Abraham's servant, who was most likely Eliezer, had come to the house of Bethuel. There he met Rebekah's mother and her brother Laban. Nothing is said of Bethuel, so we do not know whether he was still alive or that by reason of infirmity he was not able to take part in the discussions. Most likely her mother and brother had not expected Rebekah to agree to leave so soon. Her heart had been inclined by the Lord. She looked forward to meeting her future husband. Of course it was all the leading of the Lord, who had made the journey of the servant so prosperous.

Before she left, Rebekah was blessed by her family: "And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them" (Genesis 24:60). This blessing greatly resembles the blessing which the Lord gave to Abraham (Genesis 22:17). The Lord directed the thoughts and lips of all the members of the house to speak in this way. The Lord has fulfilled the blessings until this day.

Soon after this Rebekah said farewell to her dear ones, and the journey began. They travelled the same way that Abraham went many years before (Genesis 12:5). For Rebekah it was somewhat the same as it had been for Abraham. She travelled to a strange country and had to leave everything behind. This is the call for everyone, as David said to the future bride of Solomon (Psalm 45:10). Have we already by the grace of God forsaken the world and all its pleasures? Then we will lose much but gain much more, as the Lord has promised in Matthew 19:29.

At this time Isaac lived near the well La-hai-roi in the south country. This well is known to us from the history of Hagar (Genesis 16:14). Hagar had fled from her mistress Sarai, but at this well she was instructed to go back and to subject herself to Sarai. We do not know exactly where this well was, but it was in the direction of Egypt. Later on it is mentioned as the place where Isaac lived (Genesis 25:11). We conclude that Isaac, even before the death of his father, had settled at this place with a part of the possessions which were entrusted to him.

For some it is a question whether Abraham were living here also at this time, but this is not likely, because then Rebekah would have been introduced to her father-in-law, who had sent his servant. Even more important, the next chapter speaks about Abraham's death and that he was buried in the cave of Machpelah, which is not in the south country, but around Hebron. Most theologians think that he stayed in Hebron from the death of Sarah until the end of his life.

We have to remember that at the time of Isaac's birth Abraham was one hundred years old. Isaac married in his fortieth year (Genesis 25:20). At that time Abraham was one hundred forty years old, but he died at the age of one hundred seventy-five years. Therefore there is no basis for the reasoning that Abraham had died before his servant came back. Some think that Eliezer stopped in Hebron and introduced Rebekah to Abraham, then went on to Isaac. The point is not so important, and we cannot find it in God's Word.

Eliezer knew about Isaac's residence. It was toward evening when he came into this neighborhoods with his small caravan. To us it may seem that Isaac did not have much to do with this mission to Haran, because nothing is mentioned in God's Word about it. But he knew that Eliezer had gone on a very important mission. His thoughts must have gone with Eliezer, and his eyes were toward heaven. Every evening he went into the field to pray to the Lord and to meditate.

Why did Isaac not pray in his tent? Of course this is also possible, and God's children frequently pray indoors. But nature preaches more the glory of God's works and leads up to the Creator. Quite often we do not see anything in nature but trees and grass, but how different it is when the Holy Spirit enlightens our eyes. Then we may see the world as full of God's glory and be led by natural matters to the divine works of grace.

In our days many people seek rest in the realm of nature, but when they return they are more tired than before. When we may see God's greatness and goodness in nature, then it will humble us before God and give rest to our burdened soul. Christ has merited this rest for His church, and at moments they may taste of it; this can be experienced in the realm of nature also. But it must not be, as I have heard that some think, that we do not have to go to church on Sunday because in nature we can also meet the Lord. This is a wrong idea which attracts more and more followers in our days. For us the blessings are given primarily when we are present in God's house. Where there are two or three gathered in My Name, there I will be present, says the Lord. God's children may experience this from time to time. Keep this in mind, young people.

But why did Isaac go to the field toward evening? There must have been a special reason, since it is recorded by the operation of the Holy Spirit. We know that in the darkness the wild animals go after their prey, so it was not without danger. And in the darkness the wicked do their evil plans. So why did Isaac go out in the evening? First, because by then his daily work was finished. Everyone who is in good health has a task in this world. He who will not work will not eat, although in our society there are many ways to eat without labor. We have also to give an account to the Lord regarding how we work, since it is His command to work six days. Solomon says, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise" (Proverbs 6:6).

Isaac was not an idler, but he fulfilled the work to which he was called by the Lord. At the end of the day he went to the field, to a solitary place, to pour out his soul before the Lord, to seek communion with Him. Time and again we read in the Bible of the saints drawing nigh unto God in prayer and supplication (Psalm 55:17; Psalm 119:15, 22, 48, 78, & 148; Psalm 143:5). The Lord has said, "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:6). Do you have the same desire, friends? We may ask advice of a friend or of our parents, but the best place is to ask the Lord for the direction and help which is indispensable for all of us. This is even more urgent when we speak about matters of eternity.

Often, it becomes so quiet in nature. Isaac chose this stillness to find rest for body and soul and to remember the faithful care the Lord had shown also in the day which had passed. But he would think also of his sinful thoughts, words, and deeds, which could be taken away only by the Lord. Isaac's longing was to walk with God, as Enoch did; but here below there is only the begin­ning of obedience. What a burden those sins can become!

When Isaac turned his face toward heaven, he saw the millions of stars in the sky. When the Lord had made the covenant of grace with Abraham, then He had made a precious promise (Genesis 15:5), which He surely would fulfil. Not one of the words which He has spoken will fall to the ground, but He is free to do it at His time. To know the promise of God is a great privilege, but it is a greater blessing to know for ourselves that the Lord is also a God who fulfils His promises.

