Dr. Dean Alley PhD: Alright, Chaplain Dean Alley, I had a moment. Fourth time! I barely interrupted. I'm gonna try to go get this done. This is chapter 24 of Genesis. I hope you're doing well. It's a large chunk of chapter. it's got what 67 verses in it? So let's just get right into it, okay? So Abraham is essentially seeking a bride for Isaac, right? And he's using guided faith, seeking the right person to date Mary. That's a great learning principle for us, right there. And Abraham was old and well-stricken in age, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of the house that ruled over all that had that he had, and put, I pray thee, thy hand. under my thigh. This is kind of like a handshake, that kind of de that that kind of deal. and I will make thee swear by the Lord of God of heaven and the God of this earth, and thou shalt not take a wife unto the sons of the Canaanite. among whom I dwell. So he's not wanting them to bring any he doesn't want his son marrying a Canaanite. He's gonna want him to go back. So let's just break down. So Abraham followed God's will and he's followed it for mar will God's will for marriage. God's time for marriage. We see where Abraham counsel his counsel was needed in this situation for Isaac. And st Abraham charged his servants to seek a wife for him and for his son and he put his servant under an oath. So he was under that handshake and an oath. God will for a pure marriage and a pure line of believers, not one from the Canaanites, this worldly unbeliever. So Principle. Probably marry somebody that is a believer. I remember when I was looking or always had this kind of set of rules when I was looking at trying to find somebody I would marry. Number one, they had to be godly and they had to believe in God because I wanted my wife to be able to raise my children with the godly principles of the Bible. That was my number one requirement before I selected any wife. So that was the very first thing. They had to be godly. and then there's a host of other things. So I don't want to go into those but basically he's setting this precedence and we see it here. and he's basically saying that he didn't want anybody from Canaan. He wanted the this person to come from his his heritage, really. And to come from Abraham's own people, those who believed in the true living God. Similar to what I just said. Abraham is doing this way back when he is doing what I did when I chose a wife. But thou shalt, or you will go unto my country. He's talking what's his country? He's going to tell us right here. And to my kindred and take a wife unto my son. And the servant said unto him, per adventure means perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me unto the land. Must I needs must I needs bring thy son, yes, that's how it spelled again unto the land which From whence thou cameest? That was a question. And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bringest not the son thither again, or there, don't bring him there. And the Lord of God of heaven, which took from me, from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred. And he goes on to say, And which spake unto me, and that swear unto me, saying, Unto thy seed I will give thee this land, and he shall send his angel before thee, and thou excuse me, thou shalt take a wife unto my son from there. And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou or you shall be clear from this above this oath. So if she decides not to come, it's not on you, buddy. But he was put his faith in God. Only bring not my son there again. So don't find a wife from there. And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham, his master, and he swear unto him concerning the matter. So what are we seeing here? We see that he wants somebody from his own house, those that believe in God. We see that God will make or God's will is for a pure marriage and he must keep that and keep that regardless of the problems even if it means not marrying number one the prob what a problem what if she is refused to come with him into the promised land that was a problem he was kind of bringing it up and a warning Isaac must not leave the promised land to go find a wife the other point would be God's promise was clear God was going to give The promised land to Abraham's seed. Who's the seed? He's talking about Isaac. Promised land and never to forsake it. God's guidance was assured in seeking a wife for the believer. His angel would lead. So he knew that he was gonna have an angel with him to help him. Abraham eased the servant's mind. He was free from that oath if she refused. So if the wife that he chooses She doesn't want to come, he's free from the oath. And the warning was given again, and the servant swore to seek a wife for Isaac. So he's making this agreement, this oath, this covenant, whatever we want to call it, but he's basically saying I understand. So then I'm going to pick it up in verse ten. And the servant took ten camels and camels of his master, and he departed, for all the goods of his masters were in his hand. And he arose and he went to Mesopotamia unto the city of Naor. And he made his camels kneel down without the city, or outside the city, by the well of water at the time of the evening. Evening the e even the time that women go out to dress. So he's giving us an analogy. We know that women typically in the evening time would go out and they would fill their pots up. And get water in the evening. you remember the story in Samaria where she was out in the heat of the day getting it because she was kind of casted out. so that kind of gives us a little color there. And he said unto her, and then he and he said, O Lord, this is him, he's gonna pray. This is his his his servant. He says, O Lord