“Genesis 24:52-61”

Tuesday, January 07, 2020

“When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the ground before the Lord. The servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother. Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night. When they arose in the morning, he said, ‘Send me away to my master.’ But her brother and her mother said, ‘Let the girl stay with us a few days, say ten; afterward she may go.’ He said to them, ‘Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.’ And they said, ‘We will call the girl and consult her wishes.’ Then they called Rebekah and said to her, ‘Will you go with this man?’ And she said, ‘I will go.’ Thus they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse with Abraham’s servant and his men. They blessed Rebekah and said to her, ‘May you, our sister, become thousands of ten thousands, and may your descendants possess the gate of those who hate them.’ Then Rebekah arose with her maids, and they mounted the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed.”

---End of Scripture verses---

“When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the ground before the Lord.” (verse 52) It was obviously this man’s habitual manner of life to methodically pause, thank, praise and glorify the Lord for every good gift He bestowed upon him. I think that if most of us had the meek and grateful heart of this humble servant we would spend the majority of our waking hours with our face planted to the ground for all the wonderful ways that the Lord has blessed us. Unfortunately we all too often allow ourselves to focus on and lament over the relatively few things that disappoint or discourage us instead of filling up our minds with a ready awareness of the manifold graces of God.

“The servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.” (verse 53) “The servant’s first act is to ratify the betrothal by making the betrothal gifts to the bride. Oriental custom required that, at the betrothal, gifts should be made to the parents or nearest representative relations of the bride. Mention of marriage gifts (mohar) to the bride’s family is found also in Genesis 34:12; Exodus 22:16-17; Deuteronomy 22:19; 1 Samul 18:25… In this verse, the ‘precious things,’ given by the servant to Rebekah’s brother and mother, constitute the customary mohar to the bride’s family. This custom is also mentioned in the Code of Hammurabi, §§ 159–161.” (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges)

“Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night.” (verse 53) Okay let’s eat! Abraham’s servant insisted that he would not dine until his master’s business was settled (verse 33). Now that all the jots and tittles had been situated, it was time to enjoy a meal and acquire refreshment. The Lord really appreciates those of His people who keep their priorities in order and deal with the most pressing matters before indulging the desires of the flesh. Jesus often delayed meals in favor of the prospect of winning souls. “Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, ‘Rabbi, eat.’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.’” (John 4:31, 34) Oh that we would hunger and thirst for righteousness and that our strongest yearnings would be to please God and put Him first!

“But her brother and her mother said, ‘Let the girl stay with us a few days, say ten; afterward she may go.’” (verse 55) Scholars disagree as to just how long a period of time Laban actually attempted to impede the progress of God’s plans. Some translate the text to read a whole year and ten days, but ten minutes would have been too long! A little more than a week to say goodbye to a beloved sister and daughter would certainly not have been an unreasonable request to make. But Abraham’s servant was not about to dawdle for days and give her loved ones opportunity to reconsider, or give Laban a chance to spin an elaborate web of deceit! “He said to them, ‘Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.’” (verse 56) His were not merely selfish motives. There was not doubt in the servant’s mind that the Lord desired them to make haste!

“We will call the girl and consult her wishes.” (verse 57) “This is the only free choice in the matter that seems to be given to Rebekah. Her consent may have been modestly indicated, before her family ratified the contract. It is plain, however, that it was thought proper that the parents should receive and decide upon a proposal of marriage. The extent to which the maiden's inclinations would be consulted would depend very much on the custom of the country, and the intelligence and good feeling of the parents... Rebekah's decision shows that she concurred in the consent of her relatives.” (Barnes’ Notes on the Bible) Even though she knew she might very well never see her family again, “she said, ‘I will go.’” (verse 58) Brave girl! Keen perception! Strong faith!

“May you, our sister, become thousands of ten thousands, and may your descendants possess the gate of those who hate them.” (verse 60) “A million was a number which at this early period the Hebrews had no means of expressing. The blessing contains two parts: the first, the hope of fruitfulness founded on the primæval command (Genesis 1:28): the second, that of victory in war (see Genesis 22:17).” (Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers) “Be thou the mother of thousands of millions; as she was, the Edomites and Israelites both springing from her… And let thy seed possess the gate of those that hate them; exercise dominion and authority over their enemies: let them not only be numerous, but powerful and victorious, as both the nations were at times, and especially the latter; and particularly this had its accomplishment in Christ, who sprung from her in the line of Jacob…” (Gill’s Expository of the Entire Bible)

Please read Genesis 24:62-67 for tomorrow.

Have a great day!

- Louie Taylor

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