How would this promise be fulfilled, since his mother had died and Isaac was unmarried? We know that Abraham tried to help the Lord fulfil this promise by taking Hagar. We find something similar in Jacob's working out God's promise that he would receive the birth-right. Jacob went into a deceitful way, but in Isaac we find a different attitude. He directed his eyes toward the Lord, for whom nothing is too wonderful! The Lord is ever the same.

Isaac knew that Eliezer had gone to Haran to look for a wife for him. Undoubtedly it was also his prayer that the Lord would make it well. He could plead on the promise that the Lord had given to Abraham; he could plead on the stars in the sky. What a sweetness and comfort there is when we may draw nigh unto the Lord in this way. God's children cannot help themselves, but they must be helped by the Lord.

How different is the superficial religion of our days, which takes the promises in God's Word as if they are for everyone. They take the promises, but the promises are never given to them. Possessing a historical faith, they have heard about conversion from the writings of the old fathers or from the conversation of God's children. They repeat the words like parrots; they readily join the crowd of converted people. But they are so different in many ways. God's people often feel unconverted and poor, but these temporal believers never lack anything. They are rich, but they never have been poor sinners.

The Pharisee in Luke 18 could only thank the Lord that he was such a good man. We find many such people in our days. When they open their mouths, then one hears it immediately. It does not begin with their misery but with deliverance or gratitude; this is not the way the Lord works in His church. You hear words, but no substance.

How different it was with Isaac, who spoke to God and with God. Often he looked toward the north to see whether the servant were yet coming. With tension he awaited the outcome. Then far in the distance he observed a caravan. When it came closer, he recognized his father's camels. Soon he would know what had happened.

Also for Rebekah it was a crucial moment when she realized that she was coming close to Isaac's residence. Undoubtedly she had been looking on all sides to see the possessions of her father-in-law, and probably also to see whether her future husband was there. In the distance she saw a man, and she asked Eliezer who it was. Eliezer told her that it was Isaac himself. Although the servant said, "It is my master," this did not apply to Abraham, but to Isaac. Rebekah alighted from the camel and put on her veil to cover her face, as is customary in the Orient. The bride­groom will see the bride only veiled.

God's Word shows us that Rebekah acted according to the customs of her days, according to that which was done by her ancestors. Today nearly all the customs of earlier times have been put away. We think also of all kinds of freedoms which are taken before marriage, which are forbidden by God's law. We should, with the help of the Lord, flee from these worldly ways of living, asking the Lord to guide us. Do not forget that many institutions and customs, even those of human origin, can be a wall of protection against much evil. He who breaks with all customs of earlier days does not act wisely.

The servant told everything which he had experienced on this journey, and how the Lord made his way prosperous. He described how he came to the well and the behaviour of Rebekah and her family. It was a miracle for Isaac; he saw that he had received his bride from the Lord's hand. He brought Rebekah to the tent of his mother Sarah. Abraham and Isaac did not live in the same place, but it is clear that Isaac had taken the tent of his mother with him. There were reasons for so doing, because he expected that soon a bride would come for him. These two were united in holy matrimony, most likely by Abraham.

Marriage is an ordinance from creation. It is a blessing from heaven that the Lord has left for mankind, also after the fall. In the seventh commandment the Lord commands to honor marriage. In the providence of the Lord two young people meet each other, and the Lord gives love for one another. How necessary it is that the Lord go with them in the future. We cannot miss the blessing of the Lord. That is the reason that we come together in God's house to ask for His blessing. This is not a formality, but a necessity, especially when we think of the many attacks by the devil, who strives to take marriage out of our society and to allow people to live together like animals. Marriage is one of the last strongholds that still hinder the devil.

Scripture tells us that Isaac loved his wife. This is also in agreement with our marriage form, which tells us that every husband should love his wife as his own body and should not be bitter against her. In the beginning of marriage this bitterness is unlikely, but later it can become different. A man should honor his wife as the weaker vessel. Love in marriage is sweet, especially when we think of the many difficulties encountered in daily life. The wife should be subject to the husband in all things which are good. In daily life it should not be difficult to live together in such a way as is described in God's Word. It is a great privilege when we may discuss with each other the difficulties of life and family, but also when we may speak together about eternal matters. Natural love for each other was found in the heart of Isaac and Rebekah, but also spiritual love bound them together.

The first emphasis is on the love of Isaac for Rebekah, but the last part of our Bible study shows the other side: Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. Sarah's death had been a loss not only for Abraham, but also for Isaac, who had mourned the past three years. His marriage was the medicine. Rebekah filled the empty place.

We hope that our young people will become jealous of Isaac and Rebekah. They also had their prob­lems in life, but with the help of the Lord they could overcome the difficulties. If we may experience the Lord's guidance in our marriage life, then we will be very happy.

Paul spoke about the spiritual meaning of marriage, which points to the unity between Christ and His church. This unity cannot be missed in our congregations, and it should be the prayer of God's people that, in this time of great decline, the Lord would give the same grace as in former days.

Questions:⤒🔗

1. Gather the different thoughts about Abraham at the time that Eliezer returned. Was he yet alive, or had he died? Give proof from God's Word.
2. Mention some examples of saints who also felt the need to seek the Lord in prayer, as Isaac did.
3. What were the most important things that Isaac should pray for in the evening? Is this also a guide for our days? What is the best prayer?
4. Search the Bible, both in the Old and New Testament, to find different marriage cus­toms and ceremonies.
5. Why did Isaac have the tent of his mother in his residence while Abraham was yet alive in Hebron?