moment of not knowing and waiting on a response his faith could have been shaken.

v.19 In this verse the sign comes. Rebekah declares that she will draw water for his camels, “until they have finished drinking.” She does not ask tentatively but asserts that she will and takes action. She sees the need and she fills it. What a mighty woman. She then “quickly” emptied her bucket into the trough for the camels to drink and ran back to the well to draw water for ALL of his camels. I do not know how far off the camels were from the well, but it was a distance that could accommodate some span of running and it was a trek that she had to make multiple times. The servant was not traveling with one camel but v.10 says that the servant took TEN of his masters camels. Rebekah quenched all of them. She made as many journeys back to the well as was necessary to quench his beasts. Lets do some math. On average a camel can drink 30 gallons. 10 camels X 30 gallons = 300 gallons. An average bucket may carry 5 gallons when full. If we say the bucket that Rebekah had was carrying 4 gallons/trip on average ( to account for spillage and the effort of carrying a bucket) we can say that Rebekah  made 75 trips in order to quench all of the camels. This was no small doing, this took time. The servant did have time to ponder about her because this must have taken a few hours. To let down the bucket and draw it back up again, trek, empty it, and repeat until all the beast were watered, took time. She lightened his load, She took what would have been an arduous task and removed it from the servants plate; the servant in proxy of his master. She did this voluntarily. The other woman must have left her and gone back to the city for not wanting to wait yet she remained and remained committed to this task. Rebekah must have been sweating.

She did this faithfully and deserves praise, she did not know that she would be the mother of nations. Observe how caring and faithful this woman was to a stranger, feeding the man and his beasts. “I once heard someone say that if you love me, you love my dog.” If you care for me then you will care for mine.

If she can do this for his camels, imagine how she will take care of her master.

Patience

While Rebekah is going back and forth between the well and the trough the servant watches her closely as the sign is fulfilled. He now knows that she is the one that the Lord has sent. He does not know if she will agree to journey back with him. This is the concern he expressed to his master Abraham before leaving in v. 5.

The servant was patient. Even after receiving a confirmed sign that he had asked for, he was attentive to the will of the Lord to see if this was indeed the favor of the Lord and how that favor would act out.

Confirmation and Action

v.22 So it was, when the camels (plural) had finished drinking, that the man took a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels of gold,

After waiting to see what would be, the servant now realized that the sign had been confirmed and fulfilled. Knowing this he wasted no time in going to her.

v.23 and said, “Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please, is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge?”

From the reading and tone of the scripture a certain fervor and desire can be read in the servants inquiry. He was very pleased that the Lord had honored him and on his part he was fully committed. I pray Lord please send me a word, and I believe that you have, and will continue to fulfill it. Amen.

In verse 28 Rebekah tells her mothers household. (why is it the mothers household and not the fathers?) and in v.31 the servant is received into the house. v. 32 the camels are fed and the men who are with him have their feet washed.

Focus

v.33 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.”

The servant did not want to be distracted from the reason he had come there. Food and pleasure were before him yet he made up within himself that he should not be deterred, even a little bit.

In v. 34, now that he knows who Rebekah is, that she is sent from the Lord, the servant reveals who he is and begins to explain his journey and his purpose to Rebekah and her family.

v.39 “And I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.’

I see this as important because although Abraham expresses full faith that the Lord will prosper the servants journey, he acknowledges the case where she does not want to follow him back. He hopes for the best and realizes that there is an event in which the woman may not journey back with him. It also highlights the fact that Rebekah had to make a journey in order to be with her husband.

v. 41 ‘You will be clear from this oath when you arrive among my family; for if they will not give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.’

In verses 42-45 the servant details how he asked the Lord for a sign of who the woman was that the Lord had appointed. He also points her out by name at this point and says you are this woman. He makes plain that it was not a coincidence or random action that he chose her but in fact an act of God. This is an answer to a question which was not explicitly asked in this case, though Rebekah and her family may have had the question in their hearts. The question of “Why did you choose me?”

He details the sign which he asked for to her, to which she can bare witness that those events did take place and that the sign was fulfilled in her. (v.45, she made haste).

The Lord has also given her a heart to follow you. You must realize this. (12/26/15)

v.49 “Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. And if not.tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.” After doing what he said he would do, the decision was left to Rebekah and her family, whether she believed the report and whether she would journey back with the servant. When the servant receives favor he blesses the name of the Lord and gives Rebekah more jewelry and gifts, for her and her family. He does show a liberal amount of generosity and gratefulness for the success and favor of his journey. He is open about his intent and desire for Rebekah, not disguising it as anything else but what it is.

How ironic that Rebekah fetched water for a traveler whom she did not know, a traveler who turned out to be the servant in the house she would become master of. “[This is the only time you will ever serve me, to show your faithfulness and worth. Here after I will serve you.]”

v.53 only mentions that the servant gave gifts to Rebekah’s brother and mother, but makes no mention of her father. Also the brother does take on the roll of a father in that he welcomes the servant into his home, unsaddling his camels and giving them feed, hears the servants report, and gives an answer to the servants request on behalf of the house. I believe that Rebekah’s father was no longer living at this time. What did this do to Rebekah, how might loosing her father have affected her character?

The servant stayed a night with the family of Rebekah, but after that when it was time to go the servant pleaded, “please do not hinder me.” After receiving favor the servant still was not slack in his journey and was ready to take his blessing. This portion is also important because it elicits an explicit and personal response from Rebekah herself and not from her family. She says “I will go.” Settled. She then in v.61 receives the blessing of her family.

v.61 Then Rebekah and her maids arose, and they rode on the camels and filled the man, So the servant took Rebekah and departed. That must have been sweet, knowing that he had gotten her and would be seeing his master with good news.

Again the providence of her riding the camels, that she herself had quenched. Jesus!

Isaac went to meditate. While this was happening, he meditated. While the Lord was working in his favor, he was meditating. On many things, probably on his wife whom he had not met but perhaps on other things as well. He meditated and made fit his mind. (This is my word). This is only the second time that Isaac is mentioned in this chapter and it is the only time that Isaacs actions are made known. It is significant for anyone who is also seeking a similar blessing that they make ready their mind and be ready to receive  what the Lord says and what the Lord has.

v.65 … “So she took a veil and covered herself.” The humility of Rebekah is shown again.

Prior to the confirmation of Rebekah’s identity, the servants entire conversation had been with God. (12/26/15)

v.66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.”

Now Isaac hears the report and receives the conviction that indeed this is not just any woman whom the servant chose but one sent from the Lord.

To me this is the most important scripture in the entire chapter. It first shows Isaacs acceptance and reception of Rebekah, that he brought her into his mothers tent. The verse mentions that this was Sarah’s tent and for Isaac to receive another woman into the abode is important to showing her significance, when considering how close Sarah and Isaac must have been. Hither to she, Sarah, was the most important woman in Isaac’s life. The verse also outlines that she ‘became’ his wife, in a verbic sense.

He loved her. This is vital, and a culmination of two journeys. He loved her, not just physically but he loved her as a wife. Lastly it shows the importance of Rebekah to Isaac, the importance and value of a wife. He was comforted. She was a gift from God to comfort him and make his journey manageable. Again, not just physically, but Isaac was going through some things outside of a marriage, unknown to Rebekah hitherto; Not that she or anyone could have prevented Sarah’s death, but she comforted him through the process. It was told from the beginning that she would be this sort of wife to comfort him when she fed his camels.