God, my master, Master Abraham, I pray thee. Send me a good speed this day and show kindness unto my master. And he's praying. Behold, I stand here by the well of the water, and the the daughters draw the men of city out of the draw water, basically taking the water for many coming out getting their water. And let it come to pass that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher. He says, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink, and she shall say, Drink, and I will give your camels to drink. So listen now. He's she he's specifically praying for this. And let the same be that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac, and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto thy master. And it came to pass before he even began finishing his speaking in this situation. So we know where the young ladies they come and they gather, think about women today, they typically would gather at, you know, the beauty salons, the groceries, or wherever. Wherever they gather today, I don't know where they gather, but women in that time would gather around the well. The men around the the the city gates. the servant prayed and asked God's guidance in seeking a wife. So we see the guy what do we see? We see that servant praying fervently for this this situation with finding Isaac a wife. The servant prayed specifically for a define Definite sign, basically. Prayed in the great faith, in a simple, childlike faith. Folks, if you think you need to be eloquent in prayer, forget it. God knows your heart, and that's what He's after. You pray as if you were a six-year-old child, he's going to hear you. The key is you recognize him as your sovereign God and you pray to him and you need him. That's the key here I want you to take. So, verse 15, and it came to pass before he had done spirit. He was done speaking, that behold Rebecca. We're going to learn all about Rebecca. Rebecca came out, who was born of Bethlehem, the son of Milkah, the wife of Nahor, the Abraham's brother, and with a pitcher upon her shoulder. And the damsel was very fair. When you see the word fair in the Bible, it means she was pretty to look upon, and she was a virgin, neither had any man known her. And she went down to the well and filled her pitcher and came up, and the servant ran to meet her, and he said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water from thy pitcher. And she said, Drink, my lord, and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon upon her hand, and gave him a drink. And when she was done giving him a drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking. And she hasted and emptied her pitcher into the trough and ran again up unto unto the well to draw the water for the camels. You're seeing this unfold right here. This was what he's specifically praying for, and she's doing this. And the man wander wondering at her held his peace to wit whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not. So he's thinking, Is this it? And it came to pass as the camels had done drinking that the man took the golden earrings of the half shekel weight, and two bracelets for her ha for her hands, and ten shekels of weight in gold, he's wanting to pay her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? Tell me, I pray thee, is there room in thy ho in thy father's house for us to lodge? And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethel, the son of Milka. Which she bare unto Nahor. Sh she said, Moreover, unto him we have both straw and providential or enough room into lodge in. So what are we learning here? So he's praying specifically. This young lady Rebecca, she comes she comes out, she approaches, he hadn't even finished praying. And Abraham was granted That was that was Abraham's grandniece at the time. She was beautiful, she was a virgin. And fulfilled the servant's prayer, it was being unfolded, as we saw. The servant eagerly ran to Rebecca and asked for a drink. So he's trying to get he's trying to figure out if this is the one. She was she gave him something to drink pretty quickly, and she did the unusual. She freely offered to draw for the ten camels. So That prayer is unfolding in front of him. The servant watched closely to see if she truly the Lord's choice to make and did she did exactly what he had prayed. So he was watching to see if this happened. And the servant gave the young lady several gifts, right? The gold nose ring, two gold bracelets. also he asked about Rebecca's family, and he asked about the family having enough room and did he have enough. To lodge for him. And the lady answered you know, the servant, and he she basically says, She was the granddaughter of Nahor. She and her family could provide lodging for him. So let's pick it up at 26. And she and the man said, or the man bowed down in his head and worshiped the Lord. And he said, Blessed be the Lord of God. of my master Abraham, who hath not let destitute my master of his mercy and his truth, I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren. So we're seeing this is the servant, he's thanking God for the his kindness and faithfulness and leadership, and he's step by step he did this. So in twenty eight he says, and the damsel ran and told of of her mother, told them of her mother. And Rebecca had a brother, and his name was Laban. You'll learn more about him later. And Laban ran out unto the man unto the well, and he it came to pass when he saw the earrings and bracelets at the sisters' hands, when he had heard the words of Rebecca his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me, that he came unto the man, and behold him and stood by the camels at the well. And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord with thy. Wherefore