Summary of passage: Abraham’s servant left on the quest to find a wife for Isaac. He went to the town of Nahor in Northwestern Mesopotamia and stopped at the well. The servant prays to God for the chosen girl to give him and his camels water when he asks.
Rebekah appeared who was the beautiful daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. She gave the servant a drink when asked and volunteered to water his camels as well.
The servant offered to pay for lodging and Rebekah readily agreed. The servant bowed and worshipped the Lord who has been faithful to Abraham by leading him to Abraham’s relatives for a wife.
Questions:
6a) Traveling in ancient times. There were robbers always about. And finding a wife out of a small pool of people.
b) He prayed for the Lord to give him a sign and he was specific about it: Let it be the girl who gives him AND his camels a drink at the well.
c) Personal Question. My answer: The actual doing it. Pray and follow through.
7a) The servant asked for the girl to offer him and his camels a drink of water when asked. The servant was at a well so water was readily available. It was toward evening when all the women go to draw water so there would be a lot of opportunity for this to happen. He didn’t ask for fire to be sent down or something outrageous to test God.
b) That she was thoughtful and helpful to others. She was sharing and caring. That she was willing to do hard work. The servant had 10 camels with him. One camel can drink up to 20 gallons so watering 10 by hand would have taken at least an hour. That she had a servant’s heart.
8a) Verses 17-19 She did what the servant prayed for.
b) Verse 24 She was a relative of Abraham, not a foreigner.
c) Verse 27 He praises God.
Conclusions: Very short answer day. I liked the personal question the most because it brings me back to my purpose here on earth, which lately seems to be languishing by the wayside.
We can assume the servant was Eliezer from Genesis 15:2 since a different name is not used in this passage.
Before the servant was even done praying, God answered his prayer (verse 15). I wish God would do this for me.