A Jug, A Well and Ten Camels – Looking For Love for Isaac.
Looking for love for Isaac was an important task given to Abraham’s servant. Mark Hillis continues his series “Looking For Love.”
Real Love
Are you looking for real love? The perfect person to spend the rest of your life with?
Welcome to part-3 in this series as we consider the story of Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis 24. It might seem like a very different way to find a person to marry, and you might think that there is no way we could ever apply it to any part of our lives today but hear me out.
Maybe there are some “take homes” you can use in your search for a godly relationship.
Self Fulfilling Prophecy
Have you heard of “self-fulfilling prophecy?” It is when a person expects something, so they believe it will happen, and thus causing it to come true. For example, how you see yourself will probably be the result of your view; if you think of yourself as successful there is a good chance you will go through life meeting your goals. If you perceive yourself as worthless, then likely you will struggle to carry out your ambitions.
Undeniably, the way we approach life, view our surroundings, relate to other people, has a big impact on where we could find ourselves a few years down the road.
Our Christian Walk
This is also true regarding our Christian walk. If we are not seeking the Lord daily, and having our minds dwell upon Him, we cannot expect to have a meaningful relationship with Him.
If you’re single and not living your life the way you want now, don’t expect things to get better in marriage.
Finding a Suitable Wife
So far in our drama of Isaac and Rebekah, Abraham has commissioned his chief servant to go to his home country to find a suitable wife for his son Isaac. In our last session the servant had packed up everything, which required ten camels to transport it. He journeyed all the way to the city of Nahor in Mesopotamia from Hebron: close to 800 km.
Complete Trust
Abraham had placed his complete trust in his servant and had absolute faith that God had prepared a special someone to be Isaac’s wife. This was a huge responsibility that his servant took on. When he made it to the outskirts of the city, he stopped by a well of water. It was evening, at the time when the women of the city would come and fill their pitchers. He began to pray to God;
“Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham. See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water. This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master.” Immediately a beautiful young woman came towards the well with a pitcher on her shoulder.
Genesis 24:12-14
Let’s continue looking at the story as it is written from the New Living Translation:
Genesis 24:17-21 Running over to her, the servant said,
“Please give me a little drink of water from your jug.” “Yes, my lord,” she answered, “have a drink.” And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and gave him a drink. When she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels, too, until they have had enough to drink.” So, she quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw water for all his camels. The servant watched her in silence, wondering whether or not the LORD had given him success in his mission.
Genesis 24:17-20
As Rebekah approached the well, to her, it would have appeared to be just another evening in Nahor, doing a job she was all too familiar with doing, and not knowing that this stranger she served would change her life. She was totally unaware that her character and going the extra mile for someone she did not know, would be the answered prayer of her becoming Isaac’s love, and including her in Biblical history!
Preparing For Marriage
One principle that this story expresses to us is that preparing yourself for marriage does not start at the altar, nor even within the engagement period. It starts before that.
If you are a single young man or woman, and just coming to that point of taking on the responsibilities of life, now is the time to get ready. “Self-fulfill” the God honoring marriage you are looking for by finding what it means to be a true man or woman of God. Use your singleness as the time to fall in love with God and grow in a deeper intimacy with Him.
Lay your ethical and moral foundation based upon scripture and be of godly character, ready for the time when that “special someone” will enter your life!
Look for spiritual and emotional maturity before seeking the true love of your life.
Rebekah’s Character
Rebekah came with her empty jug to the well first, before the servant had even finished his prayer. Being the first women to come to the spring shows that she was prompt, and dedicated to her tasks, while taking responsibility, which showed maturity.
She went down to the well, filled her pitcher and came back up when Abraham’s servant ran over to her. He was a stranger to her yet when he approached her, she did not shy away from him, instead she willingly shared the water she had drawn from the well. She responded to his need. Not only that but her heart expressed servitude; she saw the opportunity to serve, and she ran with it. Without even being asked, she began watering his ten camels.
How Much Water Can a Camel Drink?
Information online varies, suggesting that one camel can drink between 20-53 gallons of water in one sitting! The servant had ten! She was definitely going above and beyond!
The servant prayed the prayer he prayed because he knew that true love goes the extra mile!
If you were Rebekah, would you have responded to a stranger like she did? Would you have given of your time and energy like her? Remember they didn’t have well pumps then. There was no garden hose to fill the water trough. It was hard labor for her.
A Virtuous Woman
Proverbs 31 is a beautiful chapter dedicated to showing the character of the “virtuous woman.”
We won’t take the time to read it, but I suggest in your own time reviewing it carefully.
I will quote just two important verses to give you a taste of how a servant heart makes a marriage:
Proverbs 31:28,29 states,
Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”
Proverbs 31:28,2
May I stress that the outstanding character qualities we are looking at here are not just for women to ponder, but men also. Are you a man of godly servant character, deserving of such a gem?
A Prayer Answered Quickly
Abraham’s servant was in awe. He had a twinge of doubt – perhaps having the prayer he had just prayed prophetically fulfilled before his eyes seemed to be very unreal. It happened so quickly!
A willing servant knows the true heart of another who serves likewise. It was clear to him that this woman had good character.
He loved Abraham so much, he wanted to see the best for Isaac, and he found it in Rebekah.
It’s not as hard to spot true love when you know the love that God has given you.
The Greatest Picture of Love
The greatest picture of true love this world has ever seen is expressed in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. He came into this world as a servant, giving Himself, and dying on the cross for us. New life in Him is found when we believe on Him as our sin sacrifice, and we are then resurrected in Him.
Seeking Jesus
Jesus promises to those who are open to seeking Him is found in Matthew 7:7,8
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7,8
Pursue the heart of Christ; He will not disappoint you.
Deuteronomy 4:29 states,
Seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.
Deuteronomy 4:29
Knowing His true love and living life in it, enables us to recognize more clearly the person God has prepared for us. Looking for love is much easier when we know the everlasting love of God.
Isaac experienced a form of arranged marriage. What happens when two people agree to marry in your culture? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Mark Hillis
Mark lives in the small rural village of Fenwick, Ontario with his wife Michelle and three boys.
He joined the FBH International team in February 2022, coming from the business world with a design and art background.
Mark is particularly interested in seeing people come to Christ and grow in their faith. He recently produced the series entitled: Sow to Grow.
Mark serves as an elder at Brockview Bible Chapel in St.Catharines , Ontario.
Visit Mark’s contributor’s page here.
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Images Courtesy of:
Camels – mostafa_meraji
Couple – OlcayErtem
Couple – Pexels
Praying Man – Samuel Rios
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