The Marriage of Isaac and Rebekah
Rebekah was “the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah’s son, whom she bore to Nahor” (Genesis 24:24). This means that Rebekah was a great-niece to Abraham and a second cousin to Isaac. Abraham was living in the land of Canaan but he didn’t want to take a wife for Isaac, his son, from that land. So, he made his servant Eliezer to swear to him that he would go to the land of his kinsmen to the city of Nahor to find a wife there (Genesis 24: 2-4).
So, Eliezer came to that city and sat next to a well and prayed to God saying, “O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master” (Genesis 24:12-14).
And before Eliezer finished his prayer, there came a very beautiful virgin by the name Rebekah, who when he asked her for a drink, she gave him and offered to water his camels as well. Then, he asked her about the name of her parents and she answered, that she is the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah’s son (Genesis 24: 24).
Realizing that the Lord had given him his sign and answered his prayer, he knelt down and praised God saying, “Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren” (Genesis 24: 27).
Rebekah’s family invited Eliezer to their home and he told them the whole story and asked them if they would be willing to give their daughter for Isaac as a wife. Laban and Bethuel answered him saying, “The thing comes from the LORD; we cannot speak to you either bad or good. Here is Rebekah before you; take her and go, and let her be your master’s son’s wife, as the LORD has spoken” (Genesis 24: 50,51).
So, Abraham’s servant gave Rebekah and her family gifts from his Master and he took Rebekah and her maids back to his land. And Isaac “took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her. So, Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death” (Genesis 24: 67).
The marriage of Isaac and Rebekah shows the working providence of God. It was a perfect marriage arranged by prayer, faith, and submission to God’s will.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
