“Will You Go?”

Genesis 24:34-67

We are reading through the book of Genesis and we are currently in the second half of chapter 24, the longest chapter in this book and it happens to be the longest chapter in the entire Torah, all 67 verses. Up to this point, Abraham had been promised both land and seed. As for the seed, it was promised to consist of numerous descendants. In order for that to happen, Abraham’s son, Isaac, needs a wife.

Hyperlink - we are back in the story of Eden. A man needs a wife. We have a human in the land but no counterpart for the seed. This chapter reveals how God provides an ezer, a delivering help, this time for Isaac, so the seed may go on. 

Abraham was adamant that Isaac’s wife should come from his home town. So he sent his servant back to his family to find a wife for his son. However, in the back of the servant’s mind he is wondering, how will I ever find the right woman? And if I do, will she decide to return with him? How will it happen? It seemed impossible.

Abraham’s servant arrives in the land of Abraham’s family and he comes to a well. In order to make sure he finds the right woman, the servant sets up a scenario for God. He will ask a woman for a drink of water and the woman will not only give him a drink but will offer to water the camels as well. Waa-Laa - it happens, just as the servant requested, first woman he meets at the well. Not only that, but it turns out, she was from Abraham's family, even better. She runs home and tells her family. Her brother comes out and invites the servant to their home. 

Before the servant accepts food for himself he must tell them the story of why he was there. After hearing the story they agree that what has happened had to have been of the Lord. It was clear to them that Yahweh had orchestrated the whole event and that Rebekah was to become Isaac’s wife. 

The servant was overjoyed. He then handed out gifts to everyone in the family and they had a feast. The next morning the servant states he wants to return to his master. Rebekah’s brother and mother had some hesitations. They suggest they wait another ten days, and then go. The servant was beside himself, verse 56, 

“He said, “Oh, don’t make me wait! God has worked everything out so well—send me off to my master.”

In order to make a decision the family suggests they call Rebekah in and ask what she would like to do. This is Rebekah’s moment, it all depends on what she will decide, verse 58,

“So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?”

“I will go,” she said.”

Think back, this has happened before. Abraham had been living in the same place and been asked to go away from his land, away from his family to a new land and form a new family. What was Abraham’s response?  Genesis 12, verse 4

“So Abram went, as the Lord had told him;”

Rebekah is the Abraham for the next generation.

Check out what happens next. Rebekah’s family sends her off with a blessing, verse 60,

“Our sister, may you increase
    to thousands upon thousands;
may your offspring possess
    the cities of their enemies.”

Sounds familiar? It should. That is almost exactly what God said to Abraham after he gave up and surrendered Isaac, Genesis 22:17

“I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,”

The servant took Rebekah and left. 

Now, back at the ranch, we read that Isaac was going from the Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in Negev. We have been in this spot before. It was where God met Hagar the first time. 

This is where our narrative becomes almost comedic and realistic. We read that Isaac had gone out to the field that evening, and most of our translations read, “to meditate.” Many translations have a footnote stating something like this word is “unknown.” It is an obscure Hebrew word and according to the Semitic scholar, Gary Rendsburg, who has done the research on this word, it means, “to urinate.” There are a couple of other places in Scripture it is used, for when Saul goes to relieve himself in the cave and when Elijah’s poking fun at Baal and saying, “Well, maybe he’s relieving himself. He’ll come back later.”

So we have Isaac in the field going to the bathroom and Rebekah looks up and sees him. Our translations read that, “She got down from her camel” but the Hebrew word here is “to fall.” The story has this comedic moment of Isaac going to the bathroom and Rebekah falling off her camel. 

Rebekah asks the servant who the man is that was coming to them and the servant responds with, “Oh, he’s my master, the guy you are going to marry.” Rebekah appropriately covers herself with her veil. 

The servant tells Isaac the whole story, all the things he had done. Without hesitation, Isaac takes Rebekah as his wife, takes her into his mother’s tent. She became his wife, he loved her, and he was comforted after his mother’s death. 

What a beautiful story. 

Rebekah is Abraham’s counterpart. Everything that Abraham did to leave his land, the faith, the promise of blessing has been duplicated in this story, down to the vocabulary. The word “blessing” occurs five times in God’s first speech to Abraham. The word “blessing” occurs seven times in this chapter. 

Check in time. 

Here’s something to think about? What if Rebekah had said, “No.”? Or “Let me think about it?” Or “Can you bring Isaac here?” It was surely possible. Her brother and mother had second thoughts the next morning. What if she had had second thoughts? She must have had a few doubts or questions, but her belief that Yahweh had orchestrated the whole event was greater than her doubts and questions. 

By trusting Yahweh, and saying, “I will go,” Rebekah became a part of God’s blessings, to herself and to generations to come. 

I believe God is asking His people to go, every day, all the time. Not many respond like Rebekah. 

Jesus had a parable that describes it quite well. 

The Story of the Dinner Party - Luke 14:15-24

15 That triggered a response from one of the guests: “How fortunate the one who gets to eat dinner in God’s kingdom!”

16-17 Jesus followed up. “Yes. For there was once a man who threw a great dinner party and invited many. When it was time for dinner, he sent out his servant to the invited guests, saying, ‘Come on in; the food’s on the table.’

18 “Then they all began to beg off, one after another making excuses. The first said, ‘I bought a piece of property and need to look it over. Send my regrets.’

19 “Another said, ‘I just bought five teams of oxen, and I really need to check them out. Send my regrets.’

20 “And yet another said, ‘I just got married and need to get home to my wife.’

21 “The servant went back and told the master what had happened. He was outraged and told the servant, ‘Quickly, get out into the city streets and alleys. Collect all who look like they need a square meal, all the misfits and homeless and down-and-out you can lay your hands on, and bring them here.’

22 “The servant reported back, ‘Master, I did what you commanded—and there’s still room.’

23-24 “The master said, ‘Then go to the country roads. Whoever you find, drag them in. I want my house full! Let me tell you, not one of those originally invited is going to get so much as a bite at my dinner party.’”

We have been invited to the table. When we respond with I have other things to do, like take care of my property, take care of the things that bring me money, or take care of my family. We keep all the things we are taking care of, but we forfeit any opportunity for even a bite at God’s banquet.

God wants His house to be full. Our faith in God needs to be greater than what we have here on earth. We need to be willing and ready to say, “I will go.” 

The Lord’s Supper.