And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out
The finger of Providence in the appointment of a bride for Isaac
I. IN THE PROMPT AND COMPLETE ANSWER GIVEN TO HIS PRAYER. The maiden appeared on the scene which he had pictured to his mind’s eye, and displayed all the qualities which he had looked for in a bride for Isaac. She was civil and courteous, open and sincere, kind, simple, and unaffected.
II. IN THE CONTROL OF APPARENT ACCIDENTS.
III. IN THE IMPRESSION MADE UPON THE STEWARD HIMSELF.
1. He pauses to see whether Divine Providence is still leading on (Genesis 24:21).
2. He acts upon the favours of Providence already received (Genesis 24:22).
3. He engages in an act of praise (Genesis 24:26-27).
IV. IN THE RECOGNITION OF GOD BY ALL CONCERNED (Genesis 24:27-28; Genesis 24:31). (T. H.Leale.)
The advantages of being found in the path of duty
I. THE PROMISES OF GOD LEAD US TO EXPECT HIS BLESSING IN THE PATH OF DUTY.
II. BY ATTENDING THE MEANS OF GRACE, WE ENJOY COMMUNION WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD. We should attend the means of grace too.
III. BECAUSE BY THIS WE SHOW TO THE WORLD OUR ATTACHMENT TO THE CAUSE OF CHRIST, AND SET THEM AN EXAMPLE FOR IMITATION.
IV. ANOTHER ADVANTAGE ARISING FROM THUS “BEING IN THE WAY” IS, THAT IT LEADS US OFTEN TO INDULGE IN THE DELIGHTFUL ANTICIPATION OF ENGAGING IN THE PERFECT AND NEVER-ENDING WORSHIP OF THE REDEEMED BEFORE THE THRONE ABOVE. (Essex Remembrancer.)
Lessons
1. God sometimes answers His in the instant of prayer.
2. Providence orders motions for time and place in fitting persons for marriage according to His will.
3. The fittest wives and husbands are such who are the answer of prayer.
4. Goodness of family, honesty of calling, comeliness of person, purity of conversation, industry in labour, concur sweetly to make a good consort (Genesis 24:15-16).
5. After praying to God, there must be acting by man to find God’s answer.
6. Humble addresses become strangers in desiring courtesies as answers from God’s mercy (Genesis 24:17).
7. Ingenuity is quick and active in doing courtesy unto strangers.
8. Much kindness sometimes is shown in giving but a little water (Genesis 24:18).
9. Ingenuous spirits are free to do good to beasts as well as men (Genesis 24:19).
10. It is a sweet disposition to satisfy man and beast until they be full.
11. Providence makes good the signs He gives to His to the uttermost (Genesis 24:20).
12. Wonderful are God’s providences many times in answering prayer, and so to be admired.
13. A silent and serious consideration there should be about the rare events of God’s providence.
14. The knowledge of God’s mind in all providences is to be laboured after for man’s duty and God’s glory (Genesis 24:21). (G. Hughes, B. D.)
Lessons
1. Ingenuous spirits perform what kindness they do offer.
2. Courtesies being finished, it is time to prepare for thanks.
3. Ornaments best suit with them that are of pure minds and ingenuous conversations.
4. Gifts are not unlawful, being justly bestowed in gratefulness, and in pursuance of lawful desires (Genesis 24:22).
5. Prudence finds out by queries such as are appointed unto marriage by God’s providence.
6. Inquiry for a night’s lodging may conduce under Providence to further great affairs (Genesis 24:23).
7. Providence ordereth the desired answer concerning persons sought for to them whom God sends.
8. Answers of abundant provision God maketh unto strangers sent about His business. All suits well (Genesis 24:24-25).
9. Whatever answers of good men have from creatures, they should produce worship to God (Genesis 24:26).
10. Gracious hearts bless God by praising when He blesseth them by prospering.
11. Good servants bless God for mercy and truth to their masters as for guidance to themselves.
12. Though angels minister to us, God alone must have the glory of all good events (Genesis 24:27).
13. In such returns God speeds instruments to further on His own designs of good to His servants (Genesis 24:28). (G. Hughes, B. D.)
Children to be brought up to all honest employments
The patriarchs of old were principal men and princes in their generations, yet their tender daughters were brought up in doing household business. Rebekah went, with her pitcher on her shoulders, to give drink to her father’s camels; and the seven daughters of the Priest of Midian accustomed themselves to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father’s sheep; and some say--how true is uncertain-that Christ Himself wrought as a carpenter at His father’s trade. Such was the harmless simplicity of those days, and such was the obedience of children, that even she that was appointed to be the mother of patriarchs, prophets, and kings, refused not to set her hand to ordinary employments. But how is the case altered in these days of ours! Our delicate damsels are ready to urge Rebekah’s example for the wearing of bracelets and jewels about their necks, but they will not hear of Rebekah’s carrying the pitcher upon her shoulders; they would be clothed like the lilies of the field, but they cannot endure to spin nor work at all; so that, whereas Solomon’s good housewife laid her hands to the wheel, they, for want of taking pains--especially if once married--set all upon wheels, and, while they do nothing, they undo themselves and bring all to nothing. (J. Spencer.)
Golden trinkets for presents
Golden trinkets were abundantly used among most of the Asiatic nations from early times; and those which Abraham’s servant offered to Rebekah (Genesis 24:22) belong to the most common ornaments. The nose-ring, chiefly, though not exclusively, worn by men, and applied by American tribes also, is inserted in the cartilage of the nose, either in the middle or in one side; it is often of considerable size, reaches generally beneath the mouth, and not always contributes to enhance the beauty of the face. It is here stated as having the weight of a beka, which is half a shekel, or a Greek drachm. The nose-rings worn at present by the Oriental women are often of ivory, or of gold; they are hollow, to render them less inconveniently heavy, and sometimes set with jewels--mostly a ruby between two pearls. Bracelets are such favourite ornaments with Oriental ladies, that they are not only worn by them in an unusual quantity, but are promised by Mohammed among the rewards of piety. Sometimes the whole arm, from the wrist of the hand to the elbow, is covered with them; sometimes two or more are worn, one above the other; and they are not unfrequently so heavy that they almost appear to be a burden to the fair owners. Two of them are here stated to have weighed ten shekels of gold--certainly a liberal present. Men also liked to adorn their wrist or upper arm with bracelets. On the Assyrian sculptures scarcely any person of wealth or station, or even any deity, appears without them. They were generally worn on one arm, and sometimes on both. Those who were unable to purchase gold or silver bracelets, contented themselves with procuring them of copper, ivory, horn, or glass. They were not always made with great skill or taste; they had not in all cases a lock, and often consisted merely of a large broad ring, through which the wearer forced the hand. The Egyptian bracelets, however, are in many instances not without elegance; and those represented on the Assyrian monuments, or found in the excavations of Mesopotamia, are scarcely inferior to them either in taste or in costliness. (M. M. Malisch, Ph. D.)
Blessed be the Lord God
The servant’s thanksgiving
1. The piety of it. He does not ascribe his success to chance or fortune, but to God. Moreover, he adores God by His covenant name as the Redeemer.
2. The confidence of it.
(1) Founded upon God’s dealings in the past. He had never failed in His mercy and His truth to Abraham. Therefore He might be thanked for the past with that confidence which is encouraged to hope much for the future. It is safe to trust Divine mercy and truth.
(2) Founded upon a consciousness of his own integrity.