Abraham had a brother, Nahor, who still lived in his old home of Haran. Nahor's wife, Milcah, bore him eight children, besides those he had by his concubine. Abraham got news of his brother's family, even in far off Canaan. After Sarah died, and Abraham himself was very old, he decided he must seek a wife for Isaac.

He called the steward of his house to him. The man was an Egyptian, who had served his master faithfully for many years.

"Swear to me by the Lord, the God of Heaven and earth, that you will take a wife for my son from among these Canaanites", he said. "Instead, you will go to my kin, and find a wife for him there."

"Maybe the woman won't come back with me," the servant replied. "Should I take Isaac to live there in that case?"

Abraham became agitated. "By no means should you ever take him back to Haran. The Lord God of Heaven, who took me from my father's house and my kindred, promised me he would give this land where we now live to my descendents. He will send his angel ahead of you and find a wife for my son. If the woman refuses to return with you, then you are free from your oath to me."

According to the custom of the time, the servant put his hand under Abraham's thigh, and swore the oath he was asked to swear. The next day, he began preparations to depart.

Abraham was a very wealthy man, with vast herds of livestock, and great stores of gold and jewelry. The servant loaded ten camels full of goods for the bride price, then left at once for the house of Nahor. He arrived there at the city well in the evening, around the time the women came to draw water. He made his camels kneel down there, and waited. As he stood by the well, he prayed, "Oh, Lord God of Abraham, grant me favor in my task today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. I pray that a young woman may come to the well to draw water, and when I ask her to let down her pitcher to give me a drink, she will say, 'Drink, and I will give your camels water also.' Let this be the woman you have chosen as the wife for my master's son Isaac."

Soon after, a lovely young woman, a virgin who had never been with a man, came to the well to draw water. Things happened exactly as he had prayed they would, and she gave water both to him and to the camels. .Once the camels had been watered, the servant took a golden earring from his pack, weighing about half a shekel (about a quarter of an ounce), and two golden bracelets, weighing about 5 ounces, and gave them to the girl.

He asked her then, "Whose daughter are you? Is there room in your father's house for me and my camels?"

She said, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor. There is certainly room for you to stay, and straw for your camels."

The servant was overcome with joy, and bowed his head to praise God. "Blessed be the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken him in his mercy and truth. The Lord has led me right to the house of his kindred."

The young woman, whose name was Rebekah, ran to tell her family all that had happened. She had a brother named Laban, and after he saw the rich jewelry she had been given, he ran back out to the well where the man waited.

"Why, don't stand out here!" he exclaimed. "We have everything all waiting for you at the house! Come on, blessed of the Lord, and we'll take care of you and of your camels."

So Laban took Abraham's servants into the house, took care of his camels, and gave him water to wash his own feet, and those of the young men with him. They brought him food as well, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told the task my master has given me."

They told him then, "Very well, tell us whatever you need to say."

He then began, "Abraham, my master, is a very great and wealthy man. He has many large flocks and herds of livestock, large numbers of servants, many camels and donkeys, and great wealth in silver and gold. Sarah, my master's wife, bore him a son when they were both very old. She is dead now."

He then recounted the story of Abraham's charge to him to find a wife for his son, Isaac, among his brother's family, and the prayer he mad on his arrival that had been so marvelously answered.

"And now, tell me, please, if you will deal kindly with my master, and do as he asked. If not, tell me so, and I will know what I need to do."

The young woman's father, Bethuel, and brother, Laban, then replied, "It is obvious that this matter is of the Lord. We cannot say yes or no to something God has already ordained, but Rebekah is right here. Take her with you, and let her be your master's son's wife."

Abraham's steward then bowed his head once more in praise of God, and he brought rich gifts both to Rebekah and to her mother and brother. After that, they shared a great feast together, and he spent the night with them. When the morning came, he was ready to go home.

"Let the girl stay here for a few days," her family begged, "at least ten days, then she can go."

"Please don't keep me from my journey," the servant said, "especially since the Lord has bless me so greatly in my task."

"Well, the girl is here," they said, "let her decide if she wants to go or wait."

When they asked Rebekah, she said, "I am ready to go now. Send me away with this man."

They then blessed her, wishing her a multitude of descendents, and victory for them over all their enemies. Rebekah then left with her female attendants, and they began the long journey back to Canaan. After many days of hot, weary travel, they approached the place where Isaac was living, in the far south of Canaan. He lived by a well called Laharoi. When they drew near, Rebekah asked the servant, "Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us."

He replied, "That is Isaac, my master's son."

To show the proper respect, she then covered her face with a veil, and Isaac came to the camels. The steward them told him everything that had happened, and how the Lord had selected this woman as his wife. Isaac then took Rebekah to the tent of his mother Sarah, and she became his wife.

JESUS IS the Bridge Ministries

A Stranger and a Lover