A Bride for Isaac

Genesis 24 God hears the prayers of His servants

Not too many years ago in our country, it was common to place ads in publications offering oneself as a bride seeking a husband. In Genesis 24, we find the reverse. Abraham sends his trustworthy servant in search of a bride for his son, who is about forty years old at this time. Abraham secured his promise to “not acquire a wife for his son from the daughters of the Canaanites.” [Gen 24:3]  If God promised the land of Canaan to him and his descendants, we wonder why he was so adamant about this stipulation. All we need to do is look back at the issue of Sodom and Gomorrah to see the reason why. Later we will see that God agreed with his decision because the sin of the Amorites/Canaanites was a stench in his nostrils.

Abraham had discipled this servant well as we see he sought the face of God in prayer for wisdom and discernment upon arriving at his destination. Do we seek the face of God when we are in a situation where we do not know where to turn or whom to trust as he did? God honored that prayer in bringing Rebekah to offer him a drink and to water the camels; no small feat for ten camels would need twenty-five gallons of water apiece!

The servant prayed much like Solomon: “But respond favorably to your servant’s prayer and his request for help, O Lord my God. Answer the desperate prayer your servant is presenting to you today.” [1Ki 8:28]