standest thou without for I have prepared the house and the room for the camels. And the man came into the house and he ungirded his camels, and he gave straw and perventure or pervent he provided and for the camels, and water to wash his feet, that was the custom. And the men's feet were washed with him. So we're learning here that Rebecca runs home and Laban runs out to greet this guy, this servant, and he's basically saying, that he had seen the gold ring and the bracelets, and Laban found the man standing by the well. So he recognizes and sees him. And Laban invites him into the house to lodge, but also Laban and the camels, he unloaded he he unloaded those camels and he fed them, and he had plenty of water for them to drink from. So we picked up at thirty three, and there was set meat, so food was put in front of him before them to eat, but he said, I will not eat. until I have told mine Aaron. So he is pretty committed to letting them know why he's there and what his goal is and what he is his charge is what's his charge. And I will not eat until I've told my Aaron. And she and he said, Speak on. And he said unto I am Abraham's servant, and I and the Lord hath blessed my master greatly, and he is become great, and he hath flocked he hath given him flocks And herds and silver and gold and men servants and maid servants, camels and asses, and Sarah my sis my master's wife, bear a son, and my master when she was old unto him hath given unto him all unto him that he hath. And the master made him swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son from the daughters of Canaan. He's basically telling the story. He's giving him the story, the download. And whose land I dwell. But thou shalt go unto my father's house and to my wife's kindred, and take a wife unto my son, and I said unto my master, perventure, perhaps, if the woman will not follow me, and he said unto me, so he's I mean he's verbatim, telling him. basically says, and he said unto me, If the Lord before whom I walk will send his angel with thee and and prosper prosper Thy way, my that and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred and of my father's house. So if she says no, he's clear from that oath. Do prosper my way, which I go, behold I stand by the well water, and I shall cut and it shall come to pass that when the virgin come out forth to draw the water, I say unto her, Give me, I pray thee a little water of the pitcher to drink. And she said unto me, Both drink thou and I will also draw thy camels, let the same be for the women who the Lord hath appointed out of my master's son. And before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rebecca came forth and with her pitcher on her shoulder, and went down to the well and drew water, and said unto I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee. And she said mate made haste, so she quickly led down the pitcher from her shoulder and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels also drink also. So I drank, and she made the camels drink also, and I asked her and she said I'll pick up 47 in a minute, but the servant shares the heart and the purpose of the marriage, right? He's sharing the appropriate time. the servant shares the evening before evening. He does this before they eat. sharing the Lord's blessings through the years, sharing about one's family. So he's sharing all of this good stuff about Abraham. He's sharing the desire for a godly wife. He's letting him know here's the deal. And he says, not a wife from Canaan, but he wants not because Canaan was worldly. When it how does that practically how can that be applied today? Well, look for a wife that is godly, like I gave you my story. And not a wife from Canaan in the worldly unbeliever. Find a believer, folks. A wife from Abraham's family, those who believe in the true God. Sharing one's dependence upon God, one has to saw has to seek the godly wife. One's confident in God's leadership. God will bring you that that wife. one's commitment to seek a godly wife. If he you let God know He's gonna get you, He's gonna find a godly wife for you. And your prayer for leadership and clear science. You're asking God to help you with that, and you're to share that leadership and the great answers to the one prayer. So don't lose hope in the situation when you were trying to. Find a wife. I know people sometimes get into a different place. But let me pick it up again from forty seven. Whose daughter art thou? He's still giving the narrative, of who and he said unto the daughter of Bethu, Nahor'son, and he says who Milkah bear him and put an earring upon her face and a bracelet on her hands. And I bowed down my head and worship the Lord and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham. Which I had led me right the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son. So sharing one's conviction, she was God's choice. So we catch that and we pick that up. So so let's let's let's let's let's pick it up in forty nine. Stay with me. and now if you truly deal me kindly, truly with my master, tell me and if not, tell me. So he's basically saying, let me know what you what you believe about what I just said. And if not, tell me, and I may I may turn to the right hand or I turn to the left. And then Laban and Bethuel answered and said the things that proceed from God from the Lord. We cannot speak unto thee bad or good. So these were godly people. They believed in God and they believed in Yeshua Yeshua or Elohim. And it came to pass that when Abraham's servant had heard these words, he worshipped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth. And the servant brought forth the jewels and the sir silver, the jewels of gold remnant, and gave them to the Rebecca