The 24th chapter of Genesis gives us the record of Abraham, the Father of Our Believing, and his quest to oversee the marriage of his son. It was custom during this time in biblical history that the father, whose position was one of authority in the household, would also oversee any new additions to their family’s heritage. Fathers would choose the marital partners for their children. So, like any good father living during that time, when Abraham was ready to choose a bride for Isaac, his son, he would not leave something this important to chance. God had given specific commandments to His people, and as a faithful servant of God, Abraham made sure to abide by the statues that God had put forth.
Abraham was very old, and asked his oldest servant to find a wife for Isaac, but to do so under very strict guidelines. In Genesis 24:3(NIV), Abraham told his servant, “I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living.” The servant was assigned the task of going back to Abraham’s homeland to find a wife for Isaac, Abraham’s son. So, the servant went on his way.
Just as there are staples or customs that we have today, like going grocery shopping on Saturday’s and having fish fries on Friday night, there were of course certain things during this time in biblical history that were customary. One of them was the practice of young women to draw water during the evening. Abraham’s servant counted on this. And because he knew the divine partnership between God and His people, and he also knew that God makes sure people are in the right place at the right time, he prayed a strategic prayer. When he entered Abraham’s homeland, he made his camels kneel beside a well outside of town. He knew there would be women coming to draw water at that time of day.
Genesis 24:12-14 was the servant’s prayer, “12 O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham. 13 See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water. 14 This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master.”
He prayed to God and made a request that if any of the women had the presence of mind and the broadness of heart to not only serve him, but offer to give water to his camels too, she was the one that had passed the test.
Rebekah was that woman. She did exactly the thing that the servant had prayed and asked God to reveal as a sign of confirmation. She was the one, and God had blessed the servant’s journey.
The most profound aspect of this record is understanding the very first building block of the foundation on which God’s blessing and confirmation rested. It was Abraham’s allegiance to the Word of God. Canaanites worshiped idol gods, and our Heavenly Father forbid such an act. Abraham knew the commandment of God, and that His people could not bow to other gods. Abraham did not want such an awful act against the Kingdom of God in his family. Abraham did not do as Noemi and Elimelech did in the Book of Ruth. They moved to the land of the Moabites, notorious idolaters, and allowed their sons to marry Moabites women. As the head of his family and as the keeper of the covenant and promise that God had made him, Abraham refused to acquiesce to disobedience and upheld the standard Heavenly Father put forth.
How about us? Will we let our standards fall below God’s Word simply because of how handsome or fine brotherman might be? Will we compromise our temples just to have a warm body next to us? Abraham had a made-up mind that he would follow God’s heart, and because of his obedience, an angel was sent to guide Abraham’s servant to the right place at the right time. God will do the same for you in your quest to marry the right man that He has ordained for your life.
If your heart is truly to follow after God, and honor Him with your life, a good and Godly man will be able to discern your uniqueness from the crowd. He will recognize your worth, and if he has sought the Lord, the way any good and Godly man does, like Abraham’s servant, he’ll seek confirmation that you’re the one. No matter what it is that your future husband might seek the Father to confirm, if you are where God desires you to be in your walk with Him, you won’t flinch an inch, but welcome the opportunity to be put to the test.■
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
“Put Me to The Test”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2017. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.