When Abraham sent his servant to visit Abraham’s brother’s family in order to find a wife for Isaac,his son, the servant was surprised to find Rebekah at the first place that he stopped to inquire. The servant had relied upon Abraham’s God for the journey, and then for discovering the very young woman he was sent to find. He praised God when her family gave him permission to take her to Isaac, but her mother and brother wished to delay her departure at least ten days. They knew that very likely, they would not see Rebekah again: He said to them, “Do not detain me now that the Lord has granted success to my journey” They said, ”Let’s call the young woman and ask her about it.” So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she said. So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men. ( Genesis 2: 26-59)

Every person in this story acts in response to the conviction that the stranger from Abraham was truly on a God ordained errand, and should therefore be believed and accepted. This story is washed in a glow of grace. Rebekah, much loved daughter of her parents, and sister to Laban, is to leave immediately on a long, tedious, if not downright dangerous journey to marry a man she has never met, whose name she has probably never even heard until now. Her mother and brother hope for a few days of preparation for the trip, but Abraham’s servant begs, “ Do not detain me,” and theothers, reluctant to see Rebekah leave, call for the girl herself.

Rebekah‘s simple “I will go” is a foreshadow of another young woman named Mary whose answer to an angel was, “Let it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1;38) In each case, a young, probably illiterate, woman ‘s response to God was the linchpin in God’s plan for the salvation of human beings. Both were faced with a large unknown in their future, depending upon their decision. Both made the decision in the face of difficulties and even opposition. In both young women, the grace of God is evident, as each young woman was entirely free in her decision. There was no coercion, but only the living faith in a God who had been manifested in their relative Abraham.

Rebekah did marry Isaac. Her younger son was Jacob, who fathered the twelve tribes of Israel. Mary mothered the son of God. Neither would be detained.

Love In Him,

Prue