Women with a Story to Tell 10

 Abraham’s brother Nahor had stayed back in Syria, more often known as Aram in the Bible. Aram was the plateau region of upper Mesopotamia, encompassing today parts of Syria and Turkey. Damascus was the central city. 

 Nahor’s family also carried on the tradition of the worship of YHWH (Yahweh, the LORD), although they also had an affinity for family gods. When Eliezar, Abraham’s servant, arrived, both Rebekah’s brother and father were sympathetic to the story of Abraham’s quest for a wife for Isaac. They said, “The thing comes from the LORD; we cannot speak to you anything bad or good” (Genesis 24: 50). 

 The text also hints, however, that they came to this conclusion after Laban had seen some of the gold jewelry that Abraham had sent with Eliezar (Genesis 24: 30). So human desire and God’s plan are intermingled. Rebekah's family requested that Eliezar to stay a couple of weeks while Rebekah prepared and they said their goodbyes.

 However, Eliezar knew that Sarah had already passed away and Abraham was running out of time, so he had to return as soon as possible. That caused an interesting response. Rebekah’s family said that they would leave it up to Rebekah! This time patriarchalism did not dominate the day.  

 This important event is not given much play in the story; however, it is a high point along the way. 

 “And they called Rebekah and said to her, ‘Will you go with this man?’ She said, ‘I will’.” (Genesis 24: 58).

 That is the equivalent of when God said to Abraham, “Go,” and “so Abraham went” (Genesis 12: 1-4). What was driving Rebekah’s decision? Perhaps this kind of behavior is nothing new to her. Remember that Eliezar prayed when he arrived in Aram that the LORD would show him whom he had chosen as a wife for Isaac. Twice Eliezar begs for God to show his hesed, that is, God’s steadfast love (Genesis 24: 12-14). 

 Then, remember also that Rebekah, when she arrived at the well, responded positively to Eliezar. More than that, she went over and above to help a complete stranger by watering his ten camels (24: 17-22). That’s a lot of water. Was this not a fine example of hesed?  

 Hesed (or chesed) is “that quality that moves a person to act for the benefit of another without respect to the advantage that it might bring to the one who expresses it…. [The quality of hesed] is expressed fundamentally in action rather than word or emotion” (Daniel Block, Judges, Ruth, Volume 6, The New American Commentary. 1999. Pp. 605-606.

 Rebekah acted toward people exactly as God acts toward people; that is, with self-giving, reaching out, other-embracing love. Jesus expressed this extravagant love in commands such as: “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise” (Luke 3: 11)? Rebekah has demonstrated her godly character, she has heard the witness of Eliezar about God’s hesed toward Abraham, and she has heard the request for her to go immediately. The circle is complete. Without hesitation, she says “I will.”

 I love it when a plan comes together, as God’s plans eventually do, more times than we recognize.