Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 (NRSV)
Read Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 on biblegateway.com
Verse 34So he said, "I am Abraham's servant. Verse 35The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has become wealthy; he has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys. Verse 36And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and he has given him all that he has. Verse 37My master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live; Verse 38but you shall go to my father's house, to my kindred, and get a wife for my son.' Verse 42"I came today to the spring, and said, 'O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, if now you will only make successful the way I am going! Verse 43I am standing here by the spring of water; let the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I shall say, "Please give me a little water from your jar to drink," Verse 44and who will say to me, "Drink, and I will draw for your camels also" -let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master's son.' Verse 45"Before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her water jar on her shoulder; and she went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, 'Please let me drink.' Verse 46She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will also water your camels.' So I drank, and she also watered the camels. Verse 47Then I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her arms. Verse 48Then I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord, and blessed the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to obtain the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son. Verse 49Now then, if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so that I may turn either to the right hand or to the left." Verse 58And they called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will." Verse 59So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abraham's servant and his men. Verse 60And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "May you, our sister, become thousands of myriads; may your offspring gain possession of the gates of their foes." Verse 61Then Rebekah and her maids rose up, mounted the camels, and followed the man; thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
Verse 62Now Isaac had come from Beer-lahai-roi, and was settled in the Negeb. Verse 63Isaac went out in the evening to walk in the field; and looking up, he saw camels coming. Verse 64And Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she slipped quickly from the camel, Verse 65and said to the servant, "Who is the man over there, walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." So she took her veil and covered herself. Verse 66And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Verse 67Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent. He took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
Devotion
Perhaps we tend to forget about the matriarchs of our faith. In scripture we often read about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; but rarely mention that the same is also the God of Sarah, Rebekah, Leah and Rachel. The women in these stories are just as—if not more—important as the men. The climax the story in today's reading, I think, is when Rebekah responds with faith that she will go with Isaac. All cultural and traditional marriage gaps aside, it took a lot of courage and trust to even consider such a move. If we are going to give Rebekah the recognition and the praise that she deserves, then let us also take some time to reflect on the women in our lives who have helped to cultivate our faith and who have shown us unconditional, overflowing love.
Prayer
Mothering God, you have blessed us with countless women in our lives. May we appreciate them more often and may we learn from their endless faith, constant compassion and humility. Amen.