Genesis 24 v. 50 - 67 ON FINDING THE PERFECT WIFE Note
1. THE SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT WIFE - v. 1 - 14 Note:-
(a) The Background to the Search - Genesis 23 - The death of Sarah - Genesis 2 v. 18 "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."
(b) The Basis for the Search - v. 3 & 4 "And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac." 2 Corinthians 6 v. 14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"
Eliezer had:-
(1) A Mission v. 4 "Thou shalt go" - Matthew 28 v. 19 & 20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
(2) The Movitation - i.e. he loved his master
(3) The Method i.e. He Went - v. 10 "And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor."
He Waited - v. 13 "Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:"
He Watched - v. 15 "And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder."
He Worked - v. 17 "And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher."
(4) The Means - i.e. Note the principles of finding the perfect wife:- i.e. of
(a) Knowing God's Word - v. 4 "But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac." 2 Corinthians 6 v. 14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" i.e. His plans, principles,and purposes for your life
(b) Doing God's Will - v. 5 & 6 "And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again." in either success or failure
(c) Trusting God's Way - v. 7 & 8 "The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence. And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again."
(d) Seeking God's Wisdom - v. 14 "And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master."
2. THE SIGN OF THE PERFECT WIFE - v. 4 "But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac."
She must be right:-
(a) Physically - v. 16 "And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up."
(b) Morally - v. 16 "A virgin" 1 Corinthians 6 v. 19 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"
(c) Emotionally - v. 16 "And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up."
- helpmeet - story 50 years - "A lot longer without her"
(d) Spiritually - v. 4 "But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac." 2 Corinthians 6 v. 14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"
3. THE SURRENDER OF THE PERFECT WIFE - v. 58 "And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go."
(a) The Challenge - "Wilt thou go with this man?" Note:-
(1) The Mystery of this Man - She knew nothing of Eliezer or Isaac, she knew nothing of the road, the reception - John 6 v. 37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." - or the result
(2) The Ministry of this Man - Note the ministry of:-
(a) His Words - v. 33 "And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on."
(b) His Witness - v. 35 "And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses."
(c) His Worship - v. 42 - 46 "And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham,
(d) His Works - v. 47 "And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands."
(e) His Want - v. 56 "And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master." - i.e. to return
(3) The Matrimony through this Man - i.e. through this man was offered:-
A new:-
(a) Father (Abraham) (b) Family (c) Faith (d) Fortune (e) Future (f) Fame
(b) The Choice - v. 58 "And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go." i.e. go personally, promptly, purposely - God's will
(c) The Change - v. 61 "And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way."
Here is a new:-
(1) Decision (2) Direction (3) Determination (to be a wife) (4) Destination - to be a mother of Israel
4. THE SEPARATION FOR THE PERFECT WIFE - v. 59 "And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men." It was:-
(a) Personal - "their sister"
(b) Practical - "sent away" Genesis 2 v. 24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."
(c) Purposeful - v. 60 "And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them."
(d) Permanent - v. 61 "And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way."
5. THE SATISFACTION IN THE PERFECT WIFE - v. 67 "And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death." Note:-
(a) The Trials Behind - "Isaac was comforted after his mother's death."
(b) The Treasures Around - "And he loved her"
(c) The Trophies Before - "She became his wife" - She would become the mother of Israel,
grace sought her, summoned her, saved her, satisfied her, sustained her
