A Divinely Selected Bride for Isaac

5, 6. Why was Abraham insistent that Isaac not marry a Canaanite, and for whom is this fine guidance today? (1 Corinthians 7:39)

⁵ The account begins with Abraham’s giving instructions to his household manager, evidently Eliezer. (Genesis 15:2; 24:2) “I must have you swear by Jehovah,” said Abraham, “that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in among whom I am dwelling, but you will go to my country and to my relatives, and you will certainly take a wife for my son, for Isaac.”​—Genesis 24:3, 4.

⁶ Why was Abraham so insistent that his son should not marry a Canaanite? Because the Canaanites were descendants of Canaan, who was cursed by Noah. (Genesis 9:25) Moreover, the Canaanites were known for their depraved practices, and most important, they did not worship Jehovah. (Genesis 13:13; Leviticus 18:3, 17-28) Understandably, Abraham wanted his son to marry someone from his own family, descendants of Shem, who had received Noah’s inspired blessing. (Genesis 9:26) What fine guidance this is for Christians who choose to marry today!​—Deuteronomy 7:3, 4.

7. How did Abraham prepare Eliezer for his assignment?

⁷ So Eliezer set out on a journey of more than 500 miles [800 km] to Mesopotamia. He went well-prepared, with ten camels loaded with gifts. (Genesis 24:10) In addition, he could ponder over these faith-strengthening words of his master: “Jehovah the God of the heavens . . . will send his angel ahead of you, and you will certainly take a wife for my son from there.”​—Genesis 24:7.

8, 9. (a) What happened when Eliezer reached the city of Nahor? (b) By what test would a suitable bride be selected?

⁸ Eventually, he reached the city of Nahor in northern Mesopotamia. Eliezer let the tired camels kneel for a rest at a well outside the city. It was the time of day when women fetched water​—a fine opportunity, indeed, for Eliezer to look for a potential bride! But what kind of woman should she be? The prettiest? No. Eliezer was primarily interested in a woman with a godly personality. This was revealed by the humble prayer of faith that he now uttered: “Jehovah the God of my master Abraham, cause it to happen, please, before me this day and perform loving-kindness with my master Abraham. Here I am stationed at a fountain of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. What must occur is that the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Let your water jar down, please, that I may take a drink,’ and who will indeed say, ‘Take a drink, and I shall also water your camels,’ this is the one you must assign to your servant, to Isaac; and by this let me know that you have performed loyal love with my master.”​—Genesis 24:11-14.

⁹ That was indeed a good test. According to The New Encyclopædia Britannica, an extremely thirsty camel can drink ‘25 gallons [95 L] of water in 10 minutes.’ It may be that Abraham’s camels were not that thirsty, but the women of that time undoubtedly knew the animal’s capacity for water. Certainly, it would take a very kind, unselfish, industrious woman to volunteer to fetch water for ten tired camels belonging to a stranger.

10, 11. (a) In what remarkable way was Eliezer’s prayer answered? (b) How did Rebekah show desirable qualities? (c) How did Eliezer react?

¹⁰ Even before Eliezer had completed his prayer, it was answered, as the account states: “Here coming out was Rebekah . . . Now the young woman was very attractive in appearance, a virgin, and no man had had sexual intercourse with her; and she made her way down to the fountain and began to fill her water jar and then came up. At once the servant ran to meet her and said: ‘Give me, please, a little sip of water from your jar.’ In turn she said: ‘Drink, my lord.’ With that she quickly lowered her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink. When she was finished giving him a drink, then she said: ‘For your camels too I shall draw water until they are done drinking.’ So she quickly emptied her jar into the drinking trough and ran yet again and again to the well to draw water, and kept drawing for all his camels.”​—Genesis 24:15-20.

¹¹ Eliezer ‘gazed in wonder’ as he observed this miraculous answer to his prayer. When the praiseworthy virgin had finished, he rewarded her with a gold nose ring and two gold bracelets and asked: “Whose daughter are you?” On finding out that she was Abraham’s grandniece, Eliezer bowed down to Jehovah in reverential worship, saying: “Blessed be Jehovah the God of my master Abraham, who has not left his loving-kindness and his trustworthiness toward my master. I being on the way, Jehovah has led me to the house of the brothers of my master.”​—Genesis 24:21-27.

12. How was the matter consummated at Rebekah’s home?

¹² Rebekah excitedly ran home to tell her family. Later, when Rebekah’s father and brother heard from Eliezer’s own mouth the purpose of his journey and how Jehovah had answered his prayer, they agreed without hesitation that Rebekah should become Isaac’s wife. “And it came about that when Abraham’s servant had heard their words, he at once prostrated himself on the earth before Jehovah. And the servant began to bring out articles of silver and articles of gold and garments and to give them to Rebekah; and he gave choice things to her brother and to her mother.”​—Genesis 24:52, 53.

The Response of the Bride and Her Attendants

13. How was Jehovah’s choice confirmed as being the right one?

¹³ How did Rebekah view the privilege of being divinely selected as Isaac’s bride? The next day something happened to reveal her true inward feelings. Having accomplished the purpose of his journey, Eliezer desired to return to his master without delay. But Rebekah’s family wanted the bride to stay with them at least ten days. So it was put to Rebekah to decide if she was prepared to leave immediately. “I am willing to go,” she said. Agreeing to leave her family immediately and to journey to a distant country in order to marry a man she had never seen was an outstanding demonstration of faith in Jehovah’s direction. It confirmed that she was the right choice.​—Genesis 24:54-58.

14. (a) By whom was Rebekah accompanied? (b) What kind of journey did they face?

¹⁴ Rebekah had company on her journey. As the account explains: “Rebekah and her lady attendants rose and they went riding on the camels.” (Genesis 24:61) So the camel train set out on a dangerous journey of more than 500 miles [800 km] through foreign territory. “The average speed of laden camels,” states the book The Living World of Animals, “is about 2.5 m[iles] p[er] h[our] [4 km/​hr].” If Abraham’s camels went at that speed for eight hours a day, it would have taken over 25 days to reach their destination in the Negeb.

The preparation for Isaac’s marriage came some time after he had been spared from death on the altar of sacrifice.

19. What happened when Rebekah and her attendants reached journey’s end?

¹⁹ Did Rebekah and her “lady attendants” successfully reach their goal? Yes. As the Bible reports: “And Isaac was out walking in order to meditate in the field at about the falling of evening. When he raised his eyes and looked, why, there camels were coming! When Rebekah raised her eyes, she caught sight of Isaac and she swung herself down from off the camel.” After Eliezer had explained his successful mission, Isaac accepted Rebekah as his wife and “fell in love with her.”​—Genesis 24:63-67.