A Wife for Isaac

Abraham was now very old, and the Lord had blessed him in everything. One day he called his oldest and most trusted servant and said, “Promise me this: you will not take a wife for my son Isaac from the people here. Go instead to my own country and my own family, and find a wife for Isaac there. God will send his messenger ahead of you.” So the servant took ten of his master’s camels, and fine gifts, and set out on the long road to the city where Abraham’s brother’s family lived.

One evening he stopped by the well outside the city, at the hour when the young women come out to draw water. And he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, help me today. I will ask a girl for a drink. If she says, ‘Drink — and I will water your camels too,’ let her be the one you have chosen for Isaac.” Before he had even finished praying, a beautiful young woman came to the well with her water jar on her shoulder. Her name was Rebekah. The servant ran to her and asked for a little water. She said, “Drink, sir — and I will draw water for your camels too, until they have all had enough.” And she did! Now, one thirsty camel can drink a whole bathtub of water — and she watered all ten. The servant watched her in wonder, and when the camels were done, he gave her gold earrings and two gold bracelets, and asked whose daughter she was. She was from Abraham’s own family! The servant bowed down and thanked the Lord, who had led him straight to the right door.

Rebekah ran home to tell everyone, and her family welcomed the servant in, camels and all. He told them the whole story — Abraham, and Isaac, and his prayer at the well, and how Rebekah had answered it word for word. Then he asked if Rebekah could come and be Isaac’s wife. They called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.” So Rebekah rode away on a camel with her maids, to a land she had never seen. One evening, Isaac was out walking in the field when he looked up and saw the camels coming. Rebekah saw him too, and slipped down from her camel and covered herself with her veil. And Isaac loved her, and Rebekah became his wife, and he was comforted after his mother Sarah’s death.