“Genesis 24:22-27”

Friday, January 03, 2020

“When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half-shekel and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels in gold, and said, 'Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room for us to lodge in your father’s house?' She said to him, 'I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.' Again she said to him, 'We have plenty of both straw and feed, and room to lodge in.' Then the man bowed low and worshiped the Lord. He said, 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His lovingkindness and His truth toward my master; as for me, the Lord has guided me in the way to the house of my master’s brothers.'”

---End of Scripture verses---

“The man took a gold ring weighing a half-shekel and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels in gold.” (verse 22) “Partly in return for her self-imposed, arduous labors, and partly to win her good will and to impress her family, he lavishes rich gifts upon the girl” (Nahum Sarna) It is intriguing that the servant would give Rebekah the gifts before asking “Whose daughter are you?” (verse 23) It is possible that he was already completely convinced of the success of his mission and of God's positive response to his prayer. But, when recounting the story to her family in verse 47 he said he asked whose daughter she was before giving her the jewelry. It is more likely, then, that in verse 22 he merely “took” these gifts in his hands before asking who her father was, and then gave them to her only after she responded in the way that he anticipated she would.

“Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room for us to lodge in your father’s house?” (verse 23) “By her answer to this he would know whether her family was wealthy, and so fit to be in connection with his master's; and besides, if she appeared to be the person he hoped she was, he was desirous of lodging in her father's house, that he might have the better opportunity of managing the affair he was come about.” (Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible)

“She said to him, 'I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.'” (verse 25) “Rebekah mentions her father’s mother to show that she was descended from a highborn wife; but the servant would welcome it as proving that not only on the father’s side, but also on the mother’s, she was Isaac’s cousin, Milcah being the daughter of Haran, Abraham’s brother. And when thus he knew that she fulfilled all the conditions, he gave her the jewels which he was holding in his hand, and bowed the head, and gave thanks.” (Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers)

“We have plenty of both straw and feed, and room to lodge in.” (verse 25) Not only was there room in her father's house for Abraham's servant and his men, but they had more than enough bedding and food to accommodate the ten camels in his caravan, which was the more difficult issue that the stranger had to deal with. “Then the man bowed low and worshiped the Lord.” (verse 26) Isaac's advocate had every reason to believe at this point that the Lord God had answered his prayer favorable and had blessed him in his endeavors on behalf of Abraham's Son. And, following the godly example of his old master, at a moment's notice he was poised and ready to humbly bow in reverential worship to his Lord and Provider for all the rich benefits He bestowed upon him and his family.

“He said, 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham...'” (verse 27) “He does not call the Lord his God, though no doubt he was, since he appears throughout the whole to be a good man; but the God of Abraham, because God had often manifested and renewed his covenant with Abraham in an eminent manner, and had bestowed many favours upon him, and admitted him to much nearness and communion with him; and it was not on his own account, but on his master's business he now was.” (Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible)

“Who has not forsaken His lovingkindness and His truth toward my master; as for me, the Lord has guided me in the way to the house of my master’s brothers.” (verse 27) The thoughts that Abraham's servant harbored in his heart for God, and expressed with the praise of His lips, echoed that of great psalmist in many of his psalms. Actually, David echoed this unnamed godly man's thoughts and prayers because his came first! “O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; my soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You.” (Psalm 63:1-3) “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting” (Psalm 107:1)!!!

Please read Genesis 24:28-33 for tomorrow.

Have a blessed day!

- Louie Taylor

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