Genesis 24:1-21
A Servant Sent for a Bride
1By now Abraham was old and well along in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.
2So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,
3and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling,
4but will go to my country and my kindred to take a wife for my son Isaac.”
5The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the land from which you came?”
6Abraham replied, “Make sure that you do not take my son back there.
7The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me from my father’s house and my native land, who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—He will send His angel before you so that you can take a wife for my son from there.
8And if the woman is unwilling to follow you, then you are released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.”
9So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.
10Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed with all manner of good things from his master in hand. And he set out for Nahor’s hometown in Aram-naharaim.
11As evening approached, he made the camels kneel down near the well outside the town at the time when the women went out to draw water.
12“O LORD, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
13Here I am, standing beside the spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.
14Now may it happen that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. By this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”
15Before the servant had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.
16Now the girl was very beautiful, a virgin who had not had relations with any man. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up again.
17So the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me have a little water from your jar.”
18“Drink, my lord,” she replied, and she quickly lowered her jar to her hands and gave him a drink.
19After she had given him a drink, she said, “I will also draw water for your camels, until they have had enough to drink.”
20And she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran back to the well to draw water, until she had drawn water for all his camels.
21Meanwhile, the man watched her silently to see whether or not the LORD had made his journey a success.
Berean Standard Bible
Abraham is old and the LORD has blessed him in every way. He asks the senior servant of his household to find a wife for Isaac. Abraham does not want Isaac to marry a woman from the Canaanites among whom he lives, and he wants the servant to go to Abraham's relatives. Isaac is not to be taken away from the land God promised.
The servant asks what to do if the woman will not come. Abraham tells him that God will send an angel ahead, but the servant must not take Isaac there. Abraham believes that the LORD who brought him from his father's household will guide the search. If the woman will not come, the servant is released from the oath.
The servant takes ten of Abraham's camels, goods, and men and travels to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. He makes the camels kneel beside the well in the evening, when women come out to draw water. He prays for a specific sign: the young woman who offers him water and also offers to water the camels will be the one God has appointed for Isaac.
Before he finishes praying, Rebekah comes out with a water jar. She is described as beautiful, unmarried, and able to carry the jar. The servant asks for a little water. Rebekah gives him a drink and then quickly draws enough for all his camels. The servant watches silently to learn whether the LORD has made his journey successful.
The episode shows faith seeking guidance while still doing the practical work of travel, observation, and responsible questions. A sign is not a substitute for wisdom; the servant waits to see whether Rebekah's actions match his prayer.
Questions
1 What did Abraham ask his servant to find?
AnswerHe asked the servant to find a wife for Isaac from Abraham’s relatives.
2 What must the servant not do?
AnswerHe must not take Isaac away from the promised land.
3 Where did the servant pray?
AnswerHe prayed beside the well outside the city of Nahor.
4 What action did the servant watch for?
AnswerHe watched for a woman who would offer water to him and his camels.
What This Means for Us
Important family decisions deserve prayer, practical preparation, and patient observation. Do not turn a “sign” into an excuse to ignore character or consent. Look for humility, generosity, and wisdom in the person and the situation. Then involve the people most affected instead of treating them as pieces in someone else's plan.
Prayer
God who guides your people, give us wisdom for decisions that shape a family. Teach us to pray without abandoning practical care, and to notice character instead of chasing impressive signs. Help us honor the consent and dignity of the people most affected by our choices. Amen.