Genesis 24:15

Vs.15- “And it came to pass, before he had done speaking,”- The servant was praying in his heart and God answered his prayer before he had finished speaking to the Lord.  We are told in Isa.65:24- And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

“that, behold, Rebekah came out,”- God is orchestrating all of this.  While the servant is praying in his heart, Rebekah comes out of Haran at the usual time to draw water from the well.  The name Rebekah literally means to tie up or ensnare by beauty. 

“who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.”- Here we have the relationship given of Rebekah to Abraham.  Abraham’s brother is Nahor, Nahor’s wife is Milcah, and their son is Bethuel.  Bethuel is the father of Rebekah.  Bethuel is Rebekah’s father, Nahor and Milcah are her grandparents, and Abraham is her great uncle.  Abraham is the father of Isaac, Nahor and Milcah are his aunt and uncle, Milcah is also his cousin, Bethuel is his cousin, and Rebekah is his second cousin on both sides. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One-Line Explanation- God immediately answers the servant’s prayer by sending Rebekah.

 

Lesson:  1.)  ‘It came to pass, before he had done speaking.’  The servant’s prayer was being answered before he had finished asking.  We need to realize a few things in light of this.  A.)  God can answer your prayers before your done praying because He knows your need before you ask.  Mat.6:7- But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Mat.6:8- Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.  Our God is omniscient; that means He is All-Knowing.  He knows everything; He knows where you are and what you are in need of.  B.)  God is able to answer prayers quickly!  Psa.46:1- God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  It is a blessing to know that when you are in trouble and need help, God can hear you and help you faster than a 911 call.  God can hear your cry and answer your prayer immediately.  C.)  A delayed response does not mean God did not react to your call swiftly.  Dan.10:12- Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. Dan. 10:13- But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.  Daniel was heard and sent a response the first day he began praying, but it was 21 days later that he realized that truth.  D.)  God does not always answer swiftly.  God does everything in perfect timing.  It is not always God’s will or in the best interest of the person praying for their prayer to be answered immediately.  There was a request for Jesus to come to Lazarus for he was sick, but Jesus waited.  By the time Jesus got there, Lazarus had been dead for four days.  Others may have thought that Jesus was late, but He was right on time!  Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and did a great miracle.  We need to pray and then leave the timing up to God.  2.)  ‘Behold, Rebekah, came out.’  There are no such things as coincidences.  I don’t believe in luck or happenstance.  God is the sovereign ruler of the universe and nothing happens that He is not aware of.  It was not just luck or chance that Rebekah showed up at this time.  This was the providence of God.  It was not luck when I met my wife, but it was God leading us to one another.  It was not luck or chance that I ended up as the pastor of Berean Baptist Church.  Pray and seek God’s will and face and He will direct your paths.  He will lead people into your life and into your influence or he will lead you to others.  3.)  ‘With her pitcher upon her shoulder.’  Rebekah was coming to the well to draw water for her family as her custom was.  As we study Rebekah in this chapter we will find very honorable characteristics about her.  These characteristics are principles that single people should follow while seeking a spouse and should look for in a potential mate.  I see two great principles here.  A.)  Rebekah was a hard worker.  Ladies, you don’t wasn’t a lazy man and men you don’t want a lazy woman.  Rebekah was diligent in drawing water for her family’s needs.  Men need to have a job and be able to provide for a wife before they even consider courting a young lady.  B.)  Rebekah met her destiny concerning marriage while doing her every day duties.  Just serve God and do what is required of you and God will send the right person at the right time.  My wife and I both had to learn this lesson.  I was so worried about finding a wife that it consumed me.  I had finished college and had no prospects and I began to get a little desperate.  Finally, I decided to not worry so much about it and just serve the Lord.  My wife has a similar testimony.  She was dating a guy that she felt the Lord didn’t want her to be with.  She received council from her pastor and broke the relationship off.  Her pastor told her not to worry about finding someone and to just give herself to serving in the church.  We both made a decision to just serve God and let God bring the right person at the appropriate time.  We met each other not long after we had both made this similar decision.  She was serving in a small church in Mississippi and I was travelling as an evangelist.  I preached at her church and we began talking.  Nine months later we were married!  We all need to learn from Rebekah; just be busy doing what God would have you to do and He will bring things to pass.  This principle applies to other areas besides courting/dating.  Many people are frustrated trying to find out what God’s specific will is for their life.  They want to serve God as maybe a missionary or a church planter or in youth work.  They are confused over specifics and locations.  Where should I serve and in what capacity?  My advice is simple this:  Just do what you know you’re supposed to do in the spot God has currently placed you at.  Be a witness where you are at, be a student of the Bible where you are at, get plugged in at the church you are at.  God will bring the right people and opportunities into your life at the appropriate times.  We just need to be busy doing our duty.  4.)  Rebekah means ‘ensnared by beauty.’  You may laugh at this point, but I like the fact that God didn’t choose out an ugly woman for Isaac.  Rebekah is described as being beautiful later in the book of Genesis and her very name means beauty.  The point is this:  When God orchestrates something on our behalf, He doesn’t give us second best or second rate.  I used to ask the question as a young man seeking God’s will in finding a mate; I would asks, “What if it’s God’s will for me to marry an ugly woman?”  Psa.37:4- Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  God promised that if we would delight in Him then He would give us the desires of our heart.  I gave myself to serving God and delighted in Him and He did just that.  God gave me the desire of my heart when He gave me my lovely wife.  She is everything and more than I ever wanted in a wife.  We are so afraid to follow God’s will because we think we know what we want and we think that we know better than God.  Just trust the Lord and realize that God knows what is best for you and He will never give you second best.