Genesis 24:32-67
Q.1. How did the servant express the urgency of his mission? What did the servant disclose about Abraham? – (Gen.24:32-36)
Eliezer refused to eat until he had shared the reason for his visit (Gen.24:32-33). He told of the spiritual blessings given to Abraham, and of how this inheritance would pass on to Isaac – 35 The Lord has greatly blessed my master, so that he has become rich; and He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys. 36 Now Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master in her old age, and he has given him all that he has (Gen.24:35-36). The servant confirmed the importance of his mission by giving the details of the vow to which Abraham had required him to commit (Gen.24:37).
Q.2. How did Eliezer represent his master’s mission? How did he leave room for God to direct him? What was the servant’s testimony? – (Gen.24:37-49)
Eliezer then revealed the seriousness of the mission that he was on for Abraham. He had been told clearly that Isaac was not to marry one of the Canaanite women. Rather, Eliezer was to seek out a wife from Abraham’s relatives back in Mesopotamia (Gen.24:37-38). He told of Abraham’s dependence upon God, and his confidence in God’s provision – … `The Lord, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you to make your journey successful, and you will take a wife for my son from my relatives and from my father’s house (Gen.24:40). Added to the faith of Abraham, Eliezer then revealed his own personal prayer and guidance from the Lord (Gen.24:42-44). Immediately after he had prayed, Rebekah had come along and fulfilled all the requests he had made from God (Gen.24:45-48). God had answered his prayers. Before he would eat, Eliezer asked for a clear decision from the family (Gen.24:49).
Q.3. How did the family respond? What did the servant do when he was delayed? What were the circumstances of Rebekah’s parting? – (Gen.24:50-61)
The family could not deny God’s direction, so agreed that Rebekah could travel back to marry Isaac (Gen.24:50-51). Eliezer bowed before the Lord, and lavished a rich bounty on Rebekah, her brother, and mother. Only then did the feasting begin (Gen.24:52-54). In the morning, Eliezer and his servants were planning to leave but the family wanted to delay the return for some ten days. After Eliezer’s request that there be no further delay, the family allowed Rebekah to make the decision. She trusted the godly servant and was willing to leave that day. Her own nurse accompanied her. (Gen.24:55-59). Rebekah parted with the family’s blessing – … “May you, our sister, become thousands of ten thousand, and may your descendants possess the gate of those who hate them.” (Gen.24:60). As a faithful steward, Eliezer would not be distracted from his mission. (c.f. 1 Cor.4:2).
Q.4. What do we learn about Isaac’s faith? How did Rebekah prepare to meet Isaac? What did the servant tell him? Was it a good marriage? – (Gen.24:62-67)
Isaac was down south at the well where his stepmother Hagar had encountered God (Gen.24:62 c.f. Gen 16:13-14). He had gone there to meditate. This strongly indicates the depth of Isaac’s spiritual growth, and the effectiveness of Abraham’s impact on him (Gen.24:63 c.f. Gen.18:19). Rebekah must have been excited, to find her betrothed on the trade route. As soon as she discovered that it was Isaac, she placed a veil over her face (Gen.24:64-65). Eliezer’s account of his mission would have been wonderful for Isaac to hear, as – The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done (Gen.24:66). We know that problems arose in the marriage later. However, the marriage started out very well – Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and he took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her; thus Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death (Gen.24:67).