Chapter 8: A Wife for Isaac

After returning home with Isaac, Abraham was hit with the news of his brother Nahor
and wife Milcahs eight children and Nahors second wife Reumahs four children. A
messenger arrived with a report of twelve children born to Nahor. (Where was this
leading to? Only God knew.) The first was Huz and then Buz. (I wonder if they had a
book of baby names. They must have been twins.) Another of Milcah boys, Bethuel, was
the father of Rebekah. (I imagine Abraham was glad to hear of this news from his
homies and that everything was fine, after having almost sacrificed his only son Isaac.)
After Sarah died, Abraham began to worry about Isaac being alone, because Isaac had
had a close relationship with her and was missing her; he was old enough to be married.
Abraham remembered the name of his grand-niece Rebekah and decided to send for
her. He sent for the head servant of his house, Eliezer. Abraham was old and didnt
know if he might live to see Isaac marry so, he first made Eliezer promise that no matter
what happened he would not allow Isaac to marry any of the women in Canaan. He was
to go back to his hometown of Nahor, his brothers household, and get a wife for Isaac.
Eliezer suggested that Isaac seek out his own bride, but Abraham feared that the
covenant he made with God would be broken if Isaac left the land. (This was worse than
a mail order bride. It certainly is not a good thing to practice these days, but I suppose
they were keeping the wealth in the family.)
Eliezer made the promise to Abraham and went to the land of Mesopotamia, to the city
of Nahor. As Eliezer sat by the well waiting for the women to come to the well for water,
he sent up a prayer to God to help him pick the right woman for Isaacs wife. O Lord
God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show
kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the
daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: and let it come to pass, that the
damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she
shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also, let the same be she that thou hast

appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed
kindness unto my master.
Just as soon as he ended his prayer, Rebekah came out to draw water with her pitcher.
She was very pretty and a virgin. After she filled her pitcher and began to walk off
Eliezer ran to her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water from your pitcher.
She said, Drink, my lord, and when he had finished drinking, she said, I will draw water
for your camels also.
Eliezer was shocked. Was this for real? This is exactly what hed asked God for. (It
doesnt take God years and years to answer a prayer if its His will.)
Eliezer gave Rebekah gold earrings and bracelets and asked her whose daughter she
was. She told him, The daughter of Bethuel and granddaughter of Nahor and Milcah.
Eliezer was more pleased than ever.
Rebekah took him home to meet her family and he told them why he was there. They
agreed for her to go. Then they asked Rebekah if she wanted to go, and she agreed.
Eliezer and Rebekah went to Canaan, and Isaac was well pleased with his wife. Isaac
was forty years old when he married Rebekah. (Genesis 24) This story depicts Rebekah
as a kind-hearted, friendly person. (Very few will go beyond the call of duty to assist.
Crime has instilled so much fear in us, causing us to shirk away from good deeds.)