Lesson 51- Engagement and Return of Rebekah to Abraham and Isaac, Genesis 24:29- 33

Larry Kirkpatrick

Genesis: First Things First • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

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Meet the Family

English Standard Version (Chapter 24)

29 Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban ran out toward the man, to the spring. 30 As soon as he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and heard the words of Rebekah his sister, “Thus the man spoke to me,” he went to the man. And behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring. 31 He said, “Come in, O blessed of the LORD. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.” 32 So the man came to the house and unharnessed the camels, and gave straw and fodder to the camels, and there was water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. 33 Then food was set before him to eat. But he said, “I will not eat until I have said what I have to say.” He said, “Speak on.”

Eliezer gets the royal treatment upon arrival at Rebekah’s family tent. You can imagine the expressive description that Rebekah gave to them of all that the stranger said to her at the oasis. Laban, her brother, a new character, comes out to greet Eliezer after hearing what she had to say to him back at the tent. He is a diplomat in his greeting and he is running interference at the same time. Just not anybody is going to take off with his sister. This is not the last time we will hear about Laban. He has a penchant for deception in regards to his relationships as we will learn in later chapters .

Genesis—Beginning and Blessing (God’s Faithfulness (v. 28–60))

Laban’s hospitality. The name of Rebekah’s older brother, Laban, means “the white one” and is a poetic term for the moon, which was in keeping with Abraham’s moon-worshiping origin. This Laban is the same man who would shamefully deceive Isaac’s son Jacob when Jacob came seeking the hand of his daughter Rachel. Laban was a man who loved money and advantage. Though Laban would not be able to take advantage of Abraham’s servant, his materialism was implicit in the exchange.

Laban( brother’s negotiated their sister’s marriage contracts) makes good on his sister’s offer of a place to stay for Eliezer and his camels. “I have already prepared a place.” Apparently it takes a little while to move camels from one place to another, so Laban is ready for Eliezers arrival. It’s not like driving a car, and all of a sudden you are there. It is here in the text we find that there are men with Eliezer. That is a tidbit of new information. Food is set out for everybody, but Eliezer has to say his piece before he can even eat.

The Abrahamic Connection 24:34- 41

English Standard Version (Chapter 24)

34 So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant. 35 The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys. 36 And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has. 37 My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell, 38 but you shall go to my father’s house and to my clan and take a wife for my son.’ 39 I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.’ 40 But he said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father’s house. 41 Then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my clan. And if they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.’

The Proposition

It is interesting that so far Isaac is not mentioned. Abraham is the key. He has not been forgotten in the land and his emissary is bearing jewels for the bride to be. Eliezer is reaffirming the story of the miracle child and the miracle parents. Eliezer is Abraham’s servant. Those are his first words. Abraham has made an impression on this, his right hand man. The wealth foretold, is layered: Flocks, herds, silver, gold, male servants and female servants, camels, and donkeys. Eight ways to describe his wealth and Laban/ Nahor may have been just as wealthy in or close as Eliezer is proving that this is no fluke. Here’s an important note, not just any wife will do for Abrahams son. It has to be from his fathers house. No Canaanites.

Pressing on

Starting with verse 39 is a logical fear that Eliezer had: That the girl would not follow him back to see the son. We have heard this part of the story before. But also, here is a new reveal. We now find a new detail not mentioned before and it does not conflict with the telling or outcome. The new item is that Abraham promised that an angel would go before Eliezer and prosper him on his way. Isaac’s new wife would come from his own clan and from his fathers house. Abraham did not even mention the name of his fathers clan or family. There is angelic intervention and this is the first reveal as it came from our prophet Abraham, through the lips of Eliezer.

At this juncture Eliezer is able to back out of his responsibilities if he so desire once the pitch has been made. Because at this point the family could have refused, and done so honorably. That is why Eliezer is free at this point. Of course, we find that it is not necessary to back out because everything is moving smoothly forward.

The Story is Proclaimed Once More Genesis 24:42-49

King James Version (Chapter 24)

42 And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go: 43 Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink; 44 And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master’s son. 45 And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee. 46 And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also. 47 And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands. 48 And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter unto his son. 49 And now if ye 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.

This is a long chapter, 67 verses. But the story depends on the retelling and each time we are introduced to some important points, even so we could almost retell it ourselves. But here the new thing is when he pops the question!

49 And now if ye 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.

The question is do I stay or get out? Eliezer is not run out of the tent and the answer to the question is next week! Clearly spoken, our duties as God’s servants are much more important than Eliezer’s as His duties have expired. Ours have not. Things I have noticed before we close. Human relationships move forward when there is kindness and truth telling. Humility on Eliezer’s part cannot be ignored. He humbled himself on the part of his master and in front of Laban. Small details makes the story work. Rebekah was rewarded when doing even the most mundane things like carrying water and taking care of animals.

The power of the mundane done in humility is rewarded with God’s stamp of approval for the ages to read about and listen to.

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