to Rebecca, and he also To the brother and to her mother's precious things. So the servant confirms and seals this by what? He worships God first, then he shares gifts, and then he starts to rejoice with others. And they did eat, and they did drink, and the men were with them, and they tarried all night, and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master, and her brother and her mother said unto the damsel, Abide with us a few days, at least ten, after that she may go. And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing that the Lord hath prospered my way, send me away, and I may go my what go to my master. And she and they said, We will go call the damsel and inquire at her mouth. So we're going to go ask her. And they called Rebecca, and they said unto her, Will you go with this man? And she said, I will go. And they sat o sent away Rebecca, their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men. So they're all leaving. And they blessed Rebecca, and said unto her, Thou art thou sister, be thou mother of thousands and millions, and let thy seed possess the gates of those which hate them. And Rebecca rose w and damsels and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man and the servant took Rebecca and went his way. Okay, so the family re reaffirms this. So basically, the family wanted Rebecca the depart later, right? Ten days. But the service he sensed the he he sensed that he needed to leave immediately. So he asks. So the family reconfirms the decision and the family sends Reb Rebecca away with her nurse and the family Blessed Rebecca and the servant and Rebecca and others left and they went back or they're heading back to Isaac. So let's pick it up at sixty-two. And Isaac came from the way of the Lahoroi, and hell he dwelt in the south country, and Isaac went out to mediate in the field at the evening tide, and he lifted up his eyes, and he saw, and behold, the camels were coming. And Rebecca lifted up her eyes when she saw Isaac, she lightened off the the camel. And she had she had said unto the servant, What is this man that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master. Therefore she took her veil and she covered herself. The servant told Isaac all the things that had happened, and Isaac brought her into his mother's Sarah his mother's tent, and Sarah's tent. And took Rebecca and he and she became his wife and he loved her. And Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. So his mother's going to pass away. So what are we learning? The consummation of the marriage. So she does meet the mother. But by following through on the decision, Isaac had gone out in the evening time in the field, which they that's what they normally do. And then he sees these camels coming. And then Rebecca sees Isaac and got down from her camel. And Rebecca asked the servant, Who is this guy? And the Rebecca acted with respect and veiled her face. That's a sign of respect when they veil like that. And Rebecca acted with respect. And the servant shared his search for Rebecca. Isaac loved and he married Rebecca, and Rebecca could for comfortably comfort Isaac after the mother's death. So we get the sense here. This is all about where we talk about. This is he's finding a wife. he finds a wife, he follows God's will, he goes and seeks the wife, he prays for God's will. That's the message, folks. You gotta pray for God's will in your life, in your situation. It's so important. asking for that guidance and seeking whatever it may be, if it's a wife or whatever it may be. So you one must think about that. But you need to act upon following through with one in the prayer. And this servant, Definitely of Abraham, he prayed the prayer and it was verbatim. And he thanked God. How many times do we not thank God or go back and thank him and say, Thank you, Lord, for blessing me or not blessing me or helping me in the situation? So it's so important, folks, that we keep that in mind. that people forget that sometimes. Be grateful. You gotta be big you gotta be grateful to a gracious and loving God. So he basically responds and he accepts. the graciousness from the family, sharing one's heart and the purpose of marriage. So he laid it out there and what the purpose was and what he was what he was trying to do for his master Abraham. And he asked a clear decision for the marriage. So he said, straight up, left or right, my hand to the left, my hand to the right. and he confirmed he he he basically he's confirming and sealing the decision for the marriage. And you see that in fifty two, but Consummating the marriage and all that came later. But folks, my point here is when we start thinking about this is Genesis twenty four, tremendous, tremendous when it comes to seeking for a wife or trying to find a mate. You've heard me say it before that if you're in high school and you're old lady, you're a female, a young teenager, you are looking for bridesmails, bride bridesmaids. That you're not looking for a husband in high school. Same way with men, you're looking for your bride your your bridesmen. Those are the ones that you find after college and later in life. You are not looking for a husband or wife in in high school. That's not where you need to be. And remember, the important thing here is you've got to make sure that you are looking for a godly wife that you can think down the road that is going to raise your children in the way of the Lord, in the way of the Bible, as I did. That was my prerequisite number one. And It's so important sometimes that we leave that out, we forget, and God knows, so be gracious. When you're looking and needing something, g bring it to God, lay it at his feet. Folks, Japlain Dean Alley, I had a moment. Take care. Bye.