Genesis 24:22-38
Rebekah at the Well
22And after the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring weighing a beka, and two gold bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels.
23“Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”
24She replied, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son that Milcah bore to Nahor.”
25Then she added, “We have plenty of straw and feed, as well as a place for you to spend the night.”
26Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD,
27saying, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld His kindness and faithfulness from my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”
28The girl ran and told her mother’s household about these things.
29Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he rushed out to the man at the spring.
30As soon as he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and heard Rebekah’s words, “The man said this to me,” he went and found the man standing by the camels near the spring.
31“Come, you who are blessed by the LORD,” said Laban. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.”
32So the man came to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were brought to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of his companions.
33Then a meal was set before the man, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told you what I came to say.” So Laban said, “Please speak.”
34“I am Abraham’s servant,” he replied.
35“The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys.
36My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and my master has given him everything he owns.
37My master made me swear an oath and said, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I dwell,
38but you shall go to my father’s house and to my kindred to take a wife for my son.’
Berean Standard Bible
After Rebekah waters the camels, the servant gives her a gold ring and two gold bracelets. He asks whose daughter she is and whether there is room in her father's house for them to spend the night. Rebekah identifies herself as the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah and Nahor, and says there is plenty of straw, feed, and room for them.
The servant bows his head and blesses the LORD, who has not forsaken Abraham's steadfast love and faithfulness. He has been led to the house of Abraham's relatives. Rebekah runs home and tells her family what has happened.
Laban, Rebekah's brother, sees the ring and bracelets and hears her story. He goes out to the man at the spring and invites him in. The servant's companions and the camels are cared for. Water is provided for their feet, and food is set before them.
But the servant will not eat until he has told his business. He explains that he is Abraham's servant. The LORD has greatly blessed Abraham with flocks, herds, silver, gold, servants, camels, donkeys, and a son born to Sarah in her old age. Abraham has given everything to Isaac and sent the servant to find a wife from his father's household.
The servant is not hiding the purpose of the journey. Rebekah's family will hear the whole story before they decide what happens next. Good guidance includes truthful disclosure, hospitality, and patience enough for everyone to understand what they are being asked to consider.
Questions
1 What did Rebekah tell the servant about her family?
AnswerShe told him she was Bethuel’s daughter and that her family had room for guests.
2 How did the servant respond after finding the family?
AnswerHe bowed and blessed the LORD for leading him faithfully.
3 Who invited the servant into the house?
AnswerLaban went out and invited him in.
4 When would the servant eat?
AnswerHe would eat after he had told the family why he had come.
What This Means for Us
Do not ask people to make life-changing decisions without giving them the whole truth. Hospitality and honesty belong together. When you are evaluating a person or proposal, slow down long enough to ask questions, hear the family story, and make sure the people involved understand what is being requested.
Prayer
God of steadfast love, make us truthful when we ask others to trust us. Help our home welcome people with generosity while still asking wise questions. Protect us from pressure and hidden motives, and teach us to make important decisions with clear information and patient care. Amen.