IV. Rebekah’s Journey to Beersheba
a. Genesis 24:53 - And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave [them] to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.
1. Endowed Rebekah with even more gifts
2. The servant also gave gifts to Rebekah’s family
3. This demonstrates to Rebekah and her family:
· The magnitude of his master’s riches
· Gratitude for their hospitality
· Worthiness of favor in their sight and assurance that their sister will be well cared for
b. Genesis 24:54 - And they did eat and drink, he and the men that [were] with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.
1. The servant demonstrates once again his faithfulness to his master and his duties at home.
2. He could have had a leisurely trip, but he realizes the importance of this task to his master.
c. Genesis 24:55 - And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us [a few] days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.
1. This is, according to the A.V. margin “a full year or at least ten months.” Figures of Speech Used in the Bible, E.W. Bullinger
2. Shows that though they agreed to the marriage, but when it was time for action they look to delay. Just like people today, its easy to make promises and difficult when it comes time to honor the commitment.
d. Genesis 24:56 - And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.
1. Galatians 5:7-9 - Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion [cometh] not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
· Leaven or false doctrine is portrayed as a hindrance for running the race, it doesn’t come from God
· A hindrance is portrayed as not being obedient to the truth, for if we are able to overcome this obstacle but instead we are delayed it might compromise an honest response.
· When God gives you something to do He will not hinder you to accomplish it.
2. 2 Corinthains 6:1-2 - We then, [as] workers together [with him], beseech [you] also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.)
· Scripture is clear, live for the present. NOW is the accepted time, the day of salvation. There is no time for delay
e. Genesis 24:57 – And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.
1. Matthew 10:19 - But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
2. Mark 13:11 - But when they shall lead [you], and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
· Just as the bride of Christ will be delivered up before councils to deny or confess Christ whom they have not seen, likewise, Rebekah here is given the opportunity to confess or deny her bridegroom Isaac who she has not yet seen.
f. Genesis 24:58- And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
1. Luke 12:8 - Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
2. Matthew 10:32 -33 - Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
· Rebekah made the choice herself, a personal choice much like those today makes a personal choice to follow Christ
o Many things hinder us from making this decision including family, friends, laws and culture.
· This goes to show that when we put God first His plan is revealed, Rebekah surrenders to the Will of God by faith. This is tremendous faith on her part.
3. Rebekah also realizes the urgency of their return, she is buying in to Eliezer’s purpose.
g. Genesis 24:59 - And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
1. Once it came from her own mouth there was no more resistance
2. We don’t realize the power we have with out mouths once we confess or deny Christ, the confession is the climax
h. Genesis 24:60 - 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.
1. Quite a blessing
2. Just as Rebekah whose name meant ensnarer, found favor in the eyes of Abraham’s servant, her family would have been very attached to the young woman who clearly had God’s anointing upon her. This parting blessing is evidence of the fondness they have for their sister
3. This blessing indicates that they were aware of the promise God made to Abraham that his seed will be as the sands of the sea and they will posses the gates of their enemies. Eliezer likely had spoken of this promise to Rebekah’s family. They in turn were joyful for her in that she would be the mother, the vessel God has chosen to deliver His promise.
i. Genesis 24:61 - And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
1. Rebekah, symbolic of the Church, rode upon the 10 Camels that could be symbolic of the law. 10 being the number of ordinal perfection.
2. This is a 450-500 mile trip and would take ~30 days. Imagine how grueling it would be to ride a camel for a month straight. Much like the Church is going through the discomfort of trials and persecution, what keeps us going is the hope to meet our bridegroom. Her hope is that he is everything that Eliezer describes.
3. Damsels in addition to her nurse, Rebekah’s family seems to be fairly wealthy as well if they can spare servants to send with her.
V. Isaac and Rebekah Wed (Genesis 24:62-67)
a. Genesis 24:62 - And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.
1. באר לחי ראי Bĕ'er la-Chay Ro'iy, "well of the Living One seeing me"
2. Isaac was not living in Beersheba
· Recall from Jasher that he was learning under Shem
b. Genesis 24:63 - And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels [were] coming.
1. Meditiate - שוח suwach, to meditate, muse, commune, speak, complain
2. We can see that Isaac enjoyed spending time alone, meditating and praying which is a good example to follow, we should get alone when we want to spend time in prayer
· What could he have been praying for?
· Could it be that his servant’s mission is successful?
· Just like God answered Eliezer before he was done speaking, could God have answered Isaac’s prayer before he was finished praying?
3. Romans 8:34 - Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
· Christ is making intercession on our behalf as He waits at the right hand of the Father
c. Genesis 24:64 - And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.
1. When the bride’s eyes were fixed upon the bridegroom she jumped down from the camels, (the law).
· When your eyes are fixed upon Jesus we are not bound by the law, the law is merely a mechanism or vehicle to bring us to the place where we are ready to be received by the bridegroom
d. Genesis 24:65 - For she [had] said unto the servant, What man [is] this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant [had] said, It [is] my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.
1. Rebekah, likely tired from the journey, sees her groom walking toward her and does not wait for him to walk all the way, but lights off of the camel to meet him at some distance in between.
2. No mention of a single complaint or sense of entitlement from Rebekah, only the eagerness to go and meet her future husband.
3. Rebekah sees the fruit of her faith, for she believed the message from His servant and now she humbles herself and goes to him
· Just as those who by faith, through the Holy Spirit, believe on Christ Jesus present themselves in humility to Him.
4. Revelation 21:2 - And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
· Who is the bride? New Jerusalem
· What is new Jerusalem?
o Revelation 3:12 - Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.
o Upon him that overcometh, he will be called New Jerusalem. Who is him that overcometh?
o Revelation 12:11 - And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
e. Genesis 24:66 - And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
1. Isaac most certainly was very interested to hear the tales of the journey as he listened while his servant told him ALL things that he had done.
f. Genesis 24:67 - And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's [death].
1. Rebekah moves into the place where Sarah once was, Rebekah did not become Sarah, nor replace her, but moved into her home
2. ~3 years since his mother’s death and he is finally comforted, this shows that Isaac was very attached to his mother and loved her dearly
3. Proverbs 18:22 - Whoso] findeth a wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
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