Two Remarkable Characters of Character

Rabbi Ken Alpren
Summary by: Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
October 30, 2010

Genesis 24:1-4, By now Avraham was old, advanced in years; and ADONAI had blessed Avraham in everything. 2 Avraham said to the servant who had served him the longest, who was in charge of all he owned, "Put your hand under my thigh; 3 because I want you to swear by ADONAI, God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not choose a wife for my son from among the women of the Kena'ani, among whom I am living; 4 but that you will go to my homeland, to my kinsmen, to choose a wife for my son Yitz'chak."

We are introduced to Avraham’s servant; a nameless man who Avraham sent on a mission to find a wife for Yitz’chak from among Avraham’s kinsmen after the death of Sarah. Throughout this portion of Scripture, the Servant proves himself a man of G-d; faithful, humble and reliant of the L-rd’s direction.

When Avraham sent him on the mission, he encouraged the Servant to rely on the L-rd and to believe that direction would be given.

Genesis 24:7, “ADONAI, the God of heaven - who took me away from my father's house and away from the land I was born in, who spoke to me and swore to me, 'I will give this land to your descendants'- he will send his angel ahead of you; and you are to bring a wife for my son from there.”

With a positive attitude and expectation the Servant proceeded into homeland of Avraham’s kinsmen. He was determined to stick to the plan laid out for him to find a wife for Yitz’chak. And as he was seeking the L-rd for direction, something amazing happened. The L-rd answered his prayer even before he was finished praying!

Genesis 24:12-15, He said, "ADONAI, God of my master Avraham, please let me succeed today; and show your grace to my master Avraham. 13 Here I am, standing by the spring, as the daughters of the townsfolk come out to draw water. 14 I will say to one of the girls, 'Please lower your jug, so that I can drink.' If she answers, 'Yes, drink; and I will water your camels as well,' then let her be the one you intend for your servant Yitz'chak. This is how I will know that you have shown grace to my master." 15 Before he had finished speaking, Rivkah the daughter of B'tu'el son of Milkah the wife of Nachor Avraham's brother, came out with her jug on her shoulder.

Amazing! Has the L-rd ever answered your prayer even before you were finished praying? Have we noticed that He may be working toward the answer even before we can ask?

Isaiah 65:24, Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear.

Avraham’s servant watched Rivkah’s response to his request for water. Would she follow her provision of water for him with an offer to water the camels as well?

Genesis 24:19-21, When she was through letting him drink, she said, "I will also draw water for your camels until they have drunk their fill." 20 She quickly emptied her jug into the trough, then ran again to the well to draw water, and kept on drawing water for all his camels. 21 The man gazed at her in silence, waiting to find out whether ADONAI had made his trip successful or not.

Yes! She offered to provide water for the camels as well! Not only did she offer she ran to the well and quickly provided the water for all ten camels! Notice her character. She was not sluggish in her response, but quickly provided water even running to and from the well. What was it about his beautiful young woman that would give her the incentive to respond to generously and considerately? Had the L-rd been preparing her to be the wife of His Yitz’chak for her whole life?

Notice the Servant’s response to answered prayer.

Genesis 24:26-27, The man bowed his head and prostrated himself before ADONAI. 27 Then he said, "Blessed be ADONAI, God of my master Avraham, who has not abandoned his faithful love for my master; because ADONAI has guided me to the house of my master's kinsmen."

He worshipped and blessed the L-rd!

Rivkah was included in the decision to become Yitz’chak’s wife. When her family attempted to delay the process, she was given the opportunity to choose for herself and she chose to follow the L-rd and go with the Servant. Perhaps she had confirmation from the L-rd in her heart and had taken note of the Servant’s character so as to feel confident in her choice.

Genesis 24:62-67, Meanwhile, Yitz'chak, one evening after coming along the road from Be'er-Lachai-Ro'i - he was living in the Negev - 63 went out walking in the field; and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. 64 Rivkah too looked up; and when she saw Yitz'chak, she quickly dismounted the camel. 65 She said to the servant,"Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?"When the servant replied, "It's my master," she took her veil and covered herself. 66 The servant told Yitz'chak everything he had done. 67 Then Yitz'chak brought her into his mother Sarah's tent and took Rivkah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. Thus was Yitz'chak comforted for the loss of his mother.

A successful journey and answered prayer provided a wife for Yitz’chak. Rivkah and Yitz’chak were married and Yitz’chak was comforted after his mother’s death. Rivkah and Yitz’chak didn’t know one another at first but grew in their love. Their marriage was successful because of the L-rd’s provision and their dedication to Him and to each other.