Posted on by Abe Austin

Scriptural Analysis- Genesis 29:1-2, 5-8

1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.

2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth.

5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.

6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

7 And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.

8 And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.

After being initiated into the Abrahamic covenant by God, Jacob arrives at Haran, his destination. Immediately there are many similarities between how his wife is found in this land, and how his father Isaac’s was.

In both cases Jacob and the servant of Abraham happened upon a well, almost immediately before the spouse-to-be arrived. And in both cases that lady was coming to water the flocks of her father. The good fortune in each of these experiences suggests divine intervention.

To Jacob this blessing from God seems particularly meaningful. As mentioned before, he has just come from a sacred introduction to his maker, in which God has promised to keep him and increase him, and right away Jacob is seeing the fulfillment of that.

One can’t help but wonder whether Jacob’s suggestion that the shepherds water their flock and take them grazing was a ploy to get them out of the way, allowing him to meet Rachel in privacy. Unfortunately, that tactic did not work, but as we will see tomorrow, he found another way to cultivate romance instead!

Posted on by Abe Austin

Scriptural Analysis- Genesis 24:50-52, 55-56, 58

50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the Lord: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

51 Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the Lord hath spoken.

52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshipped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth.

55 And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.

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.

58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

Rebekah’s brother and mother heard the story of Abraham’s servant and saw the hand of the Lord in all that had transpired. Their personal opinions don’t matter. Even if they were opposed (which they don’t seem to be) this is the will of their Lord, and so they would not try to stand against it. Rebekah’s destiny has come calling, and they will faithfully comply.

Of course, they are sad to see her go, and they want her to stay a while before departing. The servant has no interest in procrastinating his duty, though. His attitude reminds me of Jesus’s injunction that “no man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). When one is being led by the hand of the Lord–as he clearly is–it does not feel right to delay.

And when Rebekah is questioned on the matter she is of the same mind. The rest of her life lays before her, and every delay is only more time wasted. She goes with the man